The first phase of operations had proceeded smoothly. Crate after crate of titanium-chromite ore was packed and readied for transport by the Fat Fish. The mining equipment would be partially disassembled and hauled back aboard the ship.
By now, exhaustion weighed heavily on everyone. Even Jones had lost his usual banter. From above, the mining site resembled a gaping wound in the planet's surface—a deep pit excavated over twenty grueling days of nonstop work. Hundreds of ore crates stood stacked, marking the near completion of their mission.
As the Fat Fish descended to fifty meters above ground, its cargo bay doors yawned open. Aina's team worked tirelessly for three hours, loading the precious ore and equipment before finally boarding themselves. Their first major assignment was complete.
The ship then moved to retrieve the remaining teams' harvests.
Qianlong, having exited his Reaper, noticed Aina reviewing footage from the other mining sites. Phantom's analysis flashed before his eyes—the other teams had only managed 82 crates. Their own bounty was significantly larger.
Suddenly, Phantom's alarm blared:
"Warning: Pollock bio-signature detected!" (Note: The unique energy signature of the insectoid species.)
Before Qianlong could react, the ground beneath the waving miners collapsed.
On the bridge, Captain Demiken shot to his feet. "Teams 3 and 5—evacuate immediately! Sentinels, support them!"
The miners activated their jump jets, but two were instantly ensnared by metallic tails bursting from the earth. Another Reaper turned to fire its cannons at the restraints.
"Bayton! Return to ship—that's an order!" Demiken roared.
"I can't abandon them!" Bayton's transmission crackled with static—just as another tail whipped up to capture his mech.
Three Sentinels swooped down, their laser rifles peppering the chitinous appendages to no effect. One guard switched to armor-piercing rounds, blasting a crater into the ground and freeing a single Reaper—which fled without looking back.
"Target identified: Type II Elite Spined Horutan (Insectoid subspecies). Bio-signature persists—target still active."
Five new tails erupted, tangling a Sentinel's leg as the others dodged frantically. From the trapped Reaper came a pilot's terrified screams:
"Open the damn hatch! Why won't it—"
A metallic spike punched through the cockpit. Wet crunching sounds followed, even after Demiken cut the visual feed. Several crewmembers turned away, gagging.
Bayton's final transmission was eerily calm: "Captain...take care of them for me."
As his Reaper disappeared into the sinkhole, the remaining Sentinels unleashed their full payloads in covering fire before retreating.
"All ships ascend! Recover surviving teams!" Demiken ordered.
Quark hesitated. "Two teams' harvests are still—"
"Abandon the ore. Recall everyone."
When the dust settled, only 13 of the original 24 miners returned. Jamget glared at Aina's team with undisguised hatred—the Fat Fish had retrieved them first, rendering his month of labor worthless. But even Jones lacked the energy for mockery now.
Nearly half their number were gone.