34.      Moose

Howard responds to an emergency raptor outbreak at the Vulcan colony, using drones and busters to track and contain a pack that has breached the perimeter fence. The raptors evade capture and escape into the wilderness, but no colonists are killed. The chapter concludes with reflections on the colony's ongoing challenges and environmental beauty.

Howard is interrupted during a call with Dr. Sheehy when Stéphane alerts him to raptors loose in town after breaching the fence. Howard mobilizes eighteen units—two busters and multiple drones—to track and contain them. Despite initial search efforts, the raptors remain hidden until one attacks a surveillance drone, revealing they've sheltered in a storage shed. When drones surround the shed, the raptors flee, digging under the perimeter fence to escape into the wilderness. Howard decides to let them go rather than pursue, and Stéphane confirms no colonist casualties occurred. Later, Howard meets with Colonel Butterworth, who expresses frustration with mounting complications. They discuss defensive upgrades (metal rods twenty feet deep spaced six inches apart to prevent digging) and Dr. Sheehy's progress on a parasite detection device called the "Cupid Bug." The council has approved hunting brontos for meat, and Howard has begun brewing a possible Jameson replacement. The chapter closes with Howard observing a spectacular sunset from Vulcan's surface, appreciating the planet's beauty while acknowledging its dangers.