Tech, on the other hand, had few qualms about showing off. He grinned, producing a handheld , gun-shaped device. "This beauty is a micro fusion-powered boring laser. Not effective at clearing in volume or quantity, but highly efficient at spot-specific penetration. It will suffice for creating handholds, or weakening the overall structure."

He clicked the safety back and forth between stable and fir--er, boring modes. "Just, uh, don't aim it at the coral."