ã€ŠFrom Nowhere to Sender Vol 2ã€‹


 Chapter 13 [58] (To be explained)

    It was peak operating hours for the commissary situated on the first floor of Station Varza, with roughly three quarters of its long-laminated tables already at capacity. A combination of station and field personnel pressed shoulder to shoulder as they consumed their ready-to-eat meals. A cacophony of conversation and cutlery leaking out through the sets of double doors located on either side of the dining space.

    A short distance away from the epicenter of the uproar stood a brunette communications officer waiting patiently as the dining staff plated the serving she¡¯d requested. A grilled cheese set that came with a tomato basil soup and a small cucumber salad. Her reason for choosing this menu item being that she simply hadn¡¯t tried it yet. And while Esma had seen the item on the menu at previous stations she¡¯d opted for other options more in line with her personal preferences. That¡¯s not to say every station had the same menu items, it was actually quite the opposite. Each station¡¯s menu accounting for the region¡¯s local produce and delicacies. But for the sake of accommodating some of the less adventurous palettes, each station also rotated through several fixed menu items available at any commissary. This happened to be one such item.

    Collecting the red tray, Esma mouthed a thank you to the staff member and waded through the growing crowd towards a table in the corner. Sat at said table were her comrades in arms; Lux, Cade, and a friend of the former¡¯s named Faust. The rookie CO only being introduced to the man a day prior. But he seemed amicable enough. At the very least he¡¯d held off beginning his meal until she joined them. Much like Cade who sat across from him browsing some pamphlet or another. Considerate of them to wait for her but not even remotely necessary.

    ¡°Never thought I¡¯d say this but take a lesson from Lux and drop the decorum. Can¡¯t imagine the food tastes better cold.¡±

    She slid onto the bench across from the blonde, settling beside the well-traveled security officer who began eating his own meal right away. His table counterpart made a face at whatever he was reading and tossed the pamphlet aside in favor of grabbing a spoon.

    ¡°Stews taste better cold.¡±

    The three dug in while Lux, who was all but finished, directed her attention at Esma. She held a fork in her mouth as she inquired about the CO¡¯s first two weeks in field service. In the span of which Esma had served on five different convoys including New Kantler. A tad below the median number as personnel typically crewed on four to five convoys in a given week. Unfortunately political backlash following the convoy to Belveer had them stuck in the Commonwealth for longer than anticipated, lowering everyone¡¯s service time.

    ¡°I¡¯m happy to report that my first convoy has, by far, remained the most eventful. That includes my trip to Station Ellorizo sans your company.¡±

    As for the other three, Esma had been fortunate enough to rejoin the pair, even if they weren¡¯t assigned to the same Crusader. Just knowing there were reliable faces nearby working towards the same goal as her was enough to ease her anxieties.

    ¡°Well, give it some time and you¡¯ll familiarize yourself with plenty of other crewman besides us. More so if you stick to this region of the Expanse.¡±

    Esma dipped one half of her grilled cheese in the tomato soup as she considered Lux¡¯s words. She hadn¡¯t considered whether she¡¯d move around or not. Part of her knew experiencing the other regions of the Expanse would be necessary to seeing her objective through, but after reflecting on her first two weeks on the job it sounded quite daunting.

    ¡°Have you two¡ª¡±

    She glanced at the reticent security officer in her peripheral.

    ¡°Er¡ªthree been in the West for long?¡±

    Lux crossed both arms and sat up straight in a show of pride.

    ¡°Born and raised!¡±

    Cade raised a brow in response to his friend¡¯s declaration but didn¡¯t refute it, swallowing his current mouthful before responding.

    ¡°Spent my first year operating in the North, shifted to the Western region around a year ago. That¡¯s when I ran into this one.¡±

    He gestured to Lux with his spoon.

    ¡°I¡¯d say I prefer it here in general. More agreeable weather, better city layouts, heaps of other stuff that¡¯d probably bore you.¡±

    ¡°Because city planning is so thrilling¡ª¡±

    Cade ignored the comment and motioned the spoon to the seat across from him.

    ¡°Warren, you¡¯ve been in the West awhile, right?¡±

    [Faust Warren, 23, Security Division]

    ¡°Three years and counting.¡±

    ¡°Bullshit, toss it over!¡±

    Esma didn¡¯t immediately understand Lux¡¯s request but pieced it together after Faust slipped one hand under the table. Watching as he wordlessly undid his belt and tossed it over to the insistent blonde, who proceeded to scrutinize its contents. The action itself spoke volumes of the man¡¯s trust in Lux, to the extent Esma nearly chastised her for making such a porous effort at covering the belt from passersby. The CO unconsciously placed a hand on her own waist just to make sure her own service record was still safely concealed.

    ¡°...I¡¯ll be damned, and to think you¡¯re so unassuming. Nice of you to whip it out for me though.¡±

    ¡°Hey...¡±

    Cade shoved Lux¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°Some of us are still eating here.¡±

    Lux shrugged and handed the belt back over to Faust over the table. On the return trip she plucked a cucumber off Esma¡¯s salad and bit into it with a satisfying crunch. But rather than lament the loss of her botanic fruit, she found her green gaze flittering over to the pamphlet Cade had discarded. It was face down so she couldn¡¯t be sure, but based on the language on the back it concerned travel.

    Swallowing the last bite of her sandwich, she made to ask the engineer about it but became distracted by another attempt at her salad. As if to help Esma thwart this second effort a loud female voice suddenly came over the station¡¯s PA system. It was monotone, indicative of an emergency alert, and did the impossible of making the entire dining area settle down in unison.

    ¡°THIS IS AN EMERGENCY SUMMONS; ALL AVAILABLE PERSONNEL ARE ASKED TO REPORT TO THE ASSEMBLY AREA IMMEDIATELY FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTION. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY SUMMONS; ALL AVAILABLE¡ª¡±

    The message continued to play on repeat as chatter began to pick back up around them. Meanwhile Esma had gone from startled to discerning whether sharing a meal qualified her and the others as available. That question was answered in the form of Lux, Cade and Faust shooting up from their respective seats.

    ¡°Galen Run. Whose game?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m due.¡±

    ¡°Think I¡¯m going to let you run off on your own.¡±

    The three gathered up their trays and began moving away from the table. Feeling terribly uninformed and alone, Esma scrambled to collect her own things so she could hurry after them. The PA¡¯s continued assault from above only adding to her nervous energy. They proceeded to deposit their trays on the designated conveyor belt before bursting out of the dining hall doors.

    As they entered the hallways leading into the rest of the station Esma could make out a select few similarly rushing in the direction of the assembly area. Although there was also a staggering number of personnel going about their business as usual, granted they still made way for those passing through. Where she not so preoccupied keeping pace with the others she¡¯d have inquired more about these so-called ¡°Galen Runs¡± and asked why they didn¡¯t seem to be of interest to the rest of the station. But at their current pace coupled with the cramp forming in her side, Esma felt it likely her questions would have to wait until they reached their destination.

    Turning a corner the group nearly collided with a pair of officers coming from the other direction. Fortunately, Lux, who¡¯d been leading the charge, redirected the momentum of the closer individual. Spinning them into the lap of the person behind them. As Esma was at the tail end of their bunch she took it upon herself to raise a single hand in apology as they passed by the toppled duo. Much to her surprise the taller of the two sprang back to his feet rather quickly and no sooner had passed her enroute back to Lux up front.

    He matched his stride to Cade¡¯s for a moment and offered a goofy smile to the engineer before catching up to Lux just as she reached the series of doorways leading into the assembly area. The two entered the space through separate doorways, the man extending his upper body forward and flailing his arms back like one would at the end of a two-hundred-meter dash. The blonde stood off to the side of the opposing doorway looking unimpressed as the others filed in after him, Esma bringing up the rear.

    ¡°Can always count on you to get in the way Wash.¡±

    The man peered of the doubled over forms of Esma and the officer he¡¯d been running alongside at the time of the toppling, both trying to catch their breaths. He brought a pair of round, red-tinted glasses up from his face and offered a toothy smile at his impromptu race opponent.

    ¡°Anytime pal.¡±

    [Wash Redcliffe, 26, Engineering Division]

    *

    It took longer than Esma would have liked to admit for her to regain her breath and stand upright again, and even when she did the cramp in her side protested causing her to grimace. She half-worried the unfamiliar man next to her would mistake it for a glare, but he seemed more focused on the officer sharing in her struggles. She used the opportunity to get a good look at him.

    He was tall, taller than Cade who¡¯d Esma would also consider tall, and had a build she could best describe as sinewy. His arm musculature in particular on full display as the gray top he wore lacked sleeves by design. Albeit his right arm did have a black compression sleeve running its length. Looks wise he had wavy dark brown hair that he¡¯d swept back and a light birthmark bordering the corner of his left eye. It contrasted an olive skin tone that was one shade lighter than Lux¡¯s. Just as she¡¯d finished studying his appearance a pair of brown eyes flicked downwards and met her own.

    ¡°You¡¯re an unfamiliar face.¡±

    Cade answered in her place as he stepped up alongside the man Lux had referred to as Wash.

    ¡°She¡¯s new, circa de two weeks ago. Got stuck in Belveer with the rest of us.¡±

    Wash folded his arms and hinged at the hips to get a closer look at her. Notably, lowering his round spectacles prior to his appraising. He snapped his long fingers.

    ¡°Communications Division.¡±

    Esma reflexively looked down to see if all the running had exposed her belt, it hadn¡¯t. Meaning he¡¯d drawn on experience to make an educated guess. Something she wouldn¡¯t make up for anytime soon, and undoubtedly a contributor to her failures thus far to correctly guess even half of her colleague¡¯s divisions ahead of departure. It frustrated her.

    That frustration went unvoiced however as the personnel who¡¯d crowded into the assembly area began forming several queues. Lux appeared behind Esma and guided her by the shoulders into the closest one, Cade and Wash in line ahead of them.

    ¡°Managed to catch the final quarter of that game the other day, darn shame.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t remind me. That old fossil¡¯s clock management was as horrendous as ever. I mean, at the very least give the guys a chance to go down and win it.¡±

    ¡°Think you could do better?¡±

    ¡°Hey, I coached in an intramural league once!¡±

    Esma tuned the pair out from there and poked her head out of the line to gather more information about what was happening. She noted the line was moving surprisingly fast.

    ¡°Hey Lux?¡±

    Said security officer had produced a nail file at some point, beginning work on her pointer finger.

    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    ¡°Care to fill me in on what¡¯s going on.¡±

    They took a few steps forward.

    ¡°Galen Run.¡±

    A beat of silence.

    ¡°Yes, you made mention of that back at the table. Now if you could provide a bit more context for this confused fledgling.¡±

    Lux paused her filing and looked up as they moved forward again.

    ¡°Oh right, my bad. Just think of it as an emergency convoy. We¡¯re talking super last-minute shit.¡±

    Esma contemplated the implications of that synopsis as Lux blew on her nails. Meanwhile the ongoing sports debate going on ahead of them had shifted abruptly to an argument on industrial politics. Talk about whiplash.

    ¡°A time sensitive convoy...that would imply the cargo we¡¯re pulling either has a critical shelf life or we¡¯re transporting emergency supplies in bulk. Likely the former. Unless it¡¯s still developing, I haven¡¯t heard word on a disaster in any of the neighboring city states. But if that¡¯s true the cargo will be of considerable value raising the likelihood...¡±

    The brunette continued rambling, mostly to herself, as Lux alternated between nailcare and moving her along. Cade and Wash already in the process of being assigned a Crusader. And as one would expect based on their extensive history working as part of a tandem, they were assigned to the same machine. Esma snapped back to attention just in time to watch as their broad forms walked side by side in the direction of the docks. Understandable as engineers needed to board the Crusader before everyone else to help with loading and to conduct their routine checks. In this case a very abbreviated version.

    ¡°Been awhile Lux, how¡¯s life treatin ya?¡±

    Lux squeezed in next to Esma and extended a fist to the man stood beside the staff officer responsible for filling out the crew roster. He returned her gesture in kind.

    ¡°It¡¯s been bit too gentle as of late, nothing jumping onboard one these can¡¯t fix.¡±

    Esma looked back and forth between the two as she presented her ID to the seated man. Sensing her inquisitiveness the man offered an introduction and a firm handshake.

    ¡°Convoy Commander Dandridge. Happy to have you on board.¡±

    [Lautnor Dandridge, 32, Convoy Commander]

    Unlike the CCs she¡¯d encountered thus far this guy was exuding waves of charisma. Kind of like the engineer she¡¯d met two minutes ago. But unlike Wash the commander had very fair skin and short messy blonde hair. His scant stubble a much darker shade and his stature on par with that of Cade¡¯s. And the pi¨¨ce de r¨¦sistance, a pair of tattoos running up the sides of his neck until they converged on the underside of his chin. A chin with a labret piercing shaped like a star. But it was something about the phrases making up the tattoos that struck Esma as familiar, though she couldn¡¯t quite place it. She made to ask but got interrupted.

    ¡°Miss Villard you¡¯re to report to Crusader C362 for the role of security officer. Same Crusader as the gentlemen before you for reference.¡±

    ¡°...huh?¡±

    The staff member turned their attention to Lux, seemingly done with her. She placed both hands on the reception desk to make it clear she was still very much present.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I think you must have misread my ID. I¡¯m a member of the communications division, not security.¡±

    The older man went about inspecting Lux¡¯s ID and jotting her name down on the crew roster, unperturbed by Esma¡¯s assessment of the situation.

    ¡°I regret to inform you that all three CO positions are currently accounted for. If you intend to be part of this convoy, it will have to be in a security capacity.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    For one of the scant few times in her life Esma was at a loss for words. Too busy analyzing the ramifications of this development. Did they really expect her to competently fill this role? Should she resign from the convoy so the position could go to someone more qualified?

    ¡°Go ahead and slide me onto C362 as well, I¡¯ll take responsibility for her.¡±

    A courteous move on Lux¡¯s part. Not that it solved anything.

    ¡°But¡ª¡±

    ¡°You''re in-luck newbie! I struggle to think of a finer security officer to learn from in these parts!¡±

    Esma swallowed and desperately tried to conjure up an acceptable counter argument, but things were moving much too quickly. Emphasizing that point was Lux who hooked her arm and began dragging her in the direction of the armory.

    ¡°Get a move on Es, time to get you acquainted with the ole shooting iron.¡±

    Lautnor watched as the sharpshooter dragged off her colleague when he felt a stack of paperwork smack the top of his head. He turned, meeting the half-lidded gaze of the convoy¡¯s assigned Head Communications Officer. She released the papers atop his head forcing him to hurriedly grab them and followed up with a flick of her dark ponytail over her shoulder.

    ¡°We have a LOT of things to go over before departure, hope you can walk and talk.¡±

    *

    ¡°It emerged two weeks ago, in concert with the return of an aquatic fowl species called the Boreal Crested Grebe. They used to make regular migrations to the region, up until they disappeared from Mennarouple¡¯s shores some thirty years ago. Consensus among biologists was that warmer temperatures in the Northeast corridor altered their migration patterns.¡±

    ¡°Crested Grebe...those¡¯re the ones with the crazy looking head feathers, right?¡±

    One of Sumiye¡¯s eyes twitched involuntarily at the Commander¡¯s takeaway, but she knew that he wouldn¡¯t pay attention if she didn¡¯t answer him before continuing.

    ¡°Their plumage is considered unique, yes. Hence the use of the term ¡®crested¡¯. Relative to similar species they apparently spend a great deal of time on plumage maintenance.¡±

    ¡°Birds are so funny. You got a favorite bird Sumi?¡±

    [Sumiye Endellion, 27, Communications Division]

    ¡°No. Now as I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware the city of Mennarouple is a major agricultural producer for the region. They make use of not only the fertile land around the lake but also employ floating gardens on its surface. Ideal places for the Grebes to construct their nests.¡±

    ¡°What they don¡¯t have floating scarecrows?¡±

    The two strode across the yard and entered the dock of Crusader C471, which would serve as the command center for this convoy.

    ¡°On the contrary, the farmers were happy to see the return of the bird population. Not only do they aid in pest control, but they also serve as effective bioindicators for ecological conditions.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t say.¡±

    Sumiye had to tug on the blonde¡¯s shirt to regain his attention as he waved at someone from across the yard.

    ¡°Turns out they shouldn¡¯t have been so welcoming after all. The birds were carrying an IAV, what¡¯s essentially influenza or the flu for birds. And they transmitted it to the farmers without anyone knowing. In general the disease¡¯s onset is one to four days after exposure, plenty of time to spread it to family members before symptoms began showing.¡±

    Lautnor¡¯s head snapped down in the Head COs direction.

    ¡°You telling me we¡¯ve got an outbreak in Mennarouple? Because if that¡¯s the case I¡¯m pretty sure we¡¯re legally required to notify the crews ahead of departure of what we¡¯re driving them into.¡±

    ¡°Relax, parts of the city have already been placed under strict quarantine. And no cases have been reported at or around the Crusader station. It¡¯s one of the reasons the Council of Trade and Commerce positions its assets on the outskirts of most city states.¡±

    ¡°Who you calling an asset?¡±

    The CC pointed an accusatory finger at the woman, for her part she smacked it away with a grumble.

    ¡°The crews will be made aware via a group transmission at the beginning of the route. If you¡¯re worried about mutiny rest assured the conditions in the city are being factored in to this convoy¡¯s compensation package.¡±

    Lautnor held her gaze for a moment before heading around to C471¡¯s cargo bay, Sumiye lagging not far behind.

    ¡°So if I¡¯m following along correctly, the cargo we''re transporting is¡ª¡±

    ¡°The specimens required to produce an adequate number of vaccines.¡±

    He approached the series of specially prepared crates carrying the specimens in question, all of the cold storage variety. They were strapped down thoroughly and surrounded by a sea of dunnage bags to ensure no damage came to their fragile contents.

    ¡°Time is of the essence; another day goes by and the sickness could spread to every corner of the city. And since the cash crops they grow in Mennarouple are harvested year-round, delays caused by the virus could lead to short term food shortages in the surrounding regions.¡±

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t be much of a Galen Run if there weren¡¯t stakes tied to our success.¡±

    The pair skirted around the cargo and headed up the ladder way, the onboard crew members offering nods and greetings as they emerged topside.

    ¡°Regarding the route...¡±

    Lautnor offered a hand and pulled her up with practiced ease.

    ¡°If we¡¯re being realistic, there¡¯s only one option that¡¯ll get us there on time...¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t be helped. It¡¯s an emergency after all.¡±

    He turned to the piloting engineer.

    ¡°We loaded yet?¡±

    Of course, he¡¯d dodge her attempt at discussing the route.

    ¡°Last of the roster is trickling in as we speak.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s shaping up to be an interesting afternoon! Hey Sumi!¡±

    The CO had given up on her briefing and instead started fiddling with her equipment, things like setting the frequency for the group transmission and adjusting the fit of the headset.

    ¡°Let¡¯s hurry on over to Station Riga so we can do some bird watching! I¡¯d like to get a good look at the little bastard¡¯s causing us so much trouble! Maybe get some tips on plumage maintenance while we¡¯re at it!¡±

    Sumiye got the headset on and made sure to cover the mic.

    ¡°Moron.¡±

    *

    Station Varza¡¯s armory was housed in a separate building a short distance away from loading yard. As one would hope and expect it had multiple security checkpoints one had to bypass if they so much wanted to sniff a rifle, or any other firearm for that matter. Lux¡¯s pedigree allowed her to skip a couple of checkpoints whereas Esma had to go through all the normal operating procedures. It didn¡¯t matter how strapped for time they were, the LCF didn¡¯t play around when it came to weapon access.

    Rather than wait around for Esma to finish up, Lux entered the main reception and flagged down one of the technicians. She handed the woman her weapons license, a card she kept in the same sleeve as her ID and flashed the sharpshooting qualification decorating the right side of her belt. The tech nodded and headed over to one of the weapon lockers to retrieve Lux¡¯s custom rifle.

    Save for unique circumstances, this was where every field service security officer stored their rifle between convoys. Handing them in shortly after arrival for the technicians to clean and maintain. This was also where they were allotted ammunition in accordance with the CC¡¯s order. And given the convoys ¡®Galen Run¡¯ status they¡¯d be afforded more than the usual number of magazines.

    Lux leaned back against the counter and scanned the room for familiar faces. Galen Runs didn¡¯t have manifests due to their last second nature. As such personnel didn¡¯t know which colleagues would be joining them on the convoy until boarding. The irony of this wasn¡¯t lost on Lux who didn¡¯t pay much heed to the manifest regardless, but Galen Runs would have probably been the one exception. Being considerably more dangerous than your typical convoy, who you had on hand mattered more. Especially since these runs relied on volunteers to fill out their crew rosters. Meaning they took whatever they could get. Even if it meant appointing a rookie CO to a security position.

    ¡°I thought you only had these episodes during the actual convoy?¡±

    Turning around Lux came face to face with Youn who similarly handed his weapons license over to an available tech just as the her¡¯s returned, rifle in tow. After setting it on the counter she produced a ring of keys from her person and opened a reinforced cabinet behind the counter. Inside, the ammunition for Lux¡¯s rifle.

    ¡°What¡¯s your number?¡±

    ¡°C362.¡±

    Lux nodded and started to list off names on her fingers.

    ¡°That makes me, you, Faust and Esma...but wasn¡¯t there a weak presence accompanying Wash to the assembly area? What division was that guy in?¡±

    ¡°Hold on a sec, wasn¡¯t Esma the name of that rookie from Belveer? You¡¯re really telling me they expect her to serve as a security officer today?¡±

    Lux turned back towards the counter and went about examining her magazines.

    ¡°See for yourself.¡±

    Looking towards the entryway Youn watched the brunette in question enter somewhat nervously, rushing over as soon as she saw Lux stood beside him. He doubted she even noticed his presence. Faust was not far behind and offered a genteel nod in his direction before also coming over.

    ¡°So I think the reality of the situation is beginning to sink in and I¡¯m kind of freaking out.¡±

    Youn groaned as he pinched the bridge of his nose, Lux on the other hand didn¡¯t seem too perturbed by the beginning stages of the rookie¡¯s mental breakdown.

    ¡°Two weeks ago you climbed the bridge of a moving Crusader, got within spitting distance of a raiding party leader and now you¡¯re scared?¡±

    ¡°Spitting distance wouldn¡¯t have been my first choice of metric, and I¡¯d argue the encroaching reality of getting blown up by a rocket super seceded my usual capacity for putting myself in harm''s way.¡±

    ¡°The armory has rockets, right?¡±

    Lux turned to the same woman tech who¡¯d been on standby. She nodded in the affirmative.

    ¡°Try and use that to put yourself in the same head space as back then.¡±

    What even was this conversation. Youn collected his rifle from the counter and slung its strap over his shoulder. Securing his allotment of ammunition inside his drop pouch, he made to leave for the Crusader but took one more look at Esma¡¯s lackluster body language and stopped.

    ¡°You should probably pass on this convoy.¡±

    The two girls put a momentary halt to the scene they were making in the middle of the armory and glanced at his back.

    ¡°There¡¯s no shame in staying within your means, and no one¡¯s going to fault a CO for withdrawing from a crew roster due to availability concerns. Many would argue that rookies shouldn¡¯t be anywhere near a Galen Run to begin with.¡±

    Youn looked over his shoulder.

    ¡°Believe me, the last thing your colleagues want is to lose someone new because they tried to do too much too fast.¡±

    He didn¡¯t miss the fact that Lux held her tongue in this case, though she was visibly displeased it was clear she wanted the rookie to fight her own battles. A sort of hands-off policy that many seasoned field service personnel subscribed to when handling those less versed in life on the road between stations. Whether he¡¯d just overstepped that bound was up to interpretation, but Youn was willing to admit he was still a bit raw from the fate that befell Preece. As such he¡¯d hate to see Lux go through something similar. For it was obvious based on the way the two interacted that they were already close.

    He wouldn¡¯t say that he¡¯d been particularly close to Preece in comparison, but they¡¯d worked together enough times that a foundation of trust had formed. And having that foundation torn up so unexpectedly hurt like hell. Having said his piece and feeling a little better for it, Youn made to leave again. Only for Esma¡¯s calm voice to hold him in place a moment longer.

    ¡°Lifes not supposed to be a race, it¡¯s perfectly ok to speed up for some people and slow down for others.¡±

    Youn turned around, not bothering to mask his look of surprise. Because those weren¡¯t the words of someone her age. It was clear someone had already gotten through to her in the past.

    ¡°The CO who told me that is one of two people in my life that I truly admire.¡±

    A huff from the vicinity of Lux.

    ¡°Though I expect the list will continue to grow in time.¡±

    Esma smiled at the offended party, who responded by looking away sheepishly for behaving so immaturely. She returned her attention to Youn.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure it must seem like I¡¯m speeding up to catch all of you, but from my perspective I¡¯ve been stationary this entire time. It just so happened that some rather impressive people were about to pass me by and for the first time in my life I decided I¡¯d try joining them. Join them on whatever journey they were on. For someone stagnant like me it was never a matter of speeding up or slowing down to others, so I decided to put my trust in the people steering the ship, or Crusader in this case. If they want to go fast, I¡¯ll go fast. Even if it means stepping out of my comfort zone.

    The girl took in a sharp breath, as if to bolster herself for what she was going to say next.

    ¡°I¡¯m more than aware of the inherent recklessness in this method, but if it takes me away from that place I was before, then I¡¯ve taken one step closer to properly learning what it means to live for myself.¡±

    A few claps rang out from both Faust and some of the technicians who¡¯d listened in. Suddenly it was Esma¡¯s turn to avert her gaze in embarrassment as the reality of her long-winded monologue sank in. Youn watched on, both impressed and somewhat saddened by the implications of the young woman¡¯s statement. But at the same time knew such things were commonplace among the LCF¡¯s most self-driven branch.

    ¡°In that case I look forward to seeing what else your role model taught you.¡±

    Youn left the armory quickly afterwards, eager to get the Galen Run underway. With the matter of her involvement settled, Esma received assistance from Lux in getting her standard issue. Faust too collected his weapon from the counter. And with that the security officers of C362 were now armed and ready for transit.

 Chapter 14

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 Chapter 15

    ¡°Should be coming into view any second now.¡±

    Youn lifted the pair of binoculars as Lux and Esma leaned against the back deck¡¯s side railing to get a better look. No doubt Faust was also on the lookout from his spot on the front deck.

    ¡°And just what is it exactly we¡¯re looking for?¡±

    Lowering the binoculars, Youn cast a surprised look in Lux¡¯s direction. Whom had taken to leaning a rather precarious distance over the edge of the railing. Esma hovered close behind, her sole focus keeping the blonde sharpshooter from making a premature departure.

