"Get aboard!"
Volando carried Euten through the Thunderhawk Gunship's open hatch, his heavy footsteps thudding against the metal deck.
He carefully settled Euten into the innermost reinforced seat and quickly fastened her restraints.
"Stay here. Don't move."
Strange and the other warriors filed aboard. Before the hatch closed, the last two fired one final suppressive volley toward the hangar entrance, then hauled hard on the hatch handle. The hydraulic system hissed as it sealed the heavy door shut.
"Start the engines! Take off now!"
Strange shouted toward the cockpit, holding his gun in one hand as he watched the hangar entrance through a side viewport.
The Thunderhawk Gunship's engines gave a low roar. Its plasma thrusters shifted from dark red to blazing white, and the hull trembled slightly.
Behind them, the battered hangar doors were forced open again. Dozens of controlled Auxilia soldiers poured inside, their faces filled with hollow fanaticism. The Plasma Pistols and Meltaguns in their hands spat destructive beams the instant they came within range.
Blue-white plasma bolts and searing jets of energy struck the armored Shell of the rising Thunderhawk, bursting into dazzling ripples of energy and leaving blackened melt scars.
The thick ceramite composite armor withstood most of the direct hits, but the sustained impacts made the hull sway slightly. Brief alarms sounded inside the cabin.
"Contact Orbit and ground aviation Command Headquarters! Request emergency air support and a clear flight corridor!" Volando urgently ordered over the Communications Channel as he checked Euten's restraints. "We need an escort to clear our route until we reach the Star Fortress's defensive perimeter!"
"Understood!"
The Thunderhawk Gunship lifted off, its powerful thrust pressing everyone back into their seats.
It shot up through the underground hangar's launch shaft in a near-vertical climb, smashed through the camouflage panels concealing the