Once the shooting stopped, the Mzisoh crawled out into the open. The soldiers paused behind rocks used as cover. Tentative heads peeked around them to scout the enemy. Ellis!Olinger idled up the makeshift road in their confiscated vehicle. Epyc Ro never wanted to assume command this way. Though it wasn’t fair to Fela, from any perspective, if her last name wasn’t Buhari, she’d never have leapfrogged Epyc Ro for command, especially for so vital a mission. She waved her people forward to clear any enemy nests.

“Ellis, organize your people into a defense perimeter. I want this area sealed,” Epyc Ro said.

Ellis directed some of their people, who sprinted off to handle it. They wore the look of someone wanting to prove themselves, yet having fallen short. Their severe scrutiny appeared to commit Epyc Ro’s every gesture and timbre of command to memory.

“Nitra, Robin, handle cleanup.” Epyc Ro pushed such concerns to the back of her mind.

“Fine, though I may have to take off my helmet. It’s too hot for all these damn braids.” Robin searched the area. Her jovial spirit lessened, sensing Epyc Ro’s troubled emi. “Where’s Commander Buhari?”

“Gone. No trace. No body, no blood, barely signs of a fight.” Crouching low, Epyc Ro sifted some dirt through her fingers. Fela was a military asset with security clearance having access to all manner of military codes and procedures. And as the sister of Maulana, they might think they could use her as a bargaining chip with the Ijo. “This was a coordinated grab. Seems Fela was the target of this firefight. This Interstellar Alliance is targeting high-value assets.”

“That’s how they’ve been attacking us lately,” Ellis said. “One of our prisoners called it Operation Ragnarok. They’ve captured or taken out many of our chieftains…”

“… to destabilize the command structure of their enemies and to gather as much actionable intelligence from them as possible,” Epyc Ro finished.

“See? This is what I mean. This sounds like one of O.E.’s whack-ass names,” Robin said.

“What would you call it? Operation Bad and Bougie?” Anitra asked.

“Actually, that does have a ring to it,” Robin said.

“Your people joke in the face of all of this?” Ellis asked.

Epyc Ro stepped to them, her face within centimeters of Ellis’s. “Don’t ever question how my people handle the stress of a situation. Know the stakes, and they understand their jobs. And rise to the occasion every time. Know that they won’t rest, especially now this Interstellar Alliance has one of ours. And we always collect our own.”

“She put her big voice on ’em, so you know this shit is serious.” Robin slung Busta over her shoulder.

“Come on,” Anitra clapped Robin on her back. “Let’s go get our Harriet Tubman back.”