    ¡°You¡¯ve never been down route 26?¡±

    ¡°Hard to say...is 26 the one that comes after 25?¡±

    Esma pulled Lux back by the waistband, simultaneously trying to hold off an argument.

    ¡°In her defense the route is usually circumvented. This stretch in particular sees very little traffic.¡±

    Like many other COs Esma had studied the Expanse¡¯s route map extensively. As such she¡¯d become keenly aware of which routes offered the greatest advantages and disadvantages according to conventional wisdom. Unfortunately, this route fell under the latter. Though if her recollection was correct, it boasted a very unique and visually appealing terrain. Not that she¡¯d consider the tradeoff worth it.

    ¡°Does Lamella¡¯s Lands ring a bell at least?¡±

    ¡°You know what, I think I went to school with a Lamella...¡±

    Recognizing Lux¡¯s mordant sense of humor, Esma inserted herself again to explain further.

    ¡°Lamella Faepeur, I suppose you could say the region ahead of us was dedicated to the renowned socialite.¡±

    Before continuing Esma cast a glance in Youn¡¯s direction. Her way of asking if he¡¯d like to take over from there since he¡¯d seemed to hold a mild interest in the subject.

    ¡°All yours.¡±

    Lux proceeded to squat down in a way reminiscent of a street urchin, a display of her intention to hunker down and listen. Esma cleared her throat awkwardly, only because she was unsure whether to join her colleague on the deck or remain standing. She settled for taking a couple steps back to avoid the perception that she was looking down on who was for all intents and purposes her superior officer.

    ¡°As officer Sigurd previously made mention of the convoy will soon be crossing into what¡¯s known as a karst landscape. The term refers to the dissolution or chemical weathering of soluble sedimentary rocks to form features both above and below the ground. If I¡¯m not mistaken the formations in Lamella¡¯s Lands are comprised almost entirely of limestone, one such type of soluble rock formed over extensive periods of time due to precipitation.¡±

    Esma paused to take a breath and check up on her audience. An audience that had grown in size as officer Katsurn had made a surprise visit onto the back deck. As a fellow CO the woman should already be familiar with the segment she¡¯d just gone over, as well as what came next. Perhaps she¡¯d joined for the purpose of appraising her junior¡¯s dedication to the craft? That or she¡¯d gotten tired of Wash¡¯s antics on the bridge. On cue an obnoxiously loud sneeze sounded from the direction of the front deck. Esma ignored it and continued.

    ¡°If you look now you should be able to see some of these limestone outcroppings, and you¡¯ll note that many of them resemble large towers. An appropriate comparison given that limestone has long since been a popular choice of building material due to its durable yet malleable nature. Enter one renowned architect from the peace period¡ª¡±

    ¡°Jacoby James Morg.¡±

    A bit of audience participation from Youn. She wasn¡¯t opposed.

    ¡°To make a long story short, James sought to win the affections of lady Lamella by using his skills to design a one of kind castle that he could offer as a dowry. Ever the perfectionist, he took advantage of the abundance of limestone formations in this region to experiment on the castle¡¯s overall aesthetic and design. In the end carving out over fifty different iterations of the chateau over the course of a decade.¡±

    ¡°He made that many by himself?!¡±

    ¡°I believe he had a number of apprentices and contractors to assist him in the endeavor...¡±

    ¡°All for naught.¡±

    Youn shook his head side to side in disapproval. Earning a snort from Jericka.

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t have pegged you for a romantic Youn.¡±

    ¡°Fuck off.¡±

    ¡°Pipe down you two, the presentation isn¡¯t over yet.¡±

    ¡°Got any Pipe Down? I¡¯d love to throw a canister or two in the bridge right about now.¡±

    ¡°Pfft, right.¡±

    Lux looked up at Jericka in what was a rare display of solidarity between the two. Meanwhile Esma waited patiently for everyone to settle down so she could wrap the explanation up.

    ¡°...needless to say, Lamella didn¡¯t wait around and married someone else or another. Not long after James fell victim to a sinkhole while toiling away on one of his practice runs and passed away. In the process of recovering his body the collection team discovered a fossil of unprecedented size inside the cave system he inadvertently discovered.¡±

    ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken it¡¯s fairly common for fossils to turn up in limestone, isn¡¯t it. So wouldn¡¯t calling the discovery unprecedented be a bit extreme?¡±

    A good question from Youn. And one that helped segue into her next point.

    ¡°It¡¯s because the types of fossils normally found in limestone include shells, corals and other small marine organisms. This one was big. We¡¯re talking putting multiple Crusaders end to end here.¡±

    ¡°They found a sea monster??¡±

    ¡°The preferred term is leviathan, but whatever floats your boat. And it¡¯s not that absurd when you consider the fact this entire region used to be underwater. Strictly speaking the lake in Mennarouple is all that remains of the freshwater sea that used to be here.¡±

    ¡°Wait, don¡¯t tell me...¡±

    Esma tucked some loose strands of hair behind her ear and readjusted the rifle strap on her shoulder.

    ¡°Believe it, they named the complete skeleton Lamella. Because once upon a time these were Lamella¡¯s lands...or seas, whatever.

    Lux sprang up and started laughing, catching the other three off guard.

    ¡°Castles, caves, sea monsters. It¡¯s like some story meant for brats. Bet that poor bastard is turning in his grave as we speak.¡±

    Jericka rolled her eyes while Youn began chastising the blonde.

    ¡°Show some respect, he was a renowned architect for good reason. You¡¯ve probably come across building exhibiting his influence without even realizing it.¡±

    ¡°Meh. If he¡¯s so great, how come it took him fifty tries.¡±

    The two officers carried on their argument as they walked away, leaving the two COs alone with each other. And yet neither seemed put off by this development. Jericka sporting a small smile and Esma trying unsuccessfully to get a read on her.

    ¡°You¡¯re well-informed new girl.¡±

    ¡°If only, I didn¡¯t know a thing about Galen Runs. That includes the fact I could be cajoled into filling a unfamiliar role so easily.¡±

    Jericka approached the brunette until their chests were practically touching. Her smile growing as she angled her head upwards. Esma being a good five to six centimeters taller.

    ¡°You know most people would have withdrawn their name from the crew roster if presented with your current set of circumstances.¡±

    ¡°Um... I¡¯ve already rather embarrassingly stated my reasons for staying on in front of the entire armory. If it¡¯s all the same to you I¡¯d rather not revisit it.¡±

    Just thinking back on it made her cringe internally. Fortunately, she had excellent control over her external emotions.

    ¡°Mhm, that¡¯s kinda gross.¡±

    Esma didn¡¯t know whether she was referring to her decision to participate or her refusal to reprise the earlier monologue. Either way she opted to stand pat and stay silent for the time being. Sensing this C362¡¯s CO clasped both hands behind her back and sauntered back in the direction of the bridge.

    ¡°Just to be clear I don¡¯t plan on leaving the bridge again until we reach Station Riga. If you should feel the need to see me for something that is. Don¡¯t be a stranger.¡±

    She watched the woman go before returning to her spot at the railing. As expected, the limestone formations were now visible from the deck and left quite an impression. It was almost like they were approaching a large forest of stone trees, trees with a blue hue and small accents of various vegetation. Esma didn¡¯t even want to think about the vast cave and drainage systems hidden underneath it all, threatening to swallow them whole at the slightest misstep. After all, she had no interest in making any fossil discoveries of her own.

    *

    ¡°Does everyone have their copy of the map in front of them?¡±

    Both Jericka and Hayes answered in the affirmative, having jumped over to the main comms channel after conducting their first check-ins.

    ¡°As you¡¯ve probably already noticed the version of the map we¡¯re working with is a bit dated. To the extent you won¡¯t find any of the limestone projects or cavern systems. The latter shouldn¡¯t be an issue since the route we¡¯re taking has been stress tested by convoys operating at much greater combined actual weights than our own. The former is where things get a bit hairy...¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t suppose we were able to source the locations of Lamella¡¯s castles?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a work in progress. I¡¯m told that we¡¯ll have a more comprehensive list at the next check-in. The problem I alluded to is gathering intel on the structures encroaching on the route.¡±

    ¡°The idea being that they¡¯d serve as effective camp sites and approach points for Cloud Nine.¡±

    ¡°I find it hard to believe the CoTC caught wind of this issue and opted to leave the castles standing.¡±

    ¡°Seems they¡¯re being stymied by local legaters who insist on leaving the area untouched until they can conduct a proper archaeological survey.¡±

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°Untouched?! Do they realize how much damage was already done by that obsessive fool and his team? To say nothing of the countless raiding parties who have scoured each location for anything of value.¡±

    ¡°The irony is not being lost on anyone Hayes, trust me. And we¡¯ll more or less be relying on that team of his for information on each structure¡¯s location and general layout. As soon as we¡¯re able to track some of them down that is...¡±

    ¡°You can just call them castles; we won¡¯t think any less of you for it.¡±

    ¡°Obviously waiting around until the second check-in isn¡¯t a sound strategy, which is why Commander Dandridge and I have been cross examining reports from previous convoys with help from Riga. Together we¡¯ve managed to narrow down a few locations. I¡¯ll have you mark them on your maps now to head off any surprises and to make sure we¡¯re all on the same page.¡±

    This was the best they could do with the resources at their disposal. Hopefully it would be enough to reach the second check-in point relatively unscathed.

    ¡°Three separate structures are located at the following coordinates¡ª¡±

    *

    ¡°I¡¯ll be honest, when I heard there¡¯d be castles, I got a little excited. But now that I¡¯ve been staring at blue rocks for ten minutes, the prospect is losing its charm.¡±

    Lux lowered the binoculars and squinted her eyes at the passing scenery. Esma on the other hand had been staring a hole through the front deck the entire time. Offering little by way of conversation or movement outside of the occasional fidget.

    ¡°Hey Lux...¡±

    ¡°Wait! I think that might be¡ª! Nope, negative. Just another big rock...What were you saying?¡±

    ¡°If we get raided...¡±

    ¡°Oh, we¡¯re getting raided alright. It¡¯s more a matter of how many times it happens.¡±

    Esma swallowed and shrunk back towards the wall of the bridge behind her.

    ¡°Yeah, getting raided during a Galen Run is about as universally accepted as getting hung over after a night of drinking. You¡¯ll probably even swear off Galen Runs for the foreseeable future. But most of us end up grabbing that drink again anyways, for better or worse.¡±

    ¡°And I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll come to appreciate that nugget of wisdom, it¡¯s just that...I¡¯m not sure I¡¯ll be able to...¡±

    ¡°Worried about having to shoot someone.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t a question. Lux didn¡¯t even turn around to deliver what had been weighing on Esma¡¯s mind ever since she entered the armory for the first time.

    ¡°Not so much shooting someone as much as killing them...¡±

    For some reason Esma felt ashamed for saying such a thing out loud. As if it was arrogant of her to assume she could even kill someone by shooting them. Complete novice that she was. Keeping her head pointed down towards the deck, she flicked her eyes up to ascertain the blonde¡¯s reaction. Only to find that her comrade seemed to be wrestling with something of her own. But not in a distressed way like she was, more like searching for the right words. A rare sight to behold when dealing with someone so brazen.

    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m so far removed from all that that it took me a second to remember the feeling. But I don¡¯t have some quick fix or life hack that¡¯s gonna make the weight of pulling that trigger any lighter. There¡¯s a reason we don¡¯t carry non-lethal rounds.¡±

    A wave of nausea struck Esma out of nowhere, regret rearing its ugly head.

    ¡°And to think I talked such a big game back in the armory, Youn even warned me this would happen...¡±

    Concern presented itself in Lux¡¯s features as she watched the rookie lament her current circumstances. Spurred by her desire to ease the girl¡¯s psyche, a handful of potential alternatives popped into her head. Granted most of them were wishful thinking.

    ¡°Look, in the event you do come face to face with a raider I want you to shoot at their feet. It¡¯ll give them pause, but more importantly it should alert the next closest officer. And even if you do connect, a shot through the foot isn¡¯t going to kill anyone.¡±

    Esma regained some vigor at the suggestion and pressed further on the subject.

    ¡°What should I do in the event I incapacitate an enemy?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s rare, but I guess you could take them into custody. You¡¯d have to disarm and immobilize them though.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d need something to restrain them...not to mention a place to keep them, ideally somewhere that wouldn¡¯t create advantages or get in the way of the crew.¡±

    And just like that the rookie was back in the saddle, good thing too. Had she stayed in such a troubled mindset the chances of her falling victim to the Galen Run would have been high. Losing someone like the brunette now would give even Lux fits, which in turn could have an adverse effect on her judgment. Such things had happened before. Fortunately her crew mates at the time had been able to shoulder her workload until she got her head on straight again. Perhaps today would be the day she returned that favor.

    *

    ¡°Collins! You¡¯re supposed to be on lunch break!¡±

    The man¡¯s eyes remained glued to the notepad he was scribbling on as he answered his superior, one of the departments shortwave radios receivers tucked between his neck and shoulder.

    ¡°I¡¯m taking bites in between transmissions.¡±

    He motioned to a half-eaten egg salad sandwich sitting atop a light blue lunch pail in front of him. One that featured several colorful stickers of rainbows and clouds.

    ¡°Should have this wrapped up by the time I finish.¡±

    The department chief furrowed his brows and leaned in to get a better look at what the bespectacled man was doing. His confusion growing as he found a series of maps of an unfamiliar region sprawled out across the workstation.

    ¡°Ah, responding to a CFS.¡±

    A CFS, or call for service, being when a station requests third-party assistance in information gathering over the LCF¡¯s designated collaborative channel. Third-party referring to stations not directly involved in the convoy in question. The channel itself being highly secure thanks to a coding algorithm meant to ensure only approved members of a communications department could tune in at any given time.

    The comms worker reached forward and took another bite of the sandwich before answering. Jotting down a list of what appeared to be dimensions for a building or some other large structure.

    ¡°There was a request for data collection on a series of limestone builds to the west. Castles according to the last fellow I spoke with, a structural engineer in training who contributed to several foundations before leaving the project.¡±

    ¡°Castles eh...I¡¯m sure your little girl would be thrilled to hear that her daddy got to meet a castle builder today.¡±

    ¡°A joke I assume. It¡¯s against rules and regulations to discuss the nature of CFS requests with anyone outside the department.¡±

    The chief sighed into his mustache as a passerby handed him something to look over. He carried on the conversation as he browsed it.

    ¡°Well, since your daughter won¡¯t get to ask, anything noteworthy about these limestone castles?¡±

    ¡°Of the three I¡¯ve collected data on so far, I¡¯ve found they are all remarkably different in both layout and scale. Almost as if the architect was testing the absolute limits of limestone as a building material. A peculiar choice given its well-established reputation for durability and longevity.¡±

    Handing the document back to the staff member with a nod of approval, the chief proceeded to pluck a text from the pile in front of his subordinate. He licked his finger and began flipping through some of the pages.

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t things like layout and scale be dependent on the initial size of the limestone deposit? And according to this excerpt on karst landscapes, the drainage systems formed from the soluble nature of carbonate rocks would place limits on the structures overall weight distribution.¡±

    It should be known that the department chief had no prior knowledge of karst landscapes or limestone architecture prior to this conversation. Years on the job had simply made him that much of a quick study. A feat Collins would likely accomplish in a few short years.

    ¡°That¡¯s just it. Though it might be dated, this topographical map of the region suggests the presence of some rather impressive limestone towers at or around several of the confirmed building sites of the castles.¡±

    ¡°They used the towers as markers then...or incorporated them into each structures design.¡±

    Collins finished the last bite of his sandwich, wiping his face with a cloth napkin that he then proceeded to fold neatly before depositing back in the lunch pail.

    ¡°Doubtful.¡±

    The man picked up his notepad which upon closer look also included short footnotes about each informant¡¯s disposition and relationship with JJ Morg.

    ¡°According to the team members I¡¯ve spoken with so far, Morg placed far more emphasis on aesthetics than he did on keeping things up to code. Somewhat understandable if one of the main focuses of the project was indeed testing the limits of limestone.¡±

    ¡°But not something the workers on site would have appreciated.¡±

    ¡°On the topic of worker safety...¡±

    The man dug through some paperwork to find the information he was looking for.

    ¡°The first contractor I contacted mentioned something about a colleague suffering a serious injury on site.¡±

    The chief put a hand up to stop the man.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to stop you right there Rockwell, we¡¯re not personal injury lawyers. Well, I¡¯m not at least. Wouldn¡¯t surprise me if the guy conducting time sensitive information acquisition during his lunch break had a side gig. But the main thing you should be relaying to that station is the presence of those towers.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid my daughter wouldn¡¯t allow me a second occupation. She says I work too much as is.¡±

    He adjusted his glasses.

    ¡°But you also didn¡¯t let me finish. I only bring up the reported injury because it relates to those towers and their potential application in a raiding scenario.¡±

    ¡°I assume your suggesting that they¡¯d collapse the towers to manipulate the route. Since dropping them on the convoy itself is out of the question.¡±

    ¡°That presupposes Cloud Nine is cognizant of the convoys cargo holdings.¡±

    An amused countenance played across the chief¡¯s face.

    ¡°You really think they wouldn¡¯t leak that information ahead of time to narrow down the range of possible responses.¡±

    ¡°I can assure you I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡±

    *

    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen this is your pilot speaking, here to inform you that we¡¯ll be approaching our first castle shortly. Neat, huh. I¡¯d also like to take this moment to shout out our crew member of the day, Faust Warren! Thanks to everyone who submitted a vote and to those who fell short this time around, better luck next time.¡±

    Brewer looked over at the taciturn security officer dutifully going about his patrol of the lower level. He thought about asking the man if bestowing such honors was a regular occurrence, but stopped short after realizing how ridiculous of a precedent that would be. Although his take may have been more positive if he¡¯d been approached about submitting a vote. Not that he knew anyone onboard the Crusader, or in the convoy for that matter.

    But if nothing else he¡¯d made a few silent observations in his time hiding¡ªerr, patrolling downstairs. Such as how reliable and cordial both Faust and the broad-shouldered engineer came across as. Or how easygoing the blonde officer turned out to be despite a rocky first interaction. It all made the station dweller realize that field service personnel weren¡¯t the ruffians much of society made them out to be. And while he hadn¡¯t seen every side of them yet, he could tell this group was prepared to go to great lengths for one another. Whether they¡¯d go to those same lengths for an outsider like him remained to be seen. Especially if he failed to make any worthwhile contributions.

    That was when the sound of someone ascending the ladder pulled him from his thoughts. Turning to investigate, Brewer saw that Faust was indeed heading topside, which in turn would make him the sole occupant of the lower level. A daunting prospect now that they were entering the meat and potatoes of the route.

    ¡°Do we need to congregate on deck?¡±

    Faust paused halfway up the ladder and gave the slender man a near unreadable expression.

    ¡°No. I just thought I¡¯d get a look at the castle. Get a feel for its scale and configuration.¡±

    He supposed that was fair. This could be their only chance to scrutinize the architectural feat without an immediate threat hindering them.

    ¡°I see...I¡¯ll just hold down the fort here then.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re call.¡±

    And just like that, the crew member of the day was gone. Left to his own devices the man gingerly paced back and forth across the corridor. The silent nature of Crusaders making it so he could hear the sounds of boots moving around on the deck above. He could also make out snippets of conversation between the crew. Brewer couldn¡¯t make out the specifics but imagined it too was related to the castle they were about to pass. Curiosity quickly began taking hold and he wondered how well he¡¯d be able to view the structure from the platform. Another place he had yet to tread for fear of falling off.

    Inching his way closer to the door on reflex, it occurred to the man he didn¡¯t know which side of the Crusader to look from. He hadn¡¯t thought to ask, so worried something would be asked of him if he initiated. He could try to make an educated guess based on which side of the deck the footfalls were most prevalent. But as he tried to train his ears on the floor above the sound of someone coming down the stairs reached him. For reasons he couldn¡¯t quite explain Brewer panicked and tried to assume a position against the corridor wall that made him seem nonchalant. As he wrestled with where to position his hands a figure finally appeared in the doorway.

    ¡°They¡¯ll be other castles along the route, and I want a better idea of the storage box¡¯s dimensions!¡±

    The brunette who appeared seemed to be speaking with someone at the top of the stairs. She proceeded to enter the corridor, passing him by and approaching the engine room door of all places. Brewer considered the fact that she hadn¡¯t responded outwardly to his presence to mean he¡¯d pulled off his facade of composure. He then watched her disappear inside the cramped room, though he could hear her talking to who he presumed to be herself.

    ¡°Hmm...it¡¯s a bit warm, but I¡¯d consider this a humane amount of space to keep someone.¡±

    Brewer did not think he should be hearing this and slowly pushed himself off the wall. Deciding it was time to check up on the cargo again he began taking long steady strides away from the engine room. I was right in the middle of this creep walk that the girl re-emerged.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, what was your name again?¡±

    The man righted himself to make the exchange less awkward.

    ¡°Brewer...¡±

    ¡°Esma. Do you think it likely you¡¯ll remain on the lower level for the duration of this convoy?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the plan.¡±

    Esma clasped her hands together, causing the man to jump in a way that erased any misconceptions about him having composure.

    ¡°Well I might be able to provide you an excuse depending on how things develop later.¡±

    Seeing how confused the older man was Esma figured she should elaborate.

    ¡°I¡¯m concocting a strategy that involves taking a raider into custody. In such an event I¡¯d require you to keep an eye on them alongside Cade who I imagine will be seeing to various engine related tasks.¡±

    As he¡¯d feared, communication had made him vulnerable to responsibilities.

    ¡°Can¡¯t you do it?¡±

    ¡°No. I¡¯ve learned a thing or two about myself over these past two weeks, one of which being I despise being idle. Besides I¡¯d be nothing but a hinderance down here if a boarding party embarked.¡±

    ¡°...!?¡±

    ¡°Good talk, I¡¯ll go ahead and pencil you in as our impromptu sentry.¡±

    She gave the now pale man a thumbs up and jogged back out the doorway before he could form a proper rebuttal. Alone again, Brewer moved back against the wall and sunk down into a seated position. His head hung between his legs.

    ¡°C¡¯mon Swipes...don¡¯t lose heart now. Remember why you¡¯re doing this...remember the desperation in her voice. If not you, who else is there...¡±

 Chapter 16

    ¡°Report.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re approaching the first castle as we speak, well...what¡¯s left of it anyway.¡±

    ¡°Good. Once you¡¯ve confirmed that they¡¯ve been rerouted, rejoin team four and head for the first muster point.¡±

    ¡°You got it bossman.¡±

    Cloud Nine¡¯s newly appointed leader recognized the facetiousness in his subordinate¡¯s tone but let it slide. No sense in reprimanding them as long as they carried out their orders as instructed. Orders that he¡¯d put considerable thought into in preparation for today.

    As to why his instructions hadn¡¯t involved blocking the path forward completely, well that was because it would¡¯ve hindered the party just as much as the LCF. And according to intel the cargo had an expiration date. The specially prepared crates unable to maintain their sub-zero temperatures indefinitely. And if the specimens didn¡¯t survive the trip to the holding site, the whole operation will have been for naught. Not something he¡¯d want to have to report to Baugh during the first month of his tenure.

    ¡°Duck, get everyone ready to go! We need to be in position in case they get a jump on us!¡±

    The lead Voltigeur nodded from his spot over underneath a shaded outcropping and rallied the other members with a wave of his hand. A testament to the admiration he¡¯d curried in the time since he¡¯d been recruited. By Baugh himself no less. Yet another reason why so many expressed disbelief at his being passed over for the position of party leader.

    Logan on the other hand had come aboard as the result of a trade that included cash considerations. Originally belonging to a feeder party under Roy. He¡¯d been part of a hastily put together package to resolve a dispute stemming from a convoy that had purposefully adjusted its route to pit the two juggernauts against each other. As if he didn¡¯t have enough reasons to despise the LCF. Regardless of affiliation he¡¯d put his head down and done his job earnestly, something that had caught someone¡¯s attention from the main party. Leading to his current predicament if he chose to call it that.

    The surly man pulled his shoulder length dark hair into a tight ponytail and hopped onto the saddle of his bike. He proceeded to fish a small bottle of liquor from the inside of his jacket and downed its remains in a single swig, side-arming the leftover glass container into a nearby limestone deposit. He lapped up a few drops from the side of his mouth just as Duck pulled up alongside him, his trademark lantern shields on full display.

    ¡°We get this job done clean; I¡¯ll see about getting you a recommendation into the main party. Get you one step closer to that meeting you¡¯re so desperate for.¡±

    The Volt laughed quietly and shook his head in a dismissive manner.

    ¡°Any worthwhile raider has always got a moving target. The man who recruited me taught me that. You¡¯d think you would¡¯ve figured that out by now, old man.¡±

    With that the popular vote rode on ahead, followed closely by Hite a few heartbeats later. So they¡¯d be settling things sooner rather than later. He wasn¡¯t opposed, distraction that it was. But it would have to wait until the job was done. That was something they could both agree on.

    *

    ¡°C362 is to adjust course without slowing down, and I want all deck officers on standby. Just in case any of the nine decide to stick around and test us.¡±

    ¡°Time to turn and burn!¡±

    ¡°And will whoever gave Redcliffe a headset kindly see about retrieving it.¡±

    ¡°Already on it.¡±

    Jericka got up on her tiptoes and plucked the headset off the engineer, returning it to her station in the corner. In her defense she hadn¡¯t given it to him in the first place, though how he¡¯d gotten it from all the way over at the controls was a mystery. When she¡¯d briefly visited the back deck perhaps.

    ¡°Their loss, I feel some winners coming on.¡±

    The CO ignored her bridge-mate in favor of scrutinizing the map they¡¯d only just marked. This castle, or what remained of it, hadn¡¯t been among the coordinates shared, but changing course here raised the possibility that none of the castles they visited would be. Fortunately, the head CO was on top of the situation.

    ¡°Go ahead and disregard those locations I shared, the path we¡¯ll be taking from here on out won¡¯t be incorporating any of them.¡±

    ¡°The onetime I do my homework...¡±

    ¡°Save it for later Commander. I can assure you this development fell well within our parameters of potential responses.¡±

    ¡°Put Redcliffe back on the horn, I need a pick me up.¡±

    Jericka knew better than to entertain this idea. As she doubted she¡¯d be able recover it from him a second time on her own.

    ¡°We might not be passing the structures we marked but that doesn¡¯t make the information on their locations any less useful.¡±

    ¡°You plan on estimating the number of castles we¡¯ll encounter ahead of the second check-in.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the idea.¡±

    ¡°Is it possible we¡¯re placing too much strategic value on the castles beyond the use of their tattered remains as roadblocks?¡±

    The Commander inserted himself into the conversation to grant his CO time to work out the next castle¡¯s potential location.

