>>5243837>>5244153>>5244216>>5244740>>5247503~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Three things happened once Alberico crept within twenty paces of the craft. First, the bulbous canopy hinged open like a coffin, exhaling with a quiet hiss. Next, he heard Felix yell "Captain!," his voice cracking from sudden panic. Then his vision flared white. He felt heat on his face and breathed in a bitter lungful of burning ash, stumbling blindly back into the soft dirt.
As his vision recovered, he saw Felix looking down at him. The concern he saw on his sergeant's weathered face was disturbing. Whatever it was that he had just experienced, it had clearly been another close call. Alberico sat himself up, signaled all-clear to his men, and shifted his attention to the patch of ground that Felix was gesturing towards. There was a new pile of burning debris there. Looking closer, he recognized pieces that resembled greaves....or a perhaps even the edge of helmet? One of the melted chunks on the ground certainly looked like a sword.
"He was less than two paces from you sir. I didn't even have time to bring up my guard." Felix explained unhelpfully.
"Who?"
"One of them tall fuckers. He was sailing through the air like one of Mordon's saints before he this happened." Felix gestured vaguely again, kicking at the burn residue with his boots. "No idea what got him, but it wasn't me and it sure as shit wasn't one of our boys"
Alberico nodded, but he felt a shudder run down his spine. Tn minutes ago, he had seen a blinding lance cut through the treeline and evaporate one the tall raiders with a soundless flash. Whoever it was, he and his company were in their debt twice - perhaps even thrice if they had also been responsible for downing the vessel in front of them.
"Gather up our boys, and get the other two sergeants together."
"Sir?"
"I have an inkling that we're going to find out who helped us make our pay today."
