Corridor Checkpoint

Withdrawing from the garden perimeter, I breached the lower door sweep back into the dark hallway. An upright tactical flashlight sat on the timber floorboards beside the boot bench. I slung my rifle across my chest plate and closed distance with the cylindrical casing. The diamond knurling offered reliable traction against my gauntlets. Applying steady pressure to the tailcap, I tested the spring resistance with a muted tactile click, keeping the beam disengaged. Bracing my boots against the oak floor, I settled back against the solid metal barrel to rest my servos. The corridor sightline remains secure.