The Electroveil Collective was gathered in front of Warehouse 17. Voices were muted as a buzz of conversation circled the group.

  A moon shone down in the dimness of the evening. One of the quirks of Techterra was that it was never truly dark at night. Beyond the light of the city spraying into the atmosphere, there was always at least one clear, bright moon in the sky. Usually both of them.

  Krassik was strutting around, chatting with various members and trying to stir people up for the operation, but everyone was staying muted until the boss arrived.

  "How about you, little hatchling? You ready?" he said to Tazrika.

  She rolled her eyes and flared her cloak.

  "I've been ready since I landed on Techterra. I don't know why we have to do all this hanging around."

  "Gotta wait for the boss," he said. "He'll give us the final plan, and we'll move out."

  Tazrika rolled her eyes again.

  "Fine, whatever. I'm just ready to get going."

  "You're sparky, I like that." Krassik's face split in a huge grin, exposing his yellowed, sawblade teeth. "You know, after an operation we usually have a big party." He paused. "You don't seem much of one for parties, though. Maybe you and I could go hang out or something instead?"

  Tazrika raised an eyebrow at him.

  "You're not my type."

  Krassik winced.

  "Oh yeah? What's your type, then?"

  Tazrika looked him up and down and thought for a moment.

  "Terran. Career military. Twice as old as you."

  Krassik's mouth fell open. Then he burst into uncontrollable laughter.

  "Tazrika, you're wild! You should be a comedian. Okay, okay, I get it. But if you ever change your mind, you let me know."

  "I will," she said.

  The sleek black car rolled up again in front of the warehouse. Rhydak stepped out.

  The crowd drew near to him, but not too close. There was a respectful bubble around him as he walked into the warehouse and mounted the crude stage. The Electroveil Collective was unusually silent as Rhydak prepared to speak.

  "Friends," he said with quiet gravitas, "tonight we finally strike back at the Imperium that has struck us down."

  The warehouse erupted in cheers and shrieking.

  "The Imperium is corrupt. They've grown fat and lazy on our hard work! Then, then they've had the audacity to look down on us!"

  The gang responded with roars of fury.

  "We've been disarmed, abused, robbed. Well I say, 'No more!'"

  The crowd was violent now, screaming.

  "Tonight, we strike CenCom! Tonight, we take back the power that is due us! No more scrabbling for substandard equipment. Tonight, we break into CenCom's armory! We'll never again be without a way to defend ourselves! From tonight, we will take the fight to the Imperium!"

  Cheers ringed the group, but quickly quieted as Rhydak began explaining the plan.

  Grimthorn paced in his office. Lieutenant Baric had already taken off for the day.

  The punishing schedule of chasing pirates had eased only slightly with the introduction of the other fleets. More opportunists were showing up all the time: anyone with a half-functional vessel and a blaster was biting at the fat shipping lanes of the Imperium. Even the skeptical Admiral Lander had been forced to admit that the level of activity was unusual. All the fleets were running around madly, chasing newly minted pirates.

  That wasn't what occupied his mind at the moment, though. Grimthorn was having to line his worries up, prioritize them so he could fret about them in order.

  Besides all the pirates, there remained the question of the Cryptographers' offer. To rescue the remainder of the Ninth Fleet lost twenty years before... the very question was almost too much to bear. The thought that they'd been trapped in jumpspace for twenty years, suffering that twisted dimension, tormented Grimthorn.

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  That the Cryptographers left them in there was worse.

  And yet... the rescue would require the Cryptographers to cold-bloodedly kill one of their own. There were only a few thousand Cryptographers across the entire galaxy. The safety of the Imperium depended on them. The loss of even one was an unconscionable cost.

  And yet, the fleet...

  Grimthorn scrubbed his hand through his hair in frustration.

  Behind all that, of course, was Kinnit. He desperately needed her back, her advice, her calming influence-- but he'd promised the Cryptographers that he wouldn't kill Commander Ordren, who, Grimthorn was convinced, was the only one standing in the way of her return.

  Everything in his power. He'd promised her.

  But everything in his power might not be enough.

  Tazrika stood, her arms folded, staring at the dirty wall protecting CenCom. The street was dirty. A couple husks of abandoned minicars rested along the street, and a large pile of trash was piled against the wall.

  Krassik was practically dancing from foot to foot.

  "More waiting," Tazrika growled.

  "Through the wall, turn east, through the next wall," Krassik chanted. "Smash the double doors into the armory." He hopped onto his other foot. "Through the wall, turn east, through the next wall..."

  "Would you give that a rest?" Tazrika snapped.

  "I've gotta remember!" he said. "Boss' plan. I gotta remember."

  Tazrika rolled her eyes.

  "I'm gonna go in there an take a leak while we're waiting... again," she said, pointing with her thumb at a nearby shop.

