Contents
Chapter 17: The Breaking of the Company
Overview
Marlowe’s group forces entry to the hangar, where a chaotic firefight erupts. To clear a path, Marlowe drops Sparrowhawk lighters and duels Captain Lin, maiming him. With Switch’s timely shot, they reach their shuttle. Captain Jinan arrives and opens fire on Marlowe, but the fugitives launch and escape into space with Tanaran.
Summary
Marlowe’s team sprints toward the hangar as Valka keeps security systems suppressed. Under stunner fire, Valka opens the bay doors while Siran and others trade shots. The group scatters for cover among crates and shuttles, aiming for their own craft on the far side.
Outnumbered by unshielded legionnaires, Marlowe climbs to the catwalks and disables the magnetic grapnels, dropping Sparrowhawk lighters to break enemy formations and create a corridor. The carnage hardens the standoff; dialogue with Deck Officer Brux collapses.
Captain Bassander Lin confronts Marlowe on the catwalk. Highmatter swords cross; Marlowe hesitates to kill Lin but presses the fight. As Marlowe falters, Switch stuns Lin’s face through his shield long enough for Marlowe to sever Lin’s sword hand and beat him down, sparing his life before moving to the shuttle.
Bleeding and reeling, Marlowe heads for the ramp as the team boards with Tanaran. Jaddian Captain Jinan arrives with soldiers and fires live rounds at Marlowe, denouncing his betrayal. Despite hits absorbed by his shield and wounds taken, Marlowe makes the ramp, the hatch seals, and their shuttle blasts through the static field into space.
Who Appears
- Hadrian MarloweLeads the escape; drops Sparrowhawks to clear enemies; duels Bassander Lin, severs his hand, and boards the shuttle wounded.
- Valka OnderraOverrides security and opens the hangar; guides Tanaran under fire toward the escape shuttle.
- Bassander LinConfronts Marlowe on the catwalk; duels with a highmatter sword; loses his hand and is spared.
- SwitchTimely stunner shot staggers Lin, enabling Marlowe’s victory; helps Marlowe to the shuttle.
- JinanArrives with Jaddian soldiers; shoots Marlowe and condemns his betrayal as the shuttle departs.
- PallinoShepherds Okoyo toward the shuttle under fire; coordinates movement across the hangar.
- ElaraMoves with the team through the crates; steadies Marlowe on the ramp as they launch.
- SiranAggressively returns fire, dropping armed legionnaires and advancing toward the shuttle.
- CrimDashes low across the floor, supporting the team’s push to the shuttle.
- BruxDeck officer who tries to negotiate surrender from the panopticon before hostilities escalate.
- Lieutenant HanasPreviously subdued; later appears bloodied alongside Jinan during the final confrontation.
- TanaranCielcin captive; escorted by Valka and Switch through the firefight to the escaping shuttle.