Part 3: Tragedy       Sargent Coleman and Sterling came in for a perfect landing in hanger seven of the exocarrier Resolute II. Coleman flew a standard field Sargent E-fame that was painted blue. Sterling flew a modified field Sargent e-frame. He had made all the adjustments himself. The basic look of it was still very much like Coleman's but with a few minor differences. First off, it was colored black and gray. The gun arm (left arm) was unaltered. However, the right arm was. Sterling had removed and refitted the frame's striking blade to come out of the tips of the fist's fingers. This increased the range of the weapon and freed up space on the arm's wrist. It was here that Sterling installed a wrist cannon. Though not as powerful as the left arm's weaponry it could still do serious damage if used properly. Sterling also took the opportunity to install two missile pods. When not in use, they remained on the frame's back, between the wings. When in use, they peeked out over the frame's shoulders. After landing, they got out of their frames. "You fly like that during the patrol Sterling and we'll have no problems." commented Coleman. "Yes Sargent!" answered Sterling. Coleman looked around him and noted the new e-frames, "I'll round up the rest of our patrol. Stay here and make sure all of these frames are ready to go." "Yes Sargent!" was again the response. Fighter, pilot, and mechanic, he never ceases to amaze me. thought Coleman as he left the hanger.       There were exactly 20 E-frames in the hanger, Sterling was on number 15 when three officers entered the hanger. "Hey what are you doing to my E-frame?" one of them demanded. Sterling hopped down from the purple rapid assault e-frame he was on and answered, "I was ordered to make sure these frames are ready to go out on patrol." "Oh, I'm Lt. Susan Worthington." she motioned over her shoulders, "That's Lt. Erikson and Lt. Remes." He shook hands with all three. Worthington was blond haired and blue eyed. She stood about 5 foot 10, and wore a black jumpsuit with a red jacket. She also wore a red boots and a tan side arm belt. She kept her shoulder length hair in a pony tail. Erikson was about 5' 11". He had red hair and sported a buzzcut. His eyes were brown and he wore a green and brown flight suit. He also carried a side arm. Remes was a short man, standing at only five feet tall. He had black hair and hoop earrings in each pierced ear. His hair was also shoulder length and he kept it in a pony tail. He wore a tan and yellow flight suit and a side arm on each hip. His head piece had a blue eyeshield that he always wore. "I'm Sterling, you will be happy to know that your frame is in perfect condition." "Thanks, sorry about snapping at you there, didn't mean too." Sue said. "How'd mine check out?" asked Erikson. "Which one is it?" asked Sterling. "Mine is the green exofighter on the end." he replied. "The one with the 'sticky' aft/port thruster, I fixed that." said Sterling flatly. "So that's why she was sluggish." Erikson slapped him on the shoulder. "Thanks buddy, I've been trying to figure that out for days." "Your welcome Lt. Erikson." was the response. "Heck with rank, call me Mack." he answered jovially. Sterling felt a tap on his back, he turned to see Remes. "You can call me Stan, I fly the converted Neo frame over there." Remes motioned to a gray high speed stealth attack e-frame. It had been modified a little, arm guards were added to it so the pilot's arms wouldn't be in direct contact with whatever the frame's environment was. "Very well, if you'll excuse me I have five more frames to inspect." Sterling walked over to the remaining five and the three officers talked among themselves until Coleman returned with the remaining officers. By that time, Sterling had finished with the remaining frames. * * *       '(Deploy armor.)' Section 25 readied itself for its last mission. Beside Shanita stood Jerico, clad in his new black battle armor. She turned to him, '(Are they ready, Second?)' '(As ready as they can be, Section Commander.)' answered Jerico. Shanita looked at her section, they're armor was deployed and their wings extended. This is it. thought Shanita. '(Move out!)' * * *       "Move it Poedowski!" David picked up his pace and got into the shuttle. "Sorry Wright, got a little hung up back there." was all he could say. "Its alright." she told him and called forward to O'Reilly, "We're all in, ma'am." O'Reilly turned to the call box in the cargo hold and pressed a button, "Charlie Five is accounted for, we're ready to go home, take off." The bay door sealed and the engines rumbled to life. In a moment Charlie Five left the asteroid belt behind, heading for the Resolute II. What a waste of time, thought O'Reilly, We spent 24 hours climbing all over these rocks and came up with nothing. Oh well, at least I'll get time to spend with J.T. when we get back. * * *       The asteroid