Within moments, it is chaos. There are cries from within, the whine of the malfunctioning gun systems, barked orders. Dragging the bandages over my nose and mouth, I stumble inside, trying to stay low. Screens and panels light the darkness a feverish red, more tech than I have seen for years. Eight soldiers: some of them crawl towards the air, others are arming weapons or trying to override the automatic guns. One sees me and brings up their gun, but I drive my elbow into their sternum and they collapse to the floor, wheezing. The smoke burns my own lungs, makes my injured chest heave, but I fight my way on.

There, at the very rear of the carriage, is an internal compartment protected by a thick door. I pull at it, trying not to breathe, but it’s shut firm. In rage, I see a lock, flashing red.

I grab the soldier I sent down, dragging her back by the jacket. She fights back but I swing, driving my fist into her nose. She sags, groaning, but I haul up one of her limp arms, pressing her thumb against the lock.

With a hiss, the door gives.

‘General?’ I choke, pulling the mask from my mouth.

In one corner of the bare, black-walled cell, a figure huddles. The General, her face bruised and bloodless. She looks at me in horror, in hope.

‘Low?’ she whispers.

Smiling wildly, I pull her to her feet. The Slug lurches and jolts to a stop and she falls against me.

‘What the hell are you doing here?’

‘What do you think?’ I say, my eyes burning. ‘Come on, we must—’

She jerks back. ‘Don’t touch me.’

I look at her closer. She’s shaking as if with fever. Lost in her memories again? As I reach out to take her arm, I hear it: a low drone from above, the noise of powerful engines.

‘They’re here,’ she says, eyes huge. ‘The Air Fleet. They have come, just as I ordered.’

Cold wraps my heart, but the General is already moving, stooping to grab the pistol from the soldier who moans outside the door.

I follow at a run.

Together, we stagger through the smoke-filled darkness of the Slug. Two soldiers slump over the panels, unconscious, I hope; the others must have fled the grenades. We burst into the light. The Slug has come to a stop at the very end of the canyon, and all around us is carnage; smoke and soldiers downed by the G’hals, blood in the dust.

‘Doc!’ Falco yells, staring above my head.

I turn. Six hard slaps of silver against the white sky and one dark blot; Air Fleet fighters speeding towards the Charis.