    ¡°We also considered that possibility, but diving into the reports from previous convoys suggested the raiding parties were in fact using them as footholds.¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t that logic still apply after they start wrecking the footholds?¡±

    ¡°Not if they¡¯re being selective about which castles they leave standing.¡±

    It was at this point Esma stuck her head in the bridge at Lux¡¯s behest. Under the guise of wanting more insight on the situation, she¡¯d sent the brunette in. In reality she knew her colleague needed something new to distract her as the shooting dilemma had already been processed and meager countermeasures taken. And what better way to distract a CO than by appealing to their investigative nature.

    ¡°So they¡¯re funneling us towards a specific castle, one that offers them the greatest chance at success.¡±

    ¡°Textbook home field advantage.¡±

    ¡°Something that will require solid intel regarding the castle¡¯s layout to overcome. Intel we¡¯re counting on being delivered at the second check-in I imagine...¡±

    Jericka didn¡¯t let her surprise show but did turn around in her seat to confirm that Esma had put the second headset on. Said rookie proceeded to scooch up next to her to get a better look at the map. For what it¡¯s worth neither Lautnor nor Sumiye seemed to care about the intrusion, more focused on tackling the problem in front of them.

    ¡°Rather than focus on the castles themselves, I think it best we take a more comprehensive look at Cloud Nine¡¯s raiding history and playbook.¡±

    ¡°Do we have any reports on the party¡¯s operations since Hite took over?¡±

    ¡°Sure took your sweet time joining the call Kircher. Did things finally come to blows with Hayes?¡±

    ¡°Not this time, no. But I¡¯m the only one onboard properly trained to monitor the conditions of the medicinal transport crates.¡±

    Jericka covered the mic and looked up at the brunette beside her.

    ¡°Is that something we¡¯re supposed to be doing?¡±

    Esma mirrored her movements before answering.

    ¡°I mean, I saw Cade heading in the direction of the cargo bay earlier. So...I¡¯m inclined to believe he¡¯s on top of it.¡±

    ¡°To answer your question Officer Swarek, we do not. But there¡¯s no reason to believe they¡¯ve strayed far from Baugh¡¯s influence.¡±

    ¡°A new leader would know better than to change things up right away. More so if they haven¡¯t won everyone over yet.¡±

    Lautnor briefly recalled how rough things had been during the beginning of his tenure as a Convoy Commander. In large part because the promotion only applied if he shifted his service over to the Western region. Having spent almost his entire career in the North until that point. His current labret being a farewell gift that his northern colleagues pitched in to buy for him. He gingerly traced its outline as he listened on.

    Stolen story; please report.

    ¡°So it¡¯ll come down to the speed at which we¡¯re able to decipher their talking drums.¡±

    ¡°A taller task than normal given the terrain, who knows how the sound will travel with all these limestone towers around.¡±

    ¡°I take it all of Baugh¡¯s parties employ some form of this drum you speak of?¡±

    Esma would be the first to admit that she was woefully uninformed when it came to the defining characteristics of the different raiding parties. Her knowledge extending to whatever showed up in the manifest. But since there wasn¡¯t one, she hadn¡¯t even known the name of the party they¡¯d be dealing with until she commandeered a headset.

    ¡°Pretty much, though they change up the language each time.¡±

    Jericka propped her chin onto her hand as she responded. Almost like the conversation was beginning to bore her.

    ¡°We have references compiled from previous encounters to help serve as a base, but successful sign stealing still requires careful observation of the drummers as well as the actions they elicit.¡±

    ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be too much of a headache. I¡¯ve encountered Baugh¡¯s groups in the past, so I¡¯ve got a good feel for it.¡±

    ¡°As expected of our head CO. But please don¡¯t hesitate to request assistance from us either Ms. Endellion.¡±

    ¡°Can someone wake this mother fucker up?¡±

    It was on the tip of Esma¡¯s tongue to mention how Jericka was the one who looked about ready to fall asleep.

    ¡°Language Ms. Katsurn. I would think you¡¯d know better than to let Hayes¡¯s crass tongue influence you in such a way.¡±

    The crimson head scoffed into the mic at the very notion. A good indicator for Lautnor to jump in and get everyone back on track.

    ¡°Sumi will lead the charge on the sign stealing, and to make her job easier I¡¯ll be issuing some aimless commands to spur a range of reactions from the party.¡±

    ¡°Won¡¯t that be difficult in our current circumstances? We don¡¯t really have the leeway to make formation changes or break aways.¡±

    Esma could hear the Commander smile over the headset.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got a few tricks up my sleeve. You just focus on sticking close to Lux and following her instructions.¡±

    The fill-in security officer felt her face grow warm, namely at the realization she¡¯d gotten carried away and fallen into her CO habits.

    ¡°Although I would appreciate it if you kept a headset on hand, I want you to report directly to us regarding any beat patterns tied to the enemy¡¯s movements.¡±

    ¡°Of course¡ª!¡±

    Jericka¡¯s leaned back in her chair and rolled her eyes at the enthusiasm on display, before flicking her gaze over to the other presence on the bridge with them.

    ¡°Better she have it than Wash...¡±

    *

    ¡°Wash sweetie, I¡¯ll be a bit later tonight than usual, but I still need you to wait for me right here like always. No wandering or climbing, understood?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you worry Naia, I¡¯ll keep an eye on the little bugger. Might just have to put him to work while I¡¯m at it.¡±

    The three were stood out front of an old family run convenience store located on one of the corners of the town¡¯s few intersections. More specifically beside an old wooden bench tucked next to the gambling and smokes service window. The part of the store that saw the most business these days. A simple bronze plaque decorated the backrest of the bench, a small but thoughtful nod to the elderly store owner''s late husband.

    ¡°If it keeps him busy I¡¯m not opposed.¡±

    [Naia Redcliffe, 30, Wash¡¯s Mother]

    The woman ruffled her son¡¯s mop of dark brown hair affectionately before he wiggled out from under her hand.

    ¡°That¡¯s child labor you old bag! But I¡¯m willing to look past it if you let me work the window some!¡±

    ¡°You could learn a thing or two from an old bag like me youngin, but I¡¯ll tell you what. If you properly clean the inside of the store this time, I¡¯ll give you a chance at working the window.¡±

    ¡°Maeve...you know he¡¯s not old enough to do that.¡±

    A ten-year old Wash pouted and rushed to stand next to the old woman. Making sure to stand up straight as according to his adolescent mind, the fact he was taller than the owner made up for what he didn¡¯t have in age and experience.

    ¡°Ain¡¯t nobody gonna complain about all that, not with the constable being good friend of my husband. Your boys big for his age anyway. Probably all that love your giving him bearing fruit.¡±

    Wash looked at his mother and smiled, a goofy smile that made his birthmark shift upwards. He truly was her only weakness.

    ¡°Just make sure he gets his reading done first...and no partaking in any of the wares young man.¡±

    The youth saluted his mother, a habit he picked up from one of their neighbors, and she responded by giving the top of his head a kiss.

    ¡°Behave yourself, I love you.¡±

    ¡°I know mom!¡±

    With that she started her on foot commute to the town¡¯s ironworks. A labor-intensive job, but one that paid enough to support the two of them. Something she was incredibly thankful for. But she¡¯d also been quietly putting money away since her son¡¯s birth. In a few short years they might even be able to relocate somewhere more prosperous. Somewhere that would give Wash more options for his future. Because his future was her future.

    *

    No sooner had she sent Esma inside Lux spotted one of Cloud Nine¡¯s Hussards in the distance weaving through the forest of stone pillars. But rather than raise any alarms she decided to observe them for a spell. And the first thing she noted was that they weren¡¯t pulling away nor drifting closer to the convoy, which told her they were likely acting as a marker in lieu of a scout. In other words, they were instructed to remain a specific distance out in front of the convoy to help narrow down the timing for approaches.

    Typically the party members making up the approach would start counting as soon as the Hussard passed, and once the count reached the magic number, they¡¯d reveal themselves and descend on the convoy. Often times before deck officers had time to properly react. This type of strategy thrived in environments like their current one, those with no shortage of cover. As for how to counter it...

    One tried-and-true method was picking off the Hussard before they reached the would-be launch point. But that delayed the problem more than solving it as often times there were other Hussards nearby whose sole jobs were keeping tabs on the marker. That way if they got taken out another could quickly fill the position.

    In general it was ill-advised to spend ammo on Hussards as unlike their two counterparts they didn¡¯t pose a direct threat to the crew or cargo. Better to save shots for the Volts and Demens who made up the ranks of approaches and boarding parties. But even taking all that into account, Lux couldn¡¯t help but line up a shot in anticipation of where the Hussard would appear next.

    Lux found a clump of moss on one of the stone towers that she judged to be around the height of the enemy¡¯s saddle and drifted horizontally to an opening between two nearby outcroppings. If their movements patterns remained consistent with what she¡¯d seen thus far, then the Hussard would probably be cutting through the space diagonally. Right about...now.

    As predicted the party member passed right through the narrow opening and even turned their head, as if they knew something was amiss. Lux felt the whistle escape her lips as her finger contacted the trigger.

    ¡°Bang.¡±

    Lux lowered her rifle and turned towards the engineer ascending the stairway behind her. Had she been experiencing one of her episodes she would have noticed him sooner. Light on his feet as the man was.

    ¡°Do we need to look into contacting some next of kin?¡±

    ¡°Only if I throw you overboard for disturbing the peace.¡±

    Cade shrugged and took up beside the blonde, offering her a drink of water from the bota bag he¡¯d brought with him. She accepted it while keeping her eyes on the mark.

    ¡°You know now that I think about it, I don¡¯t actually have anyone listed under my next of kin at the moment.¡±

    Lux paused her water consumption to look over at her friend with a deadpan expression. She wiped her mouth with a forearm and tossed the bota back over.

    ¡°I have a few names down. No relatives of course, just people who would stand to benefit from my demise.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a good idea. Kind of like a post-mortem newsletter.¡±

    ¡°That took a turn...¡±

    Lux responded to the peanut gallery without turning around.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t like it¡ªmind your own goddam business!¡±

    ¡°...no.¡±

    Cade laughed before spotting the same Hussard Lux had been following. He responded by moving up to the front railing for a more comprehensive look at things.

    ¡°A sign we¡¯re approaching another castle perhaps?¡±

    There was no trace of panic in Lux¡¯s voice as she mirrored his move forward.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. More likely an attempt at getting ahead in the mental game.¡±

    ¡°A friendly reminder that they¡¯re keeping tabs on us you mean.¡±

    ¡°They don¡¯t want us to have any delusions about what happened to the castle back there.¡±

    ¡°Curtain wall was a mess, would not visit again.¡±

    Cade played along with the other half of his engineering tandem.

    ¡°It was obviously besieged by a neighboring power for control over the trade route.¡±

    ¡°You joke but we might have to besiege a castle or two in order to reach Riga.¡±

    ¡°Dibs on scaling the walls.¡±

    Cade turned around and rested both elbows on the railing, giving Wash an eyebrow raise through the front window.

    ¡°The real issue is whether our resident fledgling and hitchhiking gopher will be able to hold their own when shit kicks off.¡±

    ¡°Ah, I passed the gopher on the way up. He appeared to be having a small personal crisis of sorts.¡±

    ¡°Say anything to him?¡±

    ¡°He was sat on the ground so I advised him to keep the corridor clear. Response time is everything when holding off an approach after all.¡±

    Lux gave the engineer a sidelong glance, waiting for the punchline. There wasn¡¯t one. An unexpected development as she¡¯d generally consider Cade the more personable of the two of them. Ironic given how little he cared for most human relationships. Either way she¡¯d been counting on one of the guys to give the skittish bean pole a pep talk. But with Cade¡¯s recent display of apathy and Faust¡¯s propensity to stay silent, that left only Youn, who¡¯d been more reserved in his interactions with unfamiliar colleagues since Preece¡¯s death.

    ¡°We are one big well-oiled machine today, huh.¡±

    ¡°Tuesdays are the worst.¡±

    It was Cade¡¯s turn to offer a sidelong glance, this time in the direction of the bridge.

    ¡°It¡¯s Wednesday Wash.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t even agree on which day of the fucking week it is and they expect to figure out a way to combat castles we don¡¯t have a layout of?¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t have a layout of yet you mean. The SOA¡¯s on it, have some faith.¡±

    Lux glared at the man, then proceeded to turn and gun down the Hussard in one fell swoop. His presence having started to wear on her nerves. She redirected that aggravation at Mr. Glass half-full.

    ¡°Oh, so now you feel like giving pep talks?!¡±

    ¡°Sit tight Lux, I¡¯ve got this. Hey Cade! ...is it really Wednesday?¡±

    *

    ¡°I heard from Kircher that things are pretty lively over on C362.¡±

    A security officer standing on the back deck of C274 made the retort to a colleague obscured in the shadows of the empty turret bay.

    ¡°That¡¯s how the Crusader leading the charge should be. And probably why Lautnor assigned them to the position in the first place.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you mean Commander Dandridge?¡±

    A distinctive chortle emanated from the turret bay, followed closely by the sound of something striking the deck. Hard.

    ¡°Sables like him aren¡¯t fit for command.¡±

    ¡°But didn¡¯t you just praise him for putting C362 out front?¡±

    A second thud reverberated across the back deck.

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t praise small fry. It¡¯s common sense for crews with the most familiarity to take point in a stack formation.¡±

    ¡°So that¡¯s why there so lively.¡±

    The deck officer looked back towards the front of the convoy.

    ¡°Do you know any of the crew members onboard C362?¡±

    ¡°No... but I¡¯m told they¡¯ve got a sharpshooter who trained under a current Daughter of the West.¡±

    ¡°A Centennial!?¡±

    The figure lifted his burly form off the deck and climbed out from under the turret bay, shielding his eyes from the sun. He used his other hand to rub the sleep from his eyes as he emerged fully. And right away the other officer was reminded that the man looked far older than he sounded, his medium-length middle part going gray from the bottom up. Likewise his thick and tidy beard had already succumbed to the complete loss of pigmentation. But his most marked feature, a pair of heterochromatic eyes that added to the man¡¯s already intimidating presence.

    ¡°Now that I¡¯m fully awake, might as well see what this little girl can do.¡±

    [Batten Rohner, 43, Security Division]

 Chapter 17

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 Chapter 18

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 Chapter 19

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 Chapter 20

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 Chapter 21

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 Chapter 22

    ¡°Sir, it¡¯s Legater Ackerg¡¯s office.¡±

    Station Riga¡¯s manager exuded a heavy sigh as he set down a report from the Communication Department. A troubling read at that, but not one worth agonizing over.

    ¡°This ought to be good...¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s requesting more information on the vaccine¡¯s distribution site so that he might quell some of the public unrest.¡±

    ¡°Secure a spot at the front of the line you mean.¡±

    The young staff member grimaced but didn¡¯t offer any form of rebuttal. Instead he watched silently as the older man stood from his desk and came over to accept the call.

    ¡°Hold this job as long as I have and you¡¯ll learn to translate all kinds of political blarney.¡±

    The two proceeded into an adjoining room where another staff member could be seen smothering the receiver, acutely aware of the kind of comment their boss would make in response to such a hail.

    ¡°This is Eagen.¡±

    ¡°Philip, I¡¯m glad to hear you¡¯re alright! I¡¯d gotten word that the situation around the arcade was becoming troublesome and couldn¡¯t help but worry.¡±

    ¡°I suppose I have the swift intervention of your city¡¯s police force to thank for that. Though the commotion outside is steadily growing louder by the hour.¡±

    ¡°Mmm, I trust that things are otherwise going according to schedule on your end? Convoys with Baugh¡¯s name attached do tend to face significant hurdles.¡±

    A loaded question on Legater Ackerg¡¯s part as sharing the contents of a field report with third parties was in clear violation of Federation bylaws. And yet the fact he¡¯d just nonchalantly named the visiting side implied others in the building felt less strongly on the matter.

    ¡°With such prudence on display it¡¯s a small wonder you weren¡¯t able to intercept the migration of those pesky birds. Certainly would have saved both of us a lot of trouble.¡±

    The office staff witnessing this exchange betrayed near identical levels of panic at the station manager¡¯s retort, though the malefactor himself didn¡¯t seem overly concerned about his choice of words.

    ¡°Yes well, I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s proven rather difficult if not impossible to extend my reach into the animal kingdom.¡±

    Believe it or not such a lighthearted response to what essentially amounted to an attack on the Legater¡¯s character fell well within Eagen¡¯s list of expected rebuttals. The product of working together for the better part of two and a half years now. But that working relationship was primed to come to an end thanks to the man¡¯s delayed response to the current epidemic. Perhaps it was precisely because of this that they decided it was no longer necessary to keep with decorum befitting their stations.

    ¡°Now, if we could discuss the location that the convoy will be disembarking...¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s odd, I¡¯d have thought you¡¯d be familiar with my workplace at this stage. Or perhaps my hospitality has left something to be desired and you¡¯ve resolved to forget.¡±

    A subdued chortle reached the station manager¡¯s ears.

    ¡°Enough prattle old man, we both know that receiving the convoy at Riga is no longer possible. Unless you want to put both the station and field personnel at risk. Personally, I¡¯m more worried about the fates of my misguided constituents. After all your field personnel will be taxed both physically and mentally when they arrive, and with such short fuses it¡¯s not hard to imagine a scenario where an ill-advised throw or shove devolves into a small-scale massacre.¡±

    ¡°...as much as I¡¯d love to take this opportunity to admonish the sorry excuse for a politician that you are, I can¡¯t refute the chances of such an ugly occurrence with things progressing as they are.¡±

    ¡°You also seem to forget that the LCF relies on each individual city state¡¯s infrastructure for the processing and distribution of its goods. Meaning you¡¯ll require either my or the governor''s help in coordinating any last-minute changes.¡±

    ¡°Such was our intent. Sorry to say we saw more upside in contacting the latter.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d figured as much, which is why I¡¯m currently making this call from the lobby of the governor¡¯s office. He should be calling me in for our meeting any moment now. So if you could be so kind as to inform me of the new receiving area, I¡¯ll see to it that all the necessary adjustments are expedited.¡±

    ¡°You ask as if you haven¡¯t already worked it out Ackerg. You also may have thought you were pulling a fast one by calling from the governor¡¯s office, but in truth I¡¯d half-assumed you¡¯d be calling from the location itself by now.¡±

    I¡¯d been a good long while since Eagen was able to discern the sound of a frown over the phone.

    ¡°In the off chance the amphitheater''s concessions are up and running, I recommend the caramel corn. You¡¯ll need something to pass the time after all.¡±

    *

    ¡°Oi, Esma.¡±

    Youn called out to the brunette he was currently sharing the back deck with, having relocated after Lux took to the front. As to why he was choosing now to call out to the rookie with whom he had very little rapport, there were two reasons. The first being to settle her down as she¡¯d been running amok the space for the better part of four minutes. And if she kept it up the girl would soon exhaust herself. The last thing they needed right now was another member of the security team becoming part of the cargo like Faust.

    The second reason was much more mundane, being that Youn needed some advice on a subject unrelated to work. Or maybe insight was the more appropriate word? Then again there was nothing appropriate about approaching someone younger than him for something like this. At least he¡¯d recalled someone mentioning she was younger. Outside of the present moment you be hard pressed to tell based on her usual demeanor and sound judgement.

    ¡°Got family?¡±

    The interim security officer slowed her frenzied search for the group from earlier to catch her breath and better process the sudden inquiry. Rather ashamedly her subconscious had produced something along the lines of ¡®Yeah, who doesn¡¯t...?¡¯ before recalling a case study on Federation recruits. More specifically the staggering number of which who came from broken homes or directly off the street. There was also a strong chance he was alluding to the presence of an actual familial bond, not solely blood relation. Fortunately that same subconscious had to pass through a series of meticulously placed filters before manifesting its voice in the real world. None more important than the filter labeled ¡®empathy.¡¯

    ¡°I do.¡±

    ¡°Ever visit any of their resting places?¡±

    Indicative of Esma¡¯s returning senses was the fact she didn¡¯t find this follow-up off-putting or unusual. Whether she was aware and appreciative of Youn¡¯s attempt to calm her down or anticipated an eventual explanation was up for interpretation.

    ¡°My grandmother¡¯s, at least once a year without fail.¡±

    At this point in time that was the extent of what she¡¯d be willing to divulge in terms of her home life, but it should¡¯ve been more than enough to facilitate further dialogue without needless digging. Not that Youn would be interested in pursuing such a topic in the middle of an active raid attempt.

    ¡°I¡¯m making plans to visit my father¡¯s grave for the first time. Figure I should bring something to...I don¡¯t know, reconcile. Any recommendations?¡±

    Esma felt her growing urge to retreat into the turret bay subside as she processed his predicament. Maybe because she too found many of her own quandaries often stemmed from unfamiliarity more so than misplaced apprehensions.

    ¡°I suppose it could be viewed as customary to bring along flowers or some other form of offering, but don¡¯t belittle the significance of just being there. I mean, what would you care about more if someone visited your grave? The act itself, or some overpriced weed?¡±

    Youn smiled as he harassed a pair of party members trying to bridge the gap between their group and a developing approach. A bold move that may have placed too much reliance on the stubborn nature of the shadow they found themselves in.

    ¡°Not a flower girl I see.¡±

    ¡°What is this a wedding?¡±

    Esma followed her senior¡¯s example, having lost track of the raiders she¡¯d been meant to mark.

    ¡°What do you bring to weddings?¡±

    ¡°Ask the bride and groom. They¡¯re not dead so you have that luxury.¡±

    ¡°This is starting to feel like the set up to a long joke.¡±

    ¡°Feel free to insert some punchline drawing a comparison between the two.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m a bit envious of this coping mechanism you¡¯ve developed.¡±

    Esma lowered her rifle and looked over at Youn somewhat pathetically, the air about her shifting to that of a remorseful child.

    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m not sure how much longer I can keep this up...¡±

    Despite the sympathy the deck officer felt for the CO in that moment he couldn¡¯t permit her to leave the deck and seek a source of remedy. While also being bad for optics, the more immediate issue was the impending raid operation now that the party had all but finished organizing its starting positions. He could tell this based on the anticipation presenting in some of the raider¡¯s body language, along with the change in the pacing of the drums.

    ¡°Now is as good a time as any to find out rookie. We wouldn¡¯t want that joke of ours to go unfinished.¡±

    The brunette perked back up slightly. Enough to raise her rifle once more.

    ¡°You can bring it with you to your grave visit. Really knock that test audience dead.¡±

    It would appear some of Esma¡¯s filters still had room for improvement.

    *

    Much in line with Officer Sigurd¡¯s hunch, Cloud Nine had completed the preparations for and commenced an operation that would serve as the crux of the party¡¯s second visit. The plan; take advantage of one of the lesser-known flaws of the offset I-formation and by extension Convoy Commander Lautnor¡¯s relative inexperience in the field.

    Because in many ways this formation could be interpreted as taking a bulk of the decision making out of the hands of the CC since the offset Crusader¡¯s movements were reactionary or in simpler terms, dependent on the actions of the approaches. The more strategically inclined would be quick to point out that this was a two-way street. Just as the approaches dictated the movement of the Crusader, the reverse was also true. Namely that the Crusader could dictate the actions of approaches. But even those astute enough to identify this flaw would have likely overlooked it for the simple reason that the ideal conditions for deploying such a formation were rare to come by. To the extent that any CC who chanced upon the reports from this day would balk at the incompetence of a colleague who failed to take advantage. Such was the level of scrutiny Convoy Commander¡¯s faced on a regular basis. Something pro-raiding party¡¯s often formed strategies around, much like the following.

    Cloud Nine would start by creating the illusion it was focusing its forces on a single point in the convoy, in this case the lead Crusader¡¯s right side. To help sell this illusion they¡¯d approach from a point furthest from the offset Crusaders current position in the formation. And they¡¯d do so with a healthy number of Demenageurs who up to this point had been used sparingly if at all.

    As the main role of Demens in a raiding party was to load and transport raided cargo, their involvement would suggest the lead Crusader as the approach¡¯s next target. In response to this apparent attack on its vanguard the offset Crusader would be left with no choice but to slide back across the formation to fulfill its obligation of providing relief. Then the second stage of the Cloud Nine¡¯s plan could commence. A stage relying heavily on timing and coordination, both of which the LCF would be strapped for in the wake of the Eidol¡¯s appearance and tenacity.

    In conjunction with the mock approach advancing on the top right, a second approach would condense its numbers and close in from the left side of the lead Crusader, occupying the space that had just been vacated by the offset player. A maneuver made possible through the utilization of the talking drums which didn¡¯t suffer from any of the same setbacks brought upon by the dark apparition.

    Ideally a combination of the lowered visibility and a smooth transition into the relinquished space would give the secondary approach enough leeway to carry out a boarding, but both Hite and Matus knew that the deck officers in this convoy weren¡¯t to be underestimated. Especially after their swift response to the first visit¡¯s sneak attack from the tunnels. As such it was expected that they¡¯d notice the feint sooner rather than later. But this would be of little consequence.

    Because even if they did notice right away it would be too dangerous for the pilot of the Crusader to suddenly reverse course. As doing so would only expose the crew onboard to whiplash in both the figurative and literal sense. In other words, even if the crew onboard the offset Crusader did recognize the play, they wouldn¡¯t be able to react to it immediately. Giving Cloud Nine the time it needed to establish a foothold on its target before they could.

    It should be noted that the objective of this second visit was the successful raid of the single targeted Crusader, as the chances of carrying out successive raids on the second and third before the route narrowed again were slim to none. What¡¯s more, weakening even only one of the Crusaders comprising the convoy would pay dividends when the final clash took place at the site of the last castle.

    Such was the plan for the second visit, a skillful weaving of observations from the first and prearranged measures enacted in preparation for this incoming Galen Run. But that didn¡¯t mean it was unchallengeable.

    *

    ¡°Pull forward and take up C362¡¯s previous position!¡±

    Lautnor relayed the order to the pilot as Sumiye organized the security forces onboard from the bridge¡¯s speaking tubes.

    ¡°Don¡¯t expect the entire approach to break off its assault just because we disrupted their timing! Make sure we take advantage of our temporary strong side to ensure no raiders make it onto the platform! And remember, we¡¯re not in a place where we can easily receive or request assistance!¡±

    Confidant the crew would take the Head CO¡¯s words to heart, the CC turned his attention to the response their pulling forward would yield from the approach they¡¯d deduced as a feint. More precisely he listened for any obvious changes to the drumbeats as he had no visual of the other side of the convoy. Nor did he have a reliable way of contacting C362 to ask for one. They still needed to figure out the source of the interference after all, that and the unexplained darkness.

