The battle raged on, its intensity reaching a fever pitch. As explosions lit up the battlefield, the surrounding area became a chaotic nightmare of destruction and smoke. Eugene, ever the tactician, carefully analyzed the situation while preparing for the next crucial move.

The massive fireball that rose from the dome was blinding, its glow visible from miles away, cutting through the thick darkness like a beacon. The force of the blast was enough to begin eroding the landscape, causing the terrain to slowly collapse. Every flash of light revealed another section of the radar station or command center evaporating into nothingness, and it was clear: whoever came out on top, this area would soon be filled with craters.

Amid the chaos, the sharp-eyed Sergeant Sirkins met Lauren Tina's gaze. At first, it seemed like a passing glance, but then Sirkins' mind caught up, and he realized what had caught her attention.

"How many rounds did you give them?"

"About one full box's worth...?"

"That's fifty rounds, you crazy bastard!"

The destruction was real. Each shell, each blast, was a calculated assault. The anti-matter rounds that Eugene had expended were packed with devastating power, but they were not the only weapon in their arsenal. Each round had a dual purpose, capable of functioning like grenades when activated. As the battlefield continued to tear itself apart, Sirkins couldn't help but think back to the previous operations.

"Given the mission we’ve been tasked with, it seems that it won’t be long before we need to use everything we’ve got. Handed over to the rookie, after all."

"Well, I guess it’s a good thing Artemis didn’t see us handing over weapons to the shadows. It’s just like that operation in San Francisco. Same chaos, same feeling."

Sirkins' comment was a reflection of the tension in the air. The memories of battles fought, like the destruction of San Francisco's bridges, flooded back to them. A battle won by sheer force and unrelenting will, a battle Eugene had led and survived, against impossible odds.

Lauren Tina, ever the practical one, let out a dry laugh, her smirk hinting at the amusement she found in Eugene’s recklessness.

"Seriously, you have no regard for your own body, do you, rookie?"

"Look who’s talking. You’ve been the one pushing yourself harder than anyone else."

"Shut up, Logan. Stop using facts to hit me in the face."

The banter was typical of the Dagger team. Even amidst all the destruction, they found moments of levity in their comrades' camaraderie. Lauren Tina, true to her usual style, couldn't resist teasing Logan, and before long, the team was back to their usual routine, even if it was in the midst of a battle.

As the explosions continued, Lauren Tina adjusted her enhanced reality lenses, pinpointing the exact trajectory of the next assault. The tactical advantage was theirs, but only for a short while. The enemy would respond in kind, and they would have to adapt.

"Those explosions have clearly lowered the ground level. The combat zone is shifting downward," Lauren Tina noted. "The UAV has picked up a tanker area, perfect for Artemis to offer fire support."

"Sounds like it’s going to be difficult to get out of this without some assistance."

Her analysis was sound. The battlefield was a constant state of flux, and the Dagger team, along with Eugene and the rest of the crew, were fighting to hold their ground as best they could. As the team made their way towards the next point of entry, Owens highlighted the crucial target—the AGS-40, a grenade launcher positioned on the path they had to take.

"Nice job, Owens," Lauren Tina muttered, her grin widening. "You know how to pick your targets."

"I don’t plan on making things too easy for the enemy. Let’s get moving," Owens replied.

The team quickly adapted, breaking through the barricades with ease, entering the bunker with a swift, calculated assault. With the bunker’s defenses compromised, they rapidly began securing their objectives. Every move was coordinated, and the team remained sharp, knowing that their time was limited.

Within moments, the AGS-40 was in their sights, and the decision was made to bring the thunder. A barrage of grenades rained down on the enemy positions, forcing Artemis troops into a retreat. But even as they dealt this heavy blow, the larger picture loomed: The mission wasn't over yet.

"I need a firing angle," Lauren Tina requested.

"Better off holding it and firing on the move," Eugene advised. "Straight shots won’t work in this tight space, but we can get some distance with an indirect shot."

"Got it."

As Lauren Tina held the grenade launcher steady, she adjusted her grip, each calculated movement bringing her closer to the perfect shot. Despite the discomfort, she was no stranger to the weight of the task. She fired, and the shockwave from the blast rippled through the air, lighting up the battlefield like a storm of destruction.

The team had achieved their objective, but their next challenge was looming large: extraction. The battlefield was still volatile, with enemy reinforcements closing in. They had only minutes to prepare.

