Wheeled craft and groundworkers swarmed around ranks of huge troop transporters and smaller two-winged fighter air vehicles and around the sky-piercing spires of the sleek solar space cruisers. Weapons and fuel were being loaded amid a rush of last-minute maintenance and checks. After the calm of the long flight over the moonlit desert and the beauty of the night stars that were now harshly diminished, the onslaught on their senses was a sudden shock, and even Maryam could see that this awesome military armada was preparing for imminent war. They landed on one of the side runways where a single sky-car and a junior Space Corps officer waited for them. The young officer drew himself to attention and made the formal open palm salute as they descended from their aircraft. Raven returned the courtesy, but his eyes were cold and hard. “Where is the Sword Lord Karn?” he asked grimly. “The Sword Lord Karn is dead.” The young man’s face and voice were without expression. It was just a statement of fact.
