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{{a|opcoboone|}}{{smallcaps|As a blood-red sun}} dipped to the the rim of the world, three silhouettes watched the procession thunder across the desert miles below them. An eighteen-wheeler operations battletruck, flanked by a pair of [[COO]] picket gunships, kicked up a wide pillar of dust. It billowed and hung over the desert for miles behind. | {{a|opcoboone|}}{{smallcaps|As a blood-red sun}} dipped to the the rim of the world, three silhouettes watched the procession thunder across the desert miles below them. An eighteen-wheeler operations battletruck, flanked by a pair of [[COO]] picket gunships, kicked up a wide pillar of dust. It billowed and hung over the desert for miles behind. A thin track snaked away from the convoy. It ran ten flat miles through desiccated scrubland to a low-lying, dusty settlement. The encampment was ringed by a network of towers. | ||
<div style="text-indent: 20px;">''And so it is written.'' | <div style="text-indent: 20px;">''And so it is written.'' | ||
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On the ridge, the tallest figure stood in the centre, shrouded by billowing canvas. The smaller outriders sat either side astride dirt bikes. | On the ridge, the tallest figure stood in the centre, shrouded by billowing canvas. The smaller outriders sat either side astride dirt bikes. | ||
Presently, the observation towers flashed coordinated pulses of light: three long, three short, three long. | |||
The tall one said, “that’s the signal. It is time.” | |||
“Are you sure, Opco?” said the left-hand rider. | “Are you sure, Opco?” said the left-hand rider. | ||
“Yes, Algy, I’m sure | “Yes, Algy, I’m sure: S. O. S.” | ||
“But, boss, that’s ‘dash-dash-dash, dot-dot-dot, dash-dash-dash’.” | “But, boss, that’s ‘dash-dash-dash, dot-dot-dot, dash-dash-dash’.” |