It wasnt long before Gabrielle again felt the familiar tug of gravity. The views around Briggs had changed again, now showing clouds punctuated by occasional sharp-edged mountain ridges.

They banked, dropping through the cloud layer and heading towards a broad valley lying between two taller peaks, their slopes littered with ancient scree. The dropship shuddered violently as its drive-fields reduced its rate of descent prior to a final landing.

The craft around her quivered one last time as it dropped onto frozen and stony soil, its bulkheads creaking and pinging as if in protest.

Tarrant quickly and expertly released himself from his restraints, then turned to point towards her. Out.

Briggs had unbuckled himself almost before the dropship had settled into place, data still rippling around him as he lifted himself out of his couch by grasping hold of the two straps dangling overhead. He gave Tarrant a brief nod, then exited the cockpit while Gabrielle was still struggling with her own restraints.

Tarrant grew impatient waiting, and quickly and expertly unfastened her. Gabrielle glanced past his shoulder at the video feeds showing the outside of the dropship, which were still running above Briggss couch. She saw half a dozen ancient-looking trucks, two-storey affairs possessing tractor wheels, now approaching them along the valley floor. They had been painted to match the mottled reddish-browns and whites of the mountains and, even from a distance, it was clear that they had been repaired and re-repaired many times.

What now? she asked, standing.

Follow Briggs, he said, gesturing to the open hatch.

They found Briggs waiting for them at the airlock, already clad in cold-weather gear and with a breather mask strapped in place. Tarrant quickly followed suit, then supervised Gabrielle as she did the same.

When they finally stepped out onto the ramp, she saw the morning sun had barely risen over the peaks towering above them on either side. The sight of them made her catch her breath. The trucks she had seen through the cockpit monitors had rolled to a halt nearby, while several bearded Freeholders with hard eyes and old-fashioned breather masks stood waiting.

One of the Freeholders came over and took Tarrant in a bear hug, clapping him soundly on the back.

Ah, its been a long time, Cuys, said Tarrant.

The man Cuys turned to look at Gabrielle. This cant be her, Gregor, he said, his accent sounding thick and guttural to her ears. All this effort, just so you can kidnap some girl?

Remember, its whats in her head that counts, Tarrant replied.

Cuys grinned. Ill admit I had my doubts, Gregor. But Ive never seen anything so astonishing in all my life. We didnt just hurt the Demarchy we near as damn destroyed it. And we never could have managed it without you. He looked around. However, we should not tarry here. We need to go before the orbital platforms zero in on us. Lets not fuck up, this close to our final victory, eh?