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carrier t—”
Blansher stopped。 “Damn；” he said。 “And there I was going to break it to you gently。”
“Shipped out？” asked Jagdea。 “Since when？”
“Since 06。00 hours this morning。 Navy directive。 Apparently； Ornoff’s decided it’s time to quit
the coast。”
“Where to？”
“For us； Lucerna MAB in the Midwinters。 That’s need…to…know； obviously。”
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“Of course。”
“The mass land evac is now well underway。 Theda’s almost empty； the population fleeing。
We’re giving ground。 From the islands we can keep our bases out of strike range of the enemy for a
while； and keep them off the evac fleets。 Throne alive； Bree； you’ve never seen so many massbarges！”
“I like islands；” said Jagdea thoughtfully。 “They remind me of home。”
“We’re flying the Bolts out at 09。00 on the 268th； three days from now； situation permitting。
Your bird will be packed off this afternoon on one of the freight barges。”
“Don’t you bloody leave me here！” Jagdea said。
“Of course not； Bree。 I’ll arrange a transport to collect you； maybe around 08。30 that morning。
The Navy will be scooping off personnel using Valkyries and Oneros。 You’ll be with us by noon。”
“I’d better be；” Jagdea warned。 “I don’t want to die here in this dump。”
“Oh； trust me；” said Blansher。 He was still rolling to and fro in the bath chair； playing like a
child。 “When have I ever let you down？”
“Never；” she replied。
“You see？”
“What about Espere？” she asked。
“Already gone north； medicae evac。 I checked。 He’s in a care unit in Enothopolis as we speak。”
Blansher got up out of the chair； and rolled it around for her to sit again。 “I should go；” he said。
“We’re due up at 11。00 hours and my ride is waiting。”
“Good flying；” she said。
“Take care of yourself；” Blansher paused。 “Well； well； looks like you’ve got another visitor。”
Jagdea looked around。 Wing Leader Seekan； splendid in his white suede coat； was coming down
the hallway。
“Friends in high places；” Blansher said。
He walked away； giving Seekan a salute as he passed him。 Seekan returned it respectfully； and
then walked on to join Jagdea under the stained； aged window。 She remained standing。
“Leader。”
“Commander。 How are you？”
“Alive。 I didn’t expect to see you here。”
Seekan shrugged。
“Have a seat；” Jagdea suggested； nodding her head towards the bath chair。
“I’m fine； commander。 I… I came for two reasons。”
“Did you now？”
“The first is as a matter of courtesy。 From one flight leader to another。 Major Ludo Ramia of the
Apostles was lost in action last night。”
“I’m sorry to hear that； leader。”
Seekan cleared his throat awkward。 “I intend to offer his place to Flight Lieutenant Larice
Asche。 Her record； especially in recent days； has been remarkable。 Ten kills in one sortie。”
“Ten indeed。”
“I wanted to ask your permission； commander。”
“My permission？”
“Before I ask her。”
Jagdea limped over to the bath chair and sat down in it。 She felt dazed； hurt； as if something
precious had been stolen from her。
“Larice is one of my…” She stopped and corrected。 “Larice Asche is my best pilot。 I will miss
her。 But I know the form。 The Apostles ask； you don’t refuse。 I’m flattered you even ran it past me
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at all。 Larice will be overjoyed。 It’s an honour。 Of course she’ll accept。 The first Phantine aviator to
make the Apostle grade。”
“The first female…” Seekan said。
“Not a distinction we ever make on Phantine； sir。”
“The Navy is rather old fashioned； mamzel；” he smiled。 “So； I have your permission？”
Jagdea shook her head and chuckled。 “It’s as if you’re asking me for her hand in marriage。”
“I am； in a way。 Till death parts us。”
Jagdea looked up at him。 “Make her a hero。 A legend。 That’s all she wants； Seekan。 That’s all I
want for her。”
“I will；” he said。 “Thank you。”
“What’s the second reason？” she asked。
“Pardon me？”
“You said you’d come here for two reasons。 You’ve robbed away my best wingman。 I dread to
think what the other cause is。”
“I merely wanted to enquire after your health。 I was concerned when I heard the news。”
