Above them, the faint, distant hum of the Vanguard choppers holding the perimeter abruptly sputtered and faded into the storm, their avionics completely fried.
"EMP," Kaya hissed, her eyes darting into the absolute, suffocating darkness of the ravine. "They just cut off our air support and our comms."
"Wife," Veer said, his voice unusually tense. He was standing perfectly still, his twin blades drawn, his golden eyes scanning the canopy. "We are surrounded. I can hear them breathing. Dozens of them. They are in the trees."
Before Kaya could give the order to fall back, a harsh, metallic crackle echoed through the forest. It wasn't coming from a person. It was coming from heavily concealed, military-grade PA speakers mounted high in the towering pine trees.
"I must admit, Commander, your arrival is ahead of schedule."
