12 – Pushing BoundariesHector surveyed the forward encampment, frowning. Mathews had ordered the technicians to forgo most of the usual fortifications—only the sentry turrets and a few low-flying patrol drones. He understood why, what with the rift still quickening and threatening to close early, but it still made him nervous. Evie had confirmed Bobby’s calculations on the rift’s pulses, and Hector had a timer ticking down in the upper-right-hand corner of his AUI: 19:23:54.It wasn’t much time, but if they were lucky, it would be enough for everyone to make some money and potentia. At the thought of potentia, Hector turned toward Gomer and his techs, setting up their processing stations. He wanted his share from the reaper before Mathews laid out whatever her plan was.//You received 54 units of potentia when you last killed a reaper.//Hector snorted. Yeah, but I only had to share with Yoshi and Brennan. He surveyed the gathered raid team. The security team members were watching the perimeter, like him. Perry to the north, and Kristy on the south side—a shadowy silhouette against the distant glow of the rift. Freddy and Red were on the western line, staring into the deep darkness beneath the acid-willow boughs. Everyone else was in the cleared area at the center of the turrets—Mathews, Bobby, Paige, and the thirteen techs.As he checked them all off, he kept a mental tally. “Twenty-one.”//Security personnel receive a larger percentage.//As if she’d read his mind, Mathews spoke through comms, “Coming around with your potentia cut, Hector. I’ll hand out your orders at the same time. Keep alert.”Hector turned back to the dark plain on his side of the camp. He’d seen shapes moving out there, highlighted by his helmet’s enhanced multi-spectrum feed. Most were distant packs of lurkers, but he’d seen other, more dangerous creatures—even a floating “spine bag.” (...)