—What are you—?”
of naked eye visual, tell Ebon and Jaig to come as close to the tree
line as they can without being spotted.” She paused. “When you
see the target—Cato—when you see him, one of you has to take
him out. This is our only chance.”
The wind suddenly picked up, and Watney scampered down
the valley toward the tree line. Surrich had barely the foggiest idea
of what she had in mind. She was rarely so reckless—she was
—but rarely reckless. Running toward the tree line,
not before the enemy patrol unit stumbled over Ebon and Jaig.
“REPUBLIC,” Surrich called out. “You still with me? Hold
tight, we—”
He heard a gunshot.
Surrich felt his heart sink into his stomach. They were too
late. He bowed his head, the empty slot where his visor would
from his breath. Upon inhalation, he felt the cold crawl through his
veins.
the once pale sky in vibrant reds and fading pinks. In his helmet,
he heard Ebon call out again. “SPECTRE, come in.”
Frantically, Surrich replied, “REPUBLIC, status report.”
Surrich jammed his scope up to his eye and locked on
to the four patrolmen. Two of them abandoned the patrol and
Watchtower Two, then One, Three, and Four. The occupants within
[69]
Z