    Taking both anomalies into account, Lautnor shuddered to think of the damage that could¡¯ve been done if they¡¯d failed to anticipate the attempt at manipulating the I-formation through bluffing approaches. Not that they were out of the woods just yet.

    *

    Matus and the rest of his escort took a second to process the report regarding the status of Dominique¡¯s approach, listening intently for the difference in drum strokes while under fire from C274. And it was only after they¡¯d confirmed the timely intervention of C471 that they pulled off and sought the edges of the critical distance.

    ¡°Now what?¡±

    Now what indeed.

    The LCF had taken on an impromptu tri-formation to erase the opening the Demenageurs had created. That being said, Matus didn¡¯t believe they¡¯d underestimated the opposing commander. Rather they¡¯d forgotten to account for the counsel of his acting Head Communications Officer. This was something that could have been avoided had the Hussards been able to identify the CO in charge, but this person had clearly taken steps to remain under the raiding community''s radar.

    ¡°We join Dominique and bombard C471.¡±

    ¡°Is it ok to leave C362 unchecked? Won¡¯t they just come back around to offer support again?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps, but it¡¯ll be risky for them to galivant around the formation with comms in its current state.¡±

    ¡°Why, it¡¯s worked so far?¡±

    ¡°Before they had a set condition for precipitating movement as well as a means for sliding from one side of the convoy to the other, but now that the formation¡¯s changed there¡¯s no defined precedent for repositioning safely.¡±

    ¡°So their main concern is¡ª¡±

    ¡°A collision, correct. Namely the possibility that two Crusaders will cross paths by accident.¡±

    A concern of his as well if Matus was being honest. Because if a collision did occur the likelihood of the cargo escaping unscathed was slim at best.

    ¡°C471 it is then.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll assume the gunner position, pass along the order to form up.¡±

    ¡°Yes sir!¡±

    As his man relayed the command Matus thought more about their defunct strategy and how it might have helped more than it hurt them. After all the plan had always boiled down to approaching wherever the offset Crusader wasn¡¯t. And while said approach had lost some of its momentum due to the quick thinking of the command Crusader, that same command Crusader was now subject to the approach and subsequent boarding of Cloud Nine with the aforementioned offset Crusader stranded on the opposite side of the convoy.

    Matus¡¯s new concern however was whether the CC and his counsel had thought further ahead in terms of actions to be taken in the event the command Crusader came under serious threat. A fail safe for lack of a better term.

    The preparation of such things usually coming down to the CC¡¯s respective leadership style. That¡¯s not to say fail safes were more prevalent among those CC¡¯s more inclined to paranoia, rather some simply preferred installing a ¡®gameplan¡¯ ahead of departure. He¡¯d like to believe this wasn¡¯t the case given the paltry amount of time afforded between summons and departure when it came to Galen Runs. But someone raw like Lautnor Dandridge could have made time if it meant securing a solid foundation to build off of in the field.

    They¡¯d know soon enough, Matus thought as the newly minted approach made the turn and finally got eyes on the developing assault. But that thought would prove to be his last for the foreseeable future as seemingly out of nowhere a violent tremor rocked his bike¡¯s front wheel. The next thing he knew the front of his Marshall model buckled, the sudden deceleration enough to whip the party member over his steering column in a downward trajectory. The remnant of a whistle sliding underneath the cry of the drums as the man met the ground shortly thereafter.

    *

    ¡°It would appear a drug recently developed by the Council of Health and Wellness has led to significant strides in the understanding and combating of a variety of pulmonary diseases, not unlike the one afflicting your mother at current.¡±

    The clerk placed the document summarizing the medical journal onto the counter before rotating and sliding it over to the young man across from him.

    ¡°It¡¯s ok, I believe you.¡±

    Wash shuffled in his chair uncomfortably as he tried to figure out a way to word his question without putting a dent in the man¡¯s uncharacteristically good mood.

    ¡°But how does this affect the availability of the antibiotic we need? Does it even?¡±

    The bureaucrat reached for something on the desk behind him, the copy of a form by the looks of it.

    ¡°I was getting to that.¡±

    He tapped the seal that had been stamped on the copy with his pointer finger.

    ¡°This is a copy of the new request I sent in on your behalf. It explains the circumstances of your mother¡¯s condition and includes a letter of recommendation from the town¡¯s physician.¡±

    Wash would have swallowed if his throat weren¡¯t so dry from work.

    ¡°A recommendation for what?¡±

    ¡°A recommendation that she take part in the first round of human trials for the new drug.¡±

    Confusion and hints of exasperation presented themselves on the youth.

    ¡°But that antibiotic is a proven method for treating my mother¡¯s illness. Why subject her to something with risk involved?!¡±

    The clerk sighed and interlocked his tidy hands, making it a point to establish eye contact for what he was about to say next.

    ¡°Allow me to be blunt. As things stand the odds of having the initial request filled before the disease runs its course is zero. You need to remember that the LCF is a business, and it is hardly a sound business decision to spend resources shipping an antibiotic all the way out here for a single case.¡±

    Wash felt like he was going to be sick. To have spent all that time clinging to what he believed was their only recourse, for it to be ripped away like that. But he didn¡¯t have the luxury of breaking down right now.

    ¡°But they¡¯ll gladly spend those same resources to deliver a drug that might not even work...?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s correct. Your mother¡¯s age and how far along her disease has progressed make her a prime candidate in the Council collective mind. And if her trail proves to be a success the drug will be all but guaranteed a stamp of approval for continued funding.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t there any way they could send the antibiotic as well just in case?!¡±

    The man lifted the document again and gestured toward a section near the bottom.

    ¡°If you¡¯d direct your attention here, you¡¯ll see that the drug and the antibiotic are not compatible. Rather taking one after ingesting the other would lead to detrimental consequences.¡±

    Wash allowed his head to hang between his legs, his hands gripping the roots of his messy hair. It was from this doubled over position he found his voice again. Dejected and hoarse as it was.

    ¡°Could I talk to my mother about all this first...¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid this is a decision that needs to be made now in the interest of securing a spot in the trial. There¡¯s also your mother¡¯s rapid decline in health to account for.¡±

    To think things would come to this. Forced to offer up the fragile life of the woman he treasured above all else in the world. But what choice did he have. Every second spent agonizing over the decision was one less second he could spend at her side reassuring her everything would work out somehow. At least one of them HAD to believe that. And so it was with a heavy heart the youth raised his head, the birthmark beneath his tired eyes more pronounced than ever.

    ¡°...we¡¯ll do it.¡±

 Chapter 23

    ¡°Did I just hear a whistle...?¡±

    Emica furrowed her brow as she uttered those words to no one in particular, her present company busy jumping around the space as he carried out his duties. That of which only added to her growing restlessness. Both at being confined to the stuffy room and her incomplete grasp of the unfolding situation above. And while it was possible they were intentionally keeping her out of the loop the woman felt such measures would be unjustified as she¡¯d been more than cordial in the offering up of her party¡¯s strategies moving forward.

    ¡°Hey pilot!¡±

    She leaned closer to the speaking tube to ensure her voice was being heard, although the attentiveness previously displayed by the pilot suggested it was unnecessary.

    ¡°Wash is fine.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s started right?! They pulled us away with a feint?!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s ¡®us¡¯ now, is it?¡±

    Cade interjected on the raider¡¯s behalf.

    ¡°Humor her pilot, she¡¯s cooperated enough.¡±

    ¡°...yeah, motion from the right approach pulled us past the point of no return. Lest we run the risk of losing someone overboard.¡±

    ¡°So it¡¯s ¡®we¡¯ now is it?¡±

    Before the man could answer her snark with more of his own Emica refocused on the matter at hand.

    ¡°Any insight on who¡¯s leading the approach? Characteristics about the rider or even their bike model will do.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s a tall order in this interference. Plus they¡¯re on the complete opposite side of the convoy.¡±

    She¡¯d have to infer based on the drums then. And from what she could interpret prior to the whistle sounding, some sort of measure taken by the LCF had proven successful in limiting the approach¡¯s efficacy. Now, whether that same approach balked in response or doubled its own efforts would come down to who led the charge.

    Seeing as the drums remained consistent in their thundering even now suggested the latter, which in turn favored Dominique. Ever the party member to chase and prioritize results. Part of a charm she believed would one day elevate her into a position among Baugh¡¯s ranks.

    Matus on the other hand, Emica having excluded Duck as she was certain he wouldn¡¯t take part in this visit either, often exercised restraint in matters involving manpower above a certain threshold. Meaning he¡¯d have likely looked ahead to the final castle in favor of sustaining the current visit, seeing more opportunity in keeping his party members fresh and available. More so if they were of Hite¡¯s persuasion. But that mindset also increased the likelihood he¡¯d join his forces with Dominique¡¯s in the event she was leading the charge.

    ¡°Wash, could you get Jericka to confirm the remaining distance of the highway?¡±

    The woman looked over at the engineer in approval.

    ¡°Right, their numbers will hurt them once the route narrows again.¡±

    ¡°But it means they¡¯ll be more eager to produce results before then.¡±

    ¡°Which means we need to slow them down while we speed up.¡±

    ¡°Jericka''s onboard, but we¡¯ll need to signal C274 manually now that they¡¯re at the front of the formation.¡±

    Both occupants of the engine room exchanged glances at the pilot¡¯s words, his tone having betrayed some level of skepticism. The unspoken question being towards whom.

    ¡°Does the bridge have reason to believe they¡¯ll reject the notion in favor of a more immediate solution.¡±

    ¡°If Cloud Nine is counting on the interference to slow the convoy¡¯s joint reactive capabilities, then operating independently for a stretch could be the preferred method.¡±

    ¡°Nice of you to join us Jericka.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t act like you didn¡¯t just call me out with your ¡®bridge¡¯ comment. Besides I''ve got fuck all else to do until comms can be restored.¡±

    ¡°This would be easier if we joined them upstairs, no?¡±

    Emica figured she¡¯d at least give it a shot, anything to get out of this damned room.

    ¡°Your call Cade, you¡¯ve spent the most time with her. And I doubt our security rep would chastise her favorite too harshly.¡±

    The engineer rubbed the back of his neck and angled his head anywhere but the woman in front of him.

    ¡°You say that, but Esma should still be onboard.¡±

    ¡°No need to write her off, Youn¡¯s keeping an eye on her.¡±

    The raider couldn¡¯t help but find amusement in the direction the conversation had taken. Surprisingly it was the pilot who¡¯d identified himself as Wash who got things back on track.

    ¡°Should we hold a vote?¡±

    ¡°For what, Lux¡¯s favorite or the motion to let our guest onto the bridge?¡±

    ¡°Huh? I mean, Cade¡¯s definitely the favorite and the woman can come up as long as she¡¯s escorted. But I thought the main point of contention was proceeding with independent action or not.¡±

    ¡°Wow, someone¡¯s on top of things today.¡±

    ¡°Things have only gone up since learning it¡¯s actually Wednesday.¡±

    And she was lost again.

    ¡°Am I heading to the bridge or not?!¡±

    A beat of silent contemplation before Cade called out through the sliding door.

    ¡°Penton, borrow you for a moment!¡±

    He motioned for Emica to come over.

    ¡°He¡¯ll bring you up, and this goes without saying but no funny business. We¡¯ve got officers on deck who don¡¯t need an excuse to shoot you.¡±

    It was then Brewer appeared in the door opening looking no worse for wear. The station man had held his own since Faust went on the IL.

    ¡°Take her up to the bridge. And take care to conceal her along the way. Don¡¯t want to encourage pot shots from her former companions.¡±

    As unfortunate an end it would be, Emica couldn¡¯t help but feel an attempt would be justified. Because the information she¡¯d shared thus far would no doubt contribute to the downfall of Cloud Nine¡¯s operations in Lamella¡¯s Lands as well as its plans going forward. To say nothing of the loss of life directly related to those failures. And it was for this reason the woman had no intention of taking her betrayal further by joining the LCF in the aftermath of all this. These thoughts followed her as she exited the corridor as was led to the ladderway, the voice of the young engineer still barely reaching her as he continued to confer with the bridge.

    ¡°Yeah, yeah. I¡¯ll take responsibility...¡±

    *

    ¡°Genau, Josep, and I will ditch completely and lead the boarding. Holbrook, get that gangway down and provide cover for the others. No one even sniffs the second level until we¡¯ve blown the door to the cargo bay. Everyone got it?¡±

    ¡°Yes ma''am!¡±

    Such were the orders handed out by Dominique during the lead up to C274. Orders she had no intention of changing even as another Crusader bored its way into their line of approach at the last second. And while she was able to calmly adjust her speed and pursuit angle to account for the sudden incursion, others around her froze or broke off in a panic, inciting small collisions in the process. One of which was violent enough to knock Josep and another from the saddle. Fortunately both executed the oft-practiced tuck and roll procedure to near perfection. Meaning they could be picked up or make it back to their bikes on their own. Possibly in time for the next offensive.

    The short haired woman clicked her tongue in irritation and readied herself for boarding, confident the others wouldn¡¯t be far behind her. A task made more difficult by this new Crusader¡¯s preparedness for their arrival. To the tune of two officers already entrenching themselves at the mouth of the corridor.

    Rather than provide them an easy target, Dominique retrieved a throwing knife from a compartment on the dominant side of her belt and launched it with a lateral sweep of the arm. She¡¯d half-expected one or both officers to duck away from the throw but instead the closer of the two blocked with his forearm. Allowing the blade to insert itself in what must have been a concealed arm guard. The two promptly raised their rifles, hoping to be rid of her before she got close enough to become a problem. But she wasn¡¯t the only target as Holbrook had appeared and pulled slightly ahead of her.

    As a testament to their crew chemistry the two field service personnel settled on separate targets without the need for verbal communication and fired, but Dominique had already leapt from her own bike onto the back of Holbrook¡¯s. Resulting in the round meant for her to ricochet harmlessly off the now empty saddle as the other created a dent in her companion¡¯s stout body armor.

    The Volt hissed in pain but stayed the course as his passenger utilized the momentum from her initial jump to do a back handspring off his back. One of the security officers threw out a curse at the acrobatic display and tried but failed to re-adjust his sights in time to get a shot off. Alas the barrel of the rifle was redirected by one of Dominique¡¯s boots as she descended on the platform.

    The officer whose rifle had been knocked away immediately swung a backhand at her exposed torso. A mistake as she absorbed the blow through gritted teeth and trapped the man¡¯s arm against her ribcage. His comrade fired his rifle point blank in an attempt to free him but the distance of the barrel was close enough to also be redirected by her free arm. With both men occupied for a breath her two, Holbrook drew up alongside the platform and reached for the gangway¡¯s release mechanism. His effort was thwarted however from a series of shots from above, the deck officers who¡¯d seen fit to make themselves known.

    In response the raider pulled off and allowed Genau among others to return fire at the railing above. Dominique on the other hand paid little heed to the exchange transpiring behind her and instead waited for the officer whose arm she had trapped to try an escape from her grasp. Releasing the arm at the first inclination of a tug and using the small window the wayward impetus allowed to drive herself forward into the body of her other adversary. But the man proved stouter than expected and prevented the two from spilling outright into the corridor.

    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    As the pair struggled for leverage Dominique could make out the sound of another pair of boots hitting the platform. The subsequent grunt of exertion that came as a result of two bodies crashing together violently confirmed the presence to be Genau. And just the knowledge that an ally had finally joined her onboard was enough to renew her vigor, a vigor that translated into a headbutt strong enough to stagger the officer sharing her space. Taking note of this potential swing in momentum the deck officers above shifted the bulk of their attention to those already onboard. Granted it proved difficult to produce quality shots with enemies and allies in such close quarters. But that wasn¡¯t the only thing working in the approach¡¯s favor.

    Normally in circumstances like these, where space was plentiful, a boarding party could expect a lateral motion in the direction of the accosted platform. This would scatter the party members congregating around the given platform and if the convoy was lucky take a few out. Such a routine maneuver became difficult however in cases where proper communication wasn¡¯t in effect. The fear being that an approach would anticipate or possibly bait this lateral motion and prepare forces capable of shooting the temporary gap it created in the formation. Creating a hypothetical situation in which a Crusader crew would be forced to fend off a boarding from both sides.

    Preventative measures for such a happenstance would have involved having the adjacent Crusader move in concert with its sister Crusader, eliminating the gap that would have otherwise formed. But this contingent required careful coordination between bridges, something that would prove difficult to reproduce under the conditions brought about by the Eidol. Therefore the boarding party only needed to concern themselves with the security forces opposing them for the time being. Despite this the timetable for the boarding didn¡¯t slow down nor did its participants lose urgency. For their goal was to get as many party members onboard the Crusader as possible before the convoy was readmitted into the stone forest. There was also their incomplete understanding of the Eidol¡¯s territorial borders to consider.

    A somewhat hopeless venture to rectify as there was very little literature concerning the extent of the entity¡¯s dominion. Meaning there was no guarantee it would stick with them as far as the towers to begin with. In such an event it did lose interest in the convoy and return to its castle the interference would cease and the convoy¡¯s comms would be restored. Providing the CC freedom to move his pieces about the board again. And in lieu of the darkness the deck officers would have a much easier time connecting from afar or marking targets of interest.

    And so it was with all of this in mind that Dominique continued her push into the belly of the command Crusader. Growing ever closer to their main objective, the cargo bay. But this objective of Cloud Nine¡¯s was no secret to the convoy¡¯s leadership as it kept informed of the situation from upstairs. As such they wasted little time descending to the lower level to aid in safeguarding the cargo. Among the defenders sent to reinforce the corridors, Convoy Commander Lautnor himself. A man whose previous profession made him quite formidable in situations like these. A confidence he was keen to express.

    ¡°Depart Volt, think hard about where your destination truly lies.¡±

    The woman¡¯s eyes flicked from the officer she¡¯d very nearly concussed to the CC stood at the junction of the corridor.

    ¡°Would you believe it¡¯s to your back. Let me pass and I might be able to oblige.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s Logan Hite¡¯s destination miss, don¡¯t mistake it with yours.¡±

    The two crew members slowly closed in on the raider from both sides, keeping a close eye out for concealed firearms or projectiles.

    ¡°Men who give unsolicited advice really are the worst.¡±

    The raider ran a gloved hand through her dark brown tufts seconds before a devious smile played across her lips. Shortly thereafter a battle cry reverberated throughout the lower level as members from the main boarding party began to spill into the corridor, swallowing the two security officers in the throes of combat.

    Left with little choice Lautnor moved to confront the intruders, but not before signaling the officer who¡¯d accompanied him to lower the cage shutter behind him. A self-less order as much as a necessary one. As for what followed...it almost reminded the man of old times.

    *

    ¡°You¡¯ve put me into a tight spot Dandridge. What with the inspector general¡¯s upcoming visit and that self-proclaimed Malison¡¯s transfer finalizing. For such an abrupt change in my staff to occur in the middle of it all, it¡¯ll invite questions from both guards and inmates. One way or another it¡¯s bound to create some trace forms of instability throughout the prison.¡±

    The warden of the northern region''s largest prison, Forst Cavea, had called in one of her lieutenants to go over the details of his resignation. Something she was none too pleased about.

    ¡°I am sorry for the timing, but the offer I¡¯ve been presented isn¡¯t indefinite. The longer I take to accept it the more likely they are to offer it to someone else.¡±

    The woman crossed one leg over the other and adjusted her peaked cap.

    ¡°The Federation is it...mind if I ask what brought about this desire for a career change?¡±

    Lautnor stared at the carpeted floor of the warden¡¯s office as he organized his thoughts, somewhat unclear on the reasons himself. Sharp gaze of the then lieutenant who¡¯d scouted him notwithstanding, he eventually arrived at his answer.

    ¡°Your familiar with Tom Culp?¡±

    ¡°Who could forget about old ¡®Tomahawk¡¯ Culp.¡±

    The warden rolled her eyes before leaning forward on her desk.

    ¡°That senile old bastard had taken to pissing on his cell door whenever he felt the guards were ignoring him. You could imagine the cleaning crews joy when he keeled over a few months ago.¡±

    ¡°Glad we¡¯re almost on the same page. But prior to his passing I happened to bear witness to what ended up being his final cognizant thoughts.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Do tell.¡±

    By pure chance Lautnor had happened across the older man as he sat alone in one of block C¡¯s common areas. Rather than greet the oft irritable man he¡¯d intended to carry on to the monitoring room to check on someone in solitary, only to be waved over gingerly instead. But what surprised him more was that Tom had called him by his rank and name.

    ¡°Lieutenant Dandridge, a moment if you will.¡±

    Still stunned at the unexpected display of amiability, he¡¯d sat down across from the inmate and removed his cap out of courtesy. As he did so the man shakily retrieved something from inside his prison uniform, but rather than present it he chose to keep it balled tightly in the hand he set on the table. The words that followed were soft.

    ¡°...I shouldn¡¯t be here.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know about that Tom. You got that moniker for a reason after all.¡±

    The old man waved him off with his other hand.

    ¡°That shouldn¡¯t have happened either.¡±

    Lautnor would have expected himself to become angry at the man¡¯s apparent dismissal of his past crimes, and yet something about his counterpart¡¯s disposition spoke of a deeper meaning behind those words.

    ¡°To have botched that one crucial decision all those years ago...and for it to culminate in all this.¡±

    The hardened inmate looked around their immediate surroundings sadly before squeezing the unknown article in his fist even tighter. Eager to distract the man from his hapless circumstances Lautnor spoke up.

    ¡°What happened Tom?¡±

    The balled fist grew limp and fell against the surface of the table with a light thud.

    ¡°I disembarked from my last Crusader...¡±

    A slight pause, proof that recounting the supposed mistake was painful.

    ¡°¡ªbut I¡¯d gone and foolishly done so at the wrong destination.¡±

    ¡°The wrong destination?¡±

    ¡°Aye. The sham in front of you, the one who quit field service. And the real Tom Culp, who stayed behind searching for something more. My greatest regret will forever be our parting.¡±

    Lautnor grew pensive at those words. Because he could¡¯ve sworn he¡¯d grasped them once before in his youth. But if that was truly the case then why had he decided to let them go. Perhaps this was the question the hollow man across from him had wrestled with all his life. Unable to find an answer, he¡¯d finally shared his predicament with another.

    Even then, it didn¡¯t have to be one of the prison¡¯s lieutenants. Anyone would do. But not just anyone would be able to take this advice and run with it. Was it possible that the supposedly senile Tomahawk Culp had seen something inside him searching for that same thing? Lautnor would never get a chance to ask. For the old inmate had died in his sleep three days later with no signs of foul play. Leaving behind naught, save for the tattered remains of the emblem that had once emblazoned his service belt. The final proof of the life he¡¯d taken pride in. And a farewell token passed from one shaky grip to another.

    In the aftermath of that meeting Lautnor had taken to asking other inmates with pasts in the LCF about their respective experiences in field service. With some looking back at it fondly, and others complaining about the busy work schedule resulting from staff shortages. But not a single person surveyed regretted that snapshot of their life. A few even shared Culp¡¯s regret over leaving, most doing so upon completion of the service requirement.

    Inmates, who before would have been deemed unapproachable for the likes of prison staff, opening up enthusiastically once the topic was introduced. And so it reached a point where Lautnor could no longer smother the emotions taking hold of his spirit.

    As if in response to this dam breaking, Lautnor came across one of several programs designed to take workers from fields sharing in similar skillsets and fast track them into specialized roles in the LCF. For him THIS became the crucial decision he couldn¡¯t afford to botch. So he didn¡¯t. He applied for the program, was quickly accepted and tempered his resignation. Bringing things to this current point in time.

    ¡°Good grief, and here I was hoping to find someone to pin the blame on. Bastards dead already.¡±

    The warden stood to her imposing height and walked around the desk, grabbing the release form that finalized the excusal from his post. She pressed a copy of the parchment into his chest and peered at him from under her cap.

    ¡°I¡¯d better not see you here again. And I don¡¯t mean as an inmate either. Forst Cavea doesn¡¯t reserve staff openings for good-for-nothing pissants that can¡¯t stick to their guns.¡±

    Lautnor smiled, accepting the form and saluting his warden. She returned his gesture in kind and returned to her seat as the new member of the LCF reached the door.

    ¡°Ah, make sure you pass by your locker one last time before leaving. Seems everyone pulled together funds for a parting gift.¡±

    He couldn¡¯t help but turn in surprise.

    ¡°You too Warden?¡±

    The woman crossed her arms somewhat sheepishly.

    ¡°I signed the card...¡±

    ¡°You know I promised myself I wouldn¡¯t cry.¡±

    *

    ¡°Lux rotate with me! We need to thin the herd before it descends on command!¡±

    Lux processed Youn¡¯s proposal from the front deck, where she¡¯d inconspicuously downed the gunner just moments before. And to her surprise several of the party members making up the approach they¡¯d led had scrambled to cover and retrieve them. Immediately making her wonder if the person she¡¯d introduced to the ground was either Duck Reed or the party leader Logan Hite. She had half a mind to seek out their captive downstairs so she could ask.

    Imagine her surprise when upon passing by the front window of the bridge to follow up, that she should see ¡°Legs¡± mingling among the rest of the bridge. The unexpected sight enough for Lux to pull up temporarily to confirm nothing malicious was going under the deck officer¡¯s noses. Fortunately the behavior of both Wash and Jericka, in concert with the woman¡¯s still bound state, assuaged her concerns and she resumed repositioning. But even such a brief delay had proved costly as her visual of the approach¡¯s backend had grown ever smaller as it neared C471. Making Youn¡¯s suggestion a sensible one.

    ¡°Oi, snap out of it! They might be called Cloud Nine but you won¡¯t find them up there!¡±

    Lux soon realized that at some point during her internal monologue her gaze had drifted up towards where the horizon would be, were it not obscured by the terrain¡¯s skyline that it. And yet the overwhelming sense of anticipation that normally spawned as a direct result of these conditions was nowhere to be found. Strange.

    ¡°I heard you, calm your ass down!¡±

    Youn hoisted himself over the railing and dropped down onto the platform. Locking his fingers together and crouching so he could give the blond a boost up.

    ¡°Only after you get your ass up!¡±

    Despite trading verbal jabs throughout the process, the two officers still managed to sync their movements superbly. Culminating in a flawless exchange of deck positions. A feat akin to the stunts Voltigeurs regularly achieved during boardings. Though the two did have the handicap of not being actively shot at.

    Touching down on the back deck, Lux raced to the rear of the Crusader with her head on a swivel. A necessary precaution as they remained the most likely candidate for relieving the set upon C471. Reason enough for the Hussards to keep them in check from afar.

    But just as she had reached her desired set up position, a new and unexpected hinderance presented itself. The perpetrator of this hinderance, Crusader C274. Having dropped it speed so it could slide between its allies and assume a spot in the rear. A risky move if what she¡¯d overheard about the state of comms was true. That and eking through the formation had to be stressful on the pilot at such a juncture. More so in this darkness.

