Chapter 45 Grizz
GRIZZ
My fingers are surprisingly steady as I arm the line. “Det charge set,” I mutter. “Primary access road is compromised.”
Atlas doesn’t question it. “Execute.”
I trigger the blast.
Rock and snow collapse exactly where I want them, with no wasted force. The primary access route disappears in a roar, funneling the attackers into the kill corridor we mapped long ago.
But they adapt fast. Too fast.
“Multiple targets approaching north tree line,” Viper calls. “Heavy kit.”
“Copy. Adjusting.”
Lungs burning, I duck and sprint, hands busy with another charge. I angle it toward the line of advance, then roll clear.
The blast lifts the ground beneath them and drops it behind them.
A round cuts through my shoulder before I can reposition. The wound screams, hot and blinding, but I ignore it.
She’s inside, I tell myself. And they’re not taking her.
I set off another device. The charge goes where I want it, but something goes wrong at the edge of it. There’s rock where there shouldn’t have been rock, and pain tears through my side like I’ve been split open.
I stagger, catching myself on a tree, the breath knocked out of me. When I test my ribs, my hand comes away bloody.
“Grizz,” Atlas barks over comms. “Status.”
I force air back into my lungs and grit my teeth.
Before I can answer, movement flashes at my far right. It’s too close and too fast. One of them broke through the funnel.
I pivot, pain lancing through my shoulder, and level my weapon. He’s raising his when I fire.
One clean shot takes him down hard.
I stay rooted a half second longer, scanning all around me, making sure he’s the only one.
“Threat neutralized,” I tell Atlas as blood soaks my sleeve. “Line still holds.”
And it will. As long as I’m still breathing.