If heaven and hell decide that they both are satisfied

And illuminate the No's on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks

Then I'll follow you into the dark

Death Cab for Cutie - “I Will Follow You into the Dark”

“...I think we’ve found it.”

Nassat raised an eyebrow at the human Graybird. “Found what, exactly?”

“A way into the bunker,” he clarified. “I’ve been coordinating with the science team, and they think they’ve figured out a way in. I’ll admit, a lot of the math is over my head, but the think they can create a portal through the field by reflecting the energy back on itself.” He grimaced. “There’s a catch though.”

“There is always a catch,” Nassat sighed. “What is it?”

“That field is cranking out a lot of energy, and this portal they’re designing...it won’t be able to keep the door open for long. A few minutes, maybe. They’re cannibalizing parts from some of Phalange’s damaged Shield generators as we speak to make it work.”

The Saurotaur General regarded him thoughtfully. “Could we not transport a generator down here?” he asked. “Perhaps that would give us a larger window.”

Graybird shook his head. “Won’t work. Those generators are huge; they were built in space and never designed to be on a planet’s surface. They’d collapse under their own weight.”

“Of course it could not be that simple,” Nassat sighed once again. “How long until we are ready?”

“A few hours, they think,” the hacker turned entrepreneur informed him. “They claim it’s a straightforward application.”

“Then let us hope the machines allow us that time,” Nassat said quietly.

Far above the planet, Admiral Otxoa was thinking the same thing.

The machine fleet seemed to mull over their options, remaining just out of range. While the fleet itself hadn’t moved from its original position, detailed scans from within the fleet itself told a very different tale. The body of vessels seemed to churn and roil with some strange rhythm as if it were an alien heart beating.

They’re up to something, I know they are; she thought to herself, but the question was what? There was no way they’d allow them to destroy the bunker without trying to stop them, but how? What was their plan? What were they thinking?

And then, as if by some strange twist of fate they had heard her thoughts, the machines made their move.

For a moment she thought they were reusing the same tactics that had shattered Phalange; scattering in a thousand different directions to deny them a target. But as she watched them maneuver around her forces, she realized they had something else in mind. While much of their fleet was still dispersed in one’s and two’s, larger squadrons were taking position, surrounding her, still hanging just out of range.

She had the sudden image of a wolf pack, or a school of sharks, working in concert to take down their prey. Pack hunters didn’t smash their way through their quarry’s defenses, they harassed and weakened their victims...a bite here, a gash there...attacking from every direction. As long as they kept their prey contained, patience would do the rest.

Even a Kodiak grizzly will bleed out, given time.

Admiral Otxoa was already issuing frantic orders when the first attack came in, a slashing raid designed to harry her forces and throw them off balance. They swooped in on a parabolic arc and opened fire with those hellish energy beams of theirs, already pulling away and burning hard for safety as her forces responded. It had been a test, a probe, searching for weaknesses...and in its wake, another ship lay broken and bleeding.

“This is Otxoa to all ships...you are to condense the fleet and tighten up your intervals,” she ordered, even as another flight of ships broke off, diving in for another run. The fleet responded, opening fire on this new threat, but they too fired a handful of volleys before speeding away.

Machines didn’t need sleep; they could keep this up forever. And unless Nassat and the others were successful down on Gzuj...forever would come much sooner than anyone imagined.

Jiyazh gave the makeshift portal a dubious glance. “We are trusting our lives to that? I would sooner go into battle with a rusted blade.”

“No one is forcing you to do this,” Nassat reminded him. “You could take command of the perimeter instead.”

“And allow you to claim all the honor for yourself? Hah!” the Dhyaksh laughed, “I think not.” He secured his sidearm at his waist, then chambered a round in his heavy-gauged slug thrower, before flashing a grin at his Saurotaur companion...a grin that went unnoticed. Once again his attention was elsewhere, and it took no great effort to determine why.

“Either go to them or stand down,” the Khonhim said, as Nassat tore his eyes away. “You serve no one like this...least of all yourself.”

