**Recap:** In the last installment, Quim Dert, Lags The Eye and a Raw loaded up into a transport ship and headed for the mountain range where they knew Herzart of the Dead Lake Brood was mobilizing his Trisken soldiers.

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmPfS2g7hLCUP6hxrG4K6XnKorhD3s9a5h4Ans5NrteApy/wib44fg96zupfxzqpacq_1_h863g.jpg)
[Source](https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/wib44fG96ZUPFXZqpAcq)



The landing zones were obvious, there seemed to be multiple pads. Quim, Lags, and the Raw sat quietly prepping themselves for what was to come. *How could one prepare for their potential end?* Quim wondered to himself. In a way, it's nice knowing that there may be no way of any of them leaving this world alive. He swallowed that bitter pill once before. Cheating death is a good way to make the real thing less frightening. *I got my second chance.* 

"Are you scared?" Lags asked the Raw seated behind Quim. He wore a grin, even though he must have felt the same way Quim did. No one could be happy about the end, all the bravado in the world wouldn't be able to mask it. "Kind of. Not really, actually. I don't know." The Raw replied in a back-and-forth tone, he spoke quickly; Quick enough to disguise the quiver in his voice. "I am. I would rather not have to die here and now, but, if that's what happens, that's what happens." Lags replied and to that Quim and the Raw stayed silent. "What's your name?" Lags asked after a short pause. "Granera. Fretis Granera" Lags nodded to that. "Nice to finally meet you. You're a good man for accompanying us, you could have easily gone with the others and no one would have stopped you."

Quim looked out over a large complex. In a walled-off portion of the city, within the network of buildings, he could see much movement. Not just the ships flying back and forth, some landing, some taking off. He also saw much movement on the ground, personnel, soldiers, and like bugs, they walked in columns, and some individuals, there were even small groups who walked in tight pockets. All going about their own business. More noticeable were the bands of soldiers escorting the AA beasts. He saw many of those that looked normal-sized from the distance. There was a large opening into the mountain, it looked to be a tunnel. Large enough for ships and AA beasts alike to enter and exit. With roughly enough space for three of the beasts to walk abreast. "That's our target," Quim said. "Yeah. How are we going to do this? That's a lot of people to get through." Lags said.

"We could fly in, and follow some of the other ships," Quim replied. "Could do. Getting caught in that tunnel though. We'd be an easy target." The radio of the transporter started to jitter and a Trisken voice came through the static. "Another supply run. Just in time. Take it down on the East pad, a loading team will be with you momentarily." Quim saw the pad in question flare up on the ship's navigation chart. He nodded and looked around at the others. "There's our answer," Quim said in a deflated tone. "Get the weapons ready. We've tried everything and nothing has worked yet. Let's try guns blazing and we'll see how far that gets us." He continued. To that Lags started to refit his rifle. "I'm going to put on some iron sights. No need for a scope at close range." 

Fretis started to moan and groan until he finally turned and aimed his mouth behind his seat. The only noises Quim could hear were the chunks flying out of his mouth and the heaves that followed each flow. The stink hit him hard, but, he was able to bare it. Lags started to laugh and even gave the Raw a few pats on the back for assurance. "I was there once kid, get it all out." 

The ship made it to the pad, it was clear, apart from two other transporters with their doors open. But, there was no personnel on the pad, no one was expecting a few humans and the immediate area didn't seem to be overly defended. After the ship came to a solid stand still Quim turned to the others. "Let's take up a position outside. We'll take them by surprise." The others nodded and he turned the engines of the ship off and opened the main door. They stepped outside into a dull afternoon. From this high up, the air wasn't as noxious and stale as it was on the ground, the place still stank of Trisk though. Quim, Lags, and Fretis rushed out of the ship and took up a position behind some barrels, not far from the staircase leading up to the pad. There, they waited. They knew that when Triskens came up to unload the ship, the three of them would have a clear advantage and be able to shoot them down from behind.

While they were waiting for their moment, an alarm started to blare in the base and people seemed to make a lot of noise. Unable to see the chaos, Quim could only go by the sounds of panic coming from below. Heavy machinery and the noise of one of those AA beasts. The thing was clearly upset from the alarms. "What's going on?" Quim asked the others, as he started to look around for cameras that may have stopped them. But, none could be seen; The pad was empty, bar a few unmanned transporters. Quim looked at Lags who could only shrug and behind Lags, Fretis stared at the sky, raising a finger and clearing his throat. "Think that's anything to do with it?" He asked.

Quim and Lags both looked up, to see a huge fireball in the sky. Noticeable against the blue. It was hard to see the fleet from this distance, there was no doubt in Quims mind however that the explosion was Triple's doing. "He did it." Lags responded quietly. "He must have," Quim replied. He wanted so desperately to cheer, even though he knew it could get them spotted. "I think we'll be able to use this distraction." Lags said, looking back down to Quim and Fretis. 

There were no words for him, all Quim could do was watch the fireball shimmer in the day's sky. It disappeared, only to be replaced by smaller fireballs, raining down meteors of debris. "Give it a few minutes and this whole city will be bombarded by bits of the flagship. Let's get back in the transporter, I'd rather not be in the open when this they land." Lags stood up. "Good idea. We can listen out for word on the radio. They might call for an evacuation."

*Yeah and hopefully they can direct us to Herzart.*