Page 61 of Craze

I take out two soldiers just before a blue blast slams into me, knocking me to the ground and causing my shield to flicker. My ears ring and dizziness grips me as I catch my breath.

The local network fills with com chatter about me being hit, but I’m still getting my wits back.

Rapid fire nears my position, making me sit up in a rush and search for the source as well as some cover that’s worth a damn.

A busted-up Titan stalks up beside me, a multi-barreled cannon-like gun hanging from a shoulder. Bands of ammo loop over his shoulders. His deep gold badge becomes visible when he turns to me.

“Go! I know the plan. I will get the others!” Ranger sprays the enemy with so many bullets that I can’t determine where one ends and the next begins. He stalks onward, teeth gritted in determination.

I can’t believe it worked.

Ranger’s in operation again!

I scramble up and run with my fading shield up the ramp of the nearest Battledagger. The moment I’m inside, I feel the pull of the systems. They recognize my splay and want to connect.

Enter Access Code to engage Fierynn Battledagger Six.

I input the one from Sevrin’s Battle dagger but it’s denied.

Oh, come on!

I race through the cargo dock until I find an onboard screen. I know how to find the code. I just need to get control before Solcrue soldiers figure it out.

Swiping through the screens, I pull up system operations, security, select the commander’s level, and close my eyes.

Sounds of battle rip around me. One by one, our team hustles up the ramp thanks to Ranger’s assistance.

Summon Passcode Recreation.

The windows pop up in my vision. I don’t know what they say or mean, only what they do by the tags in the logged list in my left eye.

With the system open, I recode the access parameters and take over the ship. A steady green shield buzzes to life around me. I turn around and face the Solcrue inside. They know they can’t penetrate the shield meant for their commander, but whenthey see my shield and that a human stands inside it, they try to anyway.

I find my friends, human and Titan, aboard the ship and tag them for shields.

Green light ignites down a hallway. Shavih steps back and looks over at me. She grins, lifts a rifle and lets out a battle cry as she fires and charges into the shadows.

Red alerts flash in my vision. I switch my focus to the perimeter of the ship and hurry to the edge of the ramp.

“What now?” I shout out of anger at no one in particular.

Proximal threat detected.

The battledagger on the other side of the tarmac has warmed its guns and is turned them on us.

Chapter 20: Navi

I can see my ship’s schematics in my mind, and engage the guns like I did with Sevrin’s ship. I launch a rapid assault as the last of my friends sprint up the ramp.

The moment Ranger joins us, I lift the battledagger’s exterior shields.

“Proximity Alert. Brace for impact,” the ship’s automated voice says.

The other ship fires missiles at us that pummel the ship. The shield holds back the munitions, but they still explode in flaming plumes that send flashes of light inside the open ramp.

I scan for autopilot commands I can initiate from here and find something that I hope is enough.

Autopilot, Engage.

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