The crack ran up the ravine wall. Caleb backed away from the opening moss with the recovered plasma rifle held in his left hand. He braced the casing against his body and kept its muzzle clear of Rina.
She struck the bulkhead with the heel of her rifle stock. The iron rang, but the seam stayed closed.
"Leave it," Caleb called. "Get above the mud."
Rina looked at the widening split beneath him, then climbed onto the nearest stone shelf. Kei kept his rifle on the dark beyond the ruined Mimic. His broken optic showed no image; he had to follow the muzzle with his eyes.
Taichi pumped his scatter-gun on the right ridge. Gravel slid under his burned boot. He moved the weight onto his other leg before the next tremor reached him.
