Page 25 of Craze

“I was hoping to get Axe and RamBash to cut us a tunnel there once we have a ship.” I pat my hands over my new harness’ holders to be sure I have the new location of every weapon down so there’s no delay on the battlefield. “But I didn’t want to say anything unless we had plans to get a ship that had a decent chance.”

Macabre squeezes my shoulder. “That is quite the planning for you, Craze. Good thinking, Brother.”

Tangle slows beside my drop off point. “That is an honorable thing to do. Brothers belong together.”

I walk to the edge of the hoverdrone’s platform and swing my rifle around my back. “I don’t want to just keep them. I think we can bring them back, something I saw in Amp’s notes when we were all there last. We obviously don’t have the skills or the materials. Rebel has the skills, and he’s on Escepiter. As for the parts, I don’t know. But I want to try.”

My Brothers give me double-clicks and zoom off down the other tunnel.

The hike to my usual post is short, and I slip out through the overgrown opening and onto a rocky ledge that overlooks the new plant.

I crawl through the bushes, check my surroundings with a rifle sweep, and then inch to the edge where I get a clear look atthe bronze and glass tower protruding from the entrails of the old complex.

Craze>>Local: What’s the plan?

Macabre>>Local: Landing vessel appears to be one of Sevrin’s Ravengers. I say we take it out. Spare the creatures inside anymore miserable surgeries. But let’s do it quietly until we can’t. No matter what, this ship is a threat to us all. Craze, on you.

I get up and slink down the steep hillside, scanning for Solcrue that might be on patrol.

Craze>>Local: Do I have cover?

Tangle>>Local: Hovering sniper, ready.

I skirt through the sparse trees, too small to hide me completely, and then round a pump house at the edge of the compound’s landing zone.

Proximity Alert.

An arrow tells me the direction is behind me, likely from behind the concrete structure. As I wheel around, the hum of a coilgun spooling up reaches my ears.

The Solcrue soldier is young with recently cropped ears but a look of hatred in his green eyes that’s been bred into him.

I block the coilgun that he points at me, and we wrestle for control. But I am stronger after years of meat and berries and sunshine. I wrestle the gun until it points at his chest.

His face darkens with the strain. “Coilguns don’t work on living things.”

“You’re so sure it won’t target the SA node in your evil little heart.”

He curls a lip, but I can see the hesitation in his eyes as I pull the trigger.

The shot snakes through him and out his back. The soldier collapses. I drop the gun and crush it under a boot.

I stay close to the building as I peer around the corner at the ship with cooling engines that billow clouds of steam. The thrusters dim and eventually fall silence.

The ramp cracks open.

Craze>>Local: Transport vulnerable. I’ll be inside soon.

But as the ramp drops, I see flashes of gunfire inside.

My ultro ramps up.

Craze>>Local: Internal conflict detected. Hold you positions for more information.

A group of humanoid life forms rush down the platform. I can’t tell if their Solcrue or human by the grime on their bodies. My programs scan them but can’t identify their species. I have to get closer.

I get a match as a cloaked figure registers on the platform, firing behind her.

Titan Signal: Pellucid

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