"Helicopter ETA in 10 minutes. Ready for extraction or more fire support?" the pilot’s voice crackled through the comms.

"Not sure yet," Eugene responded. "We’ll make the call in five."

With the smoke clearing and the Dagger team positioning themselves for their next move, the sound of explosions faded into the distance. But there was no rest for the weary. The war was far from over, and the next phase was just beginning.

As the battle raged on, one thing was certain: the outcome would determine the fate of Artemis, and the team would do whatever it took to ensure victory.

The battle escalated with brutal intensity. Eugene and his team, despite their mounting injuries, pressed on as they navigated through a warzone of fire and explosions. The situation was dire, but the team's tactical prowess allowed them to persist even as they faced unimaginable odds.

The battlefield was ablaze, with massive fireballs rising from the dome, lighting up the darkened surroundings like an inferno. The force of the blasts created shockwaves that weakened the terrain beneath them, and the devastation from artillery strikes and antimatter shells left no room for respite. The enemy’s position was weakening, but so was Eugene’s. His ally, Jin, had lost her right arm to the railgun, a blow that left them with only one option: continue fighting until they could secure their mission or perish in the flames.

Eugene, with his analytical mind, quickly assessed their options. The key to survival, he realized, lay in targeting the mobility of their enemies. A crippled enemy was one they could exploit. Jin's current state, while debilitating, offered a crucial window for them to strike decisively.

"At least if we can take out one of their legs, we might stand a chance of getting to Lei—" Eugene began, his words trailing off as his mind processed the rapidly changing scenario.

"I'll do my best," Jin responded, clearly struggling but determined.

"No," Eugene interjected quickly, "You stay back and provide fire support. If you go down, it’s over for all of us."

Eugene’s tactical approach was clear. Despite Jin's injuries, they still had a fighting chance—if they could disable the enemy’s ability to maneuver. The immediate priority was to restrict the enemy’s mobility, targeting their legs and tail. In a situation like this, removing one of those would significantly reduce their ability to fight effectively.

As explosions continued to rock the area, Eugene prepared himself for the next phase. But then, a voice came through the comms—Lei was speaking.

"Why are you so determined to drag me into this?" Lei asked, her voice cold but filled with underlying emotion.

Eugene’s response was simple, a reflection of his purpose.

"Because someone like me can’t just stand by and watch as others are dragged into hell."

Just as the conversation reached a tense point, a sharp sound cut through the air—Lei was firing the railgun again. Eugene, quick to react, loaded an antimatter round into his weapon and prepared to throw it in an effort to counteract the incoming fire. Meanwhile, Jin readied the plasma cannon to provide cover, knowing full well that their actions now could decide their fates.

The exchange escalated rapidly as both sides fired simultaneously, creating a storm of devastating projectiles. The pressure of the battle was mounting, and Eugene knew the stakes were as high as ever. In a moment of pure focus, he and Jin coordinated their attacks, making their move before Lei could fire again.

As the explosions lit up the battlefield, Eugene felt a grim satisfaction—one of their limbs had been severed. Lei had lost her leg. That, at least, was a small victory. But the cost was high. Eugene’s own left arm had taken significant damage in the process.

"We've got incoming," Jin warned, as more artillery shells rained down from the sky. The landscape shook with each strike.

In the midst of the chaos, Eugene realized that Artemis was not simply trying to defeat them—they were actively trying to take Lei out of the equation. Their true goal, it seemed, was to eliminate the key piece that had stood in their way for so long.

"Get down!" Eugene shouted, as another series of blasts neared their position. "We need to move, now!"

The team quickly retreated, moving through the wreckage and seeking cover. Eugene and Jin were both injured, but they couldn’t afford to slow down. The battle wasn’t over yet, and their next move would determine whether they could still come out on top.

As they regrouped, Eugene received word from the Dagger team. Artemis had begun retreating, but not without leaving their mark. The operation was far from finished, and Eugene knew that the final confrontation would be just as brutal.

"Looks like we're about to meet again, sooner than expected," Eugene muttered, as the red dot on the horizon drew closer. The operation was in its final phase, and Artemis was on the brink of collapse. But Eugene knew better than to assume victory just yet. There was still work to be done.

The fight for Artemis' complete eradication was just beginning, and the team would need to push harder than ever to ensure their success. The night was far from over.