As the drop ship settles down with a gentle bump, you unstrap from your seat and lean forward to peer through the canopy. Halliday has just set you down in a city square in Free Lhasa, one of the major towns on Cerberus and a known bastion of rebel-sympathizers. Through the swirls of dust, you can see low-rise buildings all around the square, and a surprising number of people for so early in the morning.
"The locals like to get an early start, it seems," you comment.
"Morning is the coolest time of day," Halliday replies. "When Sirius gets overhead this place starts to bake. By noon everyone is indoors or in the shade."
"Siestas all around?"
"No, just hiding out from the sun." Halliday lifts her visor to survey the scene before you, then gives you an earnest look. "There are a lot of good people here—they're not all rebels."
Shah has risen from his seat and he now gestures at you to follow him aft. You look down at Halliday.