Grim had done the hard work of sneaking from the landing gear into the interior of the Wingspan when the ship had landed briefly on Hruduk. Since then, he’d managed to stay out of sight, hiding in the underbelly of the ship. He’d been able to monitor most of the communications on board, though radio transmissions to the surface of the planet were trickier to intercept, and ripmed communications were impossible. Most importantly, he was able to record his position in space to continue drip-feeding the Astralbians information through smaller bursts of ripmed comms. As soon as he knew where they were heading next and how long the trip would take, he could find a dark corner and deactivate for a little while again.
As he considered his next moves, he heard footsteps approaching. He was backed into a corner by some rusted exhaust pipes. He tried squeezing between them but there was no way he was going to fit. He heard the sound of someone humming, and a Talpidarian male in greasy overalls rounded the corner. He stopped in his tracks, looking up into Grim’s skull-like face, the beard-like chains swinging menacingly as the Robot swung his fist above his head. The technician tried to cry out, but the pirate brought his metal fist down far too swiftly.
***
Drixen looked out at the approaching creature, trying to gauge its intentions.
“It may just be curious,” said Dr. Trembi.
“The word ‘may’ concerns me, Doctor,” answered Drixen. He turned to get a look at his passengers. Dr. Trembi, a tall, dark-skinned Human with jet black curls, was craning her neck for a look at the bird while Dr. Britkrup was holding her head in her hands, doubled over in her seat.
“I’m never landing again,” said the Talpidarian. “I’m going back up to the ship and I’m never landing again.”
Looking back out of the windshield, Drixen was more convinced than ever that the raptor was on the attack.
“Alright, I’m taking evasive action, hold on,” said Drixen calmly.
The shuttle felt slow and clunky compared to the fighter craft he was used to flying, but he’d have to make due with what he had. When the bird got close, it threw up its talons, preparing to strike the shuttle. Drixen wheeled the shuttle in the tightest arc he could manage, and metal shrieked against the raptor’s talons as they raked the underside of the craft.
“Perhaps it’s territorial,” suggested Trembi.
“The ‘curious’ hypothesis certainly seems to have fallen apart, at least,” noted Drixen.
Trembi let out an easy laugh.
“Talon Squad, this is Textbook,” he said. “Looks like the bird wants a dogfight. I’m going to have a hard time maneuvering quickly enough to get a shot on it.”
“I’ll come up and try to drive it off,” replied Reclan.
“Perfect,” said Drixen, “I’ll try and stay afloat while I wai- ugh!”
The raptor had swung around and made another swipe at the shuttle. This time it had managed to damage one of the shuttle's wings, but Drixen was able to stabilize the craft. Talon Squad's shuttle buzzed past, dividing the creature's attention.
"Woo! Good to see you, Rec," said Drixen.
"Happy to be here, buddy," she replied. "I can fly this bus but I'm no ace. I'll just try and get the bird to follow me and you can blow it out of the sky."
"Sounds good," said Drixen.
Reclan turned her shuttle around and buzzed the raptor again. It took the bait and chased her, leaving Drixen free to line up a shot and fire on the bird. His shots landed squarely and the raptor fell.
"Woohoo!" shouted Reclan. "That's how it's done. Alright, I'll see you on the- aw, man!” Three black dots had shown up on the horizon.
"I see them!" said Vanbrook. "Sorry, Doctors, we're not in the clear yet."
Trembi nodded contentedly while Britkrup let out an anguished squeak.
"Let's take these three head on," said Drixen. "We may be able to shoot all three of them before they get anywhere near us."
Drixen led the charge towards the three raptors, firing at the one in the center. It was hit, but the birds scattered, spreading their massive wings and banking away from one another. He focused on the one he'd already shot, trying to finish it off.
Reclan banked to one side, pursuing one of the other raptors. She fired but missed, and the raptor dove, getting below her position. She turned as quickly as she could, but she was out-maneuvered and took a talon to one of her engines. The raptor cried out in triumph; a violent and eerie cry of pleasure.
"My shuttle's crippled!" she cried. "I can limp along but there's no way I'm going to be much use now."
“Alright, I’ll try and take out the one dogging you,” said Drixen as he watched the raptor he’d been fighting plummet to the ground. “I’m rethinking my strategy a bit. I think I can probably outrun these guys in a straight line. If I can get enough distance maybe I can- nevermind!”
A scaly black foot blotted out the sun as the third raptor dove from behind Drixen’s shuttle, slashing at the cockpit. The claws raked the glass, causing a screeching sound that made Drixen shiver.
