Just as Briggs reported he had exhausted his supply of shells, the radio crackled to life. It was Hiro. "This is Gearhaven Actual; Justine, do you copy?"
"Roger, Gearhaven Actual. This is Commander Johndory."
The comms lit up with cross-chatter.
"Under heavy fire!" yelled Laurence.
"All right, I can get about fifty meters from the crash site--" the Duchess chimed in.
"We've got some sort of--hellmouth--open in the center of the Dark Sea," said Justine, "and there's--something--coming out--"
"WHAT?" yelped Emilly.
Justine swerved the Stingray away from the crash site, dodging laser blasts. She turned to look at the jumpseat behind her. "Laurence! Are you all right back there?"
There was a groan over the comms. "Hit again," said the Duchess.
"Briggs? Swift? Report?" said Justine.
Laurence took off his mask, breathing heavily. "Feeling pretty lightheaded--how are you holding up, Justine?"
"This is Gearhaven Actual. Justine! Do you copy?" said the Duke.
"Standing by artillery set-up," said Briggs. "But I'm seeing some straight sights--"
"I'm all right," Justine said. "Heading for Briggs. Swift, keep outside a fifty meter perimeter from the crash site."
The Stingray was hit on the next pass. Justine struggled with the controls. Between gritted teeth she spat out "She...isn't...responding..."
"It's moving again!" yelled Emilly. She swam up, following the pieces of the mad ship. It fetched up against land again, this time--just down the hill from Steam towers. Great.
Justine regained control of the little flyer, sliding her right along the land line between the Dark Sea and...the other Dark Sea. "This is going great."
"Return to Tannhauser Gate," said Hiro.
"I'm sorry, GH Actual? Please repeat last command?" Justine asked.
"Do you have a visual on the debris field of the Bad Mofo?"
"Not at the moment, returning there now."
"Duchess...did you say the ship is flying?"
"Not anymore," she said mournfully, staring at the pile of rubble next to the TG tram.
(Continued in part CLVI.)
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