XXII
The Third PlanetThe Warhammer moved soundlessly through space.
Its commander, a severe woman approaching her fiftieth year, stood against the plexiglassed view screen. Despite the spectacular vista beyond the glass, she saw nothing. The blue planet twinkled in iridescent splendour and the moon in the distance glowed with silvery light. Over the past three days, during which the Warhammer had maintained a steady orbit around the blue planet, the beauty of the scenery below had become routine to most of the crew, herself especially.
She kept thinking how indifferent space could be. The planet had changed little since her last visit here decades ago. It wore the years better than she.
Behind her, the bridge crew went about their business. They were oblivious to everything except the