    It was as Lux witnessed this maneuver from down sights that she happened to spot an unfamiliar, burly graying presence onboard. She could also hear them barking orders over the roar of the drums. Orders she¡¯d consider extreme even by her own standards.

    ¡°Open fire on C471¡¯s main body! And make sure to be mindful of friendlies! Batter anything that doesn¡¯t affect the cargo or the Crusader¡¯s operating ability.¡±

    Was this what Jericka had cautioned her of earlier? Because if mutiny was on the table Lux would be hard pressed to find a better chance to eliminate the ringleader. As if reading her mind the officer in question abruptly turned to meet her sights with an unreadable expression.

    Only a handful of times had Lux felt so compelled to fight someone on an instinctual level. Not out of duty or self-preservation, but because they occupied a footing much similar to her own. The fact they were on the same side was inconsequential. Lids narrowed and her head edged downward as the two held one another¡¯s gaze for what felt like an eternity.

    ¡°Ah...this guy¡¯s like me.¡±

 Chapter 24

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 Chapter 25

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 Chapter 26

    The myriad of caves spanning unknown distances and comprising the complex system beneath Lamella¡¯s Lands were a marvel rivaling the fifty castles themselves. Many of which remained unexplored outside of those large enough to accommodate groups of raiders eager to get the jump on unsuspecting convoys. Their growing dominion over the tunnels making it nigh impossible for archaeologists to survey the region for more fossils of Lamella¡¯s pedigree.

    But still there were those who trumped even Cloud Nine when it came to mastery of the cavern system, having navigated the dark and damp spaces all their lives. One such example being a remarkably small species of bat also distinguishable by its boar like snout. Aptly named the Hog-Nosed Bat, the tiny mammals spent a great deal of time roosting high on the walls and ceilings of the winding caves, often quite far from the entrances. As per there preference for roosting far apart from one another, it wasn¡¯t uncommon for individual members of larger groups that ranged from the tens to the hundreds to find themselves in unfamiliar backdrops. Whether in pursuit of a meal or marking a section of cave for mating purposes.

    Such was the case for the lone specimen currently tucked in a dark corner of one of the keeps inner wards. At peace as it remained undisturbed, ignorant to the comings and goings of the strangers occupying the extension of its abode as of late. And though the small mammal wasn¡¯t conscious nor learned enough to make the distinction, foot traffic through the castle¡¯s stone halls was more frequent and hurried as of recent. The sudden appearance of two Cloud Nine members driving this point home as they crossed underneath the critter, ferrying a bundle of rope and large metal basin respectively. Both enroute to one of the castle¡¯s curtain walls. Had the bat been awake it would have witnessed the exact moment a third party member entered the same hall silently, then proceeded to approach the two from behind without making themselves known.

    An ongoing debate regarding their assigned positions for the upcoming clash making them numb to the third presence, even as it came to be right on top of them. And once that distance had been closed, a hand shot out intended for the closer of the two. The party member carrying the empty basin. And it was the flash of something being held by that extending hand that finally allowed the would-be recipient to take notice. An involuntary gasp escaping them upon turning their head to investigate. Fortunately, the flash of something metallic proved to be no more than a silver band adorning the hand coming to rest on his shoulder.

    ¡°Change of plans.¡±

    ¡°Fucks sake Guire! The hell are you skulking around for?!¡±

    ¡°Please, if the two of you listened half as well as you complained about your postings, you¡¯d have heard me coming.¡±

    The third year out of Ortels had recently been moved from the Demenageurs to the Voltigeurs on Duck Reed¡¯s recommendation, but had been selected to help garrison the castle rather than follow Matus into battle. Above all he possessed a curious aptitude for speaking without opening or moving his mouth. Something party members were convinced was self-taught, a means to conceal the tragic results of a previous oral affliction. Both raiders were subconsciously reminded of this rumor as they readjusted the things they were carrying.

    ¡°What¡¯s this about a change in plans?¡±

    ¡°That basin is needed on the south curtain wall now. I¡¯m here to show you the shortcut.¡±

    The two raiders exchanged dubious glances.

    ¡°Care to explain the reasoning behind this decision.¡±

    ¡°It is hard to imagine the convoy coming anywhere near the southern wall when they pass through.¡±

    Despite explaining what they believed to be obvious, Guire didn¡¯t waver in the face of his colleagues and doubled down.

    ¡°Take it up with Hite and his inner circle, I¡¯m just the messenger.¡±

    ¡°Well it¡¯s a good thing our messenger has two arms capable of bringing the basin over himself.¡±

    The man deposited the metal vessel in the ventriloquist¡¯s hands before he had a chance to refuse it. Both he and his associate laughing in response as they turned to resume their stroll to the original destination.

    ¡°I don¡¯t mind carrying the damn thing, but Hite wants to familiarize more of the garrison with the layout of this castle. That includes the aforementioned shortcut to the south curtain wall. Last thing we need is members moving aimlessly when shit kicks off.¡±

    The member he¡¯d been addressing from the get-go halted his progress and turned halfway, face still expressing hints of dubiety. But the more both men thought about it the more they realized how a familiarity with the layout sounded like something Hite would stress.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll play along.¡±

    He motioned for the other raider to continue on his way with the rope and the two proceeded in the opposite direction. Guire returning the basin so fluidly that his new company didn¡¯t even think to deny or resist.

    ¡°How the hell did you figure out the layout of this place so quickly anyway? Get lost on your way to the bathroom? Or maybe you and your Demen buddies have too much free time on your hands.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m a Volt now. Though that doesn¡¯t seem to exempt me from wasting time based on what I just walked in on.¡±

    The raider flexed his jaw and stared daggers at the man leading him through the dark recesses of the unfamiliar hallways. What few light sources there were coming from narrow slits high up on the walls and ceiling. An equally eerie silence pervaded the route they were taking to the southern wall, so much so one could mistake the castle for being empty save for the two of them.

    ¡°We turn right here.¡±

    The longer they walked the more sweat formed on the party member¡¯s hands, forcing him to transfer the basin to one hand so he could dry them on his pant leg. A task made more difficult by the increasing narrowness of the halls they were passing through.

    ¡°Hey pal! Shouldn¡¯t we be there by now?!¡±

    ¡°Just a bit further.¡±

    So he said, but rather than opening back up or leading to an exit to the outside, the narrow hallway led to what appeared to be a staircase going downwards.

    ¡°I¡¯d have thought a man from Dactyl would be more at home in a dark cramped space.¡±

    Guire maintained his steady pace as he descended the damp stairway. His guidee on the other hand paused briefly at the top, unsure whether to continue. He¡¯d have probably left the basin and turned back outright were he more confident in his ability to return without getting lost. Instead it was with a few choice words under his breath that he too started downwards. And finally regained enough peace of mind to respond to the jab.

    ¡°Dactyl is just where I was staying until Hite picked me up. My actual hometown is a border city to the South.¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes. Assuming I''ve been correctly informed, our leader was courting you to Roy¡¯s cause prior to that fateful encounter born of LCF treachery. Leaving you in limbo when he became part of the trade deal to resolve it. He must¡¯ve made quite the pitch for you to follow him to us.¡±

    The party member found it very telling that Guire knew so much about his past. Likely the product of misgivings senior members had over accepting raiders of questionable allegiances. But for them to have persisted this long was surely a cause for concern. The more immediate concern however was how drastically the temperature and acoustics had changed all of a sudden.

    ¡°What the...?¡±

    The man stopped in his tracks and spun around in a circle, waiting for his eyes to adjust so he could figure out where they¡¯d ended up. It was when he noticed the dampness of the air and ground that a chill finally ran up his spine.

    ¡°Are these the tunnels? Why the hell would we need to come down here?¡±

    There was no response. And it was at this point the party member realized he wasn¡¯t sure which way they¡¯d come from.

    ¡°Guire!¡±

    Still no response, not even footsteps. The only saving grace being the distant sound of what he¡¯d wager to be running water. Though the sound it was producing made his plight all the more ominous.

    ¡°What?¡±

    The man jerked forward violently and dropped the basin with a loud clunk. His body breaking out in a cold sweat.

    ¡°What the fuck are you playing at?! And why are we in the tunnels?! What about the south curtain wall?!¡±

    ¡°I did say that was where we were going didn¡¯t I.¡±

    ¡°What...?!¡±

    The gears finally clicked inside the man¡¯s head and he cursed his own naivety. Because all the clues had been there, both in the man¡¯s words and the environment. But this wasn¡¯t the time to anguish over his shortsightedness. No, he firmly believed he could make it out of this.

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

    For starters his combat skills comfortably exceeded that of Guire¡¯s, he knew this first hand from training. This would also account for the need to get him into a dark and unfamiliar place to even the odds. A pistol would normally erase that discrepancy but Guire wasn¡¯t Skarpurian, he wouldn¡¯t be able to see his target well in the absence of adequate light. True the tunnel was narrow, but he could still redirect his opponents aim or drop into a lower position to avoid the muzzle. Based on the sound of his voice he was certainly close enough for that to be an option. The thought of seeking out the basin for use as a shield or weapon also crossed his mind.

    I need to settle down. Start by determining his location. Listen for movement and then pounce!

    It came then, the unmistakable sound of a pistol cocking. A pistol he had no recollection of glimpsing over the entire trek to their current location. And he¡¯d checked. Not out of suspicion but habit. The fact he¡¯d needed to stick close to avoid getting lost had made it easy. But regardless of where the firearm had been concealed, it had given away his adversary¡¯s location.

    Dropping into a crouch the party member shifted his weight onto his toes and readied a tackle. If he could bring this confrontation to the ground he¡¯d have a chance. Though rather than try and wrestle the pistol away he did have the option of indiscriminately picking a tunnel direction and fleeing. Guire¡¯s knowledge of the system beneath the castle might make it a moot point, but it sure beat his present circumstances. Such were the man¡¯s final thoughts as the muzzle of the pistol introduced itself to his left temple from a standing position.

    Unbeknownst to the previous resident of Dactyl, Guire had extended his arm out to the side deliberately when he¡¯d cocked the weapon. A tactic the raider on borrowed time failed to consider while under the incredible stress of the moment. Even more unfortunate was the basin he¡¯d dropped landing within arm''s reach of his right hand without him knowing. The one thing that could have saved him from the initial shot had his hand reached down and grazed it.

    ¡°Wai¡ª¡±

    The sound of the shot reverberated throughout the tunnels, waking the scores of small bats that resided in the vicinity and sending them fluttering to new locals. The sounds of their frantic wings enough to make the team killing party member stoop down on instinct. And from that crouched position he couldn¡¯t resist the urge to take a closer look at his victim. One of several Cloud Nine members whose connection to Hite made him a troublesome existence in Reed¡¯s ideal raiding party. Standing back up Guire pocketed the remaining ammo and ditched the gun on top of the recently deceased. So long...?

    ¡°Wait, what was your name again?¡±

    *

    ¡°I cannot believe she¡¯d just up and board another Crusader like that, you think you know a girl.¡±

    ¡°Lux, shut up. The group transmission is about to start.¡±

    Jericka confirmed the switches on her end and gestured for their guest to join her and the blonde over by the equipment. A given as she was the only one with knowledge of the final castle¡¯s layout.

    ¡°Try already started. Nice of you to join us.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me for having to wrangle our security rep.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s called being thorough, or would you have preferred I ignore the lollygaggers from the previous visit.¡±

    ¡°They were probably doing a headcount.¡±

    ¡°Kircher ladies and gentlemen! Raiding party behav¡ªioral expert!¡±

    ¡°Cut it close Lux, but you got there. Nice to see Cade rubbing off on you in some regard.¡±

    ¡°All in favor of replacing Kircher in the call with my pupil?¡±

    ¡°Your pupil?¡±

    ¡°Esma, take his shit! I know you can hear me!¡±

    ¡°Order in the call!¡±

    Wash¡¯s bellow from the controls proved potent enough to reach the ears of the other two bridges over the headset. To say nothing of the poor girls crowded together in the corner of the same room.

    ¡°Well then, thanks to Officer Redcliffe it seems we¡¯re ready to get started.¡±

    Sumiye had been listening to the chaos unfold while reviewing the descriptions of ¡°The Gatehouse¡± provided by the CFS responders.

    ¡°I know we¡¯re all a bit taxed mentally at the moment but let¡¯s try to stay off each other¡¯s throats for the time being. If you can¡¯t manage that much then please leave the call.¡±

    That shut everyone up. Nothing quite like a gentle chastising to invoke shame and personal reflection.

    ¡°Before we get into it, I believe the commander has a few words he¡¯d like to share with all of you and your crews.¡±

    ¡°Thank you Sumi, I¡¯ll make it quick. Just wanted to commend all of you for your handling of the previous visit. Even in the face of an abnormal breakdown in communications, you all managed to operate independently and effectively by leaning on your training and years of experience.¡±

    Those in the call with a pre-existing work relationship under Lautnor were admittedly surprised to hear something so relatively well put come from the jailer turned Convoy Commander. It transformed words they¡¯d normally write off as sweet nothings to something akin to genuine feelings of pride. As for the others, it was in one ear and out the other. Long since tired of the many instances where similar words were uttered purely for the purpose of placating them during rough stretches.

    ¡°Make sure you put that positive feedback into writing when it comes time to fill out our post-arrival evaluations please. Some of us could do with more endorsements.¡±

    Lux and Emica regarded Jericka with a raised brow each as Wash groaned from the controls.

    ¡°Must safeguard emotions spurred by positive affirmations...no, you ruined it.¡±

    ¡°Tough crowd. So much for preparing cue cards on the can before departure.¡±

    ¡°Commander your mic is still hot.¡±

    ¡°For good reason, let them know how much I agonize over my crew¡¯s well-being.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re just one big well-oiled machine today huh.¡±

    Lux¡¯s comment succeeded in easing some of the tension in call. Whether it be related to the unexpectedly problematic roster chemistry or the threat of Cloud Nine.

    ¡°Logan Hite must be shaking in his boots right about now.¡±

    ¡°Shitting himself more like.¡±

    ¡°And people wonder why black boxes get scrubbed.¡±

    ¡°They what?!¡±

    Wash expressed his disbelief loud enough to fill the channel once more.

    ¡°Is that why they¡¯re always rejecting my solicitations for the recordings?! Some of my best material has come when I¡¯m at the controls!¡±

    ¡°Moving on¡ª! To the matter at hand.¡±

    Sumiye¡¯s rare instance of raising her voice got the call back on track for the second time in as many minutes.

    ¡°Namely the castle we¡¯ve dubbed ¡®The Gatehouse.¡¯ Of the castles constructed by Morg it can be considered the closest to finished. Many of the others having been given up on at various points of the building process. In fact it¡¯s believed his untimely death was the only reason it went unfinished.¡±

    ¡°Are you saying Lamella herself is under the gatehouse?¡±

    ¡°Was moron. They moved it out remember. But I assume you¡¯ve brought up its near completion for a reason.¡±

    Lautnor answered in place of his head CO who he could tell was starting to wear down after such a long day.

    ¡°It¡¯s near completed state makes it more capable of holding a garrison. A garrison that could have theoretically applied the finishing touches.¡±

    ¡°But those finishing touches wouldn¡¯t have been done overnight, nor could Hite have known the cost of moving the resources would be worth it. This route is used almost solely for Galen Runs as is. There¡¯d be no guarantee a convoy would be coming through anytime soon.¡±

    Over on C274 Esma began making mental notes of Jericka¡¯s analysis based on what she could make out. Something that admittedly involved invading Kircher¡¯s personal space.

    ¡°It¡¯s possible Hite¡¯s ambitions are geared more for the long term. Like preparing a headquarters for the mapping of the rest of the underground tunnel system.¡±

    ¡°That would give them total dominion over the region and make travel to Mennarouple restricted on an entire front.¡±

    ¡°To what end?¡±

    The call grew quiet for a moment as everyone pondered the question Jericka put forth. But one crew member did have an answer at the ready.

    ¡°Enact tolls.¡±

    The three girls looked over at C362¡¯s pilot, somewhat surprised he¡¯d used an indoor voice despite having an excuse to yell his answer for once.

    ¡°Did someone say something?¡±

    Lux was the one to inquire further, crossing the bridge as she did so and posting up at the front of the console.

    ¡°Since when do you need an invitation to keep yapping? Cough it up.¡±

    She kicked his behind lightly.

    ¡°It¡¯s just as it sounds. Rather than attack convoys outright they¡¯ll offer safe passage in exchange for a portion of the cargo. And assuming they do gain a stranglehold on the region the LCF might not have much of a choice but to form a tentative agreement with the party in hopes of lowering the asking price. That or discontinue the route. Though the latter is unlikely as it would reflect poorly on the LCF¡¯s authority and credibility going forward.¡±

    ¡°Did you guys get all that?¡±

    Lux retracted the arm she¡¯d extended with the headset and placed it back on her head, just in time to hear Lautnor answer in the affirmative.

    ¡°Sure did, and I¡¯d be willing to buy what he¡¯s selling. But let¡¯s shift our attention back to the more immediate issue of the gatehouse¡¯s feasible completion. Better to leave the matter of incentives for the councils to investigate.¡±

    ¡°Pardon my confusion, but what does is matter if the castle is completed? It¡¯s not as if we have the time or desire to appropriate the structure. Going by our earlier discussion on the lady in waiting we should be able to force our way right through it, no?¡±

    The castle had been designed to allow a full procession to pass under and through its walls, but that also meant by design there would be an abundance of viewing locations atop the bartizans and curtain walls.

    ¡°Not quite.¡±

    Sumiye tagged herself back into the deliberations. In part knowing her words would be better received by Officer Swarek.

    ¡°As you¡¯ll recall there was also mention of naturally formed columns dotting the path to ensure structural integrity. Columns we have no way of knowing the exact placements of.¡±

    ¡°Maybe we spend less time fawning and more time listening Kirch.¡±

    ¡°As if you remember anything beyond what you had for lunch Ayfer!¡±

    ¡°No need to remember, it¡¯ll probably make a reappearance if I have to keep interacting with you.¡±

    Lux wordlessly extended her hand towards Wash again, but this time for a high five. Something he reciprocated without so much as turning to face her.

    ¡°Yes well, the columns might be the least of our troubles if Cloud Nine saw fit to build a gate for their gatehouse.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°I assume the concern lies with the exit.¡±

    And there was Jericka proving that at least somebody on C362 could stay on task.

    ¡°Correct. I¡¯d wager that the entrance won¡¯t even be manned.¡±

    ¡°They want us to trap ourselves after all...¡±

    ¡°Well speculating our doom isn¡¯t going to solve anything! So let¡¯s just ask!¡±

    The blonde security officer trudged her way over to their resident Cloud Nine turncoat and delivered a probing leer.

    ¡°Do they have a gate or not?¡±

    For her part Emica, known colloquially as ¡°Legs¡± or Carrie by the crew, seemed at peace with everything transpiring over the group call thus far. And while she hadn¡¯t jumped at the chance to contribute it didn¡¯t seem that decision had anything to do with reservations or loyalty.

    ¡°They do. It¡¯s at the exit just as you surmised.¡±

    A chorus of sighs and curses filled the headset.

    ¡°It¡¯s a type that swings open inward.¡±

    ¡°That rules out ramming it down. Not that it was a given we¡¯d have a straight shot.¡±

    Lautnor paused for a moment, his way of asking their guest on C362 to confirm or deny the latter articulation.

    ¡°It¡¯s not, in fact the pillar obstructing that part of the path is so wide we questioned if building a gate was even necessary.¡±

    ¡°What of the mechanism for opening the gate? Is it on the ground level or atop the curtain wall?¡±

    The head CO¡¯s inquiry made it clear to everyone present what the plan entailed. It would only be a matter of who and when.

    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, we¡¯ve reached the plan devising segment of the call. So feel free to settle in and don¡¯t forget to tip your pilots.¡±

 Chapter 27

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

 Chapter 28

    It had long been accepted that the vast cavern system lurking beneath Lamella¡¯s Lands would never be fully mapped nor explored, its hundreds of miles worth of tunnels and similarly inconclusive number of entrances and exits best left to the imagination. In light of this forthcoming affirmation it was decided that only those tunnels that were largest and seemingly most stable would be prioritized for mapping expeditions. But even with such precautions in mind it wasn¡¯t enough to prevent a handful of Cloud Nine¡¯s party members from disappearing into the depths of the earth, never to be seen or heard from again.

    Neutral members of Cloud Nine were quick to write off such disappearance as products of the behind-the-scenes struggle between Hite and Reed¡¯s factions, each seeking to weaken the opposition and sow fear. More superstitious members leaned into the rumors of an ancient subterranean race whose hunting parties ensnared anyone who strayed too close to the fringes of their underground kingdom. The evidence they often cited being that they¡¯d discovered a depth even the hog-nosed bats and other cavern dwellers dare not cross. Finally, there were the rational but less cynical members who¡¯d sensibly deduced those missing had gotten turned around, become lost and perished due to any smattering of vital deficiencies.

    Needless to say, beyond the tunnels that had already been mapped and put to use, most party members held little desire to venture into the unknown sections of caves littering their new domain. But for those few who were daring enough to carry on the task, the mapping of these new sections of tunnels provided them a greater range of opportunities. Especially when they decided to keep the locations of new shortcuts and entrances close to the chest. Such was the crux of the LCF¡¯s current initiative to infiltrate the gatehouse amid the struggle taking place aboveground.

    For the sake of said current plan the infiltration team would utilize a narrow but shielded opening at the base of where several outcroppings came together. Making it a prerequisite for those involved to be sound in dealing with cramped spaces. Such was the case for the trio as they arrived at and made short work of gaining entry into the tunnel system. Only Faust whose frame was larger than that of his female companions experienced some form of struggle, making all three thankful for the premeditated decision to pass their rifles through the opening separate of themselves. A real gamble for the two security officers if Emica had been the one to lead the charge. As such Lux squeezed her way through first and received the rifles shortly thereafter.

    And though she wasn¡¯t particularly bothered by traversing tight spaces, the blonde was still thankful to see that the tunnel that gained them entry opened up considerably a short walk further in. Something their guide failed to mention to either of them beforehand. Perhaps a subtle way of gauging how seriously her new associates were about succeeding in the mission. Nevertheless, all three made haste after clearing their first hurdle. Though they stopped short of running as it was difficult to make out the topography of the cavern surface they treaded on.

    ¡°Are you sure we didn¡¯t need to bring more lights?¡±

    At present they were relying on a single flashlight in the care of Emica.

    ¡°No need, I discovered this shortcut into the castle fairly recently and the number of obstructions along it was negligible. Just stay on my ass and keep one foot in front of the other.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t have to ask me twice, Legs.¡±

    ¡°Oh, and try not to panic too much if you feel something wet drip on you from above.¡±

    Lux absentmindedly felt her eyes flicker upwards despite being unable to make out the ceiling in this darkness.

    ¡°A little water never hurt anyone.¡±

    ¡°Oh yeah, what about bat guano?¡±

    A frown found its way onto Lux¡¯s face as she fumbled with the hood of her uniform jacket with one hand. An action that spawned a momentary lapse in focus, contributing to the tumble she took when her left foot caught the edge of something sprawled across the floor, just off to the side of the tunnel they were speeding through. She came away unscathed in no small part thanks to her security training, using the momentum of the fall to transition into a forward roll. The nerves of her companions couldn¡¯t boast the same luxury as the curse that erupted from Lux¡¯s mouth at the time of the fall had both of their fight or flight responses activating on instinct.

    Equal parts angry and embarrassed, the sharpshooter ground out her next words through clenched teeth.

    ¡°I though you said there were no obstructions...¡±

    Emica strolled over to Lux casually, first shining the light on her to confirm her condition then investigating the cause of her very uproarious spill.

    ¡°What I said was that they were negligible, not that they didn¡¯t exist.¡±

    The women used her foot to roll the obstruction in question over. A sound conducive to recognition following as the two officers appeared alongside the raider and stared down at the now illuminated object. Except the culprit wasn¡¯t an object, but a man. A man dressed in garb consistent with a raiding party member.

    ¡°Ok, in my defense this wasn¡¯t here before.¡±

    Lux crouched down to get a closer look at the body, namely what appeared to be the exit wound of a bullet just above the temple facing them. Next, she examined the blood and let the back of her hand brush against the man¡¯s exposed abdomen.

    ¡°This was recent, like within the hour.¡±

    Shielding her eyes as she stood back up, Lux looked to their charge expecting answers. Meanwhile Faust began prodding around the base of the wall just off to the side. The subsequent sound of a bullet casing bouncing across the tunnel floor confirming the trajectory of the discharge.

    ¡°Friend of yours?¡±

    ¡°Sure, it¡¯s uh...¡±

    The woman began snapping her fingers in an attempt to jog her memory.

    ¡°Fuck, what was this guy¡¯s name again...?¡±

    ¡°The more pressing question is what he¡¯s doing here.¡±

    Faust dropped the casing he¡¯d collected into Lux¡¯s hand as he made his voice known to the raider for the first time.

    ¡°He speaks!¡±

    Lux closed her fist around the casing and pocketed it before placing a hand in the center of both companion¡¯s backs, pushing them deeper into the tunnel and away from the body.

    ¡°Sure does. And you what else he can do, multitask. So let¡¯s get a move on. You can explain as you do your job, guide.¡±

    As Lux¡¯s interjection insinuated, time was very much not on their side. And in all likelihood the two opposing forces had already opened hostilities topside. No time to be tripping over corpses.

    ¡°While I might not recall his name, I do know his face. The less grotesque version that is.¡±

    ¡°Pfft, I¡¯d love to see the look on your face after a bullet takes it¡¯s midday stroll through your skull.¡±

    ¡°Save your breath Lux, let her finish.¡±

    After so many convoys together Faust was well-versed in how combative the blonde could be just for the heck of it. More often than not he even found it oddly endearing. This instance however was very far removed from one of those times.

    ¡°The point I was getting to, is that he¡¯s one of Hite¡¯s. Reed¡¯s faction probably took advantage of the bustle of siege preparations to address one of the more problematic supporters.¡±

    The group suddenly made a sharp turn into an offshoot neither officer would have noticed from its position in the shadows.

    ¡°That¡¯s good news for us right? One less raider to deal with, plus it confirms this tunnel route isn¡¯t well known among the party. Unless they planned on moving the body again later.¡±

    ¡°More like they anticipate Reed will be the last one standing when the day winds to an end.¡±

    ¡°What a pain in the ass, no wonder you left.¡±

    Emica made something akin to a snort before slowing to a stop at a fork that had materialized in the tunnel. Extending an arm out to stop the other two from passing her.

