He paused. There was absolute silence below, every eye on him. “I am not going to lie to you. I am asking everything of you now. There’s no retreat. Anyone who remains under my command here, is here until we win or we die.” He kept his voice firm, steady. “So this is your last chance. Our odds are slim. Our purpose is to buy time—that is all. We are the delay. We are the sacrifice.” He swallowed. “If you stay, I will be commanding each of you not to retreat. Not to surrender. To fight until your last breath. If you are not prepared to do that, leave now and there will be no judgment. I have a
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