Dead Cities and Deader Men (Operative Title)
Day 3 of 30
Review a third time, all looks about quo. Look over the
travellog, on track with the planning. Still about 20 full days away from
return. Had to detour around some herds, went over an emergent boulder field,
and used full spike mode a dozen times. About usual in comparison. All radars, masers,
cameras all read clear except for the usual rain and windblown debris.
Shift passes fine, about two thirds done and the hatch opens
up. It is the detachment chief. Never heard a name. Sits in the co-driver
chair.
“The other driver, the one just off shift. Had to restrain
him. Went end, took out a tailgunner, wounded a few other gunners. Tranqed and
strapped into the medsection.”
This leaves me alone qual to drive this monstrosity.
“Unhooked a tailgunner, young. Might be able to pick up
something, help out.”
“Won’t work. Not wired that way, no training, no reflexes.
Just stay up a bit longer than usual. How is Driver One doing?”
“The machines estimate another ten full days before he might
be up. Injuries too severe to even wake him yet.”
Time enough to blow the hatches, kill them all, dump them
out the chutes and just take my time driving back to The City. Would be easy
enough to do. None would fault me at this point. Will still be able to fill it
up after I get back.
“Fine, will see how long I last, then will have to stop. This
changes the timeframe, heading back early.”
“Fine, fine. We are all ready to be done anyways. Been rough
enough already. Lost what a third the complement so far. Not the smooth run it
was supposed to be. Do what has to be done.”
He leaves my space, still thinking about the easy course. Will
just locate the shortest route. Takes an hour or so, will be past a few active volcanoes,
acid lakes, couple known stomping grounds. Likely will make it.
“Primary Gunner, check all weapon stocks. Likely will see
some action pretty soon. Changing course back to The City.”
Turn off the comms.
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