The UWS Scythian exited RX3248’s atmosphere, just as the moon’s surface cracked open. Solid rock and earth wrinkling back to create rings of gigantic fissures, one of which ran through the middle of the spaceport. A big explosion reached up into the thin atmosphere as the colony’s primary helium-3 power source ruptured under the strain. The whole planetary body seemed to be shifting on various axis, uncovering something underneath.

Clara wasn’t watching the spectacle as it unfolded below the Scythian. She was far too preoccupied to listen to the distracted murmurs of crew men who had access to the ship’s exterior cameras. Two of the ship’s aft cargo bays were full of dead or dying people. She tended to whoever she could with her limited first aid skills, helping more qualified doctors to do their jobs faster.

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It had all happened so fast. The things at the dig site had followed them back to the base. Dozens of them. Everyone was so fixated on the situation developing by the grounded UWG owned craft that the base was unprepared when an onslaught of those…things charged into colony and began cutting people down. She didn’t think Director Ogilvie make it to the Scythian. In the confusion of people, Clara lost him and was too terrified to stop.

She made it to the Scythian’s landing pad with some of the blade wielding sentinel figures right behind. Its doors were open and everyone was flooding in, colonist or not. Quite of a few of RX’s security detail had gathered around the landing pad, firing at the creatures to allow people time to escape. Lots of them had stayed behind to make a last stand as they took off.

[hr]

Clara took off her space helmet; she’d forgotten the air was breathable now. She looked for people she knew directly. Co-workers, Col-Ad staff. She couldn’t see any. Most of the people in the cargo bay were the ones crushing against the landing ramp to collect food supplies. The miners, refugees, workers.

“Attention, this is your captain speaking.”

Some of the noise abated in the cargo bays, although it was still deafening.

“We have now left the moon’s orbit. The ship, and the population of the colony, appear to have been attacked by an unknown enemy. Additionally, we have sustained some minor damage to the hull which we are looking into. Please remain calm, we are doing everything we can to keep you safe. In the mean time; food, water and medical supplies will be evenly distributed to everyone in need.”