The marshal's red seal came through the plate before the marshal did.
It whipped around the chain and struck Ty across the open ribs. A bent section of floor grille followed, carrying one black boot, half a coat, and a bare hand gripping the chain hard enough to bend the seal between its fingers.
Denna's hand held the back of the coat from inside the narrow road. Toman had one arm around her waist. His other hand kept a ledger above the split floor while all three of them slid toward the advanced city.
Every rifle on the brewery roof changed targets.
"Captain Cord, place the ceramic on the ground, step clear, and let quarantine crews separate every body from the route."
Commander Vey's voice came through the roof speakers and Nessa's damaged molar at different speeds. Jade heard the speaker first. Nessa heard the implant and drove the ceramic bolt under the red seal before Vey finished speaking aloud.
"There are living hands attached to the other end, Commander."
