Chapter 23: The Supply Mission Begins

The hum of the hover truck vibrated through Ethan's hands as it glided over Kynara's rugged landscape. He glanced at the console display in front of him, rows of numbers and blinking lights that monitored everything from the truck's engine temperature to the distance to his destination. It wasn't the sleek, high-speed experience of piloting a starship, but until his own ship was fully repaired, this was his best option for running supply missions. Renting vehicles from the mercenary guild wasn't cheap, but it kept him in business. The steady stream of credits kept his life moving forward, even if the progress felt slow.

Ethan shifted in the driver's seat and looked at the cargo hold status on the screen. Crates of medical supplies and energy cells, critical for the outpost he was headed toward, were securely fastened in the back. It wasn't the most glamorous job, but it paid well enough to fund his growing arsenal of equipment and save up for the much-needed repairs on his ship.

"Iris, give me a sitrep," Ethan muttered, his eyes fixed on the terrain that rolled by outside the window. Jagged rocks and dunes blurred into a sea of dust and stone.

Iris's voice came through the truck's speakers, cold and mechanical. "We are on course. Estimated time to destination: seven hours, thirty-eight minutes. Primary hazards include terrain instability and potential weather anomalies. No current threats detected."

Ethan nodded. He could trust Iris's analysis, though her emotionless delivery always left him feeling unsettled. He wasn't sure if he liked or hated how indifferent she sounded about everything, from deadly threats to mundane updates. Still, she had never steered him wrong.

His mind drifted to the list of repairs he needed to make on his ship. Every time he took a mission like this, he felt the weight of his busted starship looming over him. The sooner he got it back in working order, the better. He'd grown tired of depending on rented vehicles and jobs limited to the surface. The skies were where he belonged.

"How much longer until we hit the mountain pass?" Ethan asked.

"Four hours," Iris replied without a hint of inflection. "There is a 42.3% chance of encountering inclement weather along the route. Additionally, there has been recent bandit activity reported within the region."

Ethan narrowed his eyes at the mention of bandits. Kynara's lawless wilderness was crawling with mercenaries, thieves, and raiders. These simple supply missions were sometimes the perfect bait for an ambush. He had already tangled with low-life raiders a few times since arriving on Kynara, and the last thing he needed was another run-in with a group of them when he was carrying valuable cargo.

"Iris, what's the likelihood of a bandit attack today?" he asked, leaning forward to study the terrain map on the console.

"There is a 27.6% chance of hostile forces intercepting us, given the reports from the guild and regional surveillance," Iris responded coldly.

"Alright," Ethan muttered. He wasn't about to take any chances. "Keep scanning for ambush points and heat signatures. I want to be alerted the moment something seems off."

"Affirmative," Iris replied.

Ethan settled into his seat, letting his mind wander while keeping one eye on the terrain outside. As the landscape became more jagged and rocky, the air grew denser with dust. The mountains that loomed in the distance were treacherous enough on their own, but add a few bandits to the mix, and this mission could quickly go sideways.

He mentally checked his new gear. His dual laser pistols rested in holsters at his sides, and the plasma dagger was hidden securely under his jacket. The new equipment gave him a sense of confidence, but he wasn't foolish enough to think it made him invincible. Every tool he had, from the weapons to his armor's upgraded HUD system, was a step toward keeping him alive.

Hours passed, and the dull rumble of the hover truck was the only sound, aside from the occasional chirp from the console as Iris updated him on minor terrain shifts or weather patterns. It was monotonous, but that was a good thing. So far, no bandits.

His hands tightened on the wheel as the jagged mountains came into view, their craggy peaks shrouded in dust. The road ahead would take him through the narrow mountain pass, a well-known route for travelers moving between settlements. It was also a perfect spot for an ambush.

"Iris, any signs of movement?" Ethan asked, his voice tense.

"Scanning," Iris responded. A few moments passed before she replied again. "No immediate threats detected within a three-kilometer radius. Continuing monitoring."

Ethan breathed a small sigh of relief. Even though everything was calm for the moment, he knew better than to let his guard down. The narrow passes ahead were notoriously tricky to navigate, with sudden drop-offs and sharp turns that made maneuvering large vehicles difficult. If bandits were going to strike, they'd do it in those tight spaces, where their smaller, faster bikes would have the advantage.

As the truck climbed higher into the mountains, the wind picked up, howling through the narrow valleys and throwing gusts of dust across the road. Ethan squinted through the visor of his helmet, the HUD providing a clear view of the path ahead despite the swirling sand.

"Storm is forming to the north," Iris stated. "Probability of encountering a sandstorm has increased to 61.4%."

"Great," Ethan muttered, gripping the steering wheel tighter. "And bandits?"

"Heat signatures detected 4.2 kilometers ahead. Mobile units, likely bandits on hoverbikes."

Ethan's heart rate spiked. "How many?"

"Four vehicles. They are approaching at high speed. Likelihood of engagement: 89.3%."

Ethan swore under his breath and pressed a button on the console to engage the truck's energy shields. The reinforced vehicle could take a beating, but he wasn't about to let it go unprotected.

"Alright, let's make this quick," he said, his voice grim. "Engage defense systems and prepare for evasive maneuvers."

"Defensive measures online," Iris confirmed.

Ethan could feel the hum of the shields activating as he pushed the truck forward. The heat signatures of the bandits appeared on his HUD, closing in fast. His analytical mind raced through possible strategies. He had the firepower to fight back, but in this terrain, the bandits would have the advantage in speed and maneuverability. He needed to out think them.

"They're coming in fast from both sides," Ethan noted, watching the red blips on his HUD. "We're going to have to shake them before they can get too close."

"Engaging countermeasures," Iris said coldly.

The truck's flare system deployed, shooting out bursts of light and heat into the air. The bandits, likely using low-tech targeting systems, would be blinded temporarily. Ethan took the opportunity to accelerate, veering sharply to the right to avoid a volley of laser fire that shot past the truck.

One of the bandits sped up, coming alongside the truck. Ethan gritted his teeth, pulling out his laser pistol and firing through the window. The shots connected with the bike, sending the rider spiraling into the rocks.

"Three remaining," Iris said.

Ethan swerved again, narrowly dodging another attack as the bandits regrouped. His fingers itched for his plasma dagger, but he knew it wasn't time to get up close just yet. The rocky path was narrowing, and the storm was making visibility worse by the second. He needed to get through this quickly or risk being overrun.