"Will we wind up infesting the crew aboard the Elcano with the same nanites that have infected the crew on the surface?"
Sayori glanced left as if listening to something, then shook her head. “Not enough atmospheric concentration. And in us, they can only replicate at self-sustaining levels inside bone marrow. Any we shed would die before they could affect anyone else.”
"Even if we did, it would be worth it to seal the gate." Severt muttered. "We can't afford these horrors attacking our civilians back home. As for the shuttle, its about mass, not volume. Too much mass and the engine has to burn too hot to make orbit, and you get spotted. However, Iona right? Why don't you pick the shuttle over and see what can be ditched here. If we can pack in an extra body it might make all the difference. You'll need to make about 100kg of weight saving to allow us to get one more fully strapped marine aboard and not have it affect the stealth systems."
“You look like something ate you and threw you up.” Miranda said, leaning against a cave wall and chuckling at her own joke, despite how morbid and true the joke was. She didn't trust this weapon the scientist was talking about building but it had been made clear no one cared about her opinion. So she didn't object anyone. “When do we leave?”
"Soon." Severt interjected, keeping an eye on Miranda. "We have about four hours before the Elcano will be back overhead. So lets call it three. Get moving people."
+++++
The camp was abuzz with activity, the caves echoing to booted feet and pre-combat drills. Despite their long marooning on the surface, the team being prepared to go back, 10 heavily armed marines, were being quick and professional, stripping weight and making sure every last item they were carrying was essential.
During the preparations, Severt drew Sayori aside.
"Regardless of your feelings on coming back for people, which are appreciated, there is no guarantee that killing that bastard super-capital will actually shut down the other berserker units. If you can't come back for us safely, I want you to take this."
The captain pressed a data chip into Sayoris hand.
"Its my final report. It has recommendations on military action to the Concert races to prepare for these Berserkers if they do get access to our galaxy. You and Nikos need to make sure they take it seriously if I don't make it back."
She paused, before handing over another small chip.
"This is more personal, for my husband and sons. I have a copy, but. . . just in case."
+++++
As Miranda wandered the camp, someone approached from her side. A pilot, by his jumpsuit, with dusky skin, black hair and piercing blue eyes, like chips of ice.
"Well well well, Miranda Clark." The mans southern drawl remained undamaged, even if his face had taken a shrapnel wound at some point that left him with a grizzly scar from the left side of his mouth up to his temple. "I'm glad to see someone with some sense has survived." He bowed slightly. "I don't think I introduced myself properly last time. Jack Orrik, the shuttle pilot crazy enough to get the command crew to the ground in one piece." He sneered around the last few words. "Not that I was up for running at the time. What's your story? How'd you end up babysitting some scientists?"
+++++
The young Dragonoid led Vezarres, Winters and Iona back down the mountain, using a set of tunnels that opened on a concealed entrance. Several mules followed him, unladen, ready to receive anything they stripped from the shuttle to improve its carrying capacity. Davrry and the Charabidian sentry who had challenged them at the cave mouth both rode on one and seemed to be chatting amiably about the local game, ignoring the others.
"I've learnt much in my time on this radioactive rock." The young warrior growled. "I feel like this mission has turned me from a fledgling to a warrior. I have killed dozens of the spawn, and had to relearn how to kill them each time. And this place has beasts that put the berserkers to shame."
As they reached the cave mouth, which itself was a small forward observation base and cache, carefully hidden by an artfully woven and welded collection of leaves and branches, they all heard something heavy and large move and breath outside. Sometimes the sound of its breathing was interspersed with a whine like an electric saw powering up.
"Like one of those." The young warrior growled quietly. "The humans call them a buzzsaur. Can you smell that battery tang? It is marking its territory."
Davrry had dismounted and joined the front of the group. "So, big guy, do we chase this thing off, or kill it?"
"Kill it." The young Dragonoid snorted. "When wounded they enter a battle rage. And they are fiercely territorial. The best way would be for me and the elder to distract it. Then, you and the sentinax kill it. You have to hit it in the side or an eye. Its front scales are a ceramic composite, heavy and tough."
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