Velislava sniffed, "Any one with a little common knowledge knows these flowers don't grow in this region, I figured you knew."
Was that meant as an insult or a compliment? Or was it merely a statement? Alexa just nodded at Veli then focused herself on the pit. Two spears of metal stuck into the earth where the hunter had tried to find grip. The tips of the spikes were smooth and there were no holes at the ends where shots could leave the guns. The sides wore holes the size of her fists. This newer technology scared her, a few weeks ago one of these hunters pierced three of her companions with one shot. At first, they had assumed the colored ray of light was harmless, but it left gaping, smoldering holes in their chests. Other weaponry was mounted on both chest and shoulders of the hulking giant of metal. She couldn't help but feel uncomfortable and insignificant.
If it were up to her, the entire colossus would be hauled to the tower, every inch of that dark smooth metal meticulously inspected and every secret uncovered. It was a shame that most of the battle-mages did not possess the talent to move the metal construction to the tower directly. She urged her squad to hurry.
They were about to finish the salvaging. The massive guns already packed and ready to be hauled off and other, other unknown items hauled on the carriers to be taken to the tower. A light shudder shook the ground and everyone froze. It lasted a second, then the squad burst towards the transporters as another heavy thud shook the ground. Another hunter? Why didn't they come together? They always worked in packs.
At that moment, another tremble shook the ground. And another, but lighter. The pause between the two shudders too short to be made by only one slow-paced hunter. Rapid, lighter thuds indicated at least one scout moving in their direction. Scouts were lighter, less armored thus more vulnerable, but also faster and more agile in combat.
"Veli!" Alexa shouted at the battle-mage at the other side of the hole. "We need time to escape, we can't fight them now!"
Velislava nodded and her hands went into the air, already forming signals. Alexa didn't wait. Instead she sprinted towards the carriers, already hovering in the air. Her ears started beeping as a shockwave of air and earth crashed all around her, then lifted sods of grass, stones and sticks off the ground. The debris hovered around her in gently, then soared away. Alexa didn't look at the debris, instead she focused on the transporters, again forcing her legs to take fast, long steps. She grabbed Dimitars outstretched hands and he pulled her up the hatch in the belly of the transporter.
"Man the turrets! Wait for Veli to join us! Let's hope she can keep this debrisstorm around us till we are too far from them" Alexa shouted at the top of her lungs.
She heard the barrels of the turret spinning, ready to spit a hail of explosive rounds at their enemy. The rounds would slow, maybe damage the scout. They would hardly scratch the hunter. The dome spun on rails; a weird sound through the ceiling as the men swung the barrels to check their angles. Again Alexa found herself wishing Velislava had the talent to move bigger objects over a long distance. Her train of thought was interrupted when Dimitar pulled Velisalava through the hatch. She slammed the hatch closed.
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"Mihail, Go!" Alexa screamed, "head South, then arc towards the tower."
Mihails voice crackled over the intercom. "We have a hunter and two scouts on our six, you sure you want to head straight at them?"
"Yes, the debris will keep them at bay! Did the scanners pick up anything else?"
Noise distorted Mihails voice again, "No, but it also did not pick up these before they were almost on top of us."
Alexa didn't respond. She felt the transporter surge to the left and accelerate to full speed. Nothing to do for now, she observed Velislava whose face glistened with sweat and breathed heavily.
"How long?" She asked.
"Five, tops." Veli breathed.
Five minutes, not long enough to escape the scouts. The scouts would be as fast as they were. It meant chances for escape were low. She stared outside the window, the debris storm shielded their own view as well as that of the machines. The ground underneath flashed by, adding more debris to the storm. They weren't fast enough. The scout and hunter would follow the storm. The carrier was loaded with the squad and the heavy parts of the despatched hunter.
"Dimi! Order the men to dump everything we don't need. Keep one of the guns. Do it now! We need to be fast!" Alexa screamed at top of her lungs. "Mihail, pass the order to the others!"
Dimitar got up, saluted and climbed up the ladder that led to the cargo compartment. Several moment later she heard the hydraulic sounds of the cargo door. Scraping across the ceiling indicated they were pushing the parts out of the transporter. The cargo door of the other transporter opened and she could see parts of the hunter hitting the ground and digging itself deep into the ground below. She felt the carrier surge forward with increased speed. She hoped her plan worked. It better, else there would be nothing to report. Well... no-one to report what happened save the signals the carrier send to headquarters.
Velislava panted now, sweat seeping down her face in steady streams. She looked up when Alexa adressed her.
"Veli, can you slow the storm and let us through"
Only a slight nod indicated that she had heard and would obey. They had to try something, needed to escape to inform the others that the strategy they considered foolproof was already dead.
That the machines were only picked up by the scanners when they were too close for comfort.
Ambushed while ambushing, Alexa didn't know whether to weep or laugh in frustration.
"I know spells are harder to maintain on distance. Can you keep it alive and bend it Southbound again? Just for a few minutes?"
"I can for maybe two," Veli panted between the words. "I will keep up till I pass out, but then it will wink out in an instant."