Night Debrief and Token

I made the steady climb back up the braided cable from the rug, returning to our station on the dark blue cloth as the room settled into night. My squadmate was right in position, holding the post steady under the soft monitor glow. From our coffee table lean-to, I brought up a smooth little wooden flake chipped from the checker piece. Kneeling between our boots, I tucked the warm wood chip into the fabric fold right alongside our compass marker to log today's lower-level outpost. I reached over, gave his shoulder armor that familiar, solid tap to confirm all sectors are clear, and sat down beside him for the watch.