Brale ran down the corridor to the emergency evac room. He opened the door and slid down the pole to the exit hatch. He kicked the latch with his foot, and then bent down, unscrewed the hatch, and jerked it open. He dropped five feet to the outer hatch and proceeded as before. Daylight flooded the room. He dropped another five feet to the top of the tower.
Viella was right behind him, until they came to the final hatch—the roof was too far for her five foot frame. She stuck the handgun in her pocket and dropped the rifle to Brale, and then she lowered herself through the hatch holding onto the rim until her feet touched the roof. She let go, moved away from the opening, and crouched down. “See anything?” she asked.
“No,” replied Brale. “Fortunately we’re out of the line of sight of the turret.”
Just then Sam dropped to the roof, and then Tillo, and then Sweyn.