The first tunnel carrion came through the hospital gate sideways, its plated back scraping sparks from the anchor frame. It landed in the receiving corridor, opened a jaw full of stone needles, and spat mineral spit across the tile.
The spit ate through a supply cart wheel before the nearest guard understood it was under attack. Kest's people fell back toward the gate controls, leaving the hospital nurses between the creatures and the treatment doors.
Nox reached the corridor through the city route with two Citadel fighters at his back. Beds lined one wall and medicine cabinets the other, leaving no room for a broad charge.
The first carrion had already forced a nurse to drag a patient behind the reception desk.
"Keep them off the beds," he said.
