The battle ebbed and flowed. Sometimes, the tether was eerily still, and Friedisch dared to think the fighting was over. Other times it shook for long minutes, and the adepts were forced to seek shelter wherever they could. Friedisch's nerves were shredded by the experience, but Cawl went on without pause or outward sign of fear, cradling Aspertia's bottled clone child as if it were a living infant.

When Friedisch thought their ordeal would last forever, or that they would die in the destruction of the tether, Cawl beckoned him to a circular grille set at eye level into a thick wall. On the other side the faint gleam of an atmospheric shield was detectible.

'We're in the atmospheric flushing tubes for the dock,' said Cawl.

Friedisch gave him an uncomprehending look.

'We're here,' said Cawl excitedly. 'We're in Aspertia's secret hangar.'

He pointed down. It was an awkward angle, but the grille afforded a view of a single berth housing a sleek barque.

'The Silencia, Hester Aspertia Sigma-Sigma's personal transport, and our means of escape.'

The Silencia was a small ship, less than a hundred metres end to end, but inside its modest hull were crammed all the necessities of warp travel. The outer hull was richly decorated with symbols of the Martian Empire and the Mechanicum. There were no guards.

'Looks like it hasn't been found yet,' said Cawl. 'If we're lucky and we're quick, we might survive today.'

They made their way out of the flushing tubes into the main access corridor. From there, they broke into a run, heading into the single-berth dock with what Friedisch would have thought as unseemly haste only a few hours ago. They crossed the narrow width of the dockside. Cawl walked as if he owned the ship. Friedisch cringed at being exposed in the tall space, and pelted up the gangway to the ship's main exterior door, dodging fragments of falling metal as he ran. Tez-Lar stomped after, shrugging off debris impacts from his reinforced body. Cawl's devices broadcast the appropriate identification markers, and the door opened to admit them.

They entered a narrow but opulent corridor. They were treated to a disorientating library's hush. Quiet noises of awakening machines and the servitor crew activating in their alcoves provided a comforting soundscape to the adepts. The clamour of war seemed very far away.

'Now, if I'm right, this ship has a minimal human contingent,' said Cawl.

'Are they still aboard?' said Friedisch quietly.

'Why are you whispering?' said Cawl.

'I don't know. It's quiet, we might be heard.'

'The crew might be here,' said Cawl. 'But I'm sure we can manage without them if they object to our presence, or if they are absent. I can't access the domina's data-sphere. I don't know where they are or if they'll be friendly, so stay vigilant.'