A dayspan later found Jiana and a team of Auditors assembled in the passenger bay of a Passageway drop shuttle. Jiana had a holographic map of the drop zone available, with up-to-the-microday information on display.

Yours was the error. Yours is the responsibility.

“By our scanners, the shuttle re-entered and landed here, in the ‘Sahara Desert,’ but the Heartstar is being moved cross-country in a convoy. The destination seems to be their fortress city, Lordun.”

I will retrieve it. I swear by my Firstbody, the Heartstar, and the Way. May I lose the Way’s path, the Heartstar’s light, and my Firstbody’s soul, an I fail.

“They usually rely on secrecy rather than firepower. If we hit ‘em hard and fast, we should be able to grab it and be back on the Ship in time for latemeal.”

I only hope I can keep my oath.

Meanwhile, a young Aegis operative named Strake was just receiving word about a tempting convoy en route to Lordun. No word on the cargo, but it had to be something juicy. Sounded like a plan…