Richard rode on figuring he could get back to the settlement before dark, but the afternoon sun was already dipping behind the taller peaks. Dakota quickened his pace as they climbed Piegan Pass and when they crested it, Richard could hear the distant sound of thunder echoing off the mountains. As they continued on, the rumblings became louder and flashes of light lit up the night sky all around Matahpi Peak. Richard wondered why the storm was stalled over that area, but as he and Dakota continued towards it, the thunder quieted down.
By the time they reached the top of Siyeh Pass, all traces of the storm clouds were gone, but Richard cried out in horror at what he saw in the moonlit valley below. The Granite Mountain settlement had been obliterated. The glacier had been blasted into shards, and the surrounding area was pot marked with dozens of craters from where rockets had exploded. His heart sank into his chest as Dakota galloped down the pass towards the ruined settlement. When they reached the edge of the meadow, Dakota paused, seeming reluctant to enter the blast zone. The eerie glow from the moon revealed chunks of glacial ice and bits of granite were all that was left of the once pristine alpine valley. Dakota snorted, as the smell of burnt ordnance and charred items permeated the air. Richard looked on in dismay as Dakota cautiously navigated through the debris. When they reached the area that seemed to be the hardest hit, Dakota suddenly stopped and lowered his head to sniff a pale lifeless body resting on the ground. Richard immediately dismounted and turned the body over to see who it was, and then cried when he recognized his friend Ethan. His poor face was charred on one side, and he looked far too young and innocent to have met such a horrific end. Richard gently closed Ethan’s glossy eyes and then said a prayer for him. He was a good kid and he deserved so much more from life than what he had been dealt. It infuriated Richard beyond measure to see such innocence stripped away. He took off his jacket and placed it over Ethan’s body, and then continued his search for survivors on foot. A few feet away, he found another lifeless body disfigured beyond recognition. Further up he discovered several more lost souls, and each time he knelt down to examine them, he prayed it wouldn’t be Josephine. When he reached the last victim, he could tell it was a female who was close in size to Josephine. Richard slowly lifted the body from the ground and turned her over as his heart raced in fear. It wasn’t her, he quickly realized, feeling both happy and sad at the same time. After gently placing the body back down he immediately made his way over to the base of the mountain where he thought the tunnel should be. Richard stopped several times to check his bearings, but there was no sign of the opening as he frantically searched along the rock face. Part of the mountain was still covered in glacial ice, and Richard pounded the butt of his rifle against it in an effort to locate the opening. After several minutes of battering the frozen wall in anger, it shattered, revealing the hidden tunnel. Richard quickly removed the excess rubble from around the opening and crawled through. Then he used the light from the pulse rifle’s display screen to guide him along. The interior of the tunnel appeared sound and seemed to have survived the attack.
“Hello, is anyone in here?” Richard shouted out. His voice echoed down the tunnel, and a reply came echoing back.
“Richard, is that you?” Jake’s telltale voice reverberated in the confined space.
“Yes!” Richard replied. “Thank god you’re alright. Is the rest of the clan with you?”
“Just a moment,” Jake said as he came running up the tunnel to meet him.
“Is Josephine alright?” Richard asked the moment Jake appeared.
“Yes, everyone else is further back inside the tunnel with the exception of Ethan, Mark, and Sue. The three of them stayed behind to make sure everyone else got to the tunnel as quickly as possible.”
“I’m sorry to say they didn’t make it,” Richard replied in painful tone.
“Oh… I thought they might have been safe that deep inside the glacier,” Jake replied.
“The glacier has been destroyed,” Richard said with a cringe.
“You mean damaged?” Jake questioned.
“No, it’s totally destroyed. There’s nothing left of it, or the settlement outside,” Richard replied as he looked down.
Jake lowered his head and started to cuss under his breath. “It’s all my fault… I thought we were safe up here! I thought they couldn’t reach us!”
“How could you have known that the Augs had rocket launchers, or that they would have even targeted the settlement?” Richard replied in an effort to console him.
“It is my fault, I didn’t take your advice about Dr. Stone seriously, and he left shortly after you did,” Jake revealed.
“Damn it Jake, I told you to watch him. Why didn’t you let me kill him? Now, everything we’ve accomplished is in jeopardy of being reversed!” Richard shouted in an angry and frustrated tone.
“I know, I know, I blew it. I just didn’t think he would go back to the Augs and betray us. After all, we took him in and gave him asylum even knowing his past,” Jake said apologetically.
“He is an Aug, maybe not the same as the rest, but he is one of them,” Richard replied.
“What should we do now… everything we have built is gone, and the Augs know where we are.”
“We can assume that Dr. Stone will start working to create new parent worms as soon as possible. All we have to do is determine what location has equipment sophisticated enough to do that, and attack it if it’s within reach. In the meantime, we should move the clan north, and join forces with the Black Horse Troopers,” Richard suggested.
“Who are they?” Jake asked, looking confused.
“Well, the good news is that we are not alone, in fact there are a number of clans living to the north that are under the protection of the Black Horse Troopers. They are a well organized, well armed National Guard unit that defected when this whole mess started,” Richard explained.
“How did you find them?” Jake asked.
“When I found the Satcom radio back at Dr. Stone’s chopper, I turned it on, and I heard the Troopers conducting an offensive against the Augs. To make a long story short, we met up, and they suggested we pool our resources. Their leader is Captain Mitchell Walker, and I believe they are our best chance for survival,” Richard explained.
“That sounds like a good plan. I’ll have everyone gather their things, and we’ll leave before daybreak,” Jake announced.
“That would probably be best. The Augs may resume the attack if they realize anyone survived,” Richard replied.
“Alright, but I want you to take over as the leader of the clan,” Jake insisted.
“No way, most of the survivors are your people,” Richard replied.
“In case you haven’t noticed, the clan is not divided into your people and mine. The clan is one, and they need one leader,” Jake argued.
“You have been here for them, and they look to you as their leader,” Richard contended.
“This tragedy marks the end of my reign, I can’t do it any more. I’ve made too many mistakes to consider myself a good leader. Besides, you have done more to secure our survival than anyone else. The fact of the matter is that many of them already see you as their leader. They still respect my authority, but truth be told, you are the one they trust above all else. Like it or not, Richard, you are the leader of this clan.”
“I’ll be outside,” Richard replied, without acknowledging Jake’s wishes. “I need to radio the Troopers and let them know we’re coming.”
“Okay, but I’m stepping down whether you like it or not,” Jake replied. Richard shook his head disapprovingly and then went outside.