CHAPTER 3

After five hours of cooling, Arne Olsndot and Johanna descend from the cargo shell onto a scorched hillside. Sjana watches from the hatch with Arne’s pistol while Jefri monitors from inside. The family begins setting sound projectors to deter wildlife and moves coldsleep boxes outside to stabilize temperatures.

As they plan to contact the Relay system, Johanna reflects on the High Lab disaster and their hopes for rescue. While she programs a projector, a sudden attack erupts: arrows shatter equipment and one strikes Johanna through the shoulder.

Coordinated packs of wolf-like natives advance, some operating bows in teams while others charge with hatchets and metal-clawed paws. Sjana provides covering fire with the pistol as Arne runs from the boat toward Johanna, cutting down attackers with smart flechettes.

A swift assailant reaches Arne and fatally wounds him at the neck. Sjana’s fire falters briefly, allowing a specialized team to close with a crude flamethrower. They sweep burning liquid across the ground, the pylon where Sjana stands, and the ranks of coldsleep children, melting the boxes and incinerating their occupants.

Johanna, in agony, tries to crawl toward the flames but blacks out. Jefri remains inside the shell, unaccounted for as the chapter ends.