“Winman and I, we already failed her there.”

“I don’t know if it helps or it matters, but that’s not one of the things she mentions when she’s talking about you,” Byron said.

“She wouldn’t. She didn’t when it was Aegis,” Clockblocker said, meeting my eyes. “Or Gallant.”

“I don’t think you can look at it that way,” Byron said. “It’s not failure.”

“It’s not exactly a success,” Christopher answered.

“Guys,” Sveta said, quiet. “Capricorn lost his brother earlier tonight. Let’s not debate it.”

If the two boys were going to say anything in response to that, and it looked like Christopher might from the frown that crossed his face, and his hand swept over his altered, golden hair, they didn’t, because the ship violently changed orientation as we came down for a landing. People pulled hard on the handholds and gripped the bars by the benches.

The landing was rougher than the sudden post-dive pitch. I could feel the grind as the landing gear scraped against our makeshift runway.

The Uther came to a complete stop. The back hatch hissed before hydraulics eased it down. Chris vaulted over before it was even halfway open.

Clockblocker gave Byron a helping hand in standing from the bench. Everyone filed out, Deathchester at the rear. Onto the ramp that extended around the base of the building’s first, second, and third floors, lit by lights inset in the wall and ramp’s edge, everything else around us dark. Though it was white snow on white material, I could see footprints where the indents allowed for shadow.

Other ships had landed. People were getting out. Only a few of the Undersiders were in another ship—Rachel and Foil. Tattletale and Imp were inside the facility. Yellow dots turning orange or red as we got our bearings here.

There were the Shepherds, Advance Guard, Foresight. I saw Crystalclear in Foresight’s midst. Vista, rather than stand by Narwhal, joined Byron, taking his hand in hers.

Narwhal joined Defiant out in front of the half-circle of capes.

“Mission briefing, heads up!” Narwhal called out. “No chatter!”

If there was any chatter, I hadn’t heard or seen it happening. It seemed to stop, because she went straight to the rundown.

“We don’t have long, she’s projected to attack Fortuna in twenty minutes! Our job is to do as much damage as possible to her, hem her in, and slow her down. If you can’t do that or if you can’t get to her, then focus on targeting anyone that’s been compromised, so the greater population of capes and powers can engage with her or resume their ordinary duties. I’ve already talked to sub-teams with their missions, which will involve limiting her access to the facility-wide communications and letting certain tinkertech out of the box.”