Maybe, an explosion

"Five minutes to detonation," said the message on the display.

"Do you think it will work?" Father Alcor asked.

"That's the third time you've asked in the last two minutes," I answered.

"That was Mira, not me."

"No, that was you as you ducked out of the kitchen. We still haven't received our coffee, mind you."

"Bah."

Mira and I watched as Father Alcor stepped into the kitchen. She leaned closer once Father Alcor was out of sight. "But do you think it will work?"

"Waiting for Nova will be futile if it doesn't," I said.

"I see."

The uncertainty was gnawing at me. The countdown had started two hours ago, and my nervousness grew as the timer ticked down. I did think everything would go according to plan. Cymmand and I talked the previous night. I was surprised she took a break, but I decided not to point it out. She mentioned her team had executed hundreds of simulations about where and how to detonate the missiles. The extra missiles from the fallen mechs allowed the engineers to use eight instead of four, which made for a more optimistic simulation. Everything sounded promising, but the nervousness didn't abate. I kept wondering whether they had forgotten something. Or whether anything was wrong with the bombs. Fate had a habit of being whimsical.

Eae's preparations were close to completion, and the scavengers hauling Mihr and Tartys should land within two hours. There was a question regarding the repair bays. Several repair bays were decommissioned as Asbestos lost its Angels. Cerviel and Eae currently occupied the only working ones. To solve the problem, the engineers demolished several buildings close to the Command Center. The proximity would allow them to work on the mechs, with only low gravity slowing them down.

The food scavengers were also making progress. Food collection points had formed in each of the remaining domes, and the scavengers' focus shifted to dividing the food instead of finding it. While a large amount of food had been retrieved, enough to survive until the rescue ships arrived, some believed there was more to be found. They would likely return to Raifin's remains once the all-clear has been given.

"Three minutes to detonation. Initializing venting procedures." The display showed an invisible force grabbing hold of everything in the dome. Trees snapped in half as trash cans, lamps, and everything loose were thrown sideways.

"Here." Father Alcor said as he put two steaming mugs on the table. "You'd answer her instead of the one who raised you? What an ungrateful daughter I have."

"I knew you would hear." I grinned as I took a sip.

"Bah."

"What's the odds of the shards damaging the other domes?" Mira asked.

"Hmm." I put down the mug. "Not high. The domes are tougher than we think. Cymmand said the simulation wouldn't work unless they removed some of the dome's inner layering. I don't think the shrapnel will have enough force to threaten the other domes."

"Makes sense. Considering how many of those we've lost over the past year, I was curious."

"It shows you how fierce the demon's attacks can be." Mira nodded before picking up her mug.

"Two minutes to detonation."

"I will miss the clinic." She sighed.

"Oh yeah. Blowing the dome puts you out of a job."

"Yup. We can't treat people in a vacuum."

"I'm surprised the clinic isn't vacuum-rated. You'd think a building of its importance would be."

Mira shook her head. "There's too much foot traffic to consider that. I believe it's only the Command Center and the Overseer's house are vacuum-rated."

"Makes sense. Very few people would think about going on with their daily lives in case of a breach. I guess that means the old man is on forced retirement as well."

"I can spread the Good Word from any place. Not like the heathens are listening." He scoffed.

"Maybe some vacation is in order then," Mira said with a smile.

"In that case, I would prefer to spend it without fearing for my life," I said.

"One minute until detonation. Finalizing venting procedures." The chaos inside the dome died out as the wind's invisible hand ceased its destruction. An eerie calmness fell over Raifin's interior and likely anybody watching it. The destruction of the other domes was a chaotic affair. This was the first time it happened according to a script. It was as fascinating as it was morbid.

"Thirty seconds until detonation. Disabling anti-gravity generators."

"Here we go," I mumbled more to myself than anybody else. Cymmand and her team were likely priming the bombs from their post inside the Command Center while watching for any last-second defects.

Ten seconds... Mira's hand wrapped itself around mine and gripped tightly. I didn't say a word. Our eyes were locked to the display.

Three...

Two...

I only gave a little squeeze of my own.

One...

Six explosions simultaneously burst around the Raifin dome. The camera feeds flashing static betrayed the forces at play. A myriad of cracks spread throughout the dome while a circular crack raced along its edges.

"Phase two in three, two, one..." Two explosions underneath the dome's apex punched it upward. Whatever supports refused to let go were sheared off as the glass half-moon left Asbestos. Its trajectory wasn't the fastest, and the dome would be visible for some time, but Cymmand and her team had done their job.

"And then there were three." I blew out a breath as I leaned back in the chair.

"Will that be enough?" Mira asked.

"I think so. The scavengers should be able to bring in the other mechs. I suspect they'll move Eae out soon enough as well."

"And Cerviel?"

I shook my head. "I don't know. Cymmand's focus has been all over the place. I didn't want to bother her while they were preparing to blow the dome. I'll check in with her a bit later."

"Then... there isn't much else that we can do?"

"Only hope. And pray..."