Under combat conditions a Rockwell drop-pod takes roughly eighty seconds to reach ground from a thermospheric deployment.
Corporal Owen Quinn fell like rain with the rest of the brigade into the roiling cauldron of fire below.
Buffeting blasts showed countermeasures weren't dispersing the flak as they should.
Tight in his pod, Quinn burst-scanned the theatre for their central targeting system.
Kurt's pod took a direct hit, flared once and vanished.
Westman fared little better, streamers of gas spiralled out, ignited, his pod bursting only metres away.
Flashing polymer shards scythed the control surfaces from Quinn's pod; landing was no longer an option.
The tracking emplacement swung into view below him, intermittent streams of searing plasma erupting from its core.
Directional thrust still partially operational, Quinn retargeted and increased velocity.
Enveloped in bright flames, vision obscured, Quinn prayed he'd done enough.
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