field patrol, at least so far, was pretty boring for Sterling. St. Coleman was chattering away on the radio to the squad. He was pointing out what people should watch for when on patrol. That's when Sterling noticed something. A glint of metal in the asteroid field. That's also when years of battle experience took over. Sterling halted is advance and focused his sensors in the direction he had seen the reflection of light. Coleman noticed Sterling stop and clicked open his com, "Sterling, what are you doing?" "I thought I saw something, sensor scans indicate multiple energy signatures on an asteroid not far from our current position." answered Sterling. "Sargent, I'm picking it up too." responded Remes. Coleman though for a moment then clicked his com, "All craft change course to the coordinates indicated by Sterling, we'll check it out."       Shanita and her section waited patiently for the squad to pass. They had landed on one of the larger asteroids in the hopes of evading their sensor scans. Jerico clicked on his com-line, '(Should we attack, Section Commander?)' '(Negative, second, I would prefer to go after the shuttle we detected. We'll wait until they pass, then go after it.)' she answered. '(I am afraid we no longer have that option, look!)' As Jerico spoke one of the enemy craft stopped and turned toward them, a moment later the entire squad was coming at them. '(It looks like you are right. No matter, we will do both. Second, take half our number and destroy the shuttle. I will take the other half into battle with this group.)' Shanita ordered. '(As you command Section Commander, may you die well.)' answered Jerico. '(I hope that you do also, farewell Jerico.)' With that they split up, Shanita lead the charge against the approaching terran forces and Jerico lead his in search for the shuttle.       Sterling watched the asteroid as a number of Eltorian Guardsman sprang from it. Coleman's voice broke over the com-line, "Evasive action, return fire all un-". He never had time to finish his sentence as red bursts of plasma tore his e-frame apart. With the Sargent gone, no one was sure who should be in charge. A number of voices broke over the com-line each issuing a different order and each telling the other to listen to them. Sterling ignored them all and plunged into battle as others were becoming space debris.       Shanita screamed over her com-line, '(Attack!!)' She opened fire on the lead terran ship and destroyed it. She then rolled left and took out two more. The rest of the section followed suit. In mere moments, it was apparent the terran's were going to lose.       Sterling snapped his e-frame around as globs of green and red energy shot past. He righted himself and swung wide in a loop that brought him behind Worthington. She had two bandits on her tail and Sterling had one on his. Erikson broke over the line, "You got one on your six Sterling, don't worry I'm on him." "Don't bother" was the reply. Erikson watched as Sterling's frame launched two missiles and fired a quick burst from its leg thrusters. The result was Sterling's frame did a somersault that flipped the frame around putting the enemy on his tail in his sights for a fraction of a second. It was all he needed. A moment later the two elt-frames in front of him and the one behind exploded. "Nice move!" commented Worthington. "Thank you." Sterling observed the battle with dismay. His group had the numbers to win, they just lacked the right leadership. He couldn't take it anymore. "Delta Squad, this is Sterling, as of this moment I assume command of this squad. Delta four, pull hard right and slip in behind delta five, he has three bogies on him. Deltas 8, 9, 11, and 15 take the group to the left. Deltas 6, 7, 2, and 1 take the group to the right. Worthington, Remes, Erikson, you're with me. We go up the middle. Move it people!" Maybe it was something in his voice, that just demanded that they listen. Or maybe it was just that the orders made sense, whatever the reason, everyone snapped to attention and followed the orders he gave.       Shanita watched as the terran's seemed to get organized. They regrouped and started with a new strategy. In a matter of moments five of her number fell. It was almost as if their new leader knew their tactics. She opened her com-line, '(Redeploy to counter their attack!)' She took five wingmen and rolled to her right. A flight group of terran's approached. '(Break and attack)' she ordered. Her group broke from their tight 'V' formation and spread out. They locked on to their respective targets and fired. The entire terran group was no more. "Sir! Delta's 2, 6 and 7 have been destroyed!" reported Remes. Sterling took note of the black elt-frame, It must be Shanita. "Remes contact the fleet and tell them our situation. Worthington, your in command until I get back." he ordered. "Sir, where are you going?" she asked. "To deal with our friends to the right...alone." Sterling said as he shot off in said direction. Sue opened her mouth to protest, but thought better of it, He knows what he is doing. "Erikson, Remes, close it up and lets kick some alien butt!"       