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Only about fifteen kilometers of intermittently turbulent atmosphere now separated the little vessels still-glowing hull from the planets forbidding rocky surface.

“Do you have a fix yet on the dissidents camp, Cunaehr? Terix asked, the rest of his attention completely absorbed by his buckboard-style piloting.

Trip had already been fully engaged in trying to pinpoint their target before the centurion had asked the question. “The passive scans are giving me some ambiguous results. Im not sure its a good idea to risk tipping these people off by putting the sensors into active mode, though.

Terix nodded. “I agree. Im locking in on TLuadhs preprogrammed coordinates to make our approach. Can you handle the sensor controls?

“I think so, Trip said, though he was wary of rousing Terixs suspicions by appearing to be too familiar with Romulan military hardware.

“Good, said the centurion. “Continue making passive scans. Be on the lookout for any heavy concentrations of refined metals.

Trip nodded, working his console and keeping a weather eye on the passive sensors displays as the scoutship continued its rolling, bumping descent. He felt grateful that he wasnt prone to motion sickness.

An orange light flashed, followed by a column of numbers in Romulan script. Trip paused the figures and read them over twice to make absolutely sure he wasnt simply misinterpreting the alien characters to which he was still trying to become accustomed.

“This doesnt make a damned bit of sense, he murmured.

“Youve found something? Terix asked, still preoccupied with keeping the bouncing Drolae nearly level and more or less stable.

“I picked up a strong signature of paesinaehhrr, Trip said, using the Romulan word for duranium.

“Was it located at the preprogrammed coordinates?

Trip shrugged. “Im not sure. Its gone now, and the sensors werent in contact with it long enough to localize it. In fact His voice trailed off as he ran through one of the columns of figures yet again.

“Yes? Terix said, sounding somewhat irritated.

Trip looked up from his console and faced the centurion. “It might have been a reflection from an object in a low orbit around the planet.

“Another ship? Terix ventured, raising an eyebrow as he continued making his rapid approach to the surface. “An Ejhoi Ormiin vessel preparing to attack?

Spreading his hands in frustration, Trip said, “This planet has a pretty electrically active ionosphere. Maybe it was only a reflection from the surface, or a sensor ghost. Or maybe it was an orbiting surveillance drone set up by our friends down on the surface, Trip thought. An alarm system thats designed to give them just enough time to roll the welcome mat out for usand to be just small enough for us to miss on our way in.

Another light flashed on the sensor console. “There, Trip said, pointing. “Now Im getting a definitive reading of refined metals. Right at the spot where TLuadh said wed find our, ah, friends hiding out.

Terix nodded with a grunt. “Ill set us down in the rough country, there, he said, pointing at a tactical schematic displayed on one of the console readouts located conveniently between the pilot and copilot stations. “Our landing site will be only two, perhaps three matdrih from the dissident compound.

Thats maybe three, four klicks, tops, Trip thought after performing a quick numeric conversion in his head. Fortunately, neither the atmospheric composition nor the temperature would require either man to be burdened with heavy environmental gear during the hike to the dissident enclave. Hand-to-hand combat in pressure suits could be damned inconvenient.

Terix set the Drolae down with surprising gentleness, and Trip was delighted to note that death had not begun to rain down upon them from their nearby target, or from whatever had created the orbiting ghost the sensors had thought theyd seen.

Not yet, at least.

“Can you handle a hand disruptor, Cunaehr? the centurion said as he unstrapped himself from