Short.

  That was the word that popped into Gideon’s mind the moment he laid eyes on Communications Officer Joshua Booker. He was a youngish black man with a balding head, round glasses, an easy smile, but mostly he was remarkably short.

  The fact hadn’t been lost on Red who was currently walking beside the shorter man, eyes wide as he pointed down at Book while Gideon and Mia tried to focus on what the communications officer was saying.

  “Commander Monohan took control of the station when our previous commanding officer was killed in action early yesterday. She’s been coordinating our defensive efforts from the station here because most of the outbuildings have already been compromised and this is the only structure with heavy guns set up around the perimeter.”

  He shook his head.

  “It’s been difficult. We lost a lot of people on the first day. Even though we had some warning, they hit us so hard and we just weren’t prepared. Monohan was able to push back a little though and we’ve kept comms open this whole time. We’ve been able to feed intel back to earth and help where we can, but the truth is the war is just starting. We got hit first but it’s only just starting down there.”

  “How big are they,” Gideon asked. “The Collective, I mean.”

  “Compared to us? It’s like an ant trying to fight a giant. From what we’ve been able to gather so far they have hundreds of ships, millions of troops and their weapons are fare more advanced than anything we have. On earth at least. That’s why the Ministry has called back all the echoes. The Artemis System is adaptive and because this enemy uses ether, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to use their weaponry and adapt it to your own uses.”

  Red held a hand out, pulling the massive blade out of his inventory and showing it to the soldier.

  “Already one step ahead of you, bub.”

  “That’s something we need to ask,” Mia interrupted. “We can use some of their items but at the moment only Gideon can loot and he’s the only one that can use ether. We need to speak to a Ministry technician, someone who can adapt our Elysia AI so that it works here like it’s supposed to on Artemis.”

  Book turned to face Gideon, frowning up at the other man.

  “How come the Artemis System works with you, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  By way of response, Gideon pulled Bullseye out of his pocket and lifted it up in front of the other man.

  “This is Bullseye,” he said, thrusting the turtle at Book. “Something went wrong with my transition to this echo, and he had to jump out of my body. This turtle was the only thing nearby he could jump into so here he is.”

  “Greetings Communications Officer Booker,” Bullseye said. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  Book turned from Gideon to the turtle and then back again.

  “I don’t understand. The Bullseye AI was actually decommissioned—”

  “Years ago,” Mia added. “Yeah, we know. Something when wrong with Gideon and he was assigned this old model instead.”

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Old?!” Bullseye blurted, spinning around on Gideon’s palm to face her. “I’ll have you know, young lady, that I am at the very peak of performance. And I’ll remind you all that I was I who was able to adjust the Artemis System to function in this environment, not this Elysia hussy you continuously bleat about.”

  Mia held up her hands. “I didn’t mean anything by it, Bullseye, I was just trying to explain for Book. What I meant to say is that you’re not currently being installed in echoes and Gideon somehow ended up with a…classic AI instead of one of the newer versions.”

  The little turtle scowled up at her but seemed to accept her apology.

  “Point is,” Gideon said, “he fixed it so that I can use the Artemis System. I’ve already channeled ether a couple of times and looting seems to be working okay. I haven’t tried crafting anything yet, or assigning enhancement points, but hopefully that will work too.”

  He pointed at Mia and Red.

  “If you can sort it out for these guys then all three of us will be ready to go.”

  “Plus,” Mia added, “this might be something that affects all the hunters coming back from Artemis. At least if you can sort it out for us, you’ll be ready when the others arrive.”

  Book nodded solemnly.

  “If the others arrive. We’re having trouble making contact with the transit vessels and there’s a real fear that they’re being picked off by the enemy before they arrive here.”

  He motioned back the way they had come.

  “Even if they do manage to make it here, you’ve seen how dangerous it is out there. You craft got shot down a moment before it landed and you’re incredibly lucky any of you survived.”

  “So, it could be just us then?” Mia asked. “If none of the other hunters can get back to earth, it will be the three of us and that’s it?”

  Book nodded. “With the Artemis System, yes. The Ministry will be sending everything else it has at the enemy, but you’ll be the only three wearing echoes.”

  He leaned forward, speaking in hushed tones. “Rumor is they’re looking at some kind of emergency program where they can transition existing soldiers into echoes somewhere on earth. I don’t know if there’s any truth to it, but I’m guessing the Ministry will be trying everything it can to defend against invasion.”

  He continued walking down the hall and the others followed.

  “Chief Technician Maddox should be able to help you with the system issue. She was docked here on standby, prepping to head back to earth when the enemy hit us. We don’t have any specialist system techs here on the station, but she’s a legend when it comes to anything system related. I think she invented the Artemis System or at least worked on the original.”

  Book nodded to himself.

  “First, I’ll take you to see Commander Monohan, then I’ll find Maddox. Fact is, we need you up and running as soon as possible. We’ve been able to hold the bulk of the enemy at bay but our shield is failing and unless we salvage the spare generator, we’re gonna be sitting ducks.”

  Gideon waited, half expecting a mission announcement to appear on his HUD. Nothing happened.

  “I don’t get it,” Red observed. “If this place is toast, why not just abandon the station? Use a few ships and fly the hell out of here.”

  “We can’t. First of all, the logistics wouldn’t work. We’ve only got one working shuttle at the moment, which isn’t enough to get all the personnel out of the station. Second, we need the station in operation because it provides vital intelligence to the earth fleet and ground forces. If we lose this station we’re effectively blind to the enemy and that will leave us at a considerable disadvantage in this fight.”

  Gideon stopped walking and the others slowly picked up on it, stopping themselves.

  “Gid?” Mia asked, trying on the nickname for the first time. “What is it?”

  He couldn’t put it into words. It felt like his ears were tingling, like spiders were crawling on the inside of his skull. He looked around, searching for the source of his unease as he summoned a Stalker talon and handed Bullseye to Book.

  The officer took the turtle uncertainly as Gideon turned to face the empty corridor behind the group. Mia pulled out her assault rifle and the giant sword materialized in Red’s hands.

  “Be careful,” Book said. “the plexiglass is extremely strong, but sustained fire might breach it and that would cause this whole section to lose integrity. The breach doors will close, and we’ll be trapped in here.”

  Gideon ignored his words. That tingling sensation was getting worse, leading him a few paces back down the corridor. He stared into the passage, hand gripping the makeshift dagger tightly.

  “I think there’s—”

  A Stalker stepped out of thin air and thrust its right claw out at Gideon a moment before the rogue triggered his Shadow Step ability and appeared behind the shimmery, black soldier.

  Stealth Sense +1