“Shuttlecraft is down, Commander. Twenty meters due south. “
“Evacuate at once!”
The shuttlecraft was unarmed, and I did not want it overrun.
As one, Krahn and I left the trench and began sprinting for the shuttlecraft, burning Ants as we ran.
I saw Hif by the tunnel opening. She dropped a minigrenade down the opening, stepped back to avoid the explosion, then jumped in herself, blaster at ready. She knew as well as we did there would be no returning from the tunnel, but now our withdrawal was covered from that direction.
Zur and Zome were waiting by the shuttlecraft, pouring fire into a group of Ants pressing them hard from the Southeast. Apparently the Ants had taken up the bulk of the battle after the Leapers had been eliminated.
“Where’s Mahz?” I asked, turning to train my weapons on the Ants pursuing us from the West.
“Still in the gun turret, providing cover fire as ordered,” replied Zur.
That had not been my intention.
“Mahz!” I beamed.
“Here, Commander.”
“Set the destruct mechanism on the fortification, then put the turret gun on auto-target and withdraw.”
“Confirmed, Commander.”
“Shuttle pilot!” I beamed.
“Here, Commander.” I was surprised to hear Horc’s voice.
“Stand by for immediate takeoff when our last member reaches us.”
There was a hesitation before he replied.
“Confirmed, Commander.”
I realized he had been expecting to pick up a larger force than was currently in evidence.
“Concentrate cover fire for Mahz’s withdrawal,” I called to the rest of the team.
We could tell when the turret gun went on autotarget: It began swiveling randomly back and forth, choosing its targets by Network-triggered priority.