The tree cover ran out after a couple kilometers, and we were driving northwest through open grasslands. Our road came to an intersection, and I called a halt. "Does anyone know where we are?"

No one did, not a single clue. To the south, we could see a Whale and some Vultures descending, headed away from us. Away from them was as good a direction as any, so we kept driving northeast. And later ran into Captain Clueless and his checkpoint. The road went over a bridge, on the far side were several hamvees and soldiers, human soldiers, mostly wearing US Army gear, so we were happy to encounter friendlies. Or so we thought.

It was an MP unit, led by a 2nd lieutenant, from the variety of unit insignias and nationalities, he must have pulled together any people he could find. They trained their rifles on our hamvee as we crossed the bridge, then ordered us to stop. I got out, cradling the Kristang rifle under my left arm, and saluted with my right. "Report, Lieutenant, uh." I squinted at his nametag, "Rogers."

"Sir?" His return salute was hesitant. I wore US Army colonel's insignia on my uniform top, which was so smeared with dried Kristang blood that my name tag was partly obscured. My pants were Kristang, with their distinctive yellow and black pattern, and I carried a Kristang weapon. Also, I was much too young to be a real colonel in anyone's army.

"We ran into Kristang back down the road," I used my right thumb to indicate the direction behind our hamvee, "and tactically acquired this gear. We don't have comms," I pointed to my empty waistband, "what is the situation?"

"You attacked the Kristang? Sir, I think I have to place you under arrest." His men raised their weapons. This could get ugly fast.

"Lieutenant, unless you've totally had your head up your ass," that phrase was becoming my favorite, "it can't have escaped your attention that this planet is under new management, by the Ruhar. UNEF's mission here is over. Every human on Paradise is a prisoner, of the Ruhar. You planning on arresting all of UNEF, and turning us over to the hamsters?"

"I have my orders-"

"I am a God-damned full-bird colonel in the United States Army, and you are a particularly dumb-ass second lieutenant." I said hotly, careful to keep my rifle cradled under my left arm. "Lt Colonel Chang here, and Captain Desai, also outrank you in UNEF, and Staff Sergeant Adams outranks you in smarts. Stand down, right now, that's an order."

Desai pointed her rifle out the window, directly at Rogers' head. "I am not going back to that prison." The rifle barrel was shaking slightly, either from anger, fear or low blood sugar.