The Salvage Crew by Yudhanjaya Wijeratne

Author:Yudhanjaya Wijeratne [Wijeratne, Yudhanjaya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aethon Books
Published: 2020-10-26T22:00:00+00:00

25

It starts with Milo. Just before dawn, I find him sneaking beyond my new perimeter, fully kitted out, gun nestled in the crook of one elbow. His suit seems to have acquired a thick coat of stiff animal hide sewn with discs of wood and spare metal. He clanks slightly as he moves. To say he looks utterly ridiculous is an understatement.

AND WHERE, I buzz him from a cleverly camouflaged spider, ARE YOU GOING?

He jumps several feet in the air, a feat I would have considered impossible given how much he’s wearing.

“Gods dammit, OC.”

ANSWER THE QUESTION, MILO.

“Fucking spyware machine,” he says. “I’m going to check out the trail.”

AND IF THERE ARE MERCERS OUT THERE?

“I’m going to shoot those fuckers.” His jaw is set.

I CAN ORDER YOU TO STAY.

Milo looks defensive and defiant at the same time. “I’m going to make this right, OC. I got to do this.”

Classic engineer approach paired with cheap moonshine. He’s created a problem. He’s going to go fix it.

Idiot.

I’M COMING WITH, I say, not just because I, too, need to know what’s out there, but also because I can’t let Milo’s ego get him killed in the brush.

He looks relieved. I briefly debate sending the one drone I have charged—which means I lose overwatch—or the spider. Spider it is. If we can get to the crash site, I can charge the thing (hopefully).

IF THIS SPIDER DIES, I say, YOU’RE HAULING IT BACK. I pointedly take point (hah), and Milo and I set off, clanking gently.

An hour later, Simon wakes up, coughing gently. Anna senses him leave the room, but says nothing. There is the gentle click of a light-gas rifle being readied.

“Where is he?”

RECONNAISSANCE, I say. Damned if I’m going to lose face like this. I NEED A PAIR OF EYES OUTSIDE THE PERIMETER.

Simon breathes heavily. I can see it in his face—he wants to go after Milo, but dark rings of exhaustion outline his eyes. Groaning slightly, he pulls up my perimeter map and hauls himself to a sitting position on the hab wall.

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