“Alright,” said Drixen determinedly, “hang on back there, it’s about to get a little rough!”
“About to?” whined Britkrup.
Drixen slammed the accelerator forward, banking violently towards Reclan and the raptor pursuing her. He gunned down the raptor as he zipped by, then checked his scanners to see how much distance he’d gained from the last monster.
“Reclan,” said Drixen, “go ahead and land. I’ve got this one.”
With that, the pilot jerked back on the controls, flying up in a violent arc until he was upside down, then turning the nose back up. The shuttle wasn’t the best vehicle to attempt a loop-the-loop in, but he had pulled it off. He smiled as the bird, attempting to follow his maneuver, rose into the path of his foreguns. He pulled the trigger and riddled his enemy with a volley of shots, grinning to himself as it fell from the sky.
Drixen landed his shuttle next to Reclan’s and helped carry Trembi and Britkrup’s field gear down to Talon Squad’s base camp. Talon Squad walked up to see if they could help.
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
“Welcome to Platnon. Your welcome was about as warm as ours, if that’s any consolation.”
Trembi was scribbling furiously in a notebook. “Well, I got a front row seat to the behavior of what I sincerely hope is the moon’s apex predator. So I’m honestly pretty happy at the moment.”
“If you like, I can take you to a cave where you’ll be attacked by giant murderous crustaceans,” said Reclan with a grin.
“Reclan!” said Trembi, returning the smile. “So good to see you! It’s been awhile. I’ve wanted to try and see you but we picked up some samples from Hittania when we were on Kirakna and it’s been a steady stream of new species to study since. Hey, isn’t Vanbrook around, too?”
Vanbrook did his best to step casually out into the open from where he’d been standing behind D’Jarric. “Dr. Trembi,” he said cordially.
“Good to see you too, Van,” replied Trembi good-naturedly.
***
Crush sat across a table from a stern, wrinkled Human male. His name was High Brother Redgone, but the workers called him Stoneface. Crush could see why. The room was dimly lit by an orange-colored light that buzzed, hanging from the middle of the ceiling. The only door was an airlock, as the office building they were in contained the only breathable air on the mining station.
“You realize,” said Redgone, rubbing his eyes, “that you are asking me to release a sizable portion of my workforce.”
“No,” responded Crush, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms. “I am paying off the debts of workers who would like to resign from their position. With the debts paid off you have no legal means to keep these workers.”
“You’re new to politics, aren’t you?” asked the bureaucrat smugly.
“Again, no,” said Crush. “But that’s not the point. I am paying off the debts.”
He leaned in, looking Crush square in the face. “Listen, ‘Admiral.’ I am not simply going to allow my workers to be sold off because you have enough platinum to cover their debt to the mine. If you attempt to do so, the amount of red tape the PIC will throw at you will outweigh any benefits you may anticipate from freeing my workers.”
Crush said nothing, staring blankly back at the man.
“However,” he continued, “If you provide certain services to the PIC, I would be willing to pay you in the form of erasing debt.”
“What’s the job?” asked Crush, relaxing internally.
The bureaucrat’s face twisted into an ugly grin. “Just tell us where the Cornucopia Cluster is.”
Crush’s sense of relaxation shriveled away.
***
Jasken smoothed his mustache as he listened to Drixen and Reclan recount their encounter with the ice raptors.
“That is certainly… something,” he said. “I’m glad to hear no one was hurt. And you say you should be able to fix the shuttles on-site?”
“Yes,” said Reclan. “The Fleet’s shuttle is spaceworthy as-is, though it could use some paint and polish, and Talon Squad’s shuttle should be repairable without having to call down any parts from the Shepherd.”
Jasken nodded. “Good. On a completely different note, we’ve identified a promising planet for our next jump. It looks like it has water, a breathable atmosphere, and a grav rating similar to Griffonia. The jump shields should be recharged in a day or two, and we intend to jump as soon as they are. How are the Doctors holding up?”
“Pretty good,” said Reclan. “Britkrup was a little shaken up by the aerial battle, but Trembi took it in stride.”
“Alright,” replied Jasken. “Well, keep them safe while they're down there. Providence shine on you.”
“On you as well, Admiral,” said Drixen.
Drixen and Reclan walked out of the command tent to see how preparations were going for the trip down into the nearest prairie.
They kept the shuttle low for the flight and avoided attracting the attention of any nearby raptors, landing safely in the prairie with plenty of daylight left.
Britkrup soon forgot her terror as she studied the prairie's formation.
