Supiluliumas's promise to Enuratu, queen of Paititi, that she would see the night sky of mechanical stars went unfulfilled. At sunset, storm clouds once again swept over the Amazon rainforest without warning, shrouding eastern Peru and western Brazil as they poured electrical charge and condensed water down upon the dark green jungle. The humid, stifling air was squeezed from the soil by the falling rain, mingling with plant spores, bacteria, and other microorganisms to form a pleasantly fresh scent.
Under the guidance of the Praetorian Guard, tribal warriors learned to use laser firearms. The stone wall used as a target was covered in dense, scorched pits, and the breeze mixed with fine rain carried up the stench of burned rock, making the training ground smell a little better. Enuratu arranged for the non-combat personnel among her followers to carry food and homemade liquor, providing the tribal warriors with a hearty meal. They planned to set out at dawn the next day. Rain or shine, before sunlight illuminated the forest, they would use their familiarity with the terrain to raid the nearby Trinity ammunition depot and command post.
Camila and her squad did not take part, but they still accepted all the Paititi food except the homemade liquor, stuffing it into their mouths alongside protein bars. Several days of intense fighting had left the squad exhausted. After receiving Supiluliumas's permission, Camila ordered her team to set up their camp beds and rest. By firelight, she compared maps with the positioning system, guiding companions who were not present through the communicator—when Enuratu was about to sleep in the early hours of the morning, she received a report from the tribal warriors. A vehicle, impossible to make out clearly and trailing black smoke, was struggling along the muddy path outside. Before she could