Seventy Hours on Raener-12 : Part 14

Hour 048

Harsh white fire boiled and seethed at the ceiling above. Like a spark net, deadly and volatile, the electric currents cracked around the corner. It was an electric cloud, whipping the low ceiling with unnatural rhythmic hisses. The current needed only a target, and my squad was the key on the kite's tail.

I wanted so badly to radio Natalie, but the risk was too high for my men. We were all crouched and huddled and they were waiting for my orders.

My squad was on alert after we had climbed the sloping stairs. After we breached the cavernous opening from the bowels we traveled cautiously down several halls. The route we took was simple enough to remember. Natalie had warned us, warned me that the ship was outfitted with the most exemplar defense system the Vertigo sector had. The one we had just reactivated. Sensing the deadly power above me, feeling it inside, I was hard pressed to disagree.

Even through my helmet, the loud cracks of energy interrupted my plans. The main hallway must have been a central route. It made sense to me that the Vertigos would install such a destructive precaution in such a pristine path. We were halfway down the drag to another trident of halls. Somehow my gut told me, clear and strong, that that route was safe. If I could get us through there I could get us to Natalie.

I could get us out alive.

My readings had been going mad since we emerged from the bowels, but my electrical field reader was constant. There was enough wattage in that hall that if isolated could kill many men.

Searching for an answer I quickly flashed back to my fabrication days. When I would wire a communication line or command console there was always a safety install. A way to divert the flow. It would have to be strong, I knew. Strong enough to clear a path for my men and would need to last half-a-minute.

"Unload your knives, spare batteries, anything disposable that can conduct. Jason, pack your gear in Collin's pack. Yours is mine now."

" A cut off, sir?"

"Exactly. Bait."