Contents
CHAPTER 38
Overview
With OOB overhead, Jefri and Amdi speak to Ravna while Steel and Tyrathect steer the exchange. Blueshell pilots the crippled lander as Pham strafes Woodcarver’s lines, sowing chaos. Steel tries to conceal Johanna and fakes further peril. Johanna and Peregrine expose themselves to signal; Pham recognizes Johanna mid-attack and halts.
Summary
Jefri and Amdi, confined under Steel’s stone dome, discover narrow escape tunnels threaded through the walls. As bombardment subsides, Ravna finally makes radio contact. Tyrathect, calling himself Mr. Skinner, answers for Steel and urges immediate armed help, while Amdijefri provides precise spotting from the battlements.
Above, Ravna and Pham debate trust and tactics. With automation crippled, Blueshell undertakes the perilous piloting of the lander while Pham operates a beam weapon. Their first pass through smoke devastates part of Woodcarver’s line, causing panic, confirming the battlefield’s vulnerability to near-ground fire.
On the ground, Johanna defies orders to remain back, persuading Peregrine to escort her upslope to signal the newcomers. The strafing blasts shatter cannons and morale. Seeing the chaos, Johanna pushes into the open near Steel’s walls to be seen and stop the killing, even as arrows hiss past and Peregrine shields her.
Steel, realizing Johanna’s presence could ruin his deception, hustles Amdijefri off the parapet, hides the human figure from them, and orders the lesser powder dump destroyed to dramatize his danger and secure more fire. He insists the attackers finish the hillside, pressing Ravna and Pham to continue.
On the second approach, Pham widens the beam to break up advancing packs while sparing those closest to the walls. As he sweeps forward, he spots a slim, black-haired human—Johanna—running with a nearby pack. Shocked, Pham safes the weapon and orders Blueshell to descend immediately, aborting the attack at the moment of recognition.
Who Appears
- Pham NuwenOperates the beam weapon from the lander; strafes Woodcarver’s troops, then aborts upon recognizing Johanna.
- BlueshellPilots the damaged lander with minimal automation, enabling Pham’s attack runs over the battlefield.
- Jefri OlsndotConfined with Amdi; speaks with Ravna; helps guide targeting from the battlements.
- Amdiranifani (Amdi)Finds hidden wall tunnels; relays observations; playfully mimics voices; assists with precise spotting.
- SteelManipulates contact, urges maximum fire; hides Johanna’s presence; detonates a powder dump to compel continued strikes.
- Tyrathect (Mr. Skinner)Speaks for Steel on the radio, steering tactics; helps remove Amdijefri from the parapet.
- Ravna BergsndotReestablishes contact with Jefri; coordinates with Pham and Blueshell; hesitates to continue indiscriminate fire.
- Johanna OlsndotDefies orders to reach the front; exposes herself to signal the spacers; is recognized by Pham.
- Peregrine Wickwrackrum (Pilgrim)Guards Johanna through the chaos; shields her from arrows; escorts her into view despite danger.
- ShreckSteel’s lieutenant; removes Amdijefri from the wall and detonates the lesser powder dump.