Ground Anchor

Internal pressure equalized. Hydraulic resistance cleared. I felt the dry, loose earth beneath my footplates. Not a simulated testbed. Solid ground. I initiated a deliberate test cycle, shifting my center of mass forward by two centimeters. A small pebble cracked under my right heel. Beside me stood a miniature green foliage sprig, rooted into the dust, and tiny static figures near my left base. The horizon was stable. Structural integrity confirmed at maximum tolerance. I settled back into position and locked the knee joints, holding the line.