‘Half our forces were still on board when it was thrown out into space,’ said the second Astingir, his hide as dark as the scorch-marks on his armour.

‘I am aware of that, Centaurion Elkon,’ Aquillon whickered. ‘And there are ten more fallen here.’

‘We can help you,’ Ryan said. ‘Help you to stop this.’

‘Oh, I can assure you that “this” will be stopped.’

‘Legate, please.’ Masst approached her. ‘While scanning for our brothers and sisters, we detected a battle fleet on its way from the Herdworld.’

‘On its way here?’ Aquillon turned to him sharply. ‘Finally! Our work is recognised!’

Masst hesitated, shifting from hoof to hoof. ‘We are ordered to stand down.’

‘We are deemed in breach of peacetime protocols,’ Elkon went on. ‘A Securing Force has been sent to apprehend us.’

‘And you, Legate …’ Masst looked her in the eyes. ‘You have been relieved of your rank and right to lead us.’

Aquillon stared at her subordinates. Ryan held his breath, the capsule of Nitro-90 cold in his clammy fist.

‘The Securing Force is not yet here,’ Aquillon said, frighteningly calm. ‘And messages from the Herdworld are hard to hear over such great distances …’

‘Please, Legate …’

‘You saw the detector readings yourself, Centaurion. The Quantum Anvil has been compromised. The Wraiths are freed.’

Masst tried again. ‘We don’t know for sure what the readings mean—’

‘Which is why we must go on.’ Aquillon gestured to her troops, who threw Graham and Yaz to the floor, still covering them with their weapons. ‘Masst, you and Centaurion Elkon will eliminate the Wraith assets and hold this area, while I lead the campaign onward.’ Without another word, she pushed past the centaurions and her gaunt, golden warriors trailed after her.

As they did so, Ryan realised just what she’d meant by ‘eliminate the Wraith assets’.

Graham and Yaz had started crawling towards the barricade. Elkon raised a hoof and chunks of stone were blasted from the floor between them, and they both held still as statues.

‘Masst,’ said Ryan urgently, ‘mate, think about this. You can’t kill these people.’

‘Legate Aquillon orders it,’ said Elkon..

‘You heard your herd,’ Graham spoke up from the floor in front of the barricade. ‘She don’t have the right to give orders now.’

Masst nickered. ‘The Wraiths must be destroyed.’

‘Look at these people!’ Yaz turned defiantly, looked Elkon in the eyes. ‘They’re not Wraiths!’

‘It’s almost over,’ Elkon told Masst. ‘You want it over, don’t you?’

‘It’ll be over, all right.’ Ryan held up the Nitro-90, trying to calm his breathing. ‘You know what this stuff can do. Let go of my friends or I’ll chuck this, I swear. It’ll blow you to bits.’

Masst raised his gleaming crossbow at Graham. ‘Raise your hand any further and I’ll kill this man you love.’

‘Do you hear yourself?’ Yaz snapped. ‘What are you, a soldier or a murderer?’