Taichist and Chechla stood with Tango and the rest of the team, laden with packs, as the crew made last-minute adjustments and checked their gear. Both carried a standard M-7 rifle, and as he watched, they swung around almost in unison and solemnly returned his gaze.

“...go to them,” Jiyazh urged.

Nassat took a deep breath and shook his head. “And say what?” he asked. “I have no words.”

“If you cannot tell your children you care for them...now, of all times...then you at least owe them their due as fellow warriors,” he snapped. “Tell them you will guard their backs...and stand at their side.”

Nassat blinked in surprise as the Dhyaksh’s rebuke slapped him across the face...and then nodded. The Khonhim’s smile was genuine as he watched the Saurotaur trot over to where his offspring stood waiting.

The twins snapped to attention as he approached, holding their rifles at Port Arms. They stood waiting, their anxiousness coming off them in waves...and not all of it for the enemy. Conflicting emotions warred within him, turning him about like a pennant in a storm...until he stepped forward and gathered them both in his arms, holding them tight.

The twins froze for a moment before returning their father’s embrace. The trio stood together in silence, letting their physical contact speak for itself.

“Well, it’s about damn time,” Tango snorted, interrupting the tableau. “I was wondering when you’d get off your high horse...no pun intended...and wish your kid's luck.”

Nassat looked up at the human and sighed. “Eloquent as always,” he said in a voice filled with emotion. His children looked back at him, each having difficulties of their own in finding their words, as he cupped their faces. “Be safe,” he whispered, “and be strong.”

“And you, Father,” Taichist replied, as his sister nodded in agreement.

“When this is over, we will have much to discuss,” the General said, “but for now…” He sighed and forced himself to focus. “Follow Tango and the others’ guidance...and harden yourselves for what is coming.”

“Yes Father,” Chechla whispered, as he squeezed both their hands.

“... two-minute warning!” Graybird shouted, “Portal is going live in two minutes!”

“Grab the ammo,” Tango ordered, as they started picking up boxes. “With no way to resupply until we drop that shield, we shove as much as we can through the portal until it fails.” She fixed the young Saurotaurs with a hard glare. “When that thing goes down...be somewhere else.”

“Yes Tango,” they said in unison, before returning their attention to their parent.

“I will see you on the other side,” he said with a melancholy smile, giving them both one last hug before trotting back off, returning to Jiyazh’s side as they loaded up with weapons and ammunition themselves. The Dhyaksh gave him a wry look but said nothing else as they prepared for the breach.

Graybird conferred with the scientists preparing to activate the entryway and then lifted his head. “Ten seconds! Get ready!”

All those standing nearby tensed, like horses at the starting gate. They had laded every single individual down with gear, with more stacked close by. Other soldiers, those not part of the breaching team, stood ready to pass through as much as they could before the energy barrier reformed itself.

“...five...four...three...two...one…Go!” he shouted, as the portal came to life, thrumming with power. A gap in the barrier several meters wide appeared, and once it did those assigned to the teams charged forward. In less than twenty seconds they had cleared the energy field, dropping the extra equipment as they passed the stacked supplies through the rupture. They were tossed by those on the outside and caught by those within, as no one wanted to beneath the makeshift device when it failed.

“Faster, damn you!” Jiyazh shouted, snarling at those still passing across their supplies. Those on the receiving end immediately tossed them aside...speed, not neatness, was the watchword here. They worked frantically until a high-pitched whine assaulted their ears.

“It’s going critical!” Graybird howled, “stand clear!”

A handful of crates made it through before the portal exploded in a burst of sparks, sending the barrier crashing back down. One last box of ammunition was caught by the failing portal, and what landed at their feet was sliced clean through as neatly as a scalpel’s work.

On the other side of the barrier, they were working to put out the fires started by the arcing equipment as the Nassat gazed at those nearby.

“Security teams out,” he ordered, “and I want a quick inventory of what we have before we deploy.”

A chorus of “Aye Sir’s” echoed around him, as the Khonhim Dhyaksh clapped him on the back. “Come, old friend,” he said with glee, “immortality awaits!”