Грань будущего

           Technicallyitwaspossibletodrivethembackwithanoverwhelmingshowofforce.AfterseveralloopstheMimicswouldrealizetheycouldn’twin,andtheywouldwithdrawwithasfewcasualtiesaspossible.Butthatwasn’tthesameasdefeatingthem.Theywouldsimplyretreatbeneaththeocean,outofhumanity’sreach,andgathertheirstrength.Oncetheyhadassembledaninsurmountableforce,theywouldattackagain,andtherewouldbenostoppingthemasecondtime.

           FightingawarwiththeMimicswasalotlikeplayingagamewithachild.Theyhaddecidedtheyweregoingtowinbeforethegamehadevenstarted,andtheywouldn’tgiveupuntiltheywon.Littlebylittle,humanitywaslosingground.

           ThedurationoftheMimictimeloopswasapproximatelythirtyhours.Ritarepeatedeachlooponlyonce.Thefirsttimethroughabattlesheassessedthecasualtieshersquadsustained;thesecondtimethroughshewon.Inthatfirstpassshecouldseewhatthestrategywasandlearnwhodied.Butthelivesofherfriendswereinthemercilesshandsoffate.Thatcouldn’tbechanged.

           Beforeeachbattle,Ritasecludedherselftoclearherthoughts.OneoftheprivilegesofherstationwasthatRitahadherownprivateroomthatnoonewasallowedtoenter.

           Rita’ssquadunderstoodthatthethirtyhoursbeforeabattlewereaspecialtimeforher.Theaveragesoldierinthesquadwasn’tawareofthetimeloop,buttheyknewthatRitahadherreasonsfornotwantingtotalktoanyoneinthetimeleadinguptobattle.Theykepttheirdistanceoutofrespect.