Keysean came awake just as night set, his still-heavy lids telling him how deep a sleep he had been in. He jumped to his feet, sinking slightly into the sponge-clay below, and reached for the door of the fort with one, half-grown hand.
"Chill, oldie, I'd stay in here a minute if I was you." The Red E's voice came from atop a ladder leading to the fort's battlement. "Can't believe you don't hear that."
Keysean blinked a few more times, assuring himself that he was awake. He couldn't really hear much of anything at first, but he could feel an odd pressure sweeping overhead that wasn't the hand of sleep still upon him. The pressure followed a loud droning hum that continued on for some supposed distance only to wheel in place and return slowly.
"The hell is that?" asked Keysean.
"Federal
