Anitra stood tall, off to the side, firing at incoming troops. Charge fire spit up all around her, but she refused to duck or seek cover. A madwoman laughing hysterically. Flames backlit her. She laid down cover for Ellis to guide the Mzisoh across the bay.

“They’re still coming at us from all sides,” Robin said.

“Death blossom?” Epyc Ro asked.

“I hate that you get so excited by that prospect.”

“Anitra, keep our guest in your scope. Chandra, you want to lay down the beat for us to dance to?”

Chandra launched suppression fire as Epyc Ro and Robin charged toward the remaining soldiers. A weapon in each hand, the pair continued to fire. Once they neared the center of the opposing troops, they slammed against each other. Their arms interlocking as they moved, they spun back-to-back in a tight circle while continuing to fire a constant barrage in all directions. Bodies dropped. No time to think. Or aim. Only move and fire, hoping that this deep into the enemy’s ranks, the designated shapes were all hostile combatants. Epyc Ro and Robin locked in a choreographed ballet of talon fire and rhythm. A spiral of limbs and a single beating rhythm. At the empty whir of their drained batteries, they glanced about. What few Lei’den troops remained were in full retreat. Anitra dropped a straggler without a single shot, causing the rest to scurry away faster. She climbed down from her perch. Handing Epyc Ro, Robin, and Chandra their EVM units, her eyes fixed on Car’Annie with an uncanny precision that dared the woman to break eye contact. Cold and still. Closing one eye partway, Anitra squinted, training Car’Annie in her weapon sights.

“Quit looking at me like that!” Car’Annie squirmed under the unsettling weight of being in the gaze of someone trained to extinguish her life without a second’s thought. “You can judge me when you’ve faced the things I’ve had to face and done better.”

“Nah, we’ll judge you now.” Epyc Ro shoved her forward. “We’ll need your authorization to board the ship.”

The ship wasn’t the size of a Muungano research ship. More freighter than battle cruiser, it was larger than several combined Saqqaras or drop ships. A long, slender cylinder, its molybdenum-like alloy was both lighter and strong. The corrugated molybdenum shielding, sheet armor plating, didn’t gleam in the dim light. Powerful engines, warship grade, formed the bulk of its underside and rear, its design appeared to favor quick takeoffs and jumps.

“I…,” Car’Annie began her protest.

“Does she have to be conscious to provide it?” Anitra asked.

“We’ll find out shortly.” Robin closed in on her.

“Fine.” Car’Annie opened the door. “What are you going to do with me? You’ve got what you want.”

“Nothing,” Epyc Ro said.

“Nothing?” Robin and Anitra turned toward her.