The plane shuddered. Whether from wind, or a sudden drop in speed, or from the flak he could hear popping dangerously around him wasn't clear. But it shook, giving him something to focus on besides his nerves.
He looked around the interior of the plane, empty but for him and his aide, heavy steel arcs silent in the overhead gloom. Thin lines of light outlined the rear of plane, flashing brighter and dimmer as explosions went off somewhere in the night and then dissipated.
