Seventy eight - EARTH (DIVIDED)

It was Walker who first realized that they had won - if such a term could properly be used in connection with a force that had suffered more than fifty percent casualties. 

The first indication was a slackening of fire, followed by less contact, and more activity from Salom's fighters. 

While the aircraft had made short work of the planes sent to support the rebel advance, and destroyed the majority of their support vehicles, they were of limited value where ground support was concerned. 

Worried lest hit pilots bag some friendlies, the wing commander ordered them to wait. What he needed was a break. It came when the smoke started to clear and the rebels tried to run. 

* * *

A weapons platform took a direct hit from a five hundred pound bomb. It ceased to exist and pieces of sharp edge metal fell like rain. They rattled across the hood, killed the top gunner, and buried themselves in the sand. 

"Red Dog Three to Red Dog One. Where