11/02/2026 20:18

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It seemedpossible he'd destroyed it. Then he turned back the way they'dcome, and Varlik walked the last hundred feet alone to his tent. Renhaus's weird humor had reminded him of aproblem they'd talked about earlier; the risk of a cadet or trooper beingtaken alive and giving up the information that the regiment had beenteleported. Kusu suggested one of the empty squad tents, but Varlikwanted more privacy than that, so they walked out of camp acrossdarkening prairie.

Good morning, Tar, the image said. Their protective meshface masks were tilted up to make room for oxygen masks; they'd clipthem into position at a lower altitude. The constant brutal cold numbed the minds of some men, and there weresuicides, none of them troopers and none rangers. Steady hazel eyes held Varlik's during a brief silence.