Red-faced, Anders was urging them on. ‘What are you waiting for? Shoot her. Quickly.’

He fumbled for his own weapon, still holstered on his hip, and the officer next to him knocked his hand away and relieved him of it.

Jane stood very, very still, barely able to believe she’d got this far. That she hadn’t been shot out of hand. According to Ellis, this would be the most dangerous time of all. When they could only see her defiance but hadn’t yet got around to wondering why.

‘Commander Hay,’ she said quietly.

‘Get down on the ground.’

Two officers approached, guns stowed behind them, all ready to make her comply. Inside the pod, Luke left the screen and headed for the door, tripping over the recumbent Grint on the way.

Ellis made a protesting sound and tried to get up.

‘No,’ said Max, grasping Luke’s arm. ‘Leave her. She’s doing very well.’

‘You mean they haven’t shot her yet.’

‘Exactly. And the longer they don’t shoot her, the less likely they are to shoot her. She’s doing fine. Just let her get on with it.’

‘This is why Ellis let you come, isn’t it?’

‘To stop you doing something daft. Yes.’

‘Bit of a novel experience for you?’

‘Yes, but quite enjoyable so far.’

Jane’s voice recalled them to the screen. ‘Commander Hay. I would like to see Commander Hay.’

One of them seized her arms, forced them roughly behind her back and tried to push her down on to her face.

‘I would like to see Commander Hay, please.’

‘Shut up. Down on the ground.’

‘Commander Hay, please.’

‘This isn’t going to work,’ said Luke, staring at the cameras. ‘Sir . . .’

But Ellis had closed his eyes. Max felt for a pulse. ‘We can’t sit here forever. He needs medical attention.’

Back outside, Jane was still requesting Commander Hay.

‘Shut up.’ An officer balled his fist to punch her to the ground. She closed her eyes but stood her ground. Still with her eyes tightly shut, she said, ‘I need to speak to Commander Hay.’

‘Enough.’

Jane opened her eyes to find North standing between her and the two men. North was a respected officer. No one messed with North. ‘Step back, please, gentlemen.’

‘What are you waiting for?’ shouted Anders from the back of the Pod Bay. ‘Shoot her. She’s a fucking murderer.’

Jane braced herself again.

Holding the officers’ gaze, North opened her com. ‘Captain Farenden. Good afternoon. Could you request Commander Hay’s immediate presence in the Pod Bay, please. We have a situation. Yes. Immediately, please.’

She closed her com. ‘The commander is on her way. I suggest we allow her to form her own assessment of this situation and then follow her instructions.’

‘Good move,’ said Luke, still watching from the pod. ‘No one can really argue with that.’