Shanita saw the black alien frame coming toward her group. How odd that they also use black to designate command. she thought. '(Take him out!)' she commanded. The two Elt-frames to her right rolled out and went after him. Shanita continued toward another part of the battle. A moment later, two of her remaining wingmen exploded. The last turned to look behind him, '(Its that terran from before! I'll take care of hi--argh!)' The blasts caught him dead center...of his head. Though he didn't explode he was definitely dead. Shanita, enraged by the slaughter of her men, turned to go head to head with the terran frame. Here she comes thought Sterling, Predicable as ever. He lined his frame up with her and charged. She fired a few bursts of plasma at him. He avoided easily. I only have one shot at this. If I miss, she dies...or I do. He readied himself as she drew close, 15 meters, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3. Suddenly Sterling snapped his frame slightly left so he passed over Shanita on her back side. As he did so he reached with his fist arm and took hold of her leg. Sterling hit his braking thrusters and Shanita jerked at the end of his fist, twisting violently before cutting her engines. Her engines off, Shanita prepared herself for death as she brought her arms to bear on the terran cockpit. '(Die terran scum!)' she screamed. It was then she felt the blast hit her, and then there was nothing but silence.       Sterling examined the black elt-frame he held. He had fired a shot from his weapons arm that had grazed her head. He checked his sensors, she was still alive, unconscious, but alive. The suit will repair whatever damage I've done and she wake up with nothing more than a headache thought Sterling. He used his nav computer to calculate a safe trajectory and gently pushed her frame towards it. With Shanita out of the way, Sterling would hold nothing back. He returned to the battle with renewed vigor. * * *       "We're under attack! Keep your exo-armor on!" screamed O'Reilly. And not a moment to soon, as the hull was breached and the bay began to decompress. A few troopers that had not listened to O'Reilly were sucked out into space. Wright, Poedowski, Mathison, Pellegrino, and Longfeather took positions in front of the hole and began firing at enemy frames that passed by. One took note of them and dove for the opening. "He's overrunning our position!" yelled Pellegrino. "No he's not!" Wright drew her rocker launcher and fired. Their would-be invader became a fireball. Ellen slung the launcher over her shoulder to reload. "Nice shot Wright" commented Longfeather. "I only wish I had more missiles." said Wright as she noted the dozen or so number of enemy frames. "Keep firing!" ordered O'Reilly She patched into the ship's communication system, "O'Reilly to Pilot, you need to land us now! This ship isn't going to hold together for much longer!"       '(They're trying to land sir. Should we break off?)' Jerico looked at the damaged ship. '(Negative, I want you to plant a bomb near the left rear engine. Then I want everyone to grab onto the hull. We're going to ride the ship under their defenses!)' His troops complied and landed on the ships hull, they clung to it as Jerico gave the order, '(Detonate the bomb!)'       The explosion rocked the ship. Charlie Five was thrown about the cargo bay. "Hold on we're going in!" screamed O'Reilly. From the flight deck of hanger five, Nara Burns watched the shuttle get rocked by the explosion through a viewport. It delisted out of control and headed straight for Able Squad's hanger. She spun and screamed, "Everyone out of here! Now!" she ran for the nearest exit and stopped to make sure the rest of the squad had made it before exiting herself. She sealed the door behind her. Torres asked, "What's up, Nara?" "Charlie Five's shuttle is under attack. They've been hit and are coming straight at -" she never got a chance to complete her sentence as the shuttle ripped through the hanger doors and smashed into the hanger floor. The wreckage spilt down the middle as it slid to the back of the hanger. One half took out their e-frames and smashed into the far wall. The other end pretty much stayed where it was at the hanger bay doors. Fire and smoke filled the hanger. The emergency halon system kicked in, as well as an emergency force field, which would contain an atmosphere. J.T. and Kaz both had a look of horror on their faces. J.T. regained his senses. "Weston, get this door open! I'll check the smaller piece by the wall, Nara take the rest of the squad and check for survivors in the larger piece." Weston popped the door, "We're in." "Move it people!" said