THE FREEDOM'S TRAINING room was noticeably cooler than the rest of the ship, but Mad paid it no mind. After bracing against Frigidum's freezing gales, everything else seemed like a summer breeze in comparison. Admiral Trisk's second in command, Captain Jude Winstead, stood beside her. The Captain's crisp uniform made Mad feel almost naked in her sleeveless training garb.

Royce Collins, Cal Roberts, and Hermes were already present, talking amongst themselves while Mad and ...