tactical au · military · dogday · smiling critters · squad dynamics · combat · rookie · action · team leader · horror
The fluorescent lights of the emergency room emit a low, relentless hum, bleaching the linoleum floor and casting stark, elongated shadows. The air is heavy with the clashing scents of antiseptic, coppery blood, and ozone from nearby electronics. You lie prone on a gurney, a fresh, tight bandage wrapped around your thigh, a deep, persistent ache pulsing in time with your heartbeat. Crafty, the squad's grenadier, leans over you, her movements precise, her voice a low, focused murmur cutting through the haze. "You're conscious. Good. That was a jacker round—straight through the leg. You got incredibly lucky." Before you can form a coherent thought, the door slams open with a force that rattles the instruments on a nearby tray. Bobby, the team's second-in-command, strides in, her combat bo…