Discovery: Initial Batch

“Cecile, how many plasma cannons were you able to complete?”

“I completed three and a half, Jarvis.”

“Oh, goodie,” Fenton said, shaking his head. “What’s the benefit of the unfinished one?”

As a groan escaped Jarvis’s lips, his fingertips massaged his eyes. “Go man the wall, Fenton. Once there, order a handful of the best marksmen to the nest.”

“I’ll see to it,” Fenton said, his gaze lingering on Cecile.

After Fenton left, Jarvis’s attention drifted toward the screen. His finger traced a few of the hideous monsters lining the monitor. Jarvis enlarged the image and studied one of the new critters. “It looks like the beasts have diversified. We’re fortunate that Tarian’s notes contained detailed descriptions of our foes. We’ll focus on the newest monstrosities before their rampage starts.”

“What are they?”

“Tarian called them minotaurs.”

“After all these assaults, you’d think I’d be accustomed to this.” Cecile batted Jarvis’s hands away from the screen and magnified the picture. She glanced away, biting her lip. “However, that beast appears to combine the traits of a bull and a man.”

Jarvis nodded and restored the image to its regular size. “Based on Tarian’s logs, they are stronger than you might imagine. Still, that original crew didn’t have our weaponry. Your cannons should cut through those monsters.”

“What should the gunners concentrate on once they’ve destroyed the minotaurs?”

“Target the biggest threats, while the automated turrets handle the green-skinned menace.”

With a grunt, Cecile examined the image. She pointed at another section of the screen and sighed. “I guess that means these are the secondary targets for the cannons.”

“Unless something bigger emerges.”

“Are you expecting a dragon to rise over that horizon?”

“That’s a sample of the fanciful beasts attempting to annihilate us. The moment the marksmen arrive, drag them up to the crow’s nest.” Jarvis rushed for the exit, pulling to a halt in the doorframe as he licked his lips. “Do your cannons require a team?”

“With this configuration, they do.”

Jarvis hit the frame and drew in a long breath. “Given the number of creatures massing out there, I doubt Fenton could spare that many.”

“I suppose we can make the weapons work with just a pair of gunners.”

“I don’t care how you get the numbers. Find them and move!”

“On it,” Cecile said, squeezing past him.

Jarvis nodded, turned, and bolted down the corridor. He scurried to the bank of elevators and waited for one to arrive. When it dinged, he walked inside and jabbed the button for the top floor, and the car shot up the shaft. When it reached the nest, he strode out and ran to the hatches, waiting for the plasma cannons...