The woman looked disturbed. “Why should we evacuate? The Drasin are gone now. We can rebuild.”

Savoy stepped in, his translator having stepped up its effectiveness after he’d had it recompile its program from the spoken words they’d been recording. The local dialect wasn’t completely identical to that which Milla spoke, which wasn’t confusing for human ears, apparently, but it had thrown the computer out of whack for a moment.

Even as he started to speak, he was already starting to work out new algorithms in his mind to enhance the translation. The system simply wasn’t designed to handle minor changes in pronunciation on the fly like this. Still, he’d have to worry about it later. For now, he and his team had more pressing concerns.

“I’m afraid that’s not true, ma’am,” he told the woman, who appeared to be the leader of the ragged band. “They’re still out there. We have to get you and your people out before any of those drones find their way here.”

Savoy had expected more shock, but only an air of resignation followed his statement.

The crowd deflated a little, as if he’d taken away some fancy they had embraced, but the reality hadn’t been so far from their minds, after all. The leader nodded after a moment, then sort of half bowed to him and nodded.

“Very well. The reactor is this way.” The woman gestured to the far wall and a small door.

“Thank you, ma’am,” said Savoy. “Mallard, Jenkins, let those two up and help me lug those power packs over there. We should be able to jump-start the system, if what Milla said about the reactors is right.”

“I will have our engineer explain any systems necessary to you.” The woman was now exerting a command influence, confirming Savoy’s belief that she was of some importance to these people.

“Thank you, ma’am,” he responded, keeping his tone respectful as he nodded his head to her.

The three soldiers each hefted a power pack, shouldering them and walking toward the door at the far end. The local engineer stepped up to the fourth pack, gesturing helpfully as he kneeled down to carry it.

“No! Wait!” Hilliard strode toward the man as he tried to heft the power pack.

Consternation turned to a pained look as the man strained his muscles in a vain attempt to move the heavy pack. Hilliard laid a hand on the man’s shoulder and shook his head with a slight smile.

“Here, I’ll carry it.” Hilliard kneeled down and grasped the pack’s handles, hefting it with ease and flipping it casually over his shoulder. “It’s the suits, sir. They have a series of strength enhancers. Lead the way and I’ll bring up the rear.”

The man nodded as emotions wafted across his face, ranging from an unbelieving stare to a fascinated gaze. Finally, the man turned and led Hilliard to the door, taking long looks over his shoulder at Hilliard and the pack he carried with such ease.