    ¡°We need to put a lid on the chatter beyond this point, we¡¯re about to enter the halls of the inner keep.¡±

    ¡°Fat chance of that happening, more so with me in her ear...¡±

    Operating in a tight space with such minimal light had tipped the balance of Lux¡¯s senses in favor of hearing, making it less of a surprise that her body would jerk so blatantly at the unexpected voice filling her ear. And it was only after her hand shot up and re-confirmed the presence of a headset atop her dome that her body was able to relax again. Not that anything could be done about the embarrassment she felt upon soaking in the exasperated expressions of her two companions. Neither being impressed by her small episode. Lux cleared her throat.

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    ¡°Yeah I¡¯d better let ¡®em know where we¡¯re at, help them adjust the timetable and stuff. Give me fifteen, twenty seconds tops.¡±

    As one would presume the update was largely unnecessary thanks to Jericka¡¯s astute perception skills. And after they¡¯d been made privy to the convoy¡¯s relative location, the team of three stole away into the carved halls of the castle¡¯s depths, with only a handful of bats as their witness.

    *

    To watch the plumes of smoke crawl their way down towards where the decks of the Crusaders would soon be, many of which harboring figures outfitted in protective gear, was as surreal an experience as Youn had ever witnessed. An oddly transfixing occurrence that no report would be able to do justice. Assuming they¡¯d be able to pen a report. Such were the increasingly dire straits they¡¯d found themselves in.

    He could already hear the panicked voices of the crews onboard the Crusaders ahead of them as they sought defensible positions and called for the pilot to adjust course and avoid the smoke stacks altogether. But a quick scan of their surroundings would all but confirm such a maneuver wasn¡¯t feasible. The stone pillars on either side of them boxing them in and limiting possible escape routes. No doubt something Cloud Nine had taken into account when planning their aerial boarding attempt.

    Upon accepting evasion wouldn¡¯t be possible, Youn and the other deck officers began targeting the rappelers ahead of them. An exceedingly difficult task with both smoke and light beams obscuring the fast-descending figures. The pounding of drums and mishmash of call outs assaulting each and every officer¡¯s senses in concert with the visual impairments. Though one call out did manage to separate itself from the rest.

    ¡°Spikes planted, backside of the towers!¡±

    Youn whipped his head around and scanned the length of the closest tower, confirming the forms of at least two Volts perched atop sets of staggered spikes. He noted that the spikes had been set up to be low enough to avoid a serious injury when dropping down but high enough to guarantee they could clear the distance between the towers and Crusaders. The window for attempting the crossover presenting itself nearly the same instant their ploy was discovered. Like many of his fellow servicemen and women the oft fractious security officer raised the sights of his rifle at the more immediate threat. Only for his timing to coincide with the passing of C362 through one of the light beams threading through the castle walkways.

    Youn committed to the shot nonetheless, confident his body had remained steady even if his eyes and face recoiled at the unwelcome light source. With his vision temporarily lost to him the young officer listened intently for anything landing on deck. His plan being to fire blindly in the most literal sense. A risk he felt comfortable taking thanks to the deliberate decision to keep his feet planted in the same direction as the initial shot. Meaning he wouldn¡¯t make the mistake of discharging his weapon in the direction of the bridge where an ally might emerge. What¡¯s more Brewer being on the front deck slashed the chances of him falling victim to a blind shot or two.

    And so it was with his eyes screwed shut that Youn perceived something striking the deck hard enough to send subtle vibrations from just off to the side of the turret bay. He fired low assuming the vibrations had come about largely due to an awkward landing and strained his ears for signs of a verbal reaction. What met his ears first however was the sound of another much less violent thud somewhere to his right side. Forcing his eyes open he turned and fired at the intruder who wisely tucked in behind his sizeable buckler. A noteworthy observation since an armament of that size would have been too heavy to jump with from one of the towers.

    Sure enough the raider in question was at work disconnecting the rope that had lowered him down from the walkway, a trail of smoke of similar origin following close behind and beginning to spill out across the deck behind them. Fully cognizant of the predicament forming around him Youn made the snap decision to charge the raider with the buckler before he had a chance to get his feet underneath him completely, still caught up releasing the constraint of the rope. But upon seeing the security officer was rushing him put the matter on the backburner in favor of putting both arms behind the buckler and bracing himself.

    Experienced enough to know the futility of throwing himself against what essentially amounted to a metal wall, Youn killed his momentum, contacted the buckler with both hands and began to drive his legs forward instead. Having lost his leverage the raider could only flail helplessly as the object meant to safeguard him betrayed its purpose and helped drive him back towards the edge of the Crusader¡¯s deck. The attempt to release the buckler coming too late as the railing struck the man¡¯s lower back, the bruising sensation that followed giving way to the even less desirable sensation of temporary weightlessness. Until the rope he¡¯d failed to disconnect from his belt halted his descent but left him swaying upside down. And it was from that flipped perspective the raider was forced to watch as the convoy pressed onward further and further away from him. Leaving him helpless until those who aided in his descent took notice and pulled him back up.

    The levity of the raider¡¯s removal from the Crusader was lost on Youn however as it took more than a bit of concentration to retrieve the buckler and whip himself around in time to defend against the first party member who had boarded. The sound and tenuous vibration of two bullets ricochetting downwards confirming he¡¯d made it in time. And it wasn¡¯t long before more gunfire and incoherent shouting began to hang in the air all around the convoy. A slew of clashes breaking out across every one of the Crusader¡¯s decks as more and more Cloud Nine members descended from towers and walkways.

    Officers who¡¯d previously been posted on the lower levels now rushing topside via the stairs to assist in staving off the enemy. All the while the CO¡¯s scrambled to coordinate a defense response, doing so as they followed protocol and worked on sealing the bridge¡¯s lone entry point. Of a similar mindset to his colleagues, Youn¡¯s eyes darted towards the turret bay knowing it would serve him far better than staying out in the open of the back deck. So it was after a quick peek over the top of the confiscated buckler to confirm the enemy¡¯s position that he charged in the direction of the safe haven. Though it couldn¡¯t truly be called one if he didn¡¯t have another pair of hands to cover the second opening. Turret bays having parallel apertures for entering and exiting. Something he¡¯d just have to work out once inside.

    But upon reaching the entrance and angling the buckler sideways so he could enter Youn caught the retreating form of a raider he reasoned must¡¯ve been the first to touch down from before. His momentary confusion abating after a glance downward confirmed the presence of a small explosive with a standard time fuse. Youn felt his heart leap into his throat as he instinctively took a few steps back and nearly stumbled. He heard the buckler bounce of the deck, not even realizing his grip on it had slackened, too focused on turning away from the turret bay. He managed one full step before diving towards the bridge in an effort to put as much distance as possible between him and the imminent blast. His final observation as he laid out across the back deck being in response to the back shoulders of a raider climbing down the ladderway ahead of him. And with more explosives for all Youn knew.

    Cade, Brewer!

    But soon all that filled his thoughts and the entire back deck was the sound and debris of a blast tearing through the turret bay¡¯s dual openings.

    *

    Located at what could unofficially be considered the halfway point of the nearly three-hundred-meter-long procession route, existed a raised blockhouse that challenged not only the height of the stone walkways around it but the height of the towers sprouting from the castle¡¯s curtain walls. Its dimensions and interior layout indicative of a designer¡¯s desire to inundate the space with all manner of lavish accoutrement fit to appease it¡¯s similarly lavish occupants. Making it by all intents and purposes an observation module fit for digesting a parade in all its celebratory glory.

    This was all lost on its current occupants however, both men caring little for the imagined amenities or decorative potential of the room they usurped to monitor the progress of the raid from. One of which would be joining the ongoing effort in short order, representative of the custom-made body armor and lantern shields they¡¯d donned in preparation. The motif for their armor drawing inspiration from the thunderbirds once rumored to have terrorized the skies of the western plateaus. As such claps of thunder in the form of wings had been etched onto both shields, along with the front and sides of the helm. The piece de resistance being the armor sets metallic gold coating that practically radiated in the sun¡¯s beams.

    The occupant of this resplendent armor standing by as the party leader of Cloud Nine viewed the approaching procession through a bulky pair of binoculars. Not so much blinking or even addressing the wearer, even as the rattling footfalls of the armor¡¯s sabatons signaled their steadfast approach from behind. Culminating in the harsh point of the lantern shield coming to rest between the shoulder blades of one Logan Hite.

    ¡°Strange, I¡¯d been led to believe the butchering of fellow party members was reserved for settings with less light, less witnesses and far more bat shit.¡±

    Hite lowered the binoculars but stopped short of turning around to confront his would-be killer. Reed slightly increasing the pressure being applied to his offending arm.

    ¡°Rest assured those witnesses will have their stories straight.¡±

    ¡°If their only purpose here is to standby and watch as their leader is run through by a glorified letter opener, I¡¯d suggest you send them somewhere they could be of actual use. The room housing the exit gate¡¯s operating mechanism for example. I¡¯d have sent my own to see to it but they all appear preoccupied or scattered at the moment.¡±

    Hite felt the pressure of the blade being applied to his back lessen as his subordinate considered his opposition¡¯s angle.

    ¡°Oddly specific location to have on the tip of your tongue. Something you¡¯d like to share for the sake of the party?¡±

    ¡°Is that how you¡¯ll justify my demise here to yourself and the others, that it was all for the sake of the party. Could be a harder sell than you might think. More so if I take the information I have with me to the grave and it results in the tremendous waste of today¡¯s resources.¡±

    ¡°What are you playing at?!¡±

    Reed lowered the lantern shield but wasted little time erasing the distance of its reach, settling the end of the blade on the underside of Hite¡¯s chin as he turned around in a calm and controlled manner.

    ¡°I could ask you the same thing. Carrying your attack out now, at the height of our advantage. Did you honestly believe they¡¯d roll over so easily that my absence wouldn¡¯t come with any ramifications?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re outnumbered and cornered¡ª!¡±

    ¡°As they¡¯ve been since entering Lamella¡¯s Lands! And now, with Riga in her sights, you don¡¯t think this convoy rejects the notion of being outmatched!¡±

    Reed fell silent. It wasn¡¯t often that Cloud Nine¡¯s leader spoke with so much emotion. It added a level of sincerity to all his actions and decisions up to this point. A dangerous development he¡¯d have no choice but to snub for the sake of pursuing his ambitions to become leader. Even so he had to begrudgingly admit that there were better uses for his lantern shield right now. Leading him to lower it back to his side and push past his grizzled adversary. He stepped onto the ledge leading to the opening designed for a window. The enemy nigh upon them following their squabble.

    ¡°Go see it through Duck. Frolic around in the visage of the mighty thunderbird to your hearts content. And in the aftermath of our success here I¡¯ll accept a duel for right to command the party. Put an end to the discourse concerning succession.¡±

    Reed watched as the lead Crusader and the figures clashing on its deck grew closer, testing the straps of his dual lantern shields.

    ¡°Don¡¯t think the LCF will bail you out of this tentative agreement, puppet of Roy.¡±

    ¡°Say what you will, but don¡¯t forget it was your beloved Baugh who traded your friend away. So stop and think hard about whether the old guard should hold any sway over our futures. You might just find my intentions more agreeable.¡±

    And it was on that note Reed stepped off the ledge and dropped down. Though whether it had to do with the timing of the convoy¡¯s approach or his unwillingness to continue listening to Hite was up for debate. Either way there was no love lost between the two pillars of Cloud Nine. Two pillars fashioned of very different but distinct materials.

 Chapter 29

    ¡°When¡¯s the last time you slept?¡±

    A sigh escaped the individual being addressed, a man of nearly forty whose poor disposition could be attributed to his deteriorating physical and mental states going on several months now. The results of the decline becoming more apparent over recent weeks. Something the man¡¯s dwindling number of colleagues took notice of but failed to take any concrete steps towards correcting. Save for the one posing the inquiry from the opposite side of the secluded stone chamber. Though even he, a man of similar age with a shock of once vibrant ginger hair and hard gray eyes, knew he had interjected far too late to reverse the course of the sickness befalling his friend.

    ¡°How did you get in...?¡±

    His visitor uncrossed his arms and walked over to the space¡¯s lone light source, a slit about the width of a forearm. The lantern that had been brought in to provide light having long since burnt out and toppled over through unclear means.

    ¡°You designed this place, you tell me.¡±

    ¡°Designs aren¡¯t absolute. They¡¯re only a creator¡¯s vision in its most base form, rife with imperfections born of the contradictions between wants and needs. The solutions to which I leave in the disciplined hands of yourself and others.¡±

    This earned a scoff from the redhead.

    ¡°Others, what others? Just about everyone else got tired of this obsession of yours and left. I imagine I¡¯ll be joining them soon enough.¡±

    ¡°Rather than threatening why not show some conviction and go. Your contributions will be missed of course, but I fully intend to finish this project with or without further assistance.¡±

    The man finally albeit briefly looked up from the parchment on which his various scrawling¡¯s had accumulated before folding it neatly and tucking it into the pocket of his worn overalls. A yawn escaping him as he collected the spent lantern and methodically rose to his feet.

    ¡°Fuck''s sake James, how is any of this still worth it?¡±

    [Jacoby James Morg, 39, Architect]

    Morg shuffled his way towards the entryway his colleague stood in, setting a gnarled mitt on the shorter man¡¯s shoulder as he passed by.

    ¡°Remind me Rodge, what was the name of that lass of yours? From back in school.¡±

    [Rodge Rigan, 38, Foreman/Carpenter]

    The head foreman of the now year-long project stiffened at the mention of their school days.

    ¡°Can¡¯t say I appreciate you drudging up the past so needlessly.¡±

    ¡°Margaret? No, that wasn¡¯t it. Maren...? Maren! Sweet girl, always set aside a lunch from her class for us.¡±

    Rodge removed the hand from his shoulder and glared at the architect impatiently.

    ¡°You must really want me gone to bring this up after so many years.¡±

    ¡°Your upset? Good! A natural reaction as far as the love of one¡¯s life is concerned.¡±

    Morg chuckled as he continued on his way into the hall, stopping only to run a thumb across a section of stonework at around shoulder level. The section in question having been marked with white chalk for the purpose of design instruction.

    ¡°You must be further gone than I thought to draw a comparison between Maren and your precious Lamella. Particularly in regard to this delusion of yours that her admiration for the work of JJ Morg extends to its begetter.¡±

    ¡°Many including myself would attest that a creator puts a great deal of themselves into any given work, to the extent it would be pertinent to argue that a work is little more than a reflection of the artist themselves. Given new form that is.¡±

    For Rodge this wasn¡¯t enough to dissuade his attempt at making his old friend see reason, so he caught back up with the architect before he had a chance to tuck himself away in another corner of the niche castle. A castle nearing its completion.

    ¡°Then would you care to explain her betrothment to another, an individual more fitting of her age and station starting late this past year.¡±

    How this headline had even reached them all the way out there had been a mystery at the time, but after being confirmed during the rare instance of a supply run, the news had spread about what remained of the camp like a wildfire. Providing a perfect excuse for those looking to desert the project.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure I don¡¯t need to remind you of the superficial nature of matches made between the aristocracy. I doubt the ceremony will even be carried out for many months. By which time construction of our future home will be well underway in her city of Prauth. A fact that will no doubt sway her commitment to the match thrust upon her.¡±

    It was on the tip of Rodge¡¯s tongue to confront his colleague over what sounded very much like a practiced response one would recite in the mirror as part of countless but futile attempts to influence reality. But unexpectedly, both his voice and legs failed him in that moment. Leaving him to watch helplessly as a frail looking Morg ventured further into the recesses of the castle. In search of another nook to seclude himself perhaps, or any place that would permit his disillusions to continue their run unopposed.

    *

    Stutter step, feint right, connect with rifle butt!

    Rohner allowed the unconscious Cloud Nine member to fall to the wayside as he continued his way down the stairs leading up to the front deck. His current goal being to reach the corridor junction or more specifically the ladderway just beyond it. The raider he¡¯d deposited over the railing moments before having been part of the unanticipated aerial incursion taking place. Reaching the bottom of the aforementioned stairs the security rep instinctively reached for the barrel that had spawned from the direction of the corridor with the intention of ripping it away, only to stay his hand upon recognizing the face on the other end of it.

    ¡°Your being vigilant, that¡¯s good. Just make sure the next time someone reaches for the barrel of your rifle you create distance and plug ¡®em.¡±

    Esma allowed herself to relax as the rifle was released and proceeded to scoot out of her superior¡¯s way.

    ¡°Not to keep you, but a quick rundown of what¡¯s going on upstairs would be much appreciated.¡±

    Rohner could hear the not-so-veiled panic in the young woman¡¯s voice and deduced one of her methods for acclimating to a stressful situation must be learning everything she could about it. Both to serve as a distraction and enable her to conjure contingencies for navigating the conflict. A mindset he felt a flicker of sympathy for upon recalling his own first armed campaign. At least he assumed it was the first time she held such sway over another¡¯s welfare, if the sorry excuse for her grip on the rifle was anything to go by.

    ¡°Seems the castle garrison forgot that parades are a spectator sport and became a bit overzealous in their pursuit of an active role in the festivities. To the tune of an airborne assault from the wealth of walkways and pillars in this godforsaken clusterfuck of a castle.¡±

    Putting a pin in his otherwise poignant tirade, the awny officer reached out to pluck one of the exposed magazines from Esma¡¯s belt. A move she couldn¡¯t be bothered to protest given her recent history of frozen trigger. He then proceeded to grab the body of her rifle and jostled it emphatically, sending similar waves into her own person.

    ¡°Listen up.¡±

    Rohner released the rifle and gestured down the corridor housing both the ladderway and cargo bay door.

    ¡°You see anyone come down that ladder without a Federation uniform on you open fire. Same goes for anyone approaching from either of the platforms. Front decks empty, so no need to check for a uniform with those ones.¡±

    Esma sucked her teeth as she stared down the closer of the two platforms, her reservations for holding down the junction clear as day.

    ¡°In the event your about to be overwhelmed use THAT speaking tube to ping the bridge, they¡¯ll pass it along to us on the deck.¡±

    The speaking tube Rohner had pointed at was to Esma¡¯s left, just to the side of the currently sealed engine room door. A door that the engineer inside was under strict orders to keep shut in response to the unique conditions of the ongoing raid attempt. Meaning that even the brunette¡¯s hypothetical pleas to seek refuge inside would go unanswered.

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    ¡°Buck up, we should already be halfway through the castle. And it¡¯s not like we plan on letting anyone slip by.¡±

    The security rep turned and took long purposeful strides over to the ladderway, offering some roundabout encouragement in the form of some parting words.

    ¡°Just think of yourself as the contingency plan.¡±

    But unbeknownst to the officer scaling the ladder in haste, his choice of words had provoked an undesirable and borderline visceral response from the individual he¡¯d meant to galvanize. The deadpan expression that had become a fixture on Esma¡¯s face since the start of the attack, a real time indicator of her mind¡¯s attempt to process the harsh reality she¡¯d found herself in, fell away completely. The visage that followed surely enough to sow concern had Rohner offered even the most fleeting of glances before ascending the rungs.

    As he would later state in a report detailing his final interaction with the interim security officer; ¡°I regret to say the sounds of battle spilling forth from the ladderway hastened my need to travel topside, as such whatever words I delivered to her in that moment were of a similar composition and nature to those I¡¯ve bestowed upon countless comrades over the years. All of which having routinely yielded favorable results in the realm of crew morale. I thank her for her service but see no further need for intervention on my or the convoy commander¡¯s part.¡±

    *

    Per design of the ladderway, Rohner was already facing towards the action as he emerged topside, the landscape awaiting him unique as far as usual boardings went. With members of Cloud Nine littering the sky above the convoy as they sought to join their scattered comrades across the various decks. Their own back deck, that of C274, was relatively clean in comparison. The two raiders that had made it on board both engaged in separate melees on opposite ends of the deck.

    He gathered the reason for their manageable numbers had to do with their position at the front of the impromptu stack formation, the only real option available to the convoy as it navigated the extensive inner ward. Those above probably using C274 as a reference point for when to begin their rapid descents.

    Just as Rohner settled on assisting the closer of his two security officers a glare that momentarily swept across his vision urged him to glance upwards. But in the time it had taken him to raise his vision cone to investigate something heavy had crashed onto the deck roughly two meters in front of him, impacting hard enough to shake the entire back surface of the Crusader.

    For a moment the man questioned the effectiveness of dropping heavy objects onto the convoy from above, likening it to the castle sieges of antiquity. Back when castle garrison¡¯s used such methods to thwart soldiers swarming around the foot of curtain walls. But this exercise proved for naught as it became apparent the source of the glare was righting itself. And what he¡¯d mistaken for a metallic projectile of sorts was actually an individual donning an impressive set of emblazoned armor. Armor that steadily unfurled itself as the wearer rose from the deck brandishing two identical and equally impressive lantern shields. Rohner responded by unfastening the strap of his rifle and taking the firearm in both hands.

    But rather than attempt to discharge a shot at close range he instead flipped the weapon around, positioning both hands on a ribbed grip near the end of the barrel. A characteristic that would normally be missing on a standard issue. This was because his rifle had been customized for use as a bonafide melee weapon, with the stock of the firearm incorporating elements of a club. Namely it¡¯s uneven weight distribution and armor-plated coils acting as lethal protrusions. That being said, these alterations weren¡¯t obvious by design. Meaning a raider coming face to face with the modified weapon would show the same level of precaution as they would a normal rifle.

    At the very most an astute individual might note the difference in casing around the coils, but even then leaping to the conclusion they were armor-plated would be far-fetched. It wouldn¡¯t be until the rifle came in contact with their person or melee weapon that the true nature of the rifle would become known, by which time a crippling blow would already be in the process of being delivered. For Rohner¡¯s part it just meant his rifle was much heavier to lug around and manipulate. But after so many years of utilizing the weapon such things now tended to go unnoticed.

    Now whether his armored opponent was wise to such ploys or simply showered those who challenged his lantern shields head on with a base level of deference was unclear, but they met the swing of the officer¡¯s mighty club rifle with vigor all the same. A pair of one handed blows whose momentum was directed downward by the raider¡¯s adept lantern handling. The force behind said opening blow enough to produce a loud clang and send unwelcome rattling up the arms of the combatants.

    The discomfort would have to be short lived however as the raider¡¯s other lantern shield came sweeping across the face of Rohner who narrowly managed to flex his torso back in time to avoid the blade. The officer raising his club a second time to turn away a follow up slash from the other lantern shield. Quickly sensing slashes alone wouldn¡¯t be enough to silence his opponent the raider abducted his shoulder, transforming what was a downward slash into a spear thrust from a position above the club. Rohner ducked out of the path of the blade and closed the distance between them, taking advantage of the raider¡¯s slightly overextended arm. He proceeded to body blow his adversary¡¯s left side with his shoulder, his impressive bulk enough to send even an armor-clad opponent staggering a short distance backwards.

    An outcome Rohner sought to capitalize on with a backhand swing targeting the raider¡¯s armored oblique area. Caught at an off angle they had no choice but to brace their right side and trust that the gauntlet¡¯s shield would minimize the damage. But braced for or not a grimace still spread itself across their obscured features as they absorbed the impact of the club, the need to maintain eye discipline in that moment doing wonders as a distraction for the pain.

    But rather than charge forward once more like the raider half-expected Rohner released the weapon from his right hand before recovering it with his left, seamlessly transitioning his previous blow into a diagonal swing that targeted the raider¡¯s head and neck area. Only for the blow to be met by the opposing lantern shield. The weight and strength behind both weapons enough to send them caroming in opposite directions. The sparks that formed as a result of the violent crash of metal puttering out as they fell to the deck.

    This served as an unspoken end to the pair¡¯s first exchange and both men took a few steps back with the express purpose of strategizing. Rohner used the opportunity to swap the club back to his dominant hand, meanwhile the raider busied themselves making small circular motions with the arm on the receiving end of the battle¡¯s lone damage inducing blow. Something that told the veteran officer his opponent may be experiencing some manner of pins and needles in the arm. An advantage he¡¯d want to push sooner rather than later.

    But it was as this development came to pass that one of Rohner¡¯s deck officers, who¡¯d only just managed to rid themselves of their prior opponent, sought to join the fray in an honest attempt to assist their security rep. The height of foolishness as they believed they could draw close enough to puncture the raider¡¯s armor with a rifle round. A trick that ironically would have found more success if the target was Rohner himself, so transfixed on the battle against who he¡¯d deemed a worthy adversary. And with the entirety of the convoy under active assault the notion that an available crewmember wouldn¡¯t immediately move to safeguard the cargo or assist a less capable officer hadn¡¯t occurred to him.

    In the end it was a shift in the raider¡¯s posture conducive to repositioning for an attack that alerted Rohner to his misguided colleague¡¯s dire circumstances. But his call to withdraw came too late as the lantern shield¡¯s blade flashed across the unsuspecting deck officer¡¯s vision, and culminated in a skillfully delivered attack that didn¡¯t even require a need to pull their visor off of Rohner who was considered the greater threat. Leaving the security rep to watch on as the blade split the young man diagonally starting from his left pectoralto a point just beyond his right clavicle. The saving grace being that the slash had narrowly missed the base of the deck officer¡¯s throat.

    Dropping to his knees on the back deck, the wounded deck officer shed his rifle and began to paw at the front of his uniform as it became slick with blood. Recognizing the futility of his subordinate¡¯s efforts to staunch the bleeding, Rohner reconfigured his hand placement on the club and prepared to confront the raider for round two. A round he had every intention of winning quickly so as to prevent the costly loss of the aforementioned crewmember. The rest of Cloud Nine had different plans.

    No sooner had Rohner made to let loose a series of mighty swings had another raider still attached to a rope came flying into him from his blind spot. And although he managed to tumble his way back to his feet, the impact was enough to send both parties careening dangerously close to the Crusader¡¯s railing. Preparing to push off the lone safety measure available to him Rohner¡¯s blood ran cold when he felt something pointed press into an area of his low back. He pushed off anyway, the strain on his nerves making it feel as if his vice grip on the modified rifle would snap it in two. Pair that with the rotation of his hips as he made an about-face and it all culminated in absolutely lethal swing of the club. Had it connected that is.

    Instead Rohner found nothing but air and very nearly took himself out when his momentum almost carried him back over the railing. Confused he scanned for the raider who¡¯d slammed into him, but didn¡¯t have to look far. The culprit lay at his feet face down and immobile. The rope that had introduced them to the Crusader in the process of falling atop the seemingly motionless Cloud Nine member. It was then Rohner realized they were already dead, and had been when they¡¯d collided into his backside. Someone on one of the other decks likely having taken them out as they¡¯d descended from above. Their dead weight at the end of the rope contributing to the force that had moved him within a meter of his demise.

