Vaukt and a VDF soldier lay in some thick foliage, watching the prison with surprise. Suddenly what was a detention center had so many of the Empire's highest ranking officers within. If only there was a bunch of artillery available…but then again that wouldn't be a bright idea.

"This is certainly a sight." Vaukt commented as some new activity emerged at the front gate. Five IIA officers coming out. Some words were exchanged between them and the Warmaster. Vaukt tuned his helmet's audio enhancements to pick up the audio from a distance.

"Warmaster, by order of Colonel Niz, you're to be detained."

"Detained?! For what?!"

"The Tallest are arrested for interfering in a treason investigation and you're part of their entourage."

"Like heck you are."

Burgg immediately went for his sidearm, prompting the five officers to draw theirs and open fire. Plasma bolts struck true until Burgg fell backwards onto the ground, killed…by IIA.

"What in the fuck…" Vaukt blinked in surprise. "Damn it…I knew Grimm had his machinations but I didn't think he'd be as insane as to try and rope IIA into this."

"...I'm going to assume by your reaction this isn't normal." The Vortian adjacent to him commented in a hushed whisper as he watched everything happen through a pair of binoculars. "The guy they burned down is some big deal?"

"That's Warmaster Burgg…he's the second highest ranking individual in the Empire. If Red and Purple kicked the bucket for whatever reason, he's automatically next in line to be the Tallest…and that would make Supreme Commander Grimm Warmaster Grimm."

"...and if the other two get the same treatment…he becomes Tallest Grimm?"

"Correct…Grimm then becomes the leader of the Irken Empire."

"What's the play then? This is your op, General…but Grimm's the reason why Vort flies the Empire's banner. Not keen on him being in charge of the Irken Empire as a whole after what he's done here."

"Don't blame you, don't want that sleazebag anywhere in charge either."

About that time, a notification popped up in Vaukt's HUD. Incoming transmission from Vult, encrypted.

"Need to take this." Vaukt tapped on his forearm and opened the channel. "You are not going to believe the shit I just witnessed."

"Byte notified me and I still don't believe it. I thought he was bored and playing a prank when he told me Colonel Niz placed the Tallest behind bars and disarmed and detained their security detail."

"More good news for you then. Burgg's dead. Just watched him get gunned down by IIA."

"That was what Byte told me. Burgg's signal tripped on his end. This is bad. Really bad. By Imperial Standard, Grimm is next in line for Almighty Tallest with Xilch to be promoted to Warmaster."

"Yeah, no kidding. Which means I think Zha's days are numbered."

"I'm inclined to agree. If she hasn't had her ticket punched yet, it's on the docket…I'm not going to tell you not to try to liberate her, but we have more pressing concerns now."

"I'm sure. But I'm thinking if this is looking as bad as it is, I have no choice but to hit this facility now."

"Before you do that…I have an idea…and you're not going to like it."

"I already get the sense I'm going to hate it. What is it?"

"...you need to liberate Tallest Red and Purple while you're in there."

"That's extremely fucking hilarious but I'm not in a mood for laughing."

"I'm extremely fucking serious, Vaukt. Grimm cannot take the title of Almighty Tallest so long as they're alive, regardless if they're under investigation or not. If you free them, hide them, he can only act in interim as the Empire's leader in an extremely limited capacity. Just as the Warmaster did when the Massive went missing."

"So you're saying you want hostages?"

"I'm saying that those two idiots are better for us alive than dead right now."

Vaukt sighed, seemingly annoyed at the development. "Two hostages coming right up, I suppose."

"Try not to rough them up too much, deserving as they are. We got bigger problems to sort out than smeetsitting two idiots. Try not to get yourself killed."

"I'll see you guys on Haven after a detour at Krata to drop off some friends."

"We'll be standing by. Go save your woman. Vult out."

Vaukt switched radio channels. "Sko, we got those transports ready?"

"Yup, very convincing looking prisoner transports."

"All right, Lifeline is go. Let's go take over a prison."

"You sure?"

"Burgg's dead, the Tallest are under arrest. It's either now or we all came here for nothing. Let's go free our friends and waste Cagir, Niz, and maybe even Xilch while we're here."

"Copy that, out."

"Well, here goes nothing…"