The military train shook so hard the ceiling bolts rattled.
Holden stood in the armored car with one hand gripping the overhead rail. The car was packed, with thirty Vanguard soldiers sitting on benches along the walls, their faces pale and their weapons trembling in their laps.
None of them had seen combat against an Abyssal swarm.
Team Soup stood near the back door. Emric had his shield propped against his legs, Renna was checking her bowstring for the fourth time in ten minutes, and Lyra held her qspear close, her eyes fixed on the door.
Maeve was in the communications car, two cars forward. Her voice crackled through Holden's earpiece every few seconds with updates.
"Satellite feed is still active. Portal is expanding at a rate of twelve meters per hour. Monster density on the approach to the Outpost is increasing. You're going to hit a wall of bodies the moment those doors open."
"Copy."
"Brother."
"Yeah?"
"Be careful."
"Always."
