I stood atop the watch tower, watching the sky darken with the approaching fall season, as well as the smog of jet exhaust streaking the sky.

I didn’t dare break COM silence, so I checked the status lights for Team Conduit. All yellow, the team was still working on the implantation.

I sighed and I heard a loud whistle, accompanied with a large explosion a half a mile away.

No. They can’t be this close. The advanced security protocols Frosted Autumn set up couldn’t have failed this quickly!

I turned on my COM and sent an emergency message to my team.

“Attention, Team Conduit.” I said. “We have an enemy breach, get that implantation done ASAP . Bart, set up a multi-beam COM link with Team Duct, Prowler Watchcrow and all of Xi Company. Let’s get the hell out of hear and burn this place to the ground, people! Move!”

Bart’s status light winked green, and I heard the crackling registration of the multi-beam linkup.

I clicked on COM broadcast, but my commands were drowned out by another roaring explosion.