Ashes from the West

The Infiltration

The VTOL's engines whined as Ghost brought her down low over the churning grey water.

Ronan gripped the armrest, his eyes fixed on the radar screen. The rendezvous point was dead ahead—a dark shape on the horizon that grew larger with every passing second. Storm's supply ship. The gateway to the Titan.

"We're approaching the perimeter," Ghost said. "Drones are circling. If we get any closer, they'll spot us."

"Then we don't get closer." Ronan turned to Zip. "You've got the jamming ready?"

"Locked and loaded. But it'll only buy us thirty seconds. Maybe forty."

"Thirty seconds is all we need. Ghost, get us as close as you can. Then drop us."

"Drop you?" Ghost's head snapped around. "Into the water?"

"It's the only way. The ship's hull has a maintenance hatch. I can get us in from there."

"You'll drown before you reach it."

"I won't. Just get us close."

Ghost cursed but didn't argue. He pushed the VTOL lower, skimming the waves. The hunter drones were visible now, circling the supply ship like sharks.

"Thirty seconds," Zip said. "Starting now."

The drones' targeting arrays flickered and died. The jamming was working. Ghost pushed the throttle forward, closing the distance.

"Go!" he shouted.

Ronan grabbed his gear and jumped. The water was cold, a shock that stole his breath. He sank beneath the surface, then kicked upward, breaking through the waves.

The supply ship loomed above him, a massive wall of rusted steel. He spotted the maintenance hatch—a small door near the waterline. He swam toward it, his arms burning.

Behind him, he heard Ghost's VTOL scream away, drawing the drones' attention. He was alone.

He reached the hatch and pulled himself up. The door was sealed, but he'd expected that. He pulled a small device from his vest—a magnetic cutter he'd built in his shop. It hummed to life, cutting through the steel like butter.

The hatch swung open. Ronan climbed inside.

---

The interior of the supply ship was a labyrinth of narrow corridors and cramped compartments. Ronan moved quickly, his footsteps silent. He had one goal: find the ship's communication array and send a signal to the Titan.

But first, he needed to find Ghost and Zip.

He pulled out his comm and whispered, "Ghost. Zip. You in?"

"Negative," Ghost's voice crackled. "I'm circling back. Give me five minutes."

"I'm in," Zip said. "I found a service tunnel near the engine room. I'm heading your way."

Ronan moved deeper into the ship. The corridors were dark, lit only by the faint glow of emergency lights. He heard voices in the distance—Storm's men, patrolling.

He pressed himself against the wall and waited. Two guards passed, their footsteps echoing. Ronan slipped out behind them and moved on.

He found Zip in a small maintenance room, her fingers already working on a terminal.

"Got a signal," she said. "Weak, but I can boost it. Give me ten minutes."

"We don't have ten minutes. The drones will be back any second."

"Then we make it five."

She worked faster, her fingers a blur. Ronan stood guard at the door, his pistol drawn.

He heard footsteps. Multiple footsteps. They were coming.

"Zip, we've got company."

"I'm almost done. Just hold them off."

Ronan stepped into the corridor. Four guards. Armed. They saw him and raised their weapons.

"Hold it!" one shouted.

Ronan fired. The first guard dropped. The others returned fire, their bullets tearing through the air. Ronan dove for cover, rolling behind a stack of crates.

He fired again, hitting a second guard. The remaining two advanced, their rifles blazing.

"Zip! How much longer?!"

"Done!" she shouted.

Ronan threw a smoke grenade. The corridor filled with thick grey fog. The guards coughed and fired blindly.

Ronan grabbed Zip and ran.

---

They found Ghost on the deck, the VTOL hovering above the ship. He lowered a rope ladder, and Ronan climbed, Zip right behind him.

"Get us out of here!" Ronan shouted.

Ghost punched the throttle. The VTOL shot upward, leaving the supply ship behind.

"We got the signal?" Ghost asked.

"Sent and confirmed," Zip said. "The Titan should receive it in about an hour."

"Then we wait."

They flew east, putting distance between themselves and the supply ship. The sun was rising, painting the sky in shades of pink and gold. Ronan leaned back in his seat, his body aching.

