“Heard. Ping round a list, we’ll add it to our list of demands. It better not be unobtainium!” Zey shouted back to Arancini over her shoulder.

From there she went quickly back to her quarters and pulled on a light, fitted thermal jumpsuit. Grey, with Tamerlane’s logo on the breast. Zey then grabbed the pack she’d partly prepared last night from off the bed and took a quick look round the cramped, slightly uneven cabin. Breathing deeply a few times, she then locked the doors and went back downstairs.

Keying into the store room, Zey grabbed MREs. She then crossed to the armoury and unlocked a carbine with six magazines. She didn’t really have much experience with the M4’s distant successors, but had been frequently told they were easy to handle. After snapping it onto the side of her pack and slipping each magazine into webbed pockets, she approached Mallory who was doing the same.

“Listen…I know you have your reservations about this mission. But we won’t survive if we let others decide our fate. At this very moment, they’re enchanted by us, but it won’t last forever. Make the most of the mystique, get the supplies we need, then we can get the hell out of here. Hoo’ah?”

Vigdis was waiting at the bottom of the ramp when Zey exited fully equipped.

Zey smiled, then opened the map on her wristpad and turned her arm so Vigdis could see.

“Check the intranet. Kareet let us scan hers.”

She overlaid scans from the comms tower, which added 3D topography to the surrounding two hundred miles.

“It looks like we’ll have an escort each way, but we can’t be complacent. You ready?”

Zey cast an eye around. The crash site was a hive of activity, on both sides of the border. Plenty of warriors, with a fair smattering of dignitaries now too.