Page 49 of Warrior’s Mate

Maelis turned. "From where?"

"Orbital staging. Small detachment. Three vessels coordinating surface extraction and repair support."

"Can they take civilians?"

"One transport can."

For the first time all day, hope felt like something more than a word.

"How many?"

Kaiven scanned the packet.

"Initial lift capacity eight hundred, depending on damage and fuel."

Maelis stared at him. Eight hundred people were enough to matter and nowhere near enough for everyone.

"Where are they landing?"

"They haven't committed to a site. Communications are unstable."

"Then we give them one."

Kaiven looked at the civilian movement map.

"You have somewhere in mind."

"The old produce port."

His expression sharpened. "Where the captured transport went?"

"Near it, not at it. The west loading basin has three reinforced pads and direct access to farm corridors. The Sargans are using the eastern commercial side because it's visible from the highway."

"And if they control the entire port?"

"Then we find out before we send anyone."

Kaiven studied her for a moment.

"You're proposing we scout an enemy collection zone to establish an evacuation point."

"I'm proposing we use the infrastructure we have."

"You make dangerous ideas sound administrative."

"That's why people hire registrars."

He almost smiled. Then he forwarded the detachment packet to her console.

"Build me a route."

Maelis opened the map. Outside, Wasaytu burned in scattered lines against the darkening sky. Inside, for the first time since the attack began, they had something resembling a way out.

Chapter 9 — The Detachment

The evacuation detachment identified itself just after full dark. Three vessels. One patrol escort, one repair-and-support ship, and one civilian transport already carrying displaced families from settlements west of Wasaytu. Their names meant nothing to Maelis. Their capacity did. The transport could take another six hundred people without compromising life support. The support vessel could carry seventy more if its cargo deck was cleared. The escort had room for perhaps thirty civilians in emergency conditions. Seven hundred. Maelis looked at the numbers twice.

"We have more than seven hundred in reachable groups," she said.