Gabrielle dragged Bash towards the already lowered ramp of the dropship, which was surrounded by pallets and lifting gear. Light flashed and she saw the Freeholder stagger back from the stanchion, bright flames erupting from his chest.

Something whined past Gabrielles ear just as she reached the ramp. She glanced back towards the tunnel entrance, and saw more Freeholders gathered there, some of them kneeling just inside the containment field.

Are you trying to get yourself killed? shouted Megan, running up beside her and tugging Bash into the craft. Get him inside!

Bash stumbled up the ramp between them, while more gunshots filled the air. Megan then hit something on a wall and the ramp began to close behind them.

Over here, barked Megan, before dragging Bash towards a door that hissed open at her approach. Get him inside.

On the other side of the door was an elevator that looked as if it doubled as an airlock. It rose quickly, depositing them at the entrance to the cockpit. The air felt furnace-hot after spending just a minute or so in the open. Bashs hands felt as cold as ice, and he was shaking.

Get him strapped in, instructed Megan, while pulling herself into a couch. Primary-coloured virtual panels materialized all around her. We need to get this thing off the ground as fast as we can.

Gabrielle coaxed Bash into one of the other couches, which, like much of the rest of the cockpit, was stained and streaked with red. By the time she finished strapping him in, the floor beneath her feet had begun to vibrate.

Your turn, said Megan.

Gabrielle threw herself into another couch, and felt an invisible weight pressing down on her even before she had finished securing herself. A glance at the screens that had flickered into being all around Megan confirmed that they were already a good distance from the ground.

Thats not good, Megan muttered.

What isnt?

One of those idiots hit something vital. Im not sure this thing is going to take us as far from here as I was hoping.

Sour acid flooded into Gabrielles belly. Then what do we do?

Hope for the best, said Megan, as the dropship boosted upwards.

TWENTY-SEVEN

Reaching low orbit a little over ten minutes later, Megan wondered if she should have been more honest with the girl about just how much trouble they were in. High-priority alerts floated all around her and, based on what those were warning her of, there was a real risk they might simply fall out of the sky. And every minute they stayed up, the more certain that became.

They clearly werent going to make it to high orbit. Or anywhere else, for that matter.

Theres been a change of plan, she muttered grimly. Were going to have to put down, and soon.

Gabrielles nose wrinkled in a frown. Is it really that bad?

Could be worse, Megan grunted.

Until we hit the ground, anyway.