J.T. J.T. ran for the smaller piece like his life depended on it. He arrived to find the cockpit crushed and pieces of smaller debris everywhere, some from the ship, some from their e-frames. He heard a voice call his name, "J.T.!" He spun to see Colleen coming out of the wreckage, she took off her helmet. He rushed toward her. "Thank God" he said as he hugged her, "Are you alright? How many survivors?" "Most of the squad made it and they're with me." She motioned over her shoulder as Longfeather lead the remaining members of Charlie five to a nearby door. "Point group is missing though." she added. "They must be in the other half" said J.T. He turned to look at it and saw a number of forms standing on the wreckage. Nara and the others hadn't noticed. J.T. drew his weapons and fired screaming, "Look out!"       Thrax's head snapped up and a second later he opened fire and nailed an alien, who fell backward onto the ship's hull. "Aggressors on the hull!" he yelled. "Take cover!" ordered Burns. Able squad got behind a number of storage crates. They had been ripped apart during the crash, but served as good enough cover. The Aliens opened fire on Able Squad, the remaining troops under O'Reilly began to open fire on the aliens. In the cross fire, people on both sides fell. * * *       Inside the wreckage, Ellen Wright came back to consciousness. Poedowski and Mathison lay slumped on the floor, but looked OK. Pellegino was already waking up. Suddenly Ellen felt a sharp pain and looked down to notice a large piece of jagged metal sticking out of her stomach. It pinned her to the wall. It was hard to breath and the pain was getting worse. She fought through it. She unfastened her helmet and tried to pull out the metal. It wouldn't budge. Pellegrino barked, "Poedowski, Mathison, on your feet! Wright has been hurt." Both came back to consciousness slow and hard. While he waited for them to get their act together, Pellegrino looked her over. "My God" he whispered. "I know its bad," coughed Wright, "Get them out of here before the ship goes up! You're in command now, Pellegrino." Mathison and Poedowski listened to the exchange. "We can't leave her" protested Mathison. "That's an order Mathison!" Ellen coughed up some blood. Pellegrino looked at her, "But your not in command anymore, and I say we take care of our own!" He turned to Poedowski, "Find me something we can use as a bandage! Mathison hold her while I pull this out." Mathison put down his weapons and pressed Ellen's shoulders to the wall, "Don't look at the wound, look at me." Poedowski returned with some bandages he found in a first aid kit. "Ok here's how it goes. On three, I'll pull it out, Poedowski stanches the blood flow and Mathison holds her down." said Pellegrino In the background gunfire could be heard. "Sounds like there's trouble in the hanger" commented Ellen. "We'll deal with that when we get to it. One, two, threeeee!" Pellegrino pulled hard and the metal came free. Mathison pushed hard to keep her in place. Ellen tried not to scream but did anyway. Poedowski bandaged the wound as best he could. Mathison worked to remove her armor while Pellegrino and Poedowski worked to stabilize her. "Poedowski, You carry her out of here. Mathison and I will lead the way." Powdowski left his weapons and cradled Ellen in his arms. She whimpered softly against his shoulder, slipping in and out of consciousness. "She's in a bad way, Pellegrino. Pulling that metal out did a number on her." he said. "Don't worry we'll get her to medical A.S.A.P. Let's move!" * * *       "This stinks!" yelled Kaz. The aliens were on top of the wreak shooting down at them. Therefore they couldn't get into it. They could retreat, but that would leave whoever was in there to die when the shuttle's power core went up. Sensing his conflict, Bronski gave Kaz a nudge with his shoulder. "Don't worry kid, she's a fighter. She'll pull through." Kaz nodded in approval and continued to fire on the enemy. Just then he saw a small group emerge from a hole in the shuttle, "There!" he screamed. Burns took notice, "Give'em some covering fire." Two jumptroopers scrambled out of the wreak and opened fire. They were covering their friend who was carrying Ellen. "Ellen!" Kaz screamed. Not exercising his better judgment, he ran out into the line of fire trying to get her. Bronski tried to stop him but Kaz was too quick. "Dammit kid! Are you crazy?!" he shouted. "Cover him!" Nara ordered. The aliens realized their opening and fired on Kaz. Kaz rolled to get out of the way but a shot grazed his left arm. He went down. Mathison, seeing what had happened, went after him. "Keep going guys! I'll get him." he said as he hit the jets and rocketed in an arc past the alien position. He then fired a volley from his grenade launcher onto the wreckage. The resulting explosions made the aliens forget all about Kaz and point group as they went for whatever