The four first years regrouped with their seniors. Mel tucked his claws in against his body and stepped half behind Sy, as if he could hide behind the smaller student. Jim crossed his arms and fixed him with a firm glare. Mel tucked lower into himself as he worried his pincers together.

Sy turned slightly and laid a gentle hand on one of Mel's spindly legs. He caught Jim's eyes and frowned at him. Jim sighed heavily.

"So, Mellow," Jim awkwardly did his best to try and force his voice to sound friendly. "What do we have to do?" Mel clicked his claws rhythmically as if to soothe himself. The sound only put Jim on edge.

"Since our observation mission, there have been infiltration efforts. We managed to get a few men on the ground, including one in the base. Recently a local king has been kidnapped by the extremist group. Our spy has managed to get word to us that there will be a short window of opportunity to retrieve the king safely today."

Sy took a step away from Mel, his hand sliding off his friend's leg. Mel nervously continued, though he looked like he wanted to hide behind Sy again. "We'll be operating as a base ship and some attack speeders. The solar crystals have been fully charged, however the planet is so densely covered in forests that we will be operating as if under night conditions. So you only have until your crystal is drained. That means we need to be fast.

Mrs. Parr wants us to pick no less than two of our group to man the control panel and to coordinate the flyers. The rest of us shall be utilizing the attack speeders. Or, you know, the simulations for them." Mel continued to worry his claws as he glanced at Sy for reassurance.

Sy flashed him a bright smile. "Great assessment, Mel! So first things first, let's decide who's manning the control ship. I would feel more comfortable handling that role than being involved in the fighting directly."

"I can work the control ship too," Jim instantly volunteered.

"Oil and coal you will!" Braxton scoffed. "You're one of our best shots. Sy's a big boy, he can handle this without you. You're getting in an attack speeder."

628 giggled gleefully from Braxton's shoulder. "Meega, nala kweesta!"

"Be polite," Braxton answered reproachfully.

"Soka." 628 pressed his ears against his head.

Braxton grinned and scratched his ears. "I want to destroy them, too. There's just politer ways to say it."

Matt gave Jim an apologetic smile. "I'm with Braxton on this one. I think you should go with him and 628. I'll work the control panel with Sy. Anyone else want to join us?"

"But," Jim's protest was cut short by Hiccup's voice.

"Legs, why don't you work it?" Seemingly the leader of the band of third years, Hiccup turned towards his friend. "You're good at data, you should be able to analyze our best opportunities."

"I'd like to stay as well," Aladdin volunteered. "That puts four of us to handle the main ship. If we really need, I can run and grab a speeder and join the rest of the team, but I think extra hands at the main base is a good starting strategy."

Tuffnut cracked his knuckles. "So what equipment do we get?"

"Well, we selected closed unit headsets for communication, everyone is getting armed with a stun blaster, and we picked I-83s as your attack speeders." Aladdin flicked through his tablet to double check his notes. "Ah, yes. We've also loaded you with canisters of sleeper gas."

Braxton frowned. "Sleeper gas? I would have gone with explosives."

"Kablooie!" 628 mimed an explosion with all four hands.

"We didn't want to risk the king," Aladdin explained. He glanced over at Mel and Sy before admitting, "And some of us were not keen on the idea of killing over capture."

"Tookie bah wah bah!"

"You said it little buddy." Braxton ruffled 628's ears. "Let's go, team."

"Actually," Aladdin glanced over at a student approaching from another direction. "I have something I need to do in just a moment. Do you guys mind getting things set up? I'll be back."

Sy reached over to take Aladdin's tablet. "That's not a problem. You and Mozenrath won't be too long, right? Should I let the instructors know?"

Mozenrath scoffed. "The teachers are all aware of our requirements." His mechanical hand clenched tightly. He opened his fist to reveal a small orb and two flat rings, one that fit perfectly inside the other. The orb sat in the center of the rings. He tossed all three pieces into the air. They hovered momentarily over his hand before beginning to spin rapidly.

The rings twirled together as they oriented themselves along invisible lines. Slowly they settled into each other's cross section. The orb flew around the trinket. Slower and slower it began to narrow the section it passed over until it froze in a hover in one of the quadrants of segmented air.

"Is that a three dimensional compass?" Jim asked in awe.

Mozenrath rolled his eyes. "'Is that a three dimensional compass?'" he mocked. "Wow, Syleven, you picked a real winner."

Aladdin gave him a look. "Be polite, Mozenrath. Come. We'll ask permission to use a gravitational chamber. Back soon guys!"

Matt turned to Sy as the two disappeared. "Where are they going?"

"To pray." Sy tucked his tablet on top of Aladdin's before folding both to his chest. "They have to face their own planet, there's a specific spot they're meant to turn towards to say their prayers. They'll be back soon. Anyway, shall we go get our supplies? I'll gather Aladdin's and keep them with me, since he's just going to be at the control panel anyway."

Matt smiled over at Sy. "Look at you taking charge! Alright Sy, lead the way. We trust you."

Sy went bright red and started to stammer. Braxton knocked his shoulder against Matt's. "Good job, Matty. You killed it. Now he'll never tell us what to do again. Alright Varian, you're the next quietest, your turn to attempt to be a leader."

"Braxton," Jim started irritably.

"Hey, I wasn't being mean to Sy that time, just Varian."

Tuffnut shoved his way to the front. "You want our team to be in charge? We can do that! Alright Varian, let's show them what we can do!"