    Cursing his tunnel vision Rohner shifted his attention back towards the armored opponent who wouldn¡¯t have sat idly by as the improbable event unfolded. He sharpened his senses and took in oxygen to help soothe his screaming muscles, aware that a relaxed body would be able to react more succinctly to the threat a hand. And yet a quick scan of the back deck was unable to turn up the vibrant enemy. Only the prone form of the critically injured crewmember as they were being tended to by the other security officer on deck.

    ¡°Oi, not here! Take his ass inside!¡±

    ¡°But...!¡±

    Rohner rushed over and grabbed the downed officer by his uniform collar, then proceeded to drag him in the direction of the bridge¡¯s entry way.

    ¡°After we get him inside seal the bridge!¡±

    ¡°Right!¡±

    The officer collected his rifle and first aid kit from the deck and followed after the larger man.

    ¡°Did you happen to see where that armored bastard went?!¡±

    The two men charged through the entryway and past a surprised Kircher, clearing the center console and depositing the sputtering officer as gently as possible.

    ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll find him! You take care of this!¡±

    Rohner checked to make sure his rifle was fully loaded and beelined toward the ladderway, ignoring the CO who attempted to pester him with questions as they moved to help administer medical aid. His thoughts focused solely on the whereabouts of the raider and his lantern shields.

    He must¡¯ve dropped down onto one of the platforms, but I don¡¯t hear any shots! Dammit rook, didn¡¯t you hear my instructions!

    They couldn¡¯t afford to lose a second officer at this crucial point in the run. Even if he had serious questions regarding their capabilities. Rohner could only hope things were going smoother elsewhere.

    You better see your part of the plan through blondie! In the meantime I¡¯ll see to keeping your little friend safe!

 Chapter 30

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 Chapter 31

    ¡°Get your ass up those stairs Faust, we¡¯re almost out of time!¡±

    Lux placed a hand on the security officer¡¯s right cheek and pushed him forward impatiently as they scaled a staircase leading to the top of the desired curtain wall. Their guide bringing up the rear of the group appearing to have a harder time than her associates but still doing her best to give direction between labored breaths.

    ¡°Once you get to the top -- make a -- right. We¡¯ll take a -- shortcut over one of the ¨C walkways.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare make me change your nickname Legs, keep up! And you¡¯d better not be sending us in the wrong. direction again!¡±

    The two officers reached the top of the stairs and waited a moment for the raider to catch up, using the opportunity to recoup some breath themselves. Though Lux¡¯s lack of wind may have had more to do with all the shouting that had started when they¡¯d gotten turned around in the underground tunnels.

    ¡°Don¡¯t forget, if not for that wrong turn -- we never would have discovered -- that charges had been set -- under the castle...!¡±

    Systematically as well. Whoever¡¯d set the explosives had set them at what could be considered the edge of each charge¡¯s blast radius. Ensuring that even a single detonation would set off a chain reaction and affect as wide an area as possible. They¡¯d also been placed at the very top of each tunnel making them nigh impossible to defuse without a ladder or some other means of ascension.

    ¡°So much for that theory about setting up shop in this region...¡±

    That comment earned a look of confusion from Emica as she caught up with the two at the front of the aforementioned walkway. Where she noted that they¡¯d both shifted their rifles back into their hands prior to crossing. Probably because unlike down in the dark tunnels they could be spotted and engaged from afar. It made the raider wish she¡¯d been able to recover her own weapons prior undertaking this guide job. Alas it would seem her motives were still under suspicion.

    ¡°What gives? I figured your buddies would be littering the walkways by now.¡±

    ¡°They wouldn¡¯t hold off on boarding until this close to the exit gate. Better to take their chances early and maximize the amount of time on the Crusader. Don¡¯t expect the room with the gate controls to be so forgiving.¡±

    The trio hustled their way across the raised walkway, not sparing so much as a glance at the convoy as it neared their current position. Already fully aware of how close they¡¯d be cutting it.

    ¡°Left! They¡¯ll be a non-descript water chute we should be able to slide down coming up!¡±

    ¡°Sounds like fun, should save some time as well! How are we still ahead of the convoy anyway?!¡±

    Considering where they¡¯d been dropped off and the mishap in the tunnels the notion that the group was still on pace to succeed in their mission baffled the blonde security officer. She imagined Faust had reached a similar conclusion but stayed silent as was his default. No sense in questioning good fortune. Emica happily supplied her take on the phenomenom.

    ¡°It¡¯s long been said that limestone is an ¡®assisting stone,¡¯ who¡¯s to say what happens when you pass through its walls with a definitive purpose in your heart and mind!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s cute and all, but how does it fair against explosions? Maybe someone ought to double back and put in a request!¡±

    ¡°Do try to be more subtle about getting rid of me, we still have a deal in place in case you¡¯ve forgotten! Besides all sorts of crazy shit goes on both above and below this region!¡±

    On the heels of the girl¡¯s banter Faust arrived at the location of the supposed chute and poked a head down it¡¯s maw. A somewhat awkward feat given its spot around waist high on the side of the castle¡¯s drum tower. It was also a bit more cramped than he would have liked. Not unlike the space they¡¯d crawled through at the beginning of this endeavor. Though this opening was obviously more uniform having been designed to serve a purpose. An alarming level of detail on the builder¡¯s part given this entire structure was meant to serve as a proof of concept rather than serve its practical purpose of being lived in.

    ¡°Wait, that¡¯s the chute?! I¡¯m not sure the two of us will fit let alone our Pipe Down aficionado over here!¡±

    Even Emica would admit the dimensions of the chute weren¡¯t quite what she remembered, but even still she refused to back down from this plan. Evident by the way she placed both hands on her hips and assumed a mocking tone.

    ¡°What, claustrophobic all of sudden? Just discard some layers and we¡¯ll manage just fine. He can take the stairs and meet us down there.¡±

    Lux made to argue further but Faust recognizing how limited their options had become interjected.

    ¡°Even if the chute were larger, it would only aggravate my shoulder injury. Which would spell trouble when it comes time to force our way out of here. I¡¯ll take your jackets and whatever else you need to remove with me, so let¡¯s get a move on.¡±

    With two votes in favor of the chute staring the blonde down, she huffed and wordlessly shed her short jacket. Tossing it over at Faust like one would a coatrack. The drop pouch went next, but not before she retrieved a pair of ammo mags and stuffed them in her waistband. All the while her female counterpart removed her own jacket and choker. The latter having what appeared to be an organic gem of some sort embedded in its fabric. Both women then proceeded towards the opening as Faust secured their belongings.

    ¡°Woah there.¡±

    Lux extended a toned arm to stop the raider from getting ahead of her.

    ¡°I¡¯m going first. This whole water chute business might be a trap after all.¡±

    She tucked her rifle against her chest vertically and positioned to go down feet first. Meanwhile Emica rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, unimpressed by the accusation.

    ¡°Just know that you won¡¯t emerge directly into the gate room. This chute leads to a room adjacent to it. We can only hope the guards didn¡¯t move over to investigate after all your yammering.¡±

    Lux¡¯s only retort was to flash the finger as she relaxed her core, commencing the roughly forty-five-degree angle trip to the bottom. Regardless of whether she¡¯d be able to react in any worthwhile way the sharpshooter strained both ears for signs of voices or movement coming from the other end of the chute. And while nothing stood out to her as a warrant for concern, Lux¡¯s finger still sought the comfort of her rifle¡¯s trigger as she emerged on the other side.

    Good thing to, as her surprise entrance was met by the befuddled look of a Cloud Nine member dividing her attention between the two rooms from the threshold of the door connecting the two. Suspecting the party member had comrades in the vicinity Lux shot forward as soon as both feet touched down, launching herself into the woman¡¯s solar plexus elbow first. They immediately doubled over in response, clutching their abdomen and struggling to form words of warning to the others around the corner. A follow up back kick relieved them of their firearm and sent it skidding deeper into the room she¡¯d entered from. The expectation being that her backup would retrieve it and put it towards a use that didn¡¯t involve a bullet in the back of her head.

    A snap decision deserving of criticism given the words she¡¯d just delivered about the chute being a potential trap. But what other choice did she have? Couldn¡¯t exactly render the firearm inoperable by elbowing it in the solar plexus. With any luck Legs would misinterpret the sudden gift as a show of faith and feel a need to answer that trust. In the meantime Lux would try to make some headway into the room. And like any good start to a surprise attack, she began with a combat roll into hostile territory.

    ¡°Light her up!¡±

    Oh fuck...

    Lux immediately retreated back over the threshold by utilizing a backwards roll, trying her best to remain grounded as bullets peppered her wake as she fled the room. It didn¡¯t take her long to recover from the near disaster however and she just as quickly posted up just off to the side of the doorway of what had become a hotbox. Sharing the wall and getting a feel for the firearm confiscated from the downed party member was Emica, looking cool as a cucumber. The tall woman glanced down at the grumpy blonde before teasing her.

    ¡°Think they know we¡¯re here?¡±

    Lux grimaced as shots continued to chip away at the edges of the stone opening beside them.

    ¡°Mhmm. No choice but to wait for Faust to give us an opening. Unless you think you can convince them that your still on their side.¡±

    ¡°What makes you so certain I¡¯m not?¡±

    The security officer tapped the side of her neck.

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    ¡°Something about the choker you entrusted to our third wheel up there wasn¡¯t sitting right with me. And though you¡¯d have no way of knowing this, I do some of my best thinking when my life is in imminent danger. So getting shot at just now actually helped me work out what that something is. The gem adorning that choker...

    Lux tilted her head in the woman¡¯s direction, revealing a sober expression.

    Isn¡¯t really a gem is it?¡±

    Emica¡¯s eye twitched involuntarily as her pointer finger began to trace the trigger of her weapon.

    ¡°Though I seriously can¡¯t fathom how someone would have slipped something like that to you out here. Tell me, was the real reason you pointed us towards that chute because you intended to make one of us your mule.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°I must admit, it¡¯s a relief to have some insight on your true intentions. It¡¯s hard to believe someone would flip allegiances based on a half-hearted promise like mine after all. Ah, I still mean to keep that promise by the way. In fact this little development might end up working in your favor in that regard.¡±

    The former Cloud Nine member eased off the trigger and pinched the bridge of her nose with a sigh. Both women also took this opportunity to note that the gunfire had come to a halt, suggesting the party members had likely taken to advancing on their position. At least this meant none of them were carrying grenades or other such projectiles that could have flushed them out.

    ¡°Of course you¡¯re a member of the CoM, I should¡¯ve noticed sooner.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t give me too much credit, not like I¡¯m privy to whatever the fuck you¡¯ve got going on here. I just happened to recognize a few tells and connected the dots.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure. And just how many of my former colleagues are we contending with?¡±

    Lux dropped back into a crouch and shuffled closer to the doorway, taking care to maintain a sliver of cover.

    ¡°Three initially, but I think one fled for backup when the other two tried tearing me a new¡ª¡±

    ¡°Smoke!¡±

    ¡°Sounds like our cue!¡±

    Without a lick of hesitation Emica sprinted around the blonde and into the adjoining room just as a dark smoke began to crawl its way across the threshold. A few shots rang out in response but were soon replaced by sounds of struggle. Lux sprang up in a mix of surprise and irritation.

    ¡°Oi!¡±

    She moved up into the doorway and tried to see into the room being shrouded in a fresh fog of smoke. Fortunately the types of cannisters Faust had employed weren¡¯t filled with your run of the mill stuff. It would be more apt to think of it as a smoke substitute whose main function was to create a dense cover over a fixed area. The cloud itself being more akin to water vapor that had been artificially dyed a dark hue. As a result the clouds wouldn¡¯t persist for more than a minute at most. But when it came to tight spaces like the room they were in, or the corridor of a Crusader, that was more than enough time to make a move. In the case of how quickly it had filled the control room the taciturn security officer had likely emptied his supply all at once.

    ¡°Don¡¯t blame me if I shoot you on accident!¡±

    Lux stepped her way into the haze with her rifle in a ready fire position, but chose to skirt the edges of the room counterclockwise in lieu of storming the center. An approach meant to air on the side of caution in anticipation of possible backup from the castle garrison. Who knew how many party members would be waiting when the cloud dissipated. And Legs wasn¡¯t giving her anything to work with in terms of information on numbers or positions. Not unless there was some hidden code mixed into the sounds of combat she could hear. So Lux settled on continuing her steady circumnavigation of the control room while keeping her rifle pointed its center.

    Admittedly it took a surprising number of steps before for her shoulders finally came into contact with the adjacent wall, leading the officer to question the layout of the room she¡¯d hardly glimpsed before the nozzle of several firearms had flooded her vision. The nature of the current predicament hadn¡¯t changed much in that regard. In fact things now might be worse since there was no telling who was pointing what where. And she could hardly distinguish between the forms dancing through the smoke in front of her.

    Were it not for the size and make of the stone room most of the occupants would have already fled the cloud and sought the edges. From there they could seek out the door and remove themselves until the irksome conditions passed. In Lux¡¯s case she wanted to find and seal the door, help buy some time for getting the exit gate open. After Faust joined them inside that is.

    Where the hell is Faust anyway?! He should have entered the space as soon as the cannisters blew...

    Those thoughts were promptly interrupted by the sudden appearance of a body falling prone at her feet, only to be dragged back in the direction their silhouette had originated in. Which also happened to be where the smoke remained densest. Lux sucked in a lungful of dyed vapor.

    ¡°Faust...!?¡±

    Right on schedule the smoke cleared almost all at once, revealing their raider cohort stood over a pair of unconscious party members. Not unscathed however as she had a busted lip and the onset of a black eye for her troubles. Meanwhile to her immediate right the doorway had materialized and with it Faust who was currently dragging a third Cloud Nine member inside from their torso. Lux wordlessly let him past before slamming the door behind them.

    ¡°Great job team, now let¡¯s get that fucking gate open.¡±

    ¡°Bit slow on the draw there blondie.¡±

    Emica spat a small amount of residual blood from her busted lip onto the ground.

    ¡°Saving yourself for something?¡±

    Lux ignored the woman as she slung her rifle over her shoulder and treaded over to what could only be the contraption responsible for controlling the exit doors. Essentially a turnstile gate made of wood, surrounded by an assortment of other minutiae she couldn¡¯t be bothered to identify. Weaving past the unknown components she did a few arm and shoulder stretches before settling in front of the apparatus. Putting both hands on the wooden bar she eyed the raider from her peripheral.

    ¡°You must be the type of person who can open their eyes underwater like it¡¯s no big deal, navigating through a smoke cloud like that. I don¡¯t have that power and probably would have given you more than just a shiner or a busted lip had I dived in ready to throw down.¡±

    ¡°As if I¡¯d let a brat like you get the better of me.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t hear you, too busy saving the day.¡±

    Lux began applying pressure to the turnstile and although they couldn¡¯t see it the three could definitely hear something happening beneath their feet. Cloud Nine¡¯s Demens having likely taken advantage of the system beneath the castle to conceal the inner workings. But no sooner had progress begun to be made a loud crack came from the direction of the door. It occurred to the group then that leaving the door ajar may have been preferrable. Then at least they¡¯d have had some foresight regarding when reinforcements from Cloud Nine would arrive. The lack of windows in the tower making it impossible to discern otherwise.

    ¡°Someone want to answer that, I¡¯m a little busy...!¡±

    Both Faust and Emica took up positions on either side of the door whose hinges sounded like they¡¯d seen better days. The former Cloud Nine member also kept an eye on the door leading to the adjacent room, the place they¡¯d entered from. After all it wouldn¡¯t be outrageous for others to employ the chute method now that there was a proof of concept. But it was the words they heard from the other side of the door that forced the infiltration team to reconsider the viability in holding this tower.

    ¡°Split up! You lot go and destroy the gate mechanism from the other end! The rest of you with me!¡±

    Crap, the three of us aren¡¯t enough to hold this room and stop them from sabotaging the exit gate!

    Emica looked over at the male security officer to make sure they were on the same page but found herself distracted by the blood seeping through the uniform of the quiet man¡¯s shoulder. A sight that made her question whether he¡¯d been shot in the smoke skirmish until she realized his current top wasn¡¯t torn or shredded in the area of the injury.

    A wound from a visit earlier in the day then...

    Which meant they couldn¡¯t send him to handle that other group. Moving would only increase the rate of blood loss and put his life at risk. The state of his shoulder also meant he wouldn¡¯t be able to budge the turnstile. Meaning his role was all but set in stone. What they needed to figure out was who would go after the group that had just left.

    The obvious choice would be her, what with the girl already making headway with the turnstile. The two Federation crewmen would also be able to work and trust one another more seamlessly assuming they had a work history. Factor in Emica¡¯s knowledge of the exit gate¡¯s location relative to the tower they were in and it wasn¡¯t much of debate. The abundance of limestone columns in this section of the ward making it very easy to get turned around.

    ¡°Blondie!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s Lux to you bitch!¡±

    Even after only spending the better part of an afternoon together, Emica had grown quite accustomed to the girl¡¯s colorful vocabulary. But being called a bitch in light of her most recent contributions struck her as a bit excessive. Rather than take it personally the woman deduced that the stress of situation had come to wear on the security officer¡¯s nerves more than she¡¯d let on. So she brushed it off and ran with it.

    ¡°Yeah well, this bitch is about to tell you how to reach the exit gate from here so listen up!¡±

    Faust perked up as well, though the increasingly pallid tone of his face suggested his focus was fading alongside his faculties.

    ¡°As soon as you''re out the door bang a left at the destroyed remains of an old column. From there it¡¯s a short distance to an intact one with an unbelievable circumference. But as you get closer you¡¯ll find that it¡¯s actually two separate columns situated right alongside each other. The gate will be roughly twelve meters north of the direction you¡¯ll be facing when that distinction becomes obvious.¡±

    Emica¡¯s closing instructions coincided with Lux¡¯s final heave of the turnstile into its open position. Theoretically this should mean the doors to the exit gate had followed suit. Assuming this to be true the nature of the problem would then shift to keeping them that way until all three Crusaders passed through. As they were the type that opened inwards, simply ramming the unlocked doors at a cruising speed wouldn¡¯t necessarily be enough to break them down. And a Crusader wedged against the exit gate would spell a definite end to this Galen Run and the food production of Mennarouple by extension.

    Lux flipped the headset she¡¯d been neglecting to the woman as she reattached her drop pouch.

    ¡°Have Wash park the Crusader behind that two-in-one column you mentioned.¡±

    She proceeded to shake out both arms in an effort to relieve her muscles of the built-up lactic acid. Her rifle finding its way back into her arms.

    ¡°Stopping directly in front of the exit gate is a bad idea since it would leave both decks vulnerable to assaults from the top of the curtain wall.¡±

    Emica nodded as she donned a headset for the first time.

    ¡°I¡¯ll see you onboard. With any luck most of the guys outside will give chase when I make my mad dash.¡±

    The former party member positioned herself a few steps away from the door and bounced on the balls of her feet to psych herself up.

    ¡°You will. Just try and live up to the nickname I¡¯ve given you.¡±

    The woman smirked as one of the hinges blew off the door.

    ¡°Oh yeah, which one?¡±

    Lux winked at her.

    ¡°Don¡¯t take it too personally. That term of endearment is reserved for gals who¡¯ve grown on me.¡±

    ¡°Glad to hear it!¡±

    With the sound of the door striking the floor as the gun, Emica took off into a sprint that culminated in a hurdle through the doorway. The collection of Cloud Nine members outside could only watch on in surprise as their comrade turned supposed hostage parted the group with her leap, jubilation decorating her features. Among the confused spectators, Cloud Nine¡¯s current party leader Logan Hite. His eyes trailed after their MIA Vult instinctively as he tried to discern her intentions before experience beckoned him to return his attention back towards the entrance of the control room. Which he now found to be occupied by a Federation security officer with a glint in her eye that rivaled Emica¡¯s own.

    ¡°Sorry, we¡¯re not accepting applications for a new hostage...¡±

    She raised her rifle.

 Chapter 32

    Briefly lamenting she hadn¡¯t procured a hair tie prior to departure, Esma swept her curtain of hair out of the way and pressed an ear to the cargo bay door. Doing her utmost to discern the events unfolding on the other side. Rohner¡¯s arrival was apparent, and it wouldn¡¯t take a genius to infer what a meeting between the two opposing forces would devolve into.

    What gnawed at the interim officer¡¯s conscience was whether any degree of intervention would be expected on her part. Because while she could be mistaken, the role of a security officer probably didn¡¯t include cowering behind a door while a crewmember weathered an assault on their person. Not that she intended to go so far as partaking in the melee to right this wrong. Rather Esma ventured her presence, or at least that of her rifle, could serve to dissuade the armor-clad lantern shield wielding assailant from prolonging his siege on the cargo bay. Or at least provide a decisive opening for her superior to gain the upper hand.

    Admittedly both takes were uncharacteristically optimistic given her earlier fumble in front of the engine room during the raider¡¯s first appearance. As a result they could have very well written her off as a threat and might not so much as flinch at her sudden involvement. There was also a strong argument to be made that Rohner would disapprove or take offense to her attempt at assisting him. Because vacating the cargo bay would not only create an opening for Cloud Nine to exploit, but depending on when she exited Esma could find herself obstructing her colleague¡¯s throwdown in an already cramped corridor.

    With so many of these contradictory thoughts crowding her head it was no small wonder that the brunette couldn¡¯t bring herself to pull the trigger on a decisive action. Instead searching for more roundabout ways of providing help. Such as pinging the bridge for assistance using the speaking tube to her left.

    Assistance from who?! Anyone with the leeway to move freely would already be down here moron!

    Esma¡¯s hand slipped from the door and a light thud sounded as her forehead took its place. A drop of sweat that had collected on the tip of her nose falling to the floor she gawked at with a defeated look on her face. Amidst her despondence the sounds of the engineer poking around the cargo could be heard somewhere behind her.

    At least someone here is doing their job...

    That realization threatened to drag the young woman deeper into a pool of her own despair. Until the sound of a faint voice from the other side of the door recalled her back to the surface.

    ¡°Captain Reed!¡±

    ...

    ¡°Forget me you fool!¡±

    The sound of a lantern shield striking one of the corridor¡¯s walls punctuated the raider¡¯s command.

    ¡°Their belly is exposed, cripple the Crusader!¡±

    Esma could almost picture the look on the face of the Cloud Nine member who¡¯d appeared below. Like someone who found a treasure chest with a key still inside its lock.

    ¡°Dammit¡ª!¡±

    No other word could have encapsulated Rohner¡¯s frustration towards being caught on the wrong end of the corridor relative to the new arrival better. Not that the reimagined symbol of the thunderbird would forfeit an opening. Evident by the continuation of the struggle bookended by the cargo door and ladder. The engineer, also picking up on the development from behind her, stood from where he¡¯d been fiddling with a crate¡¯s temperature gauge. Remorse at the decision to temporarily vacate the engine room apparent in his hoarse tone.

    ¡°The balance of the elixir...I screwed up... ¡±

    For her part Esma ignored the incoherent murmurs coming from the man and instead found herself taking a few shaky steps away from the door she¡¯d been using as a crutch. She collected the rifle off her back and found the safety, her earlier gaffe contributing to the nonchalance in her movements. Flicking it into the off position wordlessly she tightened her grip of the rifle in hopes of stemming the tremors in her arms.

    ¡°Oi, overalls.¡±

    The engineer snapped out of whatever self-imposed trance he¡¯d been in and met the slender frame of the brunette stood between him and the door to the cargo bay.

    ¡°Open the door.¡±

    ¡°Huh...?¡±

    The girl looked borderline despondent.

    ¡°Hurry! Before I lose my nerve...!¡±

    The man stepped around the young woman and reached for the door, his attempt at getting a more definitive read on her facial expression and by extension her headspace coming back inconclusive due to the angle of her head. Namely the curtain of wind-swept hair obscuring her features. His attention promptly shifted back towards her appeal, leading him to place one hand on the handle and his other on the barrel bolt. But in place of following through immediately he turned and waited for a final confirmation. Not a surprise given the one-eighty she¡¯d taken in regard to leaving the safety of the cargo bay.

    This only came to pass because you needed to be rescued. Some security officer. What will Lux say when she finds out how useless you¡¯ve been? Meanwhile she¡¯s off somewhere entrenching herself behind enemy lines for the sake of the convoy and so many others who won¡¯t ever know the service she provided.

    Esma thought she might cry. A natural reaction given the lengths her first real friend had gone to just to catch the, at times, unseemly CO up to speed on matters of the security division.

    It¡¯s time to move damn it! Things aren¡¯t like they were back then! You have the means to make a difference now, so why do you still refuse to join the fray! You said it yourself back in the armory didn¡¯t you!

    She didn¡¯t realize it at the time, but amidst the flurry of internal conflict Esma¡¯s subconscious had already come to a decision for her. The product of which was a tenuous nod of the head to the unnamed engineer posted beside the door. He answered that resolve in kind.

    It¡¯s time to go now Esma. It¡¯s time to take that second step. That¡¯s one whole step further from the place you were before! And even if it is just the one, I promise you¡¯ll be forgiven! Because life¡¯s NOT a race! And there¡¯s no telling how many people are waiting patiently for you on the other side of that step! Waiting for you in the space just beyond your comfort zone! So grab this opportunity and live! Live for yourself, and live for the people you aspire to catch up to one day!

    Sparse tears gave way to a current of light brown hair, the flow of which whipped side to side restlessly in pursuit of its champion. Such would best describe the wake of the young Communications Officer as she exploded through the door she¡¯d held off on opening for so long. Bottle of acetone in her pocket, feronetic rifle in hand, and family mantra playing on her lips.

    No need to fret, you have the advantage here! Why? Because!

    ¡°Only a fool¡ª¡±

    *

    In place of pursuing the Cloud Nine member down the ladder directly, Youn opted to clear the railing and confront them from one of the platforms. A decision that would admittedly tack on a few extra seconds of commute time but put him in a less vulnerable position at contact in exchange. But even those precious seconds could be offset by the wariness commonly exhibited by raiders whenever it came time to put their backs to the ladder way. The ladder being a direct means into the belly of the Crusader and by extension the cargo bay. In other words the raider¡¯s most likely destination.

    In the process of making his way over to said location Youn started to question the efficacy of their officer allocation, namely the whereabouts of their station worker who¡¯d performed admirably for his first convoy. But given the two of them made up the entirety of the Crusader¡¯s current security forces, they couldn¡¯t afford to move carelessly. Lest their lackluster distribution of defensive zones draw unwanted attention from the castle garrison. It was for this reason they¡¯d need to devote someone to watch over the back deck for at least the lead up to the exit gate. And with Youn on his way to confront the Cloud Nine member with an inclination towards compact explosives, such responsibilities would naturally have to fall to the unversed Brewer.

