Free Sertian Princess by Peter Kenson

they started to touch the outer edges of the planet's atmosphere, Marienna killed the forward velocity and dropped gently towards the surface.  The penetrator was quite capable of making a fast approach but the heat generated by the friction with the atmosphere would easily have registered on infrared detectors and would have probably resembled a 'shooting star' to the naked eye.
    Once safely into the atmosphere Marienna continued the descent to get below any search radar systems.  The penetrator was equipped with interference screens which would absorb most radar frequencies but 100% absorption was very difficult to achieve and often a ghost signal would still appear on the radar screen.
    "The spaceport should be just over the next ridge," he announced. "When we get over the ridge, drop down a little so that we're not visible on the skyline and stop.  We'll have a look round from there."
    "There's the hotel over there to the left," Marienna said.
    "Right.  And the grounds slope down to that artificial lake there.  Now on the far side of that lake there seem to be some woods.  Let's head over that way and see if we can find a big enough clearing in the trees."
    "If we do that, my lord, it will be light before we can get back round the lake.  We may be seen walking up to the hotel."
    "What's the time?   06:14.  We've got about 40 minutes before sunrise but it'll start to get light before then....  You're right: we'll have to go in closer.  We could drop down right on the edge of the lake but on the hotel side and send the penetrator straight back up.  Then if anybody sees us going up to the hotel, we could be out for an early morning jog."
    Marienna headed for the lake, hugging the contours of the ground on the way.  The lake was an approximate oval with the long axis stretching all along the face of the hotel.  At the far end of the lake, the ground dropped away sharply and the lake emptied over a series of ornamental waterfalls.  At the foot of the lowest fall, by the side of the water, there was a flattish area of grass, just about large enough to take the penetrator.  She landed the craft very gingerly while he checked that they were hidden, by the dip of the land, from any curious gaze from the windows of the hotel.
    He climbed out of the penetrator, feeling the chill of the pre-dawn air around him and the dampness of the grass under his boots.  The instruments had not indicated any human life forms in the vicinity but he completed a visual check before signalling Marienna to get out also.
    "This will be fine.  I'll get the equipment.  You set the autopilot for liftoff in two minutes."
    "Yes, my lord."
    "And drop the 'my lord'.  From here on we're David and Marie Held.  Remember that."
    "Yes, David."
    They climbed up by the side of the falls and watched as the penetrator lifted off silently and disappeared towards the ridge, backtracking the course by which they had descended.  When they could no longer see it, he turned to Marienna. 
    "Well, Mrs. Held.  Shall we finish our morning jog?"

CHAPTER 7
    Lieutenant Commander Mikael Boronin stood in the hatchway of the Cleopatra and watched the last of the departing fitters.  The old Admiral had been as good as his word.  Repair crews, supplies, whatever he needed: it seemed that he only had to ask and they appeared.  After all the preceding weeks of flattering and cajoling uncooperative quartermasters and bullying at times downright truculent supply clerks in order to get the smallest item of equipment, it seemed to Mikael as though the corvette Cleopatra had miraculously been transformed into a capital ship of the line with first call on each and every port facility.
    He had been given 24 hours to get the Cleopatra ready for space and, although it had seemed unlikely at the start, he was going to achieve it.  In less than one hour's time he would be under way and would be able to open his sealed orders and, maybe, learn a little more about the