Page 271 of Commander’s Mate
Nursery marker.
Eighty-seven life signs.
“Open it.”
“I need manual routing.”
“Take it.”
The cage system could not move enough people fast enough.
We needed another route.
The mine worker beside Rehor—one of the liberated engineers who had insisted on coming down once she realized her children were trapped—pointed at a maintenance schematic.
“Ventilation tunnel.”
“Too small.”
“For armor. Not children.”
I understood.
“Where does it surface?”
“Processing drainage trench.”
Pyrr looked at me.
“That trench is inside enemy fire.”
“Then we clear it.”
I transmitted.
“Team Four, secure drainage trench west of processing. Expect civilian emergence. No weapons toward the opening.”
“Confirmed.”
The engineer was already opening the nursery bulkhead remotely.
Life signs began moving.
“Tivid, send translated instructions to every functioning panel below.”
“What instructions?”
“Follow green emergency lights. Leave tools. Leave cargo. Take children. Help anyone who cannot walk.”
“And sealed sectors?”
“Mark red until we can reach them.”
Silence.
There were always sealed sectors.
Always people beyond the door.
