So, I wrote this one today for you guys. I feel the story rolling now and I kind of want to keep going while I have the momentum. The first part is nearing its end. I haven't decided if that will end blood and freedom and start a new story or if I will simply continue the story under the same name. Either way, Enjoy!

-Twiin-Vii2iion2

...

Dirk sat in his destroyed room, bits of the broken chair all around him. He hadn't slept. He needed to collect himself. He had a base to run, a plan to finalize in less than a week. Now he had a troll on the base. He trusted Dave's word on this troll being safe but he knew his base wouldn't be so willing to accept. Sure there were plenty of people who loved Dave here and they would probably take his word too, but not everyone. Dirk was going to have to keep the troll close and keep an eye on him at least until he proved himself.

Dirk sighed and ran his hands through his hair, breathing deep. He needed to think on the plan. It would calm him somehow. He needed answers. With a glance at the clock he went to the radio by his door and picked it up, 9 was late enough in the morning for a meeting.

"Attention base, this is Dirk. I'm calling a meeting of the officers in 5 minutes. I want you all there so we can finalize the plans. The rest of you, continue with your daily lives. That is all." he stepped out of his room and looked down the hallway. He made his way to Dave's room. He knocked on the door and waited for an answer.

Dave appeared after a minute, standing in the doorway naked, the restlessness of his sleep showing in his eyes.

"What's up?" He asked with a yawn.

"I wanted to know if you could attend the meeting this morning." Dirk met his eyes.

"You think I can help? I've been gone so long, I don't know how much more you guys have now."

"Dave please. I don't... I don't know what to do. You've always been better at strategy."

Dave sighed. "let me get dressed." He shut the door and a few minutes reappeared outside, completely dressed. "let's go."

The two headed towards the meeting room, shades blocking the sleeplessness from their eyes. When they entered, the officers had already filled the room. The men and women around the room stood as Dirk entered.

"Sit down, you know I hate that standing at attention crap." He tried a smile but it felt insincere even to him. "You all remember Dave right? He's sitting in on this meeting at my request. I value his input and I hope you guys will as well."

Dave nodded and, when everyone had seated themselves, he took the seat next to Dirk.

"So to recap the intel for Dave, we have discovered the location of a major troll base on the other side of the former Texas border in Oklahoma. They've been gathering there for the past four to five months. They seem to be planning a massive strike on the resistance, possibly a bomb of sorts. Our one saving factor is that they do not know our exact location. That only buys us a little time though as I'm sure if they are given enough time, they'll just bomb the whole area.

"We have, as of two days ago, captured a ship intact from a recon crew the trolls sent out, however we have not even been able to turn it on. Flying it back for a sneak attack seems an unlikely event. It was recovered not far enough from here for my liking. We may give up our location if it does not return. Location however may not be the most of our worries.

"It may be less than a week before the trolls have enough firepower to blos the whole state to kingdom come. Therefore we must have a sound plan ASAP."

Dirk looked around, stopping on Dave, whose thought showed on his face.

"We can't fly the machine? Why not?" he asked.

"The controls are confounding as all get out. They also seem to not respond to human touch." A very tan male stood across the table from Dave, his green eyes meeting Dave's shades. "Good to see you back safe Dave."

"You too Jake." Dave smiled. "So we think it may only respond to troll touch?"

"Seems to be it." another officer, a middle aged woman answered.

"Well, flying it may not be out of the question."

"Dave, I don't think.." Dirk began.

"Dirk, you said it yourself. We don't have time. I know Karkat can do this. If he is willing, we could hit them before they know it."

Dirk sighed. He knew it was the only way, but how would he get everyone on board.

"When Dave returned to use, he had three companions. John, Jade, and a troll." Whispers started around the meeting room. "The troll was not a prisoner." The room erupted in an outrage.

"Not a prisoner!? Are you crazy?!"

"And we let them in?!"

"We can't trust any of them!"

"Throw em out!"

Dave had had enough. "Shut up!" he yelled and the room went silent.

"On our way back down, John, Jade, Rose and I were ambushed in a trap. The trolls captured three of us and put us in a slave labor camp. Only John escaped. This troll you are so quick to condemn helped John save us. I personally saw him kill other trolls. He's the only reason I'm alive right now. He's the only reason any of us made it back at all. "

"Then where is Rose?" one of the officers asked pointedly.

