The resupply transport came and left quickly, leaving the newly equipped ASTF standing before the huge mouth of the Blackwood Iron Mine. The place was like a skeleton from long ago. Its entrance was surrounded by rusty cranes and old, broken mining machines. The air itself felt heavy and stagnant, filled with the smell of damp rock and old metal. It was a place that had been dead for a long, long time.
"Final checks," Seraph commanded, her voice sharp and clear against the howling wind. "Once we're in, we're on our own. Comms will be unreliable at best."
The team gave a series of short nods. Jonah adjusted the strap on his new supply pack, his heart pounding a slow rhythm against his ribs. He was ready.
"Alright," Seraph said, her gaze sweeping over her small, specialized team. "Let's go hunt a queen. Move in."
