hiroko slips into the chopper's pilot seat. she flips a bunch of switches and the turbines rise in volume from a low whine to a dull the heli-jet flies pretty much like a standard helicopter. hiroko pulls-back on the collective, and the turbines' pitch changes from a throaty growl to a high-pitched whine. hiroko's p.o.v. through the canopy dome, we see broken tusk climbing the navigation tower, with the aliens close behind. broken tusk's p.o.v. the grinning face of the young queen gets suddenly closer as the heli- jet is propelled towards the metal structure. hiroko pushes on the stick. the heli-jet pulls away. then tilts violently to one side, engines desperately trying to compensate. hiroko wrestles the overtaxed controls. broken tusk pulls out a pulse-rifle from the rear. he quickly takes stock of it. hiroko throws the joystick forward. gauges and other instruments are going crazy as the heli-jet rides the turbulence out. the heli-jet's bucking like a bronco now, and they're losing height rapidly. hiroko and broken tusk are hurled around the cockpit like rag dolls. the glass cracks with the impact. the canopy implodes. a hail of glass shards rip through the cockpit, spraying across hiroko and cutting her skin. she screams. hiroko moves her head, and groans. there's a nasty gash across her forehead. she turns to broken tusk. the door frame on his side is buckled and twisted. part of the metal has sheared off, it's sharp end impaling him through the shoulder. the predator coughs luminous green blood.