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The grim expressions surrounding her spoke volumes.

“I understand. The safety of the many outweigh the few.” Her eyes burned and her heart broke.

She’d tried to not dwell on what they found in the chasm. Though no matter how she tried she couldn’t shove aside the nagging feeling that she was somehow connected to those lost souls. At the very least there were people out there hoping to be rescued one day, like she had. The terrible tragedy of it all stabbed like a knife.

“Wecanget your people out of the tunnel.” Thorac tried to smile.

“Yes. Let’s discuss that,” Payim encouraged, his expression twisted with regret. “The stasis pods are in one of the old lava tubes farther down the canyon near the site of the Miran Sona wreck.”

“How many people are we talking about?” Scala asked.

“Three hundred and fifty-eight,” she replied, then again grimaced, seeing their stunned expressions.

“Three hundred. We don’t have nearly the quarters,” Thorac finally said with a frown.

“But if they stay in their stasis pods we could shift things out of primary storage and fill that bay,” Scala mused.

“We still may need to scuttle some supplies,” Thorac added, not looking pleased.

Thunder gestured.

“You’re right. We could pack the unused quarters. Being in stasis, I doubt they’ll mind the cramped quarters,” Payim agreed with the furry man.

“True.” She nodded, praying this would work out. The thought of leaving anyone behind, even until more help came, made her anxious.

“It’s settled,” Scala agreed, then swiped a finger on the computer strapped to his arm. “Remain cloaked and take us down the canyon. Stop when you reach the Miran Sona wreckage,” he instructed whoever was on the bridge.

“Received,” they replied.

“I don’t know what time it is but there’s a tide twice a day. It swept us into the chasm,” she warned.

“The tunnels are under water when the tide is up, and you’ll want to consider the influx of water could wash someone deeper into the tunnel as well. I don’t know where the passage emerges,” Payim clarified.

“I never dared explore deeper,” she added with a shake of her head.

“The retrieval team will shell up. I don’t think the water poses an issue.” Thorac shook his head.

“Good, but don’t underestimate this place. If there are any quakes please get out of the tunnel.” She looked at Thorac then Scala. As much as she wanted to save her people, no one else should risk their life.

“That’s a real threat. As the big volcano grows more active there will be more tremors,” Payim relayed.

“We picked up the disturbance before that small one erupted.” Faktil nodded in understanding.

“How long until we have to worry about the large volcano?” Scala asked.

“I thought we had at least a month, but I might have been wrong.” She shook her head, unable to really say given yesterday’s quake and the way the big guy was belching.

“We are already on our way down the canyon. We won’t delay collecting the stasis pods. Until we arrive, we should eat.” Thorac pulled his plate closer and dug into his food.

“Good,” Faktil agreed.

She smiled at Payim, content with what they’d planned, and continued eating.

Payim quo Desero

“So, they’re wearing a shell on top of their own exoskeleton,” Elena whispered as they stood in the storage bay watching the Osivoire team prepare to head out.

“Yes. The combat shell isn’t just armor, it can be used in the vacuum of space or underwater, it amplifies their own strength, and more, I’m sure,” Payim explained.