The first Pioneer Construction Vehicle reached Ironford before noon.
Hans was already waiting inside one of the cleared freight yards along the western side of the district.
The place had survived the previous day's fighting better than most of the structures farther east. Two warehouses remained usable, although several windows had broken and one loading shelter had partially collapsed. The surrounding yard covered several blocks of pavement, with enough open space between the buildings and the main road for armored vehicles to move without forcing recovery traffic through the same lane.
More importantly, it sat along the secured route back toward Westgate.
The Engineers had spent the morning checking the surrounding ground and the remaining structures. White markings crossed several sections of pavement where damaged drainage covers and cracked concrete needed work, while another set marked the location selected for the PCV.
Hans looked east.