"I'm thinking it's volcanic," she said to Hrake, who was dutifully smiling and nodding at the doctor's very technical monologue. "It could explain the warmth of the prairie as compared to the surface, though the expanse of ice would function as a sort of greenhouse."
Raivyn was walking with Trembi as the latter took samples of the wispy green grasses of the prairie and observed the massive pollinators. Trembi was transfixed by a butterfly with powder blue wings and an iridescent black body.
“This place is amazing,” she said, shaking her head. “I take it those caves are off-limits?”
Raivyn nodded, looking to the opening in the ice that Trembi had pointed to. “Yes, I think it’s best for now if we steer clear. With limited shuttles and such dangerous fauna, it’s best we don’t take too many risks.”
“What’s Van like these days?” asked the biologist casually. “He seems more… self-aware than when I first knew him. Maybe I’m reading too much into a very brief interaction.”
“Uh, I don’t know. I’ve only known him a few years,” answered Raivyn, feeling a strange defensiveness welling up inside her. “He’s definitely grown in that time, though.”
“Did you know he courted me? Back in our first year in the service, actually,” she laughed. “I had gone and gotten my doctorate before joining; he had no idea I had spent nearly a decade in advanced education before signing up. He called me old in public.” She laughed again. “Seeing him now, I just wonder if I was too hard on him then.”
“Huh,” said Raivyn. “Yeah, he can be impulsive, but he’s… a good man.”
“Hmm,” said Trembi noncommittally.
“Raivyn, this is Van,” said a voice over the comms.
“Hey Van, what’s up?”
“Just wondering when you guys are coming back up. Eclipse is coming up in about an hour. Also, I’m bored. And Doc’s trying to get me to do physical therapy stuff for my ankle, which is totally better now.”
“Shut up and do your exercises or I’m gonna amputate the leg,” came Doc’s voice from the background.
Raivyn and Trembi laughed together.
“Alright,” said Raivyn. “We’ll be up soon. But for the record I’m on Doc’s side.”
***
A few hours later, Vanbrook was preparing dinner in the command tent. Talon Squad always took turns preparing and serving dinner when they were clayside, and Vanbrook had insisted on taking Raivyn’s turn for some reason. It was a simple meal, but Talon Squad had the leeway to take their own food along, and it was better than what could typically be found in the Wingspan’s galley. Dinner was a meat stew with root vegetables.
“Sounds like we’ll be able to head back up tomorrow morning for our trip to Gri101-WA0.89,” said Raivyn.
“Repairs went extraordinarily well,” noted Drixen. “Both shuttles could use a new paint job, but they're spaceworthy and fully functional.”
“Ready to fight some more birds tomorrow, I figure,” said Reclan with a grin.
“Oh, I hope not,” said Britkrup, shaking her head. “I’m staying on the Wingspan this time. The whole time.”
“Oh, you had a grand old time here today,” said Vanbrook, stepping over to the table with a pot of stew. “I don’t think you can resist.”
“Hey, and he cooks, too!” said Trembi with an easy laugh.
Vanbrook smiled and took a dramatic bow.
Dinner was a relaxed and good-natured event. Much to Vanbrook’s chagrin, Reclan recounted Vanbrook and Trembi’s last date in excruciating detail. Trembi interjected occasionally with her own recollections. Vanbrook, unable to leave a joke untold even at his own expense, chimed in as well.
“No, no,” he said. “What I said was ‘I didn’t know how old you were,’ which I have been informed is the same thing.”
Even Doc chuckled a little. He and D’Jarric always joined the others at the table for conversation’s sake, even though neither of them ate. Only Raivyn looked uncomfortable, though she hid it well by focusing on the meal.
When the meal was over, everyone retired to their cabins, Drixen and the two scientists returning to their own shuttle. Vanbrook and Raivyn stayed behind to clean up.
“You know, maybe Trembi is as nice as her reputation suggests,” said Vanbrook as they finished up.
Raivyn’s face scrunched up. The strange defensiveness she’d felt earlier when talking to Trembi welled up again. “Well, maybe you were right the first time.”
Vanbrook looked confused. “What, did something happen in the prairie today?”
“No,” said Raivyn, immediately regretting the comment. She wasn’t even sure why she’d said it. “No, forget I said anything.”
“Okay,” said Vanbrook, still confused. “Have a good night, Rai.”
“You, too,” she said, all but running out the door to get away from the conversation.
Vanbrook stood in the kitchen for a moment, trying to unravel the interaction.