Page 267 of Commander’s Mate

MINE CONTROL LOCKDOWN.

Then every lift-status indicator went red.

Pyrr swore.

“Enemy?”

“Yes.”

Tivid’s answer came clearer now.

“Surface command sent a total-isolation instruction to lower systems. They are sealing mine sectors.”

“They are trapping the workers.”

“Likely.”

Likely.

I hated cautious intelligence language when murder was happening in real time.

“Can they collapse shafts?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“Blast charges used for controlled excavation.”

The mine worker made a broken sound.

I looked toward the processing compound.

We had already taken the surface command center.

Apparently command had not mattered.

Someone underground or in a remote bunker still held local authority.

“Find the controller.”

“Working.”

A distant explosion rolled beneath our boots.

Not large.

Deep.

The ground moved.

Every liberated worker in the lane froze.

They knew that sound.

“Zared,” Pyrr said.

I was already moving.