cover they could find. Kaz used the opportunity to get back to Able Squad's position. Pellegrino and Poedowski made it to J.T.'s position. Mathison, in the meantime, completed his arc and landed safely with Able Squad. Kaz took the opportunity to thank him, "I owe you one." "Think nothing of it," Mathison replied, "If I let you die my boss would've killed me." "Is there anyone else in there?" asked Nara. "Negative Lieutenant. That being the case I'd like to leave." replied Mathison. Nara nodded in approval. "Torres! Pull the squad back to the inner hanger doors!" she said. "What about you?" asked Torres. "I'll bring up the rear." she stated. "With all do respect ma'am, I'm better suited for that." protested Mathison. "Wrong," corrected Nara, "I need you by the inner door poised to blow its motor once its sealed. Give me 5 minutes, after that blow the door. Got it?" Mathison nodded. Torres took over, "Alright people, you heard the Lieutenant, pull back!"       As Able Squad began to withdraw, O'Reilly gave the same command for Charlie Five. They sealed and blew the motors to both the inner and outer hanger access doors. Safely out of the hanger, Poedowski approached O'Reilly and Marsh, "Permission to take Wright to medical!" "Go!" was the immediate response.       Jerico noticed the squads were pulling back. He knew why. '(The wreckage is going to explode! Get to the doors!)' He noted that there were only 4 of his men left. They jumped down from the wreckage and ran for the nearest door which happened to be guarded by Nara Burns. Nara saw them coming and set up position in the doorway. She fired repeatedly at them with her sidearm but they kept coming. She seemed to be fiddling with something in the doorway. Jerico saw her ready to toss something at them and yelled '(Scatter!)'.       They're coming this way. I might as well be spitting at them for all the good this pistol is doing. Time for plan B then, Nara noted. She pulled out a fusion pack she found among the cargo crates and set it to overload. "Eat this!" she yelled as she threw it. She targeted it with her pistol while it was still in the air and fired. The shot connected and the fusion pack exploded. The aliens tried to get out of the way but all of them were caught in the blast. Well, that is that. thought Nara. She turned her back on the doorway and worked the controls to seal it. A moment later she felt the impact of a fist that batted her backward onto the hallway floor. She stood to see a black alien mecha before her. He seemed to ignore her as he hit the final button to seal the door. Nara noted that he had been damaged. His weapons were gone, as was his back pack, though the boots were intact. She drew her weapon and fired off several shots. Jerico shrugged it off like it was nothing. Two blades extended from the back of his right hand and he moved in on her. Nara tried to dodge but he was too fast. She felt the blades puncture her abdomen. Her blood dribbled down his arm and onto the floor. Nara dropped her weapon. She found it hard to breath and her wound seemed to burn. Punctured stomach and diaphragm. thought Nara. Jerico pulled the blades out and Nara slumped to the floor. Her strength left her, the pain was too much. She closed her eyes and the blackness took her.       Jerico looked down at the dead female. '(You died with honor this day. I hope a similar fate awaits me.)' He continued down the hall, ready to die himself or kill her friends. Mathison stood poised at the second door. He heard the shots from Nara's gun. He moved forward to investigate. "Where are you going, Mathison?" asked Torres. "I need to check on this, I'll be back." he answered. "You were ordered to stay here!" insisted Torres. "Burns is not my commanding officer, you guys wait here." he ran down the hall and rounded the corner to see Jerico, his right arm caked in blood. Behind him on the floor, laying in a pool of her own blood, was Nara Burns. Jared reacted instinctively, he fired off a few shots with his repeater and went into full retreat. As he arrived at the second door he yelled, "Seal the door!" It slammed shut behind him. "Everyone back!" he screamed as he raised his grenade launcher, preparing to blow the motor. "Wait!" yelled Torres "What about Nara?!" "She's dead!" yelled Jared and he pulled the trigger. The engine blew and then there was silence. Torres stood in shock, shaking her head. "No, no, it can't be." she whispered. The rest of the squad was silent. Jared grabbed Torres by the forearm, "I'm sorry, but I saw the body. There's no question about it." Suddenly the shipped rocked, the shuttle's engine core had detonated. A moment later the door began to dent inward, as if someone was trying to punch through it. "The outer doors must have held" said Weston, "that thing is trying to get through!" Torres snapped out of her shock, there would be time to mourn later. "Fall back!" she said "To where?" asked Bronski "The only thing back here is an airlock." "Then lets go for a walk" suggested Takagi who opened the inner door of the airlock and held up a pair of gravity boots and a helmet. "You heard the man, suit up!" ordered Torres. "I'll hold this guy here till your ready" said Mathison. Torres nodded and headed for the airlock with the rest of the squad. It took only a few minutes for them to throw on the boots and helmets, though for Jared it seemed to take forever as he watched the door begin to buckle. Kaz took a moment to seal the tear in his suit with some engine tape that he had found. "We're ready Mathison, let's go!" ordered Torres. "Don't have to tell me twice!" he ran to the airlock, which sealed behind him. As the outer door of the airlock opened, the door Jared had been watching gave way.       Able Squad quickly made their way out of the airlock and walked along the surface of the ship. Their magnetic boots held them in place. Alec pointed to an airlock not far from them. "There's our way back in" he said. Alec lead the way followed by Maggie. Next came Bronski, Kaz and Thrax closely followed by Torres. Mathison brought up the rear. He noted their pursuer coming out of the airlock. "We got company people" he said as he turned and fired on him. Jerico managed to dodge his shots. He let go of the hull and activated his boot jets. He rocketed forward and collided with Mathison. They rolled on the deck plates together and Jerico managed to grab Jared's grenade launcher. Jerico planted his feet and using his superior strength, hefted Jared over his head. He threw him against the hull. Jared hit hard, head first. He caught a kick in the stomach that sent him flying into space. "Mathison!" screamed Torres. But it was too late. Mathison was already gone from sight. Jerico pointed his newly acquired weapon at Torres and fired. Torres hugged the hull and the shot went over her head and landed behind Weston. The ensuing explosion lifted her off the hull, ripped her suit, and cracked her helmet. She didn't even have time to scream, so Alec did it for her. "Maggie!!!" He made dive for her and grabbed her ankle. He quickly hauled her in. She was convulsing violently. Alec looked at her face, her eyes were rolled back into her head. "She's in shock, her O2 mixture is screwed up, and she's running out of air! We have to get her inside!" he screamed. Torres never heard Alec so worried in her life. She took careful aim at Jerico and fired. She successfully shot the grenade launcher out of his hand. "Everyone! Shoot his feet!" The squad fired at his feet and though they didn't hit his boots the hull gave way from under him and he floated out into space. "Everyone inside now!" Torres ordered.       The inner door of the airlock opened and Alec carried Maggie inside. He ripped her helmet off and checked her breathing. "How is she?" asked Torres. "She's breathing, but she won't wake up!" he said, the worry was obvious in his voice. All other concerns were put aside the moment the inner door opened again. Their alien friend had come back for more. "This guy just doesn't know when to quit!" commented Kaz. "Take'em out!" screamed Torres. They opened fire but the shots were not penetrating his armor. Alec picked up Maggie and moved her out of the line of fire. Kaz and Bronski rushed him. Jerico swatted Kaz away with a simple back hand. He flew into a wall and didn't get up. Bronski landed a blow, but Jerico didn't even feel it. He delivered a sharp kick to Bronski's left knee. An audible pop was heard as it hyperextended. Bronski howled in pain and fell to the floor. Jerico was about to finish the job when Thrax intervened. He delivered a clothes-line to the stomach that knocked Jerico back. Bronski used the opportunity to crawl to safety. Thrax pressed his advantage and Torres backed him up. He hit Jerico full force with a shot to the head. Torres took a swipe at him with her bayonet, slicing his leg. Jerico was clearly annoyed by this as he grabbed Thrax by the throat and threw him into Alec, who was coming to help. They landed in a tangled mess on the far side of the room. Torres continued her attack, thinking only of her fallen friend. "Die you bastard!!!!" she said as she swiped at him. Jerico dodged it easily and delivered a shot to her jaw. Torres fell backward onto the floor, blood streaming from her mouth. The inner airlock door opened behind them. Jerico extended his blades and made ready to deliver the killing blow. As he brought his arm down the sound of a repeater was heard. Jerico's body was riddled with lazer fire. He turned to try to get at his attacker but caught a round in his left eye. Blue Eltorian blood flowed from the wound and Jerico slumped forward towards the airlock, dead. Behind him, looking scratched up but no worse for wear, stood Jared Mathison. His gun still smoking from the rounds he had fired. On to Part 4