The dawn was but a pale glow on the horizon when the academy's sirens sounded, tearing through the precarious silence of the night. The departure.
The students, equipped and backpacked, gathered in the main courtyard where the Aethric Combat Shuttles (NAC) were waiting for them. These vehicles were angular and imposing beasts, with thick armor tinted in the colors of the academy. Their flanks were streaked with minor scars and impacts, witnessing past missions. Ether guns, mounted on side turrets, pointed to the sky like menacing darts.
A sergeant shouted orders, assigning each team to a shuttle. Hakime and the others climbed the access ramp into the cold belly of the craft. The interior was spartan: aluminum benches riveted along the walls, lit by a reddish light, and no portholes. The air smelled of cold metal, ozone and a spike of etheric fuel.
The door closed in a whistle of compressed air, locking them in the dark. The engine vibrated, a deep rumble that shook the bones, and then the shuttle rose with a sudden push that pressed them against their seats.
Arthur, pale, clutched the straps of his harness. "I hate this part."
Conor, impassive, checked the strength of his shield against his knees.
Lyra, her eyes closed, was breathing deeply, concentrating.
Hakime took advantage of the trip to strengthen the team's ties. "We remain calm. We follow the plan. Arthur, your first recognitions will be short. We identified three drinking water points on the map. We will target the one to the northeast first, it is the furthest from the drop zone, so perhaps less frequented."
He pulled the holographic map out of his watch, projecting a quivering image between them.
"Paralyzing fungi like humidity. We will avoid undergrowth that is too dense near water points. Slimes are attracted to body heat and ether. We will keep our energy channeled, not wasteful."
Lyra opened her eyes. "My perception is good. I should be able to feel the vibrations in the natural glass and the earth. This could warn us of the movements."
"Perfect," Hakime agreed. "Conor, you are our rock. If we are overwhelmed, we form around you. Arthur and I are knocking from your sides, Lyra covers us from afar."
The journey seemed to last forever and a moment at a time. Suddenly, a yellow light flashed and a robotic voice echoed in the cabin.
"Approach Delta-7. Drop in 60 seconds. Prepare for deployment."
The team exchanged one last determined glance. They buckled their light helmets and seized their weapons.
"Good luck to all," whispered Hakime.
The shuttle's rear ramp opened in a roar, letting in a gray light and a breath of stale air. The smell was bland and metallic, with a hint of rot and corrupted ozone. The mist of laziness, even at a distance, gave the air a thick, stifling texture.
One by one, the students were ejected, thrown into the void from about twenty meters high. Ether retarding harnesses flared, curbing their fall for a hard but safe landing in the vegetation.
Hakime landed heavily, rolling over his shoulder to absorb the shock. He immediately got up, his spear in his hand, and swept around the corner. They were in a clearing surrounded by trees with shapes, their leaves dull and covered with a thin film of grey dust. The haze stagnated at knee level, reducing visibility. The silence was oppressive, only disturbed by the slight whistling of the wind in the bare branches.
One by one, his teammates landed near him. Arthur, agile, lands in silence. Conor shook the ground. Lyra received herself with cold grace, her eyes already analyzing the environment.
"Team 7 in full," Hakime announced in a low voice. "We're regrouping. We check the equipment. Then we move. Head for the northeastern watering hole. Arthur, take the lead, but you remain in eye contact."
Arthur nodded and disappeared in an instant, sneaking between the trees with spectacular speed.
Hakime took a deep breath. The air tasted like ash and musty. That was it. The real world. The world of the Towers.
Their eyes met, full of fierce determination. The first stage of their baptism of fire had just begun. They were in the wolf's mouth.