Trusting the low overcast to hide her presence, she slowed and let the ship scan the countryside, seeking out a good landing spot. Through gaps in the clouds, she could see a wide valley, with steep slopes rising up on three sides. Her eye was caught by puffs of smoke on the far side. Then, moments later, gouts of snow and earth exploded almost directly below her.
Artillery. Good thing I have my shields-
And then Temptation’s Reward bucked like a live thing under her hands and a sound like a broken bell tolled through the vessel. She gaped at the starboard camera. There was actually a dent in the side of her ship!
“Gods damn it, Sam!” she shouted, fighting the controls. “I told you to put the shields up!”
“The shields are up!” the computer shouted back, even more angry than she was.
“
