The wagons were packed, all the gear stowed and lashed down securely. Yan climbed up adroitly, shimmying up the side of the wagon and settling himself in the jockey box. Micky stood by and watched thoroughly bemused.

“Yan mate, how does this whole thing work? I get that we don’t need horses, but I feel like wheels would still be a good place to start.”

“No need, Micky. These bad boys are equipped with directional repulsers. All I’ve gotta do is push this little button,” Yan gestured towards a silver control panel replete with a multitude of similar-looking buttons.

“And then what?” Micky asked with a doubtful gesture to the wagon. “This whole thing just flies off?

“Might be easier for you to just watch. Climb on up here with me. You’re riding with me in this one. Zofia and Gwilym are in the lead. Tavish and the heavy kit are in the rear.”

With another doubtful look at the wagon, Micky climbed up next to Yan. He settled into the plush cushioned bench and waited.

“No time like the present then, Micky. Let's get this show on the road.” With a single push of a button, the entire wagon began to vibrate. As the vibration increased so did Micky’s tension.

“Are you sure this is safe mate?” He asked Yan with a grimace.

“Absolutely, takeoff should be in about 10 seconds, then we’re away laughing.” Yan continued to fiddle with the control panel, pressing a complicated sequence of buttons.

“What do you mean take off?” Micky asked, alarm creeping into his voice. “I thought we were just going to hover a bit.”

With a final shake, the wagon lurched into the air, rising first five meters, then ten, then twenty. The wagons continued to rise, the details of the compound becoming indistinct blurs.

“Uh Yan mate, I really wish I had asked earlier. Does this BLEEPING thing have seatbelts? Also, why did no one bloody tell me we’d be riding in flying BLEEPING wagons.”

“We’re all attached to the wagon by etheric tethers. You’re perfectly safe Micky. As to why no one told you. I rather assumed you knew. You must have seen the square plates attached to the axles right?”

“Yeah, I assumed we would just like hover a bit off the ground. Not soar miles into the BLEEPING sky.”

“Ahhhh, I can see where the confusion has snuck in there Micky, very sorry about that. Honestly, it’s very safe. We’re going to be up here for about five hours today. Feel free to either watch from the jockey box with me or, climb in the back and take a nap.”

After the shock wore off Micky found the journey absolutely enthralling. The landscape beneath whipped by in a gentle blur. The browns and grays of Baer’s Landing were replaced by a patchwork of neat rectangles. Small fenced-off areas of brown and yellow. The huge farms that fed the entire city sped by in a matter of minutes. After the farms came wide, rolling meadows. Irregular patches of green, broken up by rolling hills and craggy bluffs.

As the wagons continued north, they passed over wide, untamed forests. The air began to cool around them, starting with a chillsome breeze that seemed to swirl over and around the jockey box.

“How much further today Yan?” Micky asked, rubbing his shoulders rapidly to ward off the chill.

“Perhaps another hour today Micky, we’ve had a pretty smooth flight thus far but I don’t like the look of those clouds. It can get pretty miserable up here in a gale.”

As if summoned by Yan’s words a green light pulsed from the back of the leading wagons. Three short bursts of light followed by a single long one.

“That’d be the signal then. Gwilym is always a bit more cautious than I am. I guess that’s why he’s in charge” Yan said with a smile. Pressing the control pad one more time he initiated the descent.

The wagon began a smooth banking descent, slowly losing altitude as it got closer to a broad meadow amongst the trees.

“Where are we landing this thing mate?” Micky asked Yan as the trees grew larger and larger before him.

“Zofia mapped out the route for us from Baer’s Landing to the convergence site. There were three possible campsites along the route. I’m not totally sure which one this is, site beta maybe?”

“Site Beta is a good start, but I was asking more specifically. Like where exactly are you gonna land? I don’t mean to backseat drive, but those trees are getting really big.”

“Take a look at the lead wagon Micky. We're going to put them down just beside that creek there.”

With a rush of air, the wagon began to descent vertically. Dropping suddenly until the wagon was less than 30 feet from the ground. The vibration began again, as the descent slowed almost to a crawl, drifting downwards like a feather to bump softly against the springy grass of the meadow.

Stretching out in the jockey box Yan replaced the control in its socket, then sprung nimbly down to land on the grass. His knees bent slightly upon impact before he righted himself and walked towards the back of the wagon. With far less grace Micky slid down the side of the wagon, his hips sliding against the hard wooden siding.

“So how’s your first day on active duty, Micky darling?” Zofia asked as she sauntered over to his wagon.

“Not bad thus far, although I would have loved a heads up about the whole flying wagons thing. That was a right kick in the teeth at first.”

Zofia laughed melodically at this, a clear ringing sound filled with mirth. “I would have loved to see the look on your face. I thought they covered transport in the briefing or I would have told you myself. Directional repulser tech is the easiest way to cover rough territory and there aren’t any Arco-loops in this part of Outremer.”

“Yeah, I must have missed that part of the briefing” Micky replied dryly. So you planned out this whole route then?

“Yep, all part of the service” Zofia replied with a mock bow. “I thought we would make it a little further today but Gwilym dearest was worried about the weather. Come along then, Tavish will fret terribly if we don’t help set up the camp.”

Following Zofia, his legs stiff from the flight, Micky wandered towards the center of the clearing. Tavish stood beside Gwilym, a large canvas sack over one huge shoulder.

“Hey Tavish, what can I do to help mate?” Micky against with a friendly wave towards the rapidly gesturing engineer.

“Tak' aboot three steps back Micky. This needs a ton o' space.”

Following the directions Micky stepped back several meters, coming to a stop beside Gwilym. Tavish placed his burden on the ground, forcing four metallic pins into the soft soil of the meadow. The groundsheet secured he stepped back as well. Withdrawing a rune engraved brass rod from one voluminous pocket he took up a wide stance. Aiming the rod at each of the metallic pins in turn he twisted the sections of the rod.

With a pop and a rush of displaced air the bundle unraveled. In its place was an enormous canvas tent, four rectangular pillars towering above even Tavish’s great height. Guide ropes secured the corners, while a single flap allowed entrance. Atop each corner was a complicated-looking contraption of brass, which terminated in a sentry turret.

Turning towards Gwilym and Micky the daimh shrugged his shoulders.

“That's a spot tae kip sorted oot then. Who's making tea?”