Chapter 60 | Thumps

The Inceptor's hangar bay buzzed with motion and noise. Obsidians rushed between crates, checking gear, weapons, and shouting to one another over the chaos. Voras clustered in tight circles, going over last minute plans while techs weaved between them.

Near the lift, ten Breacher Pods were lined up in two rows—dark gray, rectangular rods twenty feet long, built like heavy bolts with pointed tips. Faint blue mana circuits ran along their surfaces, pulsing in steady, rhythmic beats.

Technicians moved quickly, testing systems and double-checking seals. A few pods hissed open at the nose, their tips splitting into four triangular panels like mechanical claws before locking shut again. Rear hatches thumped open and closed, and side doors were manually triggered to cycle through pressure checks. Sparks flew as a tech cursed and smacked a latch back into place.

These weren't drop shuttles. They were rounds, each pod a compact single-use vessel meant to be fired from the ship's specialized turret and slammed into hulls.

"OWEN!" Leon called out, scanning the hangar for his shield bearer.

"Here!" Owen waved him down to where the rest of Vora One was gathered, checking each other's armor and gear.

Leon jogged over. "Have you guys seen Mason? Where the hell did he go?"

"I heard the fatty whining about not getting enough rations," Ruby said as she stepped up to Leon and started inspecting his armor.

Leon shook his head and slipped on his helmet, running through his final system checks.

"Again?" he muttered. Mason was probably sprinting toward the ration crate for another pouch. He never actually ate the extras during missions, but he always packed more than necessary… just in case.

When Leon turned to face Ruby, she smacked both of his shoulders and gave him a quick thumbs up.

"Thanks."

"Exiting warp in thirty minutes," came Henry's voice over the speakers, tighter and more strained than usual.

The mission timetable had been cut short without warning. Originally, they were supposed to rendezvous with the rest of the fleet just outside the Keldris system with a two day, spend half a day prepping, then begin the assault.

That window was gone. Now they had to warp straight into combat space. Command had pushed the timeline forward, giving them only a day to arrive. The Inceptor's crew was forced to recalculate the drop and push the ship to its limits, arriving just as the attack began.

The only explanation given: a possible leak.

He spotted Mason jogging back toward his own Vora. Turning to Vora One, Leon gave the order.

"Get to the pod," he said before breaking off toward Mason.

"Mason!" He fell in beside him as the others moved toward the pods. "You got the plan memorized?"

"Yeah, I got it," Mason grumbled without looking at him.

Leon grabbed his shoulder, stopping him.

"You didn't get the extra ration, did you?" He already knew the answer.

Mason's shoulders sank. "Yeah. I couldn't find another crate in time. They were all empty."

Leon pulled out his reserve pouch, shoving half of it into Mason's chest.

"Here. I'll make the sacrifice. I can't let my friend suffer like this," he said, glancing away like he was doing something noble.

"You sure?"

"Ye—"

The first syllable was all Mason needed. He snatched the rations and tucked them away.

"Hah! Leon, did I ever tell you you're the best?"

The big guy was back to normal.

Leon grabbed his neck plating and gave it a tug. Mason could've resisted, but he leaned in and bumped his helmet against Leon's.

"Don't miss the timing," Leon said.

"I won't."

They split off, heading for their voras.

Nyra passed by just then. She gave them a quick glance but kept walking with her team.

"Did you two fight or something?" Mason asked.

"Something like that." Leon watched her go. They hadn't spoken since the argument the day before.

Leon made his way to One's pod. Ruby and Tess were waiting outside near the rear hatch.

"Everything good?" he asked.

"Ah… yes, Sir," Tess replied, timid, gripping her spear a little tighter.

He still wasn't sure how someone like her made it into the Order. Most of the cavora were loud, overconfident oddballs.

"It's cramped in there." Ruby said. "I'm also waiting on a rifle."

Leon raised a brow. "What do you need a rifle for?"

The rifles were locked in storage. Most of the Inceptor crew were Fulgaris, trained to use MRM weapons. There weren't any Nullaris on board, so there wasn't a need for them.

One of the ship's security guards jogged up, carrying a rifle and a pair of magazines. Ruby snatched it before he could say anything and started inspecting the parts.

"It's plenty for killing terrorists," she said casually as she slotted in a mag.

Ruby was the problem child Nyra had dumped on him. To Leon, she was easily the oddest one in the vora. Most Fulgaris wouldn't be caught dead carrying a rifle. They saw it as something beneath them, a weapon for the weak.

Leon shook his head. "If you're done messing around, get inside."

The two headed inside, and Leon followed close behind. The interior of the pod was divided into two rows of compartments, each designed to magnetize and strap the occupant securely in place. A small section at the rear was reserved for extra supplies and spare weapons that might be needed during the mission.

