Through the red warning messages, the static, and the lancing pain coming from just about everywhere, Leo was able to vaguely discern the images of two marines, Boer, Damon? Next, he saw the armored hand of Ghost waving in front of his faceplate. The sniper tried to raise his hand to retract the armored visor, leaving the transparent one in its place, but the limb felt like it was weighted down with several hundred pound bags. Everything was moving slowly, lagging though his mind was still more or less at full speed. SUIT INTEGRITY FAIL -- COMMENCING SYSTEM LOCK, the words flashed over Leo's HUD before his widening eyes.

Leo's mind raced to remember the details from his initial suit and safety indoctrination concerning those particular codes. One of the standard processes available on many of the armored suits fielded by the UGC was a protocol designed to keep injured soldiers alive for as long as possible. When significant trauma was experienced, usually with the SOS transponder being activated, a reserve of painkillers and stabilizing agents kept within the suit was introduced into the operator's system. While this kept the soldier alive, it made them next to useless to the outside world besides target practice. In theory it was sound, keep the soldier comfortable and alive till the medics got there. However in practice, a premature lockdown robbed a soldier of one of their most potent survival tools: the will to live.

Or at least the chance to use it, he barely had the chance to finish the thought before the drugs took over, effectively throwing the rest of the world into a haze. Leo fought to stay awake as the lines became blurry, whatever you do, stay awake. Inwardly, he wondered if the drugs were playing tricks on his hearing, could've sworn I heard an aircraft come in...

----

"Alright, people, listen up." The field surgeon called to his staff as the next patient came in. "Patient was caught on the concussive wave of the blast." Pieces of charred armor were dropping from the man's limbs, being neatly carried away in metal trays. "For the most part his armor protected him from the heat and debris, but internal bleeding, 8 broken ribs, and a concussion still need to be dealt with." Without a second thought of question from the other doctors, the surgical staff got to work.