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Chapter 14

Dallin had watchedthe movements of the mine workers for ten minutes. They all wore breathing apparatus, which suggested the contents of that mine wouldn’t do them any good if they breathed it in.

He’d made it past the entrance and slid into a room. Rows of equipment were stored inside, including some spare breathing masks. He put one on and inhaled a blast of clean air.

Dallin emerged from the room, but ducked back in as three mine workers walked past. Their clothing was dusty, and they carried portable drills. They also wore hard hats and breathing masks, so he couldn’t figure out what kind of alien they were, but he’d put a big bet on them being Siblet. They were the same solid build, with squat necks and flat heads.

He waited for them to pass, then headed farther into the mine. Although there was some activity going on, the work was mainly being done by mining androids. Everything looked to be on an automation sequence, with carts full of rocks being drawn along a central track that led out of the mine.

Other than the three workers Dallin had seen, no one else was about. The sound of heavy machinery reached his ears as he crept through the mine, following the track the carts moved along. He planned to find a central extraction zone, plant the grenades, and destroy the mine.

Dallin continued to walk alongside the rail, slowing now and again as he listened for sounds of more miners approaching. But other than seeing worker androids, he was alone.

He stopped when the path branched in three directions and then took the middle route through the largest entrance. The tunnel had been carved out by machines, and it was easy going as he jogged deeper underground.

Dallin walked for about a mile, when he heard voices up ahead. He backed up until he found a small door. He shoved it open and eased it almost shut behind him, leaving it open a fraction.

A moment later, two more aliens walked past. They were dressed in dark uniforms and wore hard hats and breathing masks. Their clothes weren’t dusty, and they carried tablets in their hands as opposed to equipment.

Dallin waited until they were out of sight, before continuing his journey.

The passageway he followed led into a large extraction chamber. Inside were a dozen worker androids carving out chunks of rock. They carried it to the ground, smashed it up, and scooped it into waiting carts.

There were a few masked workers standing around, monitoring the androids, but most of the workforce was machine-based.

Dallin remained in the shadows as he looked around. A large pipe ran along the ground and diverged into three sections. He tracked the pipe back, ran his scanner over it, and a grim smile crossed his face. He wasn’t sure what gas was running along these pipes, but it must provide the power for the lights and machinery. If he placed the explosives along it, it would trigger a fire on the supply line and ignite this whole place.

He had no clue how long the pipe was, but it should be enough to bring down the mine.

Dallin did a quick count of the grenades, then crept along beside one of the slow-moving carts, pausing now and again to make sure he hadn’t been spotted.

When the cart stopped, he placed the first grenade on the pipe and set the timer for twenty minutes. He repeated the exercise until ten grenades were in place.

He headed into the second corridor. As expected, this led to another extraction cave. He repeated the process, setting the timer and planting the grenades.

Dallin had ten minutes left before the first one ignited as he headed into the final corridor.

This area was quieter, and there were fewer worker androids about. Maybe they’d already mined out this site. Still, he wasn’t leaving it undisturbed. He needed this whole place destroyed, so nothing useful could remain.

Dallin had just set a grenade, when something hot sliced across his arm and pain shot up his bicep. He growled as he saw blood gushing from a wound on his arm.

He threw himself to the ground just as another shot skimmed his head. He scrambled behind a cart, shielding himself from more gunfire, and pulled his own weapon.

Dallin glanced over the top of the cart and growled his displeasure. Three masked workers were marching toward him, their weapons out. If this was the Siblet, they weren’t using their usual blaster sticks, but smaller guns with glowing tips.

He fired again, and hit one of the aliens, who yelped as he fell back and hit the ground. His mask fell off, revealing him to be a Siblet.

Dallin was lining up another shot, when something hard pressed into the back of his head. He instantly knew it was a gun.

He whirled around and fired, but his aim was off, and the Siblet who had caught him shot back, grazing his shoulder. Pain shot down Dallin’s arm as the bullet tore through his skin.

He growled and charged the Siblet, slamming into him and sending the gun flying. Their limbs tangled, and Dallin kept his enemy in a tight grip as they traded vicious blows.

It had been so long since he’d been in a fight, but it felt good to inflict pain on the Siblet.

He slammed the alien to the ground and was about to land the final blow, when a shout rang out.

“Move and you’re dead!”