Never before had Coria seen such a miserable excuse for a guard. The ISSP transport ship Reliant was now in her, and her crew's, possession. Telia had been at her side the entire time the man begged and pleaded for his life. To take the other, that he'd never say a word and vanish. He didn't care what happened so long as he survived. She was positive it was taking all of Telia's control not to shoot him on the spot for such cowardice.

Most of the crew had been ineffective as it was a low security transport of minor crime prisoners, but they were still pathetic. The was no order to them in the chaos that ensued when the they fired of the first shots, and then boarded. It had been every man for himself as the launched in escape pods merely to be shot down in flight.

"It's done everything is ours, and the bodies are stashed well out of sight." Came Karin's amused voice as he looked around her to the now hysterically sobbing man. "Somebody is going to shoot him right?"

"You deal with it Karin," Coria stated turned to move past him. "Let's get this thing moving again."

"What are we to tell the station when they ask why this ship is running late?" Rasped Telia massaging her throat to sooth the pain talking caused.

"Engine problems. See to it that there was one, and that all records report such." Stepping onto the command deck she scowled at the sight of the dead captain. "I wanted him alive!"

"It's okay ma'am. We got all the codes right here!" One of the replacement crew she'd brought along held up a red folder then brought it to her at her command. "Everythin' we'll need is right there. Swear to it on me life."

"And the computer systems?"

"Ours and already rewritten with our codes and names. It'll be a piece of cake to fly her in without any problem what-so-ever. If anyone asks, just tell them the normal crew didn't make it in time to do the run, and that we were assigned to it. Trust me, I have them on records showing up long after our departure and being turned away." The man was genius despite his annoyingly cheerful persona. He could be shooting men down and still be smiling. Take a bullet through the shoulder and laugh where another might be crying out in agony.

Her crew where all those who had excelled above the others of the syndicate. Above those who were now being reassigned to an ordinary life, or being cleaned out as police raided various headquarters across the planets. Despite the fact Vicious was safely tucked away in a building not on any of the syndicate records she fretted his possible discovery.

"Coria, we'll be coming in soon. Better change." Karin tossed an extra captains outfit to her which she scowled at but changed into anyways. It was stupid to complain about what was necessary to the plan.

Stretching and settling the strange feeling clothes into a more comfortable place she chuckled as her crew ran the ship as if they were the real crew. Karin and Telia stood on either side of her in advisors uniforms as easily as if they'd been there forever.

If she stopped to actually think about it they had always been her advisors. Ever since Vicious had proven she was worth something to the syndicate and not so expendable she'd earned their respect, and something akin to trust. In such work, you could never trust even your own twin, if you had one, to guard your back when it came right down to it.

"Reliant," came the harsh voice over the communication system, "you're late again! What is your excuse this time?"

"This is Captain Karia on the Reliant. The crew that normally piolets this temperamental beast was late without reason and we were assigned to it. Then of course the damn thing decided to have engine problems. The sooner you let me land the happier I'll be to let you sign these forms and return home. I AM NOT flying this ship back so you can find someone else do it." She snapped at the of the man who would be dead within the next hour. It was a shame really, he had such a handsome face, but it also couldn't be helped.

"I didn't assign you to it so don't snap at me. We have the transport truck waiting nearest to D41 so you better park there. The ship in it right now is just leaving, so take it easy." He signed off and she smiled at her crew who were all chuckling as they inputted the various codes need to land.

Spike stared in total disbelief as news of the hostile take over and slaughter of the main port on Mars was reported for all to see and hear. Then growled angrily as he watched police pour into the building and not return. Despite all attempts cameras within the port where malfunctioning, and not even Ed could hack into them.

Three hours later the electrical and weather control stations were reported as overwhelmed. Electricity to the outer rims was lost, and every minute more of the cities were left without power. The weather was dark and erratic in some areas as someone tampered with the systems.

The next day all government establishments were gone, and communications to the planet gone all together. The day after women and children of now great power or importance were being shipped out by the hundreds. The men were not however, and the government off of Mars were struggling to smuggle their own troops in.

Any approaching ship was warned, and then shot down. By the second attempt people were no longer coming off the planet despite the fact there were many more to be evacuated. Gunner ships within firing range where also shot down, but it didn't stop the foolish or hot-blooded bounty hunters from trying to land.

A week later, the last thing to be seen going in or off of the surface of Mars was a large transport ship with the emblem of the Red Dragon Syndicate. Enraged and cornered, the government issued an all out attack order. One that failed in the slaughter of innocents, and the destruction of a large part ISSP, and most planetary military.

It got to Jet as much as it did Spike as they sat there helplessly watching the reports. Until the familiar face that he wanted to strangle came on screen. The one thing he had dreaded to actually see ever again. Faye gave a startled cry and Jet glanced to her never having seen the face himself. Despite all his self control Spike lost it punching the table before him denting it badly.

That face was still there looking back at him through the screen. The face of Vicious preparing to make a speech.