“You mean it isn’t?”

Milla’s voice was a little weak, but the humor told him she was still hanging in there.

Steph didn’t reply. He just picked a target and took a breath. He wasn’t a bad shot, but firing bursts at this range with a medium-caliber weapon took a premier marksman to reliably hit a target. Luckily, he didn’t need a hit. A near miss was almost as good.

Maybe even better. A hit would put one man down, maybe scare the others. It might also piss them off, and angry troops were more apt to take risks. Steph didn’t want them taking risks.

The burst ricocheted off the stone. He could imagine the whine slicing the air around the enemy, and the men went to ground just as predictably. Steph put two more bursts downrange while Milla ran. Then he let his eyes flick upward.

Of course, the real problem wasn’t the guys on the ground. The true nemesis was the floating fortress following along behind them like a dutiful dog, just waiting to be let off the leash. The ship was another reason not to start chewing up their pursuers. Steph didn’t want to know what would happen if the commander of that beast decided pursuit wasn’t worth the cost.

“I am covered,” Milla said, panting a little.

“I’m ready. Fire when ready.”

►►►

► Moro had had about as much of this mess as he was willing to endure.

His quarries were good. Not great, but good. They were calm, disciplined, and making good use of their available resources. Thankfully, they didn’t have many resources to make use of. Otherwise, he suspected that they wouldn’t be settling for delaying tactics.

“Five, Tav on call.”

“We hear you. What do you need, Tav?” the communications officer on the parasite responded.

“Drop a second squad behind their position. I’m going to spread my team downslope to cut off their escape to the sides,” he said.

“Understood . . . Ground command . . . ?”

“What is it?”

“What about upslope?” the comm officer asked.

“Five handles upslope.”

There was a long silence before the comm came back.

“Subaltern confirms.”

Moro didn’t bother responding. He’d given orders, and he had orders.

“Alright, spread half the team downslope. Start driving them back and up. We’ll wear them down before Five closes the lock.”

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 14

► “Shit.”

Steph wasn’t really the swearing type, but this was a situation where he was more than willing to make an exception.

“What is wrong?” Milla asked from her cover, a boulder five meters or so away.

“They’re getting smarter,” he said over the radio link as the frigate broke position and flew overhead. “And it looks like they want us alive.”

“That is . . . good? Yes?” Milla sounded like she wished she were more certain.