"We did it," he said. "We actually did it."

"Not yet," Ghost said. "We still have to board the Titan. That's the hard part."

"I know."

Ronan closed his eyes. His side was throbbing, the wound pulling at his skin. He'd lost too much blood. He needed rest.

But there was no time.

---

The Titan's response came an hour later.

Zip's terminal beeped, and she read the message aloud. "Supply ship 7, you are cleared for approach. Rendezvous at coordinates 34.5 North, 65.2 West. Proceed with caution."

"Did they buy it?" Ghost asked.

"They bought it. We're in."

Ronan felt a surge of relief. It was small, but it was something. A crack in Storm's armor.

"Set a course," he said. "Let's not keep them waiting."

The VTOL turned, heading toward the coordinates. The ocean stretched out beneath them, endless and empty.

But Ronan knew what was waiting for them. The Titan. The drones. Storm.

And Elira Ashford.

---

They reached the rendezvous point eight hours later.

The Titan was a beast—a massive submarine that dwarfed anything Ronan had ever seen. Its hull was black, its surface covered in sensor arrays and weapon emplacements. It was a fortress beneath the waves.

"Look at that thing," Zip whispered. "It's beautiful. And terrifying."

"Yeah," Ronan said. "It's Storm's masterpiece."

The VTOL approached the Titan's landing bay. The bay doors opened, revealing a cavernous interior. Ghost set the VTOL down gently, the ship's skids touching the deck.

"We're in," he said. "Now what?"

Ronan checked his weapons. "Now we find Elira. And we get her out."

He opened the VTOL's door and stepped out. The landing bay was huge, filled with drones and equipment. Storm's men were everywhere, their eyes watching the new arrivals.

Ronan walked toward the nearest terminal, trying to look like he belonged. He pulled out a tablet and pretended to check the data.

"Can I help you?"

The voice was cold. Calm. Familiar.

Ronan turned.

Admiral Darius Storm stood before him, a smile on his lips.

"I was wondering when you'd show up," Storm said. "I've been waiting for you, Ronan."

Ronan's blood turned to ice.

"Don't look so surprised," Storm continued. "I knew you were coming. I've known since you stole that data from the supply ship."

"Then why let us through?"

"Because I wanted to see you. Face to face. It's been too long."

Storm stepped closer, his eyes scanning Ronan's face. "You look terrible, by the way. Living in the ruins has aged you."

"Where's my daughter?"

Storm's smile widened. "Lyra is fine. She's being well cared for."

"I don't believe you."

"You should. I've never lied to you, Ronan. Not once."

Storm gestured to a door at the far end of the bay. "Come. We have much to discuss. And you have a choice to make."

Ronan didn't move. Ghost and Zip were behind him, their weapons ready.

"I'm not going anywhere with you," Ronan said.

Storm sighed. "I was afraid you'd say that. So I brought a bargaining chip."

He clicked his comm. A door opened, and two guards emerged. Between them was a young girl.

Lyra.

She looked smaller than Ronan remembered. Thinner. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with fear. But she was alive.

"Dad?" she whispered.

Ronan's heart shattered.

"Lyra. I'm here. I'm coming."

Storm stepped between them. "Not yet. First, we talk."

"What do you want, Storm?"

Storm's smile faded. He looked at Ronan with something like sadness.

"I want you to join me," he said. "I want you to help me rebuild this world. You and your daughter. Together."

Ronan stared at him. "You're insane."

"Maybe. But I'm also right. You know it, deep down. This world is broken. It needs to be cleansed."

"By burning it?"

"By remaking it. Into something better. Something pure."

Storm stepped aside, revealing Lyra. "Your daughter is my proof. She's safe. She's healthy. She's everything you ever wanted for her. Join me, and she stays that way."

"And if I refuse?"

Storm's eyes hardened. "Then she dies. And you watch."

Ronan felt the weight of the choice pressing down on him. His daughter. The world. His soul.

"Let her go," he said. "Let her go, and I'll do what you want."

Storm smiled. "I knew you'd see it my way."