"Dave..." Dirk tried to stop him but dave's face warped into a look of anger.

"My sister got injured our first day in the camp. Instead of treating her wound, they threw her in the Death Pit. The trolls left her with dead and rotting bodies to die. When we got her out she was already beyond saving. I have every reason to hate trolls. I trust this one."

"But we can't." The officer said. "You may have a soft spot for this troll, but he is evil and not to be trusted."

"Do you know anything of troll hierarchy?" Dave spat.

"Dave don't..." Dave brushed Dirk off.

"No, answer me. Do you?"

The officer stood up straight. "They base it off of blood color. Purples being the highest, blues bellow them, then greens, then yellows, then browns or rust bloods."

"Correct." Dave sneered. "You know what color his blood is? Red. Bright red. He would rank lowest on the hierarchy. He would be killed on the principle of his genes being unfit for the race. He has as much reason to hate the trolls as we do."

"Even still," it was Jake who spoke up this time "How can we trust him. I understand your position Dave, but this is a leap for most of us."

"The way I see it," it was the middle aged woman again, Officer West, "we don't have a choice. We're running out of time and we need to strike." Dave was taken aback. He didn't think anyone would take his side. "However, we need to be prepared for anything. In case he does try to betray us, we need a crew to go with him."

"I'll go." Dave said.

"Don't take this the wrong way, Dave," Officer West spoke again "but while I trust you, some here would be more comfortable with others on the ship. Some who don't know the troll."

"With all due respect Officer West, but I won't let him on that ship without at least me there. He's been beaten within an inch of his life once already. I'd rather not go there again." Dave shot back.

"If we do this, I would like Dave, Jade, and John on there as well as a crew from the base." Dirk stated. The conversation went around the room as to who would be on the crew. Dirk let it for a while. "I will head the team." He announced.

"Sir, you can't. If it goes south we cannot lose you." Officer West pleaded.

"Dirk, she's right. You should be here for it. Organizing a march after we hit them. We'll need you here

to lead that." Dave said, giving Dirk a look. Dirk sighed. He knew Dave was right, but that didn't make him hate it any less.

"I'll go." Jake offered.

"No." Dirk said a little too quickly, a little to much like a plea.

"Dirk, you know I can lead this. I have the fighting skills you'll need after the sneak attack too. We'll need one officer on there at the very least."

"Dammit. Fine." Dirk clenched his fists. "Jake will lead the team. Dave, you should go inform John and Jade and check in on Karkat. Jake, go get a team ready."

Dave and Jake nodded and went for the door. Dirk grabbed Jake's arm. "Come back. And don't do anything stupid." Jake nodded and left.

"How are we going to do the march?" an officer to Dirk's right asked.

"We'll need to be close enough to respond, but far enough to go undetected."

"I think an hour out." a third officer offered.

"That leaves the sneak crew behind enemy lines and greatly outnumbered for an hour." Dirk pointed out. He didn't like that.

"Well, we aren't really left with any choice."

"What about the approach?"

"Well we can't use the air. We don't know what kind of detection equipment they have." Officer West

pointed out.

"Well, ground then. But they'll see vehicles approaching from a distance."

"But we'd have to leave now in order to get there in any semblance of a reasonable amount of time on foot."

"Then how do we get there?"

"Underground." Dirk broke his silence with a smile. The officers looked at him in confusion.

"Underground, sir?" Officer West asked.

"You remember the Schematics we found for this complex? It had a tunnel the went north for a long stretch. I've been looking over it recently. It was an entrance into this facility. It comes up to above ground about 200 miles north of here. It would put us just 120 miles or so east of our target." Dirk pointed to the spot on the map where the tunnel ended. "we could cover half of that on cars, waiting about 60 miles out, for the confirmation to advance."

"Brilliant plan." Officer West admitted. "but the tunnel is blocked by lock down doors. We can't get those doors open."

"Give me one day." Dirk smiled. "I'll have them open."

"If you can open the doors, then this is no problem. But we should have a back up plan in case you can't." The other officers muttered agreements with Officer West.

"As it should be." Dirk admitted. "I leave you in charge of those plans Officer West. I'm going to get to work on that door." With that he excused himself from the meeting. As the door was closing he heard the debating continue. Finally they were making headway on this. They were gonna hit these trolls hard.