Chapter 32 Excerpt: Through the Storm

"An hour later, they crouched at the tree line beneath the grand wall of the Mantodea, the storm’s chill seeping into their bones. The structure rose 500 feet, its red surface glistening wet and veiled in fog, an imposing barrier carved from alien stone and steel, its edges worn smooth by centuries of weather yet unyielding in its grandeur. Faint carvings—geometric and spiraling—etched its surface, barely discernible through the mist, hinting at a purpose long forgotten. Anders brushed rain from his eyes, his heart kicking up a notch, a mix of awe and dread tightening his chest. “That’s it,” he whispered, his voice nearly lost to the wind.

Image created in Midjourney based on the scene description

Adder pulled binoculars from his ruck and scanned the area, his jaw tight, water beading on his stubbled chin. “Buddy, find a high point for overwatch,” he ordered, his tone clipped and urgent. Buddy, the sniper, nodded, pointed to a nearby rise where the mushroom succulents thinned, and slipped away, his lanky frame vanishing into the mist with the grace of a ghost.

Anders watched Buddy disappear, his mind churning. A sniper overwatch for a simple IMINT mission? he thought, his brow furrowing slightly. Seems like overkill. He’d been on plenty of sneak-and-peak ops, and while security mattered, this level of precaution felt off—like Adder anticipated more than just gathering intel. Still, he kept his doubts locked behind a tight jaw, shifting his focus back to the grand wall ahead.