"Mouse, there's something approaching from the northwest." Harmon was one of the recruits who had stayed back at the settlement. He had grown up on a farm and had some basic knowledge of growing, planting and harvesting. He had only signed up to get away from an increasingly difficult situation at home where his wife had left him for his brother. Only she hadn't left, she was still in the house, as was his brother. It was stupid and spur of the moment. Plus he had drunk away his sign on credits before he even reached Carus. The time in sim for basic training had given him the space he needed to put things in perspective. He recognised the opportunity he was being given here though, the chance to set up again and live a new life, he had definitely landed on his feet.

"Donkey. Why are you telling me?" Mouse replied.

"Not happening Mouse. No. You'll have to think of a new one." Harmon tried to get annoyed as Mouse tried his newest nickname. "I'm telling you because Captain Thompson left you in charge."

Mouse remembered not to activate his comm as he swore under his breath. "That bugger. Leave me in charge will he?" He was currently on top of the command tower with Ty setting the frame for the new level.

"Ty, go check out what's bothering Donkey." Mouse refused to give up the name yet. With a surname like Bray it was perfect. Ty raised an eyebrow and decided not to make a comment. Instead he headed down the ladder they had installed through the Crystal room and down again out of the building.

"On my way Harmon. What can you see?" He called over the comms. They were on an open channel so soon had Aleena and Ginge wanting to know too.

"Looks like a cross between a motorbike and a quad. Coming in quick, it was just a dust trail before and now I can tell what it is." Harmon replied, grateful that the others weren't picking up the nickname.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Our first visitor then? What do we do?" Harmon had been left in the northwest tower on guard. They had spotted a couple of grubs but nothing more. The interesting thing they had found about the processed material from the ziggurat was that the grubs didn't try and break through it and if built high enough they were unable to climb over it. So they only really needed to watch two spots where there were breaks in the wall to allow the troop carrier in and out. Other than grubs and Swarm they weren't expecting anything else to appear so there was no plan for a visitor.

"I'll go to the gate, you stay in the tower." Ty said

"Can I come too?" Asked Ginge. "It's boring lugging all this stuff around for you and Mouse."

"No, I need those panels ready so we can get on with this building." Said Mouse. "Let Ty work out what's going on."

The comms went quiet as they waited for the newcomer to arrive. The vehicle swung round to the western gate slowing as it approached.

"Hi?" Said Ty as the three wheeler deftly navigated the ditches and walls that were designed to slow the approach of any Swarm. The man riding jumped off his bike, pulled off his goggles and swept his hands back through his hair.

"You. Recruit. Where is Jeddiah Thompson?" He barked, pointing at Ty.

"Umm. Captain Thompson is out on a mission." Ty stammered. He didn't know how to react as the man stormed past him into the base. "Sorry, where are you going?" He found himself following after the man, completely on the back foot.

"Well you obviously aren't in charge. Jed has more sense than that. So I'm finding who is in charge." Oberon was tired, hungry and dirty from his travels. He was confused at the layout in front of him to the left were tidy rows of one-man tents grouped in fives. To the right were one larger and two small buildings leaving the way clear for him to walk straight forward aiming at the door into the command tower of the settlement.

"Uh, Mouse. You might want to come down." Ty said over the comms. He continued to follow, not knowing what else to do. The man's eyes brightened in recognition as Slim and Mouse walked out of the door in front of him.

"Ah, excellent. Ms Hui, where is Jed? It's important." Oberon watched the complex chain of emotions that showed in her face.

"Oberon, you better come in and take a seat." She said stepping backwards into the command tower. "Mouse, get something to eat and some coffee."

Ty was surprised to see Mouse step out the way and go find some supplies rather than make a joke or quip in reply. He waited looking at the closed door in front of him until he heard shouting from inside. With no idea what else to do and no way back up to the top of the command tower he jogged in the direction Mouse had disappeared, hoping that he might be able to find out what was going on.