Skopec consulted the building plan quickly, before making a snap decision. “Ok, everyone follow me!” He led them back the way they’d come, away from the blast doors that held back a billowing inferno which was engulfing one side of the tower. 

An alarm blared throughout the complex, mingling in with shouting voices. More scientists and staffers emerged from their quarters along the hall to join the growing crowd as they evacuated. Freyr could see smoke billowing past the exterior windows of their individual apartments. She could smell fire from her gurney. Outreman fighters screamed past the arcology again, and another titanic grinding sound rattled the fabric of the building. “Everybody MOVE!” Institute soldiers bellowed at the terrified civilians, pushing them into line behind Skopec.

They turned a corner and kept going east along the southern-most corridor.“Tell them to meet us in the south-east corner.” Skopec glanced back while explaining to Nirann. It's a larger apartment - more floor space and windows! I’ll go down and get-”

The Sergeant never finished, because a solid interior fire door flew away from the wall and crashed into him. A [url=https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/36310340736369751/]seven foot tall industrial droid[/url] ducked under the now-open doorway from the emergency stairwell it had just climbed up. Its retro-fit armour plating was blackened and dented from the impact when the first cargo ship had crashed into the building. Curled up and deactivated, it had survived. Though, its regular uplink light was not flashing.

Ignoring the others, it strode across the corridor and punched straight through the door that was now melded to Skopec’s frame. The Sergeant’s helmet slithered across his face just before the droid could grab his bare neck.

Within half a second, another blackened droid stepped through the opening - this one was carrying an energy cannon. It spooled up rapidly into a full-charge state. “ROTHIA MUST FALL” The droid blared in a robotic voice, before firing from the hip straight at Nirann from close range.