SERIAL NOVEL

Sidereal Dawn, Ch. 5

The Fall

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Silica in the heat-shielding sparkled along the leading edge of the delta wing. Struck by an oblique beam of sunlight, the spaceplane had an elegance that eluded most vehicles in orbit. Its directionality gave it a sense of purpose—the tip of a spear. The precise curvature of its wing seemed out of place in the vacuum of space where aerodynamic lift was alien.

Daemian emerged around the bend of the curved corridor. Jaxen watched him approach. He wore a lightweight combat flight suit in low-reflective black. Jaxen recognized the design. Made primarily for spaceflight but fitted with enough padding and ceramic plating to give a pilot a chance in a firefight. Three large metal crates floated behind him, guided by a loading crew in black overalls. Daemian nodded at the loading crew and they disappeared through the airlock with their metal boxes.

“Hell of a ship,” Jaxen commented.

“At least I’m being exiled in style.”

Jaxen laughed.

“Float with me while I inspect the heat-shielding?” Daemian asked. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

“Of course,” Jaxen said.