“I thought you Apostles didn’t care about injury or death？”
“We just don’t care about each other；” he said。 He looked round for a moment。 “I must be
getting along。 May the Emperor protect you； commander。”
She nodded。
Only when he was out of sight down the length of the long hallway； did she notice the long
stemmed bloom； its petals a rich Imperial purple； that he had left on the window’s sill。
Langersville； 15。16
From the hills above the foreshore； it looked as if parts of the coastline were breaking off and
drifting out to sea。
LeGuin’s convoy had reached the headland； and was now crawling down into the seaport； just
one small part of the teeming forces seeking evacuation。
Threatening skies drifted above them； and a brisk sea breeze washed them。 Schools of Valkyries
burned off fields on the lower slopes； heading out to sea。 Viltry could see Oneros prepping for takeoff。
At the docks； VTRPs； pontoons and mass…barges slugged away from the shore。 The mass…barges
were enormous cargo ships； belching smoke from their stacks； their open bellies laden with armour
and carriers。 As they plied out into the deeper waters； others； riding light and empty； were piloted in
to the dock quays。
The VTRPs—Vertical Thrust Raft Platforms—were colossal。 Each one was an armoured
rectangle five hectares square； suspended over the water by monumental vector engines at the
corners and edges。 As they slid up to the quays and dropped their metal ramps； squadrons of armour
rolled onto them。 The noise of their thrusters filled the bay。
Marshals directed the boarding armour to their stands； lining them up。 An entire regimentstrength
could be swallowed onto one raft。
Humming like monsters； laden VTRPs gusted out into the open sea。
“There’s our ride；” said LeGuin。
Viltry nodded。 “Theda。 How far； do you think？”
LeGuin consulted his chart slate。
“About three hundred kilometres east。 Why？”
“Time I got going；” Viltry said。
LeGuin frowned。 “We’ll miss you； Osk。”
“You too。 It’s been quite an experience。”
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Viltry shook LeGuin by the hand。
As Viltry got down off the tank； Matredes hugged him； and Emdeen slapped his arm。
“Good luck！” Viltry shouted as the Line of Death began to roll forward。
“And to you！” yelled back LeGuin。
“The Emperor protects！”
LeGuin said something； but the racing engines blotted it out。
Viltry stood on the hillside for a while as the slow column threaded past him and LeGuin’s tank
was out of sight。
Then he ran down the grassy bank towards the coastal highway； and began to flag down the
Munitorum transports speeding east。
Theda MAB South； 16。10
As soon as his skids settled on the handstand； Marquall killed the fans and let the ground take the
fourteen tonnes of serial Nine…Nine “Double Eagle”。 He sat for a moment； canopy still locked； his
head resting back against the seat and his eyes closed。 They’d just run their third sortie of the day； a
snap call up and into a bomber pack。 Brief； bitter fighting had followed。 Marquall had nearly been
stung twice； on both occasions； by fighters he hadn’t seen。
Racklae knocked on the window and Marquall opened his eyes。 The fitter mimed opening the lid
and Marquall nodded； pulling off his breather and goggles。
The canopy lifted and cool； fumy air blew in across Marquall’s face。 It let in the roar and whine
of the field too。
“Everything all right； sir？” Racklae asked。
“Four…A；” Marquall replied as he was helped clear； and had his suit leads unplugged。 “I need her
turned around quick。 We could go up again before evening。”
“Understood； sir。”
“I think the port lascannon needs cleaning or refitting。 I was getting an odd fire…pattern。”
“I’ll see to it sir。”
“Any chance of rockets？”
Racklae shook his head。 “Between you and me； sir； munitions are getting pretty low。 We’re okay
for hard rounds； but all the rack weapons are going to the Marauders。”
Marquall left the fitters to their work and walked out of the revetment shelter。 At the mouth of
the hardstand next door； Van Tull was stripping off his jacket and gloves。
“Nice one；” Marq