Still running, still with her rifle in her hands, Valerie was determined not to let the krauts get to the Lieutenant. Just because there was the promise of retreat didn't mean they would be entirely safe even when they were on the boat. She kept her rifle ready, her finger resting on the wood just above the trigger, scanning for targets that the others might overlook. The sounds of the explosions behind her were naval. Too large to be man-portable mortars whose explosions merely made the leaves shake. The naval shells could set whole trees in motion for a moment, and make you lose your step.