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Cass nodded, and Naomi punched the cycle button The outer door closed, and for two tense minutes the air pressure equalized Everyone other than Naoun at the inner door when it finally opened

There was nothing on the other side but a short corridor that ended at another elevator, and a second hallway going left at the e,” Corin said “Five , a meter and a half or so wide There’s a hatch, but it only closes and locks in the event of eency decomp Or if someone in the security station hits the override”

“Then that’s our first target,” Holden said “Cass, e go in you break right and control the security station Juarez, you go left and try to draw any return fire away froet our hands on Ashford If we put a gun to him, I think this ends i e call Taking control of the ship will be your bit”

“Pretty shitty plan, El Tee,” Juarez said with a grin

“You have a better one?”

“Nope, so let’s get it done” Juarez pulled the rifle to his shoulder and netic boot shuffle Cass followed close behind, her hand on his back Holden took third, with Corin bringing up the rear Nao her tool case nervously

When they reached the junction, Juarez signaled the stop, then leaned around the corner He pulled back and said, “Looks clear to the bridge entry point When we go, go fast Stop for nothing Maxiression wins the day here”

After a round of assents froo,” darted around the corner, and was immediately shot

It was so unexpected, Cass actually took a step back into Holden Juarez screamed in pain and launched himself back into their hallway Bullets sla silence of vacuuunfire and bullet irabbed Juarez by his arunfire With Cass covering the intersection, Holden checked Juarez over for injuries He had gunshot wounds in his hip, upper arether they’d bleed him out in short order Holden pulled him back down the corridor to the airlock He pointed at the eesture and nodded

“Do what you can,” he said, and moved back down the hallway to Cass

When he put his hand on her back to let her knoas there, she said, “Based on voluht assault rifles and sidearh that”

“Fuck!” Holden yelled in frustration The universe kept waiting until he was thoroughly beaten, then tossing hiain

“New plan?” Corin asked

“Shoot back, I guess,” he said, then leaned partway around the corner and fired off three quick shots He ducked back in time to avoid a fusillade that tore up the bulkhead behind hi slowed, Cass launched herself across the opening to the other side A riskya hit, and started leaning out to lay down fire with her assault rifle When they drove her back with return fire, Corin leaned around Holden and fired off a few shots

Before she could pull back out of the line of fire, a round went through the ar and black sealing gel into the air

“Not hit, not hit,” she yelled, and Cass leaned out to fire again to keep the defenders off balance