The action really starts to ratchet up from here on. As the Klaxon rings out, the base AI is telling cadets to go to the “tunnel.”

Various personnel are running about getting to their stations. Marines are directing the students and the feeling that all hell is about to break loose pervades.

Lasky and Silva get to the tunnel and are directed by Mehaffey to find their squad.

They look up to see the space tether through a roof window. An impending doom awaits.

What’s this?

Is that a Drop Pod?

It is indeed and there’s an ODST now. Lasky realizes they are under attack. But by whom? Tension rises.

Dima panics and tells the squad that she can get them on the car going up the space tether.

She’s ordered to stay, first by Orenski, then by the marine who is stationed at the car entrance. She uses her mother’s clout as Secretary of FleetCom to aboard. This is the first time we see a cadet directly use their family’s position as leverage.

The cadets look up at the escaping car.

Next: Review part 7 Tethered to Rubble