Chapter 3: The Siege
With the young man patched up, Dax and Lyra prepared the ranch for an assault. Drones armed with makeshift lasers patrolled the perimeter, and tripwires were rigged with small explosives. Lyra calibrated the defense systems, muttering about outdated tech while Dax distributed what weapons and ammunition he had.
The first wave hit just before dawn. Raiders in repurposed mining suits stormed the ranch, their vehicles kicking up trails of red dust. Plasma bolts lit up the dim Martian morning as the automated drones opened fire. Lyra picked off targets with deadly precision while Dax manned a turret bolted to the roof of the main dome.
Despite their defenses, the raiders kept coming. Explosions rocked the ranch as they breached one of the outer barriers. Dax fought to keep panic at bay as he barked orders to the few settlers who had come to help defend the property. Lyra's voice cut through the chaos.
"They're testing us! We hold here, or we lose everything."
By the time the sun fully rose over the red horizon, the ground was littered with debris and bodies. The raiders had retreated, but Dax knew they'd be back—and in greater numbers.
As he surveyed the damage, Lyra approached, her expression grim.
"We need to strike first," she said. "Find their camp and take them out before they regroup."
Dax nodded reluctantly. The Red Frontier wasn't about playing defense. It was about surviving—at any cost.
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