There's a shout from the Fallen troops, far behind - impossible to say if it's victory or rage at the snowmobile escaping over their downed comrades. Josh has long disappeared into the snow, but there's a couple of other escorts nearby, and out in the open they're free to move in and support the snowmobile without getting bogged down and trapped in a melee. Rifle fire lances after them for a bit, but they and the Pokemon overhead are moving swiftly, and the swirling snow veils their escape. Soon the smoke and the shouts and the fire fall behind, and they've only rocks and snow to contend with.

It doesn't last.

From the mist comes a chorus of hums, building suddenly into the whine of antigrav engines. A pack of hoverbikes arrows from the haze, smooth and heavy-built in their brown armor, like the dropships. The jets at their rear snap with unsteady electricity as they swing in easily behind the convoy's tail and fan out around it. One of the dregs driving ducks a little lower behind his bike's armor to avoid a shot from Kinner.

And then they open fire, because of course the bikes have mounted energy weapons. They're trying to herd the convoy onto rougher ground and harry away the escort bikes.

So. Road War.