    A potential problem given his unfamiliarity with both defensive alignments and the rotation system. Something they¡¯d been able to mask thanks to a combination of the unexpectantly full crew roster prior to the planned and unplanned departures, and the intervention of other crew members like Cade directing the less inclined to their zones. A dicey venture if not for the broad-shouldered engineer¡¯s knowledge of how Lux typically called and organized a defense. Both responsibilities that fell under her purview when it concerned the role of acting security representative. In that regard Youn was also acting in accordance with her scheme and or system to an extent, in particular her tendency to simplify the defense whenever atypical circumstances arose. Raiders falling from the sky for example.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    The usage of explosives could also be considered atypical now that Youn thought about it more. Even in cases where the yield was comparatively small like the explosive he¡¯d nearly fallen victim to up in the turret bay. And while a feeder party of Baugh¡¯s may not concern itself with the unwritten ramifications of damaging Crusaders, any party would balk at putting their spoils at risk. Which was probably why a second explosion hadn¡¯t rocked the Crusader yet. Key word being yet.

    Because just as Youn reached the junction of the corridor and shifted his momentum to turn another small explosive detonated from where it had been placed at the top of the engine room door. Not in an effort to blow the door open as engine room doors were blast resistant by design, but to disable whatever unfortunate soul happened to pass in front of it and set if off. In this case Youn who¡¯d made the error of looking ahead to the state of the cargo bay instead of scrutinizing his more immediate surroundings. A mistake that made the security officer lose consciousness for the time it took him to meet the floor.

    To the young man¡¯s credit someone with a outside perspective would have assumed that the officer had simply tripped himself up given how quickly Youn sprang back up to his feet. A visceral reaction accrued through untold hours of combat training, all for the purpose of minimizing the amount of time an officer spent exposed or in a vulnerable state. His mind however, much like that of other officers, would need a moment to catch up with his surroundings.

    Speaking of surroundings, the security officer¡¯s impaired vision could just make out a form further down the corridor hesitating by the foot of the ladder. But rather than move forward to confront Youn sought the nearest wall to brace himself against with one hand and tried to will his senses to return faster. Fully expecting he¡¯d be needing them for whatever came next. Because as the intruder¡¯s face started to become clearer so did how apparent their desperation was. To the extent one could mistake the wobbly and potentially concussed Youn as the bad guy here. It was this observation paired with another worse realization that kept him from pressing further down the corridor.

    My consciousness cut out around the moment I stepped into the junction, meaning the explosive must have been planted on the engine room door. But those suckers are notoriously blast resistant, and I¡¯m dazed but still intact despite my proximity to the detonation. That trap wasn¡¯t meant to kill me or anyone who happened to pursue this guy. It was meant to serve as an alert signal! But why bother?! A failsafe? Is that why they¡¯re hesitating at the base of the ladder?!

    In an effort to glean more information Youn made to take a step forward but stopped short when the raider turned halfway and reached for something around the side of his chest. Fortunately his vision had recovered enough to make out what appeared to be one end of some type of cord.

    A rip cord...!?!

    The door to the cargo bay slammed open the same moment Youn¡¯s realization drove him to make a mad dash for the Cloud Nine member, Cade emerging from the battered door with what appeared to be a similar sense of urgency. Having started much closer and possessing enough coordination to be able to run in a straight line, the engineer arrived to the threat first and grabbed a hold of their forearm to prevent the cord from being pulled. He called out through gritted teeth.

    ¡°It¡¯s a reconfigured flash pack! He¡¯s trying to go down with the cargo!¡±

    Youn adjusted his course to narrowly avoid a collision with the ladder and closed in as well.

    ¡°And take all of us with him?! Like hell! I already have one grave to visit!¡±

    But it didn¡¯t make any sense, why try and destroy the cargo? And now of all times? Both Federation servicemen proceeded to recall the supposed rift in Baugh¡¯s feeder party, courtesy of the supposed leadership dispute. And yet to go to such lengths to sabotage a collective raid attempt. It was practically unheard of.

    ¡°I¡¯ll restrain his upper body, strip him!¡±

    Cade wrapped a strong forearm around the man¡¯s neck from behind and began to extend him backwards while his other hand fought to keep the raider¡¯s wrist in place. Meanwhile Youn practically toppled the both of them as he arrived in his conscious impaired state and immediately went about frisking the would-be suicide bomber¡¯s torso for buckles or clips.

    ¡°No good! The charges are embedded in the fucking plating!¡±

    Youn gave one last fruitless tug of the chest piece before backing up a step and taking up his rifle.

    ¡°Keep him still, I¡¯ll blow his head off!¡±

    A violent measure to take, but in the absence of a means to remove the explosives in a timely fashion, eliminating the enemy¡¯s motor functions was the next safest bet. And as long as he took the right angle all the engineer could complain about was being covered in some degree of viscera. An outcome the Cloud Nine member wasn¡¯t keen on seeing come to pass. Prompting him to gamble on an unorthodox measure that could have just as easily sealed his fate as revived it.

    He went limp, instantaneously. And the whiplash of struggling with all one¡¯s might to restrict an opponent¡¯s movement only to have them turn into what is essentially a sack of potatoes saw Cade¡¯s muscles slacken for a momentary respite from the continuous strain. But that was long enough for the raider to free themselves of the engineers weakened grasp and drive forward, stunning the preoccupied Youn with a headbutt to the nose. Superseded in short order by a shoulder tackle hard enough to send the officer tumbling back down the way he¡¯d come.

    ¡°Ngghh...!¡±

    Sensing the incoming retaliation the raider turned on a dot and just managed to slip a punch from the engineer my mere centimeters. A costly miss as the nature of the swing had Cade¡¯s body turning away from the enemy, opening him up to an arm thrust designed to send him away as well. Leaving neither crewmate close enough to prevent a second self-sacrifice attempt. A wicked grin spread itself across the face of the party member as his finger found the ring of the rip cord once more.

    ¡°Rest in pieces Federation do¡ª!¡±

    Cade cut the man off.

    ¡°Hard port!¡±

    Almost as if the Crusader adhered to voice commands, the entire corridor jerked to the side violently without warning. And the arm that had been set to extend so as to detonate the explosives was suddenly being slammed into the corridor wall instead.

    ¡°...?!¡±

    At the same time, further down the corridor, Youn had succeeded in extending his leg in time to keep from crashing into the wall and brandished his rifle a second time. Fortunately for the officer he had an unobstructed view of the staggered raider as the Crusader¡¯s veer had also taken Cade¡¯s legs out from under him. This despite being the one to orchestrate the event. Though it did serve the added benefit of eliminating any chance of being used as a shield or caught up in the line of fire. Needless to say Youn didn¡¯t hesitate to make good on his earlier proposal and dropped the raider from where he¡¯d ended up beside the ladder. An unspoken sigh of relief passing between the men as they regained sounder footing.

    ¡°How about that, an instance where Wash¡¯s speaking tube tinkering and antics actually proved useful.¡±

    Youn cast a glance in the direction of the cargo bay where the door remained ajar from Cade¡¯s surprise attack. The speaking tube located just inside the door being the closest. If you were among those who didn¡¯t count the ladderway itself that is. A safe exclusion in this case since the bridge was under lockdown and its door therefore sealed above.

    ¡°You mean he¡¯s been listening the whole time!?¡±

    Cade hummed in confirmation as began dragging the deceased Cloud Nine member down the corridor.

    ¡°Word of advice Sigurd. Assume Wash is always listening.¡±

    ¡°Kill confirmed.¡±

    Youn made a face at the unexpected commentary spilling from the room down the corridor before moving to help the engineer drag the body to one of the platforms.

    ¡°Why port by the way? We¡¯re not exactly aboard a ship.¡±

    Cade grunted as he repositioned his hands, the plate armor and explosives adding to the raider¡¯s weight considerably. Also a sound explanation as to how he¡¯d been able to generate the force to knock them away so decisively.

    ¡°Saying left or right would have created needless confusion on account of our respective orientations. But by using a term applicable to the mode of transportation itself we¡¯re able to get on the same page more easily. The starboard and port sides of a ship don¡¯t suddenly change according to the passenger¡¯s orientation after all.¡±

    The two men proceeded through the junction with their huest in tow, just so happening to settle on the port platform.

    ¡°I¡¯m more surprised you can think that rationally in such a high stakes situation. I¡¯d have defaulted to my lefts and rights for sure.¡±

    ¡°Well, I also had to factor in where everyone onboard was so Wash could pull the maneuver off without hesitating. And with the bridge on lockdown and the two of us here, that left our hopeless romantic as the only one I needed to account for.¡±

    The two arrived on the platform and crouched down to pick the raider up by his limbs

    ¡°Hopeless romantic?¡±

    ¡°The station worker, I¡¯ll explain later. On three sound good?¡±

    The two crewmen began to swing the body side to side to gain enough momentum to get it over the railing.

    ¡°1. 2. Wait a minute...?¡±

    But by time they¡¯d both taken a closer look at their surroundings the momentum they¡¯d generated had already carried the party member over the railing and onto the karst landscape with a thud and short bounce. What really made it so anticlimactic however was that the Crusader had stopped moving, literally having parked within eyeshot of a very much open exit gate. This despite the sounds of rifle fire nearby suggesting the area remained contested.

    Both men noted that Crusader C471 had also stopped ahead of them and even saw what looked like the Convoy Commander and another officer disembarking from the equivalent platform in a hurry. Crusader C274 on the other hand was nowhere in sight. Taking their position in the formation into account this likely meant they were already out the gate and home free, whatever the reason.

    ¡°This is where we¡¯ll be picking up the kids from school. The oldest should be here any second.¡±

    Cade and Youn began scanning their immediate surroundings in response, not that they could see much beyond the massive limestone column looming over the Crusader. From behind which they could hear the sounds of footsteps getting closer. Youn trained his rifle on the spot of the column they would likely appear out of caution while Cade jumped down from the platform.

    ¡°You¡¯re no spring chick yourself jackass!¡±

    Soon after Emica appeared from behind the wide column equipped with a party issued firearm and the headset that had been trusted to Lux for updates. Cade noted that the tall woman didn¡¯t appear surprised or troubled by their presence. Not even the rifle pointed at her out of habit seemed to faze the woman as she slowed to a stop in front of them. But rather than open with a defense of her new acquisitions the former raider turned her attention towards the exit gate and the other Crusader¡¯s presence.

    ¡°Good, they¡¯ll need the help considering your buddy¡¯s injury. As for the rest of us we need to protect the gate so we can get out of here before it¡¯s too late.¡±

    Youn looked about ready to protest taking orders from a party member when Cade cut him off and approached the woman.

    ¡°Too late for what?¡±

    Emica was about to respond to the inquiry when she finally noticed the corpse littering the ground between them. She immediately crouched down, taking a special interest in the tailored armor or more specifically what it was concealing. Cade snapped his fingers to regain her attention. Causing all those present to flinch.

    ¡°Too late for what?¡±

    ¡°Seems there¡¯s a Cloud Nine member with intentions even more confusing than my own.

    She rapped a bruised knuckle against the plating and made eye contact with the engineer.

    And they¡¯re passing out this hardware like candy.¡±

 Chapter 33

    ¡°¡ªfails to account for other fools!¡±

    The scene that greeted Esma on the other side of the cargo bay door was more or less what one would expect based on the audio clues, with both participants jockeying for leverage in a space ill-suited for individuals of their combat styles and statures. In regard to their exact positioning it wasn¡¯t immediately obvious to a novice like Esma who held the upper hand, though intuition led her to believe that both parties were of similar martial skill.

    ¡°You!? What do you think you¡¯re doing!?¡±

    It didn¡¯t escape Esma just how dumbfounded Rohner sounded at her sudden incursion into the corridor, though she supposed the fact he could still bark at her despite the current predicament meant it wasn¡¯t time to worry yet.

    ¡°Get back in... the cargo bay...!¡±

    Esma swallowed anxiously but refused to break stride as she neared the entangled duo. Instead focusing the entirety of her faculties into searching for a way past the melee so she could reach the engine room. The space being infringed upon by Cloud Nine in real time.

    ¡°They¡¯ll kill you!¡±

    Recognizing that their opponent¡¯s attention was split the armor-clad raider attempted to swipe one of his lantern shields down across Rohner¡¯s abdomen. An attempt that proved successful albeit the cut was relatively shallow thanks to a well-timed knee disrupting the offending arm¡¯s course. The security rep then released the hand that had been attempting to twist the raider¡¯s helmet and used it to lock the attacking arm in an extended position towards the floor. It around this time that Esma¡¯s gaze honed in on a narrow opening behind the raider¡¯s back that she could conceivably use to slip past the pair, assuming she acted before the window closed.

    Putting two and two together, fresh wound notwithstanding, Rohner began to apply more force into his points of contact in hopes of drawing the raider¡¯s full attention. A tall order now that the brunette was right on top of them, making her almost impossible to ignore. Despite this the security rep didn¡¯t observe any obvious changes in his adversary¡¯s countenance or weight distribution, suggesting he still had the raider¡¯s full attention. He supposed they were operating under the assumption that their subordinate in the engine room could handle one girl without fuss. But this assumption would soon prove false as the arm wielding the lantern shield that hadn¡¯t been locked in place abruptly swung over the raider¡¯s shoulder and embedded its blade in the corridor wall directly behind him. Right into the path Esma had been keen to exploit.

    Time slowed to a crawl and the interim security officer swore she caught of glimpse of her reflection in the blade prior to craning her head back towards the ceiling, narrowly avoiding clotheslining herself. But rather than pass under the blade seamlessly Esma felt her left hip collide with the raider¡¯s armored backside, causing her to ricochet into the corridor wall and kill whatever previous momentum she¡¯d accumulated. Or more accurately, transfer it into what felt like every bone in the right side of her body.

    As a dull ache began to spread across the multiple areas of her body Esma heard rather than saw the end of the lantern shield being extracted from the wall somewhere above her. Panicking at the implications of the sound she pushed off the wall and tried to continue forward down the corridor.

    ¡°Look out!¡±

    Esma yelped as the same blade from before flashed across her vision again, this time embedding itself at an awkward angle in front of her. The cause of which was Rohner releasing the arm he¡¯d trapped in favor of resetting his hands on either side of the Cloud Nine member¡¯s chest piece. This allowed him to steer the man¡¯s entire upper body and influence the trajectory of the second jab attempt. That being said, the brunette had practically been crushed up against the wall in the process, with the awkwardly set blade still acting as an obstacle she¡¯d have to somehow navigate past.

    It was from this unfortunate position that Esma was reminded of the plight they were facing if she were to be stalled any longer. The second Cloud Nine member having already disappeared into the engine room for a short time, doing who knows how much damage to the various engine components. And that cognizance frustrated her more than she ever thought possible.

    I expected things to be rough on the other side, but to become collateral damage in someone else¡¯s fight. Pathetic. And I¡¯m already so sick of it. Sick of my body being bashed around, sick of sharp things trying to impale me, sick of holding up this fucking wall!

    Releasing all that pent up frustration in the form of a near primal growl, Esma mustered the totality of her remaining strength and allocated it towards repelling the gilded form smothering her. A second wind that bought her several inches of forward progress with each burst, a feat the young woman never would have thought possible half a corridor ago. Not within the confines of her old familiar world.

    Off the tail end of such a welcome realization she continued to press onward, not even pausing when the blade of the lantern shield sliced the center of her right cheek open as it made one final attempt at stuffing her steady advancement along the wall. The security officer simply tabbed it as one more thing that would hurt when she awoke the next morning and stayed focused on what was in front of her. And no sooner had Esma cleared the influence of the entwined pair did her legs take to stride and resume their sprint for the target destination.

    It¡¯s almost absurd how many things all started to make sense just now. Not to say I suddenly have all the answers, more like I discovered the means to arrive at them. The crux of so many of my anxieties and mistakes. That day I kept being dragged back to seemingly against my will for example.

    What kind of life would I be leading if I¡¯d responded to that hifalutin bureaucrat the same way I did this raider? Or maybe it had always been part of his strategy to keep me from gaining the momentum to even try. Food for thought I suppose. Though there is one other thing I don¡¯t know how to feel about yet. This rifle in my hand, it somehow feels heavier...

    ¡°Doizer! Company!¡±

    The raider roared out a warning to his comrade in the engine room after having let the brunette slip past. Hands much to full with the older officer who appeared to be having a small watershed moment of his own. A kind of renewed vigor in response to the effort being put on display by his colleague. But Cloud Nine wasn¡¯t about to be caught sleeping either, and the raider who¡¯d appeared before soon reemerged from the depths of the engine room with a sense of urgency. The unexpected sight of a woman storming down the corridor causing them to fumble their firearm as they made to cock it. And while Esma recognized she needed to take advantage of their mistake to close the remaining distance, she didn¡¯t have a concrete plan for incapacitating the raider. As despite it all the CO in every sense but current job description still held considerable reservations at the notion of shooting someone. Especially when the person on the other end of the barrel was at such close range. A memory from earlier in the day flashed across Esma¡¯s mind.

    ¡°What, you¡¯re still uneasy about punching a hole in someone¡¯s foot?¡±

    ¡°Very much so. And your paraphrasing is only driving those insecurities home.¡±

    ¡°I suppose it can¡¯t be helped then. Come here.¡±

    Lux beckoned her student to come stand in front of her. Esma did so warily.

    ¡°...why?¡±

    ¡°Cause I¡¯m gonna show you a move for disarming and disabling your enemy at close range.¡±

    Esma quickly ran through the finer points of what Lux had taught her. The first of which emphasizing the need for a firm grip of one¡¯s rifle. As for the move itself, it necessitated swinging the stock of the rifle in an upward motion. A movement intended to fulfill the disarming portion of the stratagem.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    ¡°Try and aim for a point just beyond whatever you¡¯re actually targeting. A swing and a miss under these conditions will net you a quick death on account of how wide open it¡¯ll leave you.¡±

    The brunette settled on the raider¡¯s cleft chin as her target, well past the firearm he¡¯d begun to brandish.

    ¡°You¡¯ll probably be tempted to hyper focus on whatever target you¡¯ve settled on, but try and resist. What you need to be focusing on is the enemy¡¯s eyes.¡±

    ¡°Their eyes...?¡±

    ¡°Eyes betray a person¡¯s intent, reading them will give you a rough idea of how they¡¯ll respond.¡±

    The raider notably continued to struggle in forming a response to the fast approaching security officer, their growing panic becoming evident in the way they kept shifting their focus from Esma to the rifle in their hand. Eyes flitting up, down and then back up again. Until finally they raised their rifle. Only to have it redirected towards the ceiling alongside both of their arms.

    ¡°Once you¡¯ve created your opening, drive the end of the rifle forward into your opponent¡¯s head or abdomen. If the first strike doesn¡¯t get the job done make sure you don¡¯t let up.¡±

    Lux playfully smacked her friend¡¯s stomach to help bring the point home. Just hard enough to make Esma sputter in exasperation. It also had the added benefit of dissipating the tension that had settled into the girl¡¯s posture during the conversation.

    ¡°Someone wasn¡¯t watching my eyes.¡±

    A teaching point that failed to translate over to the real thing as Esma¡¯s eyes screwed themselves shut on her follow through. And while this could most likely be chalked up as a flinch in response to her gross inexperience with close combat, the main culprit was undoubtably the raider¡¯s rifle going off as it was knocked upwards. Either way it was a mistake that could prove detrimental on multiple levels as the initial strike fell short of its objective to disarm the enemy completely. A development that now placed greater emphasis on the execution of the disabling strike as an insufficient amount of damage being dealt would equate to a reprisal Esma wasn¡¯t trained up enough to fend off. A concerning prospect that oozed tenability given the upcoming attempt would be delivered blind.

    An altogether cruel twist of fate that a rookie CO¡¯s life could very well come down to her inaugural test as a substitute security officer. But such happenstances weren¡¯t so unusual in the scope of a Galen Run. Something a surprising number of field service men and women would site as the basis for their involvement in such convoys. Esma was not one of those people.

    Vision or no, the brunette launched the end of her rifle forward with all her might. Markedly unburdened by the conventional concerns of a proficient combatant as she did so. Namely the gravity of maintaining one¡¯s balance in a fight. A negligence that in hindsight may have attributed to the success of the end result as her adversary wouldn¡¯t have expected an all or nothing gamble from the get go. They were, after all, up against a security officer who had the guts to charge through a renowned party member.

    Ultimately this decisive blow would miss both the raider¡¯s head and abdomen, splitting the difference and instead contacting the left side of their clavicle. But it was Esma¡¯s repurposed momentum that made up for the whiff as the strike had managed to catch the raider flat footed, necessitating a tumble backwards. The young officer following suit as a result of her weight being shifted so far forward. Unlike Esma however the raider had no one to break his precarious fall into the jumble of aeriform engine components packed into the tight space. The back of his head colliding with the closest module, rendering them unconscious upon contact.

    ¡°...?!¡±

    For her part Esma¡¯s only real concern at the time was finding herself atop the raider and scrambling to remove herself rather than press the advantage. Plucking her rifle from where it had fallen beside them in the process. With her rifle re-secured she trained it on the downed enemy from her own spot on the floor, half-expecting them to rise again in retaliation. Because despite the evidence in front of her proving otherwise, Esma¡¯s psyche wouldn¡¯t allow her to accept a reality in which she successfully took out a bonafide raiding party member on her own. And to have pulled it off without shedding blood... she winced as her hand absentmindedly grazed the oozing laceration on her cheek. Figuratively that is.

    Her state of personal reflection was soon interrupted however by the reminder of the ongoing struggle taking place back the way she¡¯d come. Whipping her head back around to observe the state of the battle the security officer couldn¡¯t help but notice her superior¡¯s growing fatigue. Hands so full holding the raider¡¯s lantern shields in check he couldn¡¯t even spare the energy required to turn his head and confirm the outcome of his subordinate¡¯s foolhardy aspirations to contribute to the cause.

    Knowing she had to do something to at least create an opening Esma frantically looked around herself for something, anything she could hurl down the corridor at the raider. Only for her face to become flushed upon recalling the feronectic rifle clasped in her clammy palms. A weapon literally designed to accelerate a permanent magnet along a track as it passed through a series of coils, transforming it into a high velocity projectile capable of lethal damage. All while also being far more accurate than what any person¡¯s arm could manage let alone her own feeble appendage. Stopping her however was that recurring sense of dread that would rear its head whenever the opportunity to discharge the weapon came to pass. Even now when a crewmember¡¯s life was at stake.

    But seeing as she wouldn¡¯t be able to recreate the stunt she had just pulled off against an armored opponent with dual lantern shields, Esma fell back on the original plan proposed to her for confrontations. The old shoot a hole in the foot strategy. Something she¡¯d run by the likes of Youn, Faust and even Wash in regards to its validity and effectiveness in the field. Not that she believed Lux would ever lead her astray on such a dangerous subject matter.

    And while those she¡¯d surveyed had at least heard of the strategy in passing, each being too competent in battle to actually try it themselves, it appeared they¡¯d each come across it under differing aliases. Some of her favorites being the dorsal delivery, tarsus terminator and last but certainly not least, the cold feet iron treat grit them teeth front row seat. The lengthiest coming courtesy of the yappy pilot. And though part of her suspected all these had been contrived on the spot in a misguided attempt to sow alacrity, she still considered it a thoughtful if not amusing gesture. One that did ultimately serve as a welcome distraction to the inherent discomfort of having to consciously shoot another person for the first time in her life. The fact they¡¯d be armored offering little by way of respite to the young woman¡¯s ever fickle conscience.

    Esma lifted her rifle and took aim all the same, not even bothering to raise herself back up from the engine room floor. Mostly out of fear that the quivering in her legs brought about by all the adrenaline in her system would contribute to the shortcomings in her aiming mechanics. Plus remaining on the ground technically meant the target would be closer, right? Either way she¡¯d need to hurry as Rohner¡¯s endurance was slipping by the second.

    The brunette lay prone, propping up her elbows in a posture comparable to a sharpshooter as she took aim at the heel of the closest foot. Much of the training she¡¯d received back during her marksmanship courses at the Federation Academy flooding back all at once. Including the fact she¡¯d completed the course with the lowest possible passing score. Something Esma was almost certain had been achieved thanks in large part to luck. A resource she¡¯d never had want for even now. Her earlier tumble down onto the platform of a moving Crusader coming to mind.

    But luck wasn¡¯t going to pull the trigger for her here. So she did. Doing her utmost to keep both eyes open as she did so to limit involuntary jerks to either side. And while the shot connected a bit higher than intended, the raider¡¯s ankle, it did enough to slide the entire foot back a short but tangible distance. Not immediately privy to the cause of the minute shift, the armored man tried to reset his footing in an effort to maintain his advantage. Rohner was faster, pulling the raider down by one of his arms and throwing a horizontal elbow across the base of his helm. A blow that staggered the party captain, prompting him to stumble backwards until his back collided with the opposite wall. The result of his arm having been released.

    Esma found herself holding her breath as she watched this exchange unfold from the end of the corridor, well aware that both her fate and that of the Crusader were more than likely tied to Rohner¡¯s victory or defeat here. But the veteran officer left little room for doubt in regards to the outcome as he prevented the jarred raider from pushing off the corridor wall with the muzzle of his rifle. Pressing it firmly against the base of where the enemy¡¯s throat would be. It being hard for Esma to tell the exact location or if that general area was as armored as the rest of their person from her angle.

    One pull of the trigger later she had her answer. Watching on warily as the raider¡¯s entire body went from scrambling to defend itself to spasming its way down the wall and onto the floor. A horrid sight that was finally quelled by a second point blank shot to the same spot. The security rep¡¯s take on mercy she supposed.

    Now it was Rohner¡¯s turn to fall back against the corridor wall as fatigue from the prolonged struggle began to take its toll. Esma used the opportunity to stand and make her way over on unsteady legs, only stopping when the man¡¯s large heaving form turned towards her ever so slightly.

    ¡°Not bad kid, didn¡¯t think you had it in you.¡±

    The brunette shuffled in place, unused to receiving this type of roundabout praise.

    ¡°Yes well...I think this is the part where I¡¯m supposed to say something along the lines of, ¡®I was just doing my job¡¯...¡±

    Rohner chuckled at the young woman¡¯s antics as he looked past her at the incapacitated raider occupying the engine room floor. An exchange he¡¯d failed to witness the full scope of amidst his attempts to avoid being skewered. But one he¡¯d be more than willing to give the rookie her flowers for. Through the appropriate channels that is.

    ¡°¡ªI thank her for her service but see no further need for intervention on my or the convoy commander¡¯s part. As such idle pursuits would be nothing short of an offense to any individual who exhibits the ability to take decisive action in defense of their comrades...¡±

 Chapter 34

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 Chapter 35

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 Chapter 36

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