Page 121 (1/2)

The citadel on the Centaurus was adjacent to the ine room in the bowels of the ship When Juan, Eddie, and Raven arrived, the inch-thick steel door ide open The three of thee, noisy space, ready to take down anyone inside, but it was vacant

The two-story rooenerator as well as basic controls for steering the ship and co with the outside world On the far side of the room were shelves stocked with pallets of water bottles and ready to eat e lockers Stairs led up to a second door exiting to the next higher deck A ventilation hatch in the ceiling thirty feet above them was tied down by a taut steel cable attached to the wall The intent was to keep pirates frounfire or dropping grenades through it

“Where is everyone?” Raven asked

“I don’t know,” Juan said “But at least Polk didn’t beat us here That door looks like it could survive a nuclear blast”

He closed and bolted the door to protect their rear while they searched the room Eddie took the stairs to latch the other door

He was about to pin the latch shut so that it couldn’t open when the door flew open One of the , but Eddie was able to grab his ar the weapon’s barrel toward him

They were still wrestling when a second man entered Juan and Raven couldn’t fire without fear of hitting Eddie, and the second ot off a volley in Raven’s direction Juan could see the rounds stitch across her chest, and she went down

Eddie used his leverage to force his guy over the railing, but the ether, they soiving Juan a clear shot at his companion He fired a three-round burst that snapped the man’s head back in a red mist of blood

Eddie and his opponent continued their vicious fight, but Juan couldn’t go to his aid Two unmen entered, this time more cautiously than the first two

Juan dived behind the generator as bullets ripped into the enerator, groaned and grabbed her chest, her face a ed the shoulder strap of her ballistic vest, dragging her to him

Juan stole a look over the top of the generator and saw the two enerator with rounds, causing Juan to pull back

Raven pushed herself up with a grimace

“Are you hurt?” Juan asked

“Broken rib maybe” Juan didn’t see any blood The Level III plate on Raven’s body armor had done its job, but she would have some nasty bruises

“Can you fight?”