Tess and Ruby moved toward the two empty compartments near the rear hatch. Tess squeezed herself into position and placed her spear upright in front of her, locking it into place with a magnetic click to the plating. Leon glanced her way to make sure she was secured properly.

"Shit," Ruby muttered annoyed.

Leon turned to see her fumbling with the rifle. Since it wasn't made of MRM and lacked a mana core, it wouldn't attach to the plating.

"Give me that," he said, taking the rifle from her and opening the compartment behind her seat where the extra gear was stored.

"I was about to do that," she grumbled.

Leon ignored the comment and did a quick inspection of the compartment. On his way to the front, he gave the rest of the vora a quick once-over, making sure everyone was in place and ready.

When he reached his compartment, Leon placed his spear and sword against the plating in front of him. He leaned back and circulated mana through his armor, locking himself to the rear panel with a magnetic pulse. Two straps crossed over his shoulders, followed by one across his chest. Soft padding expanded from the sides, filling in the gaps and locking him in snug.

The inside of the pod was quiet, filled only by the soft hum of systems and the faint noise still bleeding in from the hangar outside.

Footsteps echoed down the aisle. A technician appeared on his right, moving quickly from Owen's compartment to his, checking each seal and connection in fast succession.

"Ten minutes," the technician said, giving him a thumbs up.

"Got it."

Ten minutes until they enter combat space.

The technician jogged out of the pod, and the rear hatch sealed shut. The sound from the hangar vanished, along with the light. Only the faint blue glow of the mana circuits remained, casting soft lines across the walls and armor around him.

A few seconds later, the pod jolted. They were being loaded onto the lift, heading toward the ship's turrets—the ones capable of firing the Breacher Pods.

"So…" Ruby's voice came through the comms. "Has anyone ever ridden one of these before?"

"I heard Rey did before joining the Program," said Caleb, one of the vora's shield bearers.

"Rey from Vora Six? The weird one?" Ruby asked.

"You? Calling someone else weird?" Beth cut in.

"HEY! Wha—"

"Enough," Owen said, muting Ruby on the comm. Leon was quietly grateful.

He hadn't wanted to do it himself.

Ruby never seemed to control herself once she got agitated. She'd end up yelling into the comms, which was a nightmare when the team had enhanced hearing.

Leon took over the channel. "Remember to reinforce your body right after launch."

"Yup."

"Got it."

"Yes, sir."

"Mhmm."

Responses came in one after another. Each different from the last.

Their time together had made them close. Things were more relaxed now, casual even. Leon never cared much for strict formality—at least not in the field. As long as they were focused when it counted, that was all that mattered.

Well… except for Ruby.

She never cared that he was the commander and had no filter when it came to speaking her mind.

He waited until she was the only one left unaccounted for, then unmuted her.

"I AM NOT STU—"

He cut her off again.

Laughter broke out across the channel, and even Leon couldn't help but chuckle.

A moment later, red lights flicked on inside the pod, washing the interior in a dim, pulsing glow. The soft blue of the mana circuits vanished beneath the sudden shift, replaced by the harsh warning hue that filled every corner.

The hum of the pod deepened, and a mechanical click sounded beneath Leon's feet as the chamber locked into place. They were loaded. Any trace of laughter or ease vanished with the light.

Leon connected to the bridge's comms to monitor the situation.

"Exiting warp in five… four… three… two… one…" the helmsman counted down.

Leon felt the subtle jerk as the Inceptor dropped out of warp, replaced by sudden combat maneuvers.

"Incoming anti-ship missiles!" the radar navigation officer said.

"Intercepting," the weapons officer called out.

Panels along the Inceptor's hull slid open. Four compact missile launchers rose, swiveled into position, and each fired off two rounds. The interceptors streaked into the void, targeting the incoming anti-ship missiles.

They had dropped in just inside anti-ship range—a calculated distance to reduce the margin of error when firing the Breacher Pods. It was the safest threshold they had to both neutralize threats and navigate the asteroid belt ahead.

Two Corvettes entered the combat space soon after, closing in on the Unbounded outpost. Their presence helped thin the concentration of anti-ship fire aimed at the Inceptor.

"Get a lock on that asteroid, now!" Henry's voice snapped over the comms.

A heavy turret emerged from the hull and rotated toward one of the larger asteroids.

"Locked," the weapons officer confirmed.

"Fire Group One."

Thump.Thump.Thump.Thump.Thump.Thump.Thump. 

Each shot sent a jolt through Leon's pod as it cycled through the turret's munition chamber, one step closer to launch.

"Impact. On target," the weapons officer announced. "Adjusting for Group Two… Ready."

A minute later, "Fire Group Two."