  "...smash the double doors into the armory," Krassik muttered. Tazrika walked off.

  In the privacy of the stall, she pulled out her scanner. She tapped out a brief message to Dass.

  "Attack from south. Targeting the armory. Operation begins in fifteen minutes."

  She gave the message a moment to send. Then she pulled the memory chip out of the device and dropped it in the toilet. It plunked into the water and sank to the bottom.

  She flushed twice and stuck the scanner back in her pocket.

  She took a deep breath and rejoined the crew outside.

  Rhydak was waiting with the rest of the Electroveil Collective. He raised an eyebrow as she walked out, but said nothing.

  He was dressed in his usual suit, but now he held a short submachine gun. He slung it and gestured toward the intimidating wall.

  "We've been stockpiling explosives behind that trash pile for weeks now," he said to the group. "We'll breach the outer wall--"

  "Then turn east, through the next wall, right boss?" Krassik interrupted.

  Rhydak grimaced.

  "Yes, Krassik. Once we're in, you and Jorol," he said, gesturing to one of the Tunnorlisk, "will use rocket launchers to knock down the east wall. We've got plenty of rockets, so use as many as you can. We need to get that wall down quickly. The rest of you, keep any guards busy. We'll catch them totally by surprise, so it will take time for them to respond." Rhydak nodded. "Once the wall is open, we'll break into the armory. The Tunnorlisk will clear away the rubble so that our truck can get in. We'll load the truck up with as much ordnance as it can carry and make our getaway."

  "What a great plan, boss!" Krassik crowed.

  "Quiet, Krassik. Now, does everyone understand their roles? Are there any questions?"

  "Can I get a better weapon than a pipe?" Tazrika asked.

  "Yes, once we break into the armory," Rhydak said. "Take whatever you like, but be quick."

  Tazrika's mouth twisted, but she left it alone for now.

  "Now, is everyone ready?" Rhydak pulled out a small remote and held it high. Every eye was fixed to the device. Nobody spoke.

  "The world changes... starting now," he said. Then he pressed the button.

  A stunning blast rocked the street. The shockwave smashed across the Collective like a physical blow. The air was instantly filled with dust and smoke, stained with the choking stench of burning.

  "In! In!" cried Rhydak. "Get into the compound!"

  With ringing ears and rattled senses, the Collective stumbled through the gap in the wall into CenCom.

  Thick smoke obscured the air as they made their way into what had once been a small courtyard. Debris filled it now, and several small trees lay tumbled, ripped out of the ground by the force of the blast.

  "Krassik! Jorol! Get those launchers going!" yelled Rhydak.

  The Saurian and the Tunnorlisk worked frantically to load their rocket launchers. After a few seconds that stretched out like minutes, they aimed their launchers at the east wall.

  "Fire!" cried Rhydak. "And don't stop until we're through the wall!"

  With a double hiss, two rockets leapt across the courtyard and exploded against the wall. Large cracks appeared. The duo reloaded and fired again. The wall crumbled, throwing up a huge cloud of dust.

  "Once more!" cried Rhydak.

  Another pair of rockets exploded, scattering bricks and debris.

  "Stop firing! Now, everybody--"

  Rhydak halted as the dust cleared enough to see what was beyond the wall.

  A Helios Titan, a hulking battle tank, rolled up to the breach. Moonlight gleamed off its sharp, black angles and menacing turret gun.

  "We've been betrayed!" Rhydak screamed. "Run!"

  Two Zephilids near the breach in the outer wall turned to escape, but Navy guards filled the gap, their guns turned on the Collective.

  "Trapped!" Tazrika screeched. She turned and ran to the north wall. She dug her claws in and clambered up to the top. "Further in!" she yelled. "We'll find another way out! Rhydak!" She leaned down, holding out her hand.

  With a glance at the tank, Rhydak ran for her. Two of the guards raised their rifles, but Krassik leapt on them, snarling and knocking them to the ground. He wrestled with both of them, trying to tear their guns from their hands. More guards rushed over and began beating him with the butts of their rifles.

  "Boss! Tazrika! Get away!" he yelled as they pummeled him.

  Rhydak leapt and grabbed Tazrika's hand. With a mighty heave, she pulled the heavy Skorvan up. He scrambled at the wall until he was on top with her.

  With a heavy rumble, the turret of the tank turned toward them.

  "Rhydak, look out!"

  With a heavy, thumping roar, the tank fired, obliterating the top of the wall where Rhydak and Tazrika sat.

  Heavy smoke filled the courtyard. The Electroveil Collective, stunned, slowly stopped fighting. More guards poured into the courtyard.

  Krassik, his face swollen, released the three guards he'd been manhandling. He stared at the wall as the smoke cleared.

  "No! Tazrika..."

  He dropped to his knees. A rush of guards piled on top of him, crushing him to the ground.