Chapter Forty-Four
November 13, 2229, near Unity City, the Capital of Mars
The Pegasus shook lightly as the craft descended toward the surface.
The team, except for Lanara, was clustered in the tiny cockpit, taking in the view. For millennia, Mars had been the red planet, but even though plenty of the red remained—a reminder of the planet’s former desolate existence—patches of brown and green spread out below and extended in all directions.
Unity City lay on the horizon, a blur at this distance.
Cutter’s fingers flew over the controls. “Sahoma Control, this is LLT5542, requesting docking permission and nav path.” He nodded a few times to a voice only he and Emma could hear. “Roger that. Adjusting course. Thanks. We’re happy to be here.”
The ship’s lateral thrusters fired, and Cutter
