Relic of the Future: Chapter 145

The hull vibrated and rocked as they powered down into the treeline, entrusting the craft's armour to withstand smashing through branches and boughs at high speed. The passengers were jolted and rocked, and if it weren't for the harnesses, they'd had surely been thrown out their seats and left knocked out or worse. Several loud crashes echoed, and the ship veered and twisted sickeningly, the pilot dodging trees in an effort to bring them down before a missile could.

"Aura!" Jaune instructed Harriet.

"You think I don't know!? It's up! Shit!"

"Brace for impact!" the pilot shouted over them. "It's going to be rough!"

There was a second of nothingness after those words – a moment to doubt, prepare and tighten his muscles. Then, they struck. The first impact made a tonne or more of steel bounce like a stone over a lake. Jaune and Harriet were thrown up and slammed back down. Then the second impact hit, this time heavier as the hull dug into the ground. Metal groaned and warped as they skidded through the mud, rocked and battered on all sides.

It was a tree that halted them in the end. Digging through mud and rock, there was no way to dodge, and it was all the pilot could do to twist the Bullhead side on, taking the trunk on the thicker armour instead of caving the cockpit in and killing himself.

Jaune's body slammed into a metal wall that warped in around the trunk. His body protested, air rushing out in a pained gasp. Harriet was better off, not being trapped against the hull and having his body to cushion her. By far, Watts was the worst. His head flew forward and slammed back. His eyes rolled up and he slumped in his harness, smugness removed along with his consciousness.

"Sitrep!" Jaune gasped. "Is everyone alive?"

—Relic of the Future: Chapter 146



Idly, she watched as their pilot tinkered about with the Bullhead, trying to repair what he could. Most pilots in the force were also trained to enact battlefield repairs, but she doubted anything short of a team and a fully stocked hanger could get that thing back in the air. The thick armour had saved its passengers though, so it'd done its job.

If the crash had been harder, she and Ashari would have certainly survived. The pilot might have, too, depending on his aura control or the speed at which he ejected. Watts, however, would have surely perished.

—Relic of the Future: Chapter 147