Cold air came rushing in from the open doors as the troop transport flew over the hinterland of Sihnon. Yong ventured a look over to the other transporters flying in formation alongside his own. They were heading towards their drop zone some miles towards one of the satellite cities of Sihnon’s capital, each of them itself home to millions and more magnificent than any city of the border planets, although of course shrinking in comparison to the great city itself.

Yong found it mind-boggling that just less than a month ago he had been scraping a living off the scarce pickings on the border and that after first coming to Osiris he was now in the very centre of the solar system, at the centre of culture, economy, power. The events of the last couple of days had been turbulent indeed. After the short bombardment of Osiris a week ago most troops, including Colonel Yong’s had boarded the already crammed Alliance ships that had come to relieve Osiris. They had been in a hurry to stay on the heels of the Independent fleet which had made a quick thrust for Sihnon. Although they had not been able to land directly in Sihnon, the Browncoats had established a beachhead, if it could be called that, far outside the city centre, even outside the satellite cities. However, they had quickly made advances into the sprawling urban mess that this megacity was. But now their advance had ground to a hold. Neither Alliance nor Browncoats could drive the other from their positions in factory complexes or residential areas. These had by now been sufficiently fortified to be held for weeks, maybe months. However, the Alliance had ordered an all-out assault to begin in 48 hours. Colonel Yong’s 37th and some other units had been assigned to creep up on the enemy and weaken their positions at strategic points so that the main offensive could break through.

They had now reached their drop-off point. It was a park in a run-down district, with a couple of scattered trees and some kind of memorial. Bleak concrete blocks overlooked the area,