In another body, I felt rounds rip through vital components and rupture core systems. Really felt it, with the visceral punch that visualisation couldn’t provide. But though the suit was dead, I was still online – and that meant I was still in the fight.

Even further out, an armoured hand from my spare caught Bates’ next blow and pushed him off the Ensign. A heavy blow from a wrench hammered an instinctive parry, but then I had a combat knife out in high guard. His handgun barely scratched my chest plating, and I went in hard and fast with a series of attacks to force him back.

Dim LED panels revealed USNE ballistic armour, with data codes engraved into the triple-circle insignia. The shuttle’s much-reduced computing resources cost me three parries and half a metre of ground, but it came through and it presented me with the file for Special Operations Command Specialist Lott, KIA six months ago.

Damn it.