"What the hell did you do, Grizz?" The anger coursed through Nyreen like Cipritine Whiskey. It would be far too easy to toss him out the nearest window and let the maintenance crews scrape what was left of him off the sidewalk. The knowledge that Aria would be proud was the only thing preventing her. She took a deep breath and counted to twenty in her head.

"I did what you were too scared to do," he said. "I've got Cerberus running around in a panic. I did in three hours what you couldn't do in three months."

"You killed civilians."

"I killed people collaborating with the occupation." His eyes narrowed, and his voice was like acid. "Or did you spend so much time in the Cabals that you forgot how war works? When I was a private, my unit responded to the Relay 314 Incident. The only thing those humans respected was when we took the fight to the cities. Wars like this, there's no such thing as a noncombatant."

"There are always noncombatants." Nyreen had been too young to be deployed to Shanxi, but her father had served as a captain in the artillery. He had come back a quieter, more solemn man. On the day she had graduated from boot camp, he had taken her aside and told her about the civilian structures they had bombed. The aliens weren't like turians and their noncombatants had been wholly unprepared to fight. Some had rushed out onto the streets, their clothing still on fire. A child had toddled toward his mother, only to be hit by falling masonry. He had made Nyreen promise to always be more careful than he had been. "I ought to get a message to Petrovsky. Tell him you did this and where you are."

His mandibles flared, and his eyes glittered. Nyreen had seen that look often enough on Aria's face when she had someone cornered during negotiation. "No, you're not. I'm giving you a golden opportunity here. While Cerberus is running around like the idiots they are, trying to figure out who did this, you have free reign to cause as much trouble for them as you need to. Now's your chance to push them back."

And like Aria, Grizz had the infuriating habit of being right. The Talons had been gaining strength among the nonhumans in the Gozu District. Now was a chance to strike at some of the checkpoints and give them freedom to move. If they were lucky, they might even be able to damage the forcefields. "Don't you ever do anything like this again, or you will wish that it was Cerberus that found you."

Grizz nodded and sauntered out of the room. Nyreen let him go and walked to her command station. A few taps of her omni-tool brought up a holographic map of the Gozu District. "Attack Team A, we're going hunting." Spirits, she hoped what they gained from this was worth those lives.

The security footage had no audio, but Oleg could imagine the groaning of metal and the roar of force as fire consumed the superstructure of the plant and sent debris into the station's atmosphere. It was past midnight and he was no closer to finding out who did this or how than he was when North called him. North himself bent over the console, lines of exhaustion forming on his face.

"Casualties are up to seven. Med center's reporting we lost another one." He shook his head. "Damn Talons. All Kandros' talk about protecting civilians, and when their backs are against the wall, she lashes out!"

"We don't know who's responsible. It's dangerous to presume." And, in a strange way, he didn't want Kandros to be responsible. A man was defined by his enemies. The stronger and more virtuous they were, the more he could be sure of his own rightness. Kandros was an excellent soldier. He would have been honored to serve with her under other circumstances. The thought that she would resort to terrorism dishonored them both.

"It's not the Talons," Miranda said as she hobbled through the door. She was pale, and there were dark circles under her eyes. Oleg stared at the brace. She'd been at her station for hours. How much longer could she work before pain forced her to give up? He ought to have insisted she go to bed hours ago, but right now he needed someone to tap into Talon communications more than he needed her pain-free. She slumped into the nearest chair. "You were right. Their comm channels are on fire. They're talking about 'exploiting the opportunity our friend gave us.' And it sounds like Kandros is extremely irritable at the moment. I believe I picked up a few new turian epithets."

"Can you tell us who is responsible?"

"No, but I am getting chatter, They're planning something in the Gozu District. I'm a bit fuzzy on what at the moment, but I'll crack it."

"An uprising! That's just what we need. We're shorthanded as it is." North shot him a half-pleading, half-accusing look. "Any chance of getting reinforcements from the Illusive Man?"

Oleg shook his head. "His terms are the same as ever." He ran his fingers through his hair. "We must do something. Seven humans have been murdered and Kandros thinks she can use the opportunity to humiliate us." A sound strategy on her part. He would have to devote men to cleanup that would otherwise be patrolling the streets.

"We need to crack down before they get a chance to," North said. "We know that the Talons—and probably their 'friend' who pulled this off—draw their support from the nonhuman population. If we send out a general order that all nonhumans are prohibited from carrying weapons of any kind and that they aren't allowed to be out of their assigned areas without human supervision, that'll cut the Talons off at the knees."

"And it will cause a great deal of inconvenience and suffering to thousands of people who had nothing to do with this attack."

"Have you got any better ideas?"

No, he didn't. North was right. This would severely hamper Talon movement and cut down on any incidental crimes that would stretch his forces while they hunted those responsible for the bombing. Even the freest societies knew that sometimes liberty must be curtailed for the sake of the greater good. The Romans had created the post of dictator. Lincoln suspended habeas corpus. And Omega was hardly free at the best of times. He would do what was necessary to protect the safety of all. He would find these murderers, and he would visit swift justice upon them.

"Have you lost your mind?" Miranda's voice was weak, but she spoke crisply and slowly. "You might as well sponsor the Talon recruiting drive yourself."

"So, they'll hate us. I can live with that. It's not like your precious husk research is paying off at all. And since the general here is too old-fashioned to get implants so we can actually get the reinforcements to do our—" North's head snapped up. "Wait a minute. What if we got some reinforcements?" For the first time since his posting here, he looked enthusiastic. His dark eyes were clear and bright. "I know you don't think much of mercenaries, but they aren't always crime syndicates like the Suns. If we can hire them to do routine patrol and all the other boring crap, then we can spend our time hunting down Talons."

"It's…not a bad plan," Miranda said slowly. "The trouble would be finding a company willing to work with Cerberus on Omega. I can bury the cost in my budget if it comes to that, but most of the people willing to work with us are glorified crime syndicates." She inclined her head in Oleg's direction. "Which is counterproductive to our goal of maintaining order."

"There's Blackstone. They'll work anywhere. And they are absolute professionals. I almost joined them myself."

Miranda turned paler at the mention of Blackstone. Oleg felt sweat form on his palms. "Absolutely not," they said simultaneously.

North expression changed from triumph to bewilderment, and Oleg felt a twinge of pity. "Blackstone isowned by the Artemis Group. The majority shareholder is Henry Lawson."

North looked at Miranda, understanding dawning in his eyes. "You're Henry Lawson's daughter?"

"Biologically. And let's say he doesn't approve of my career choice. He would side with the Talons purely to spite me."

"So we're back to the curfews and weapons bans."

"So it would seem." It wasn't North's fault. It wasn't his fault. It was simply an unfortunate measure that had to be taken to keep the peace. In time, the bomber would be caught and everything we go back to normal. Omegans might even thank him for it. Simply an unfortunate measure. If it didn't spark a full-scale revolution.

"Sure, if you want to play right into the Talon's hands," said Patriarch as he sauntered through the door. "You Cerberus types already have a reputation as wanting to slit the throats of anybody that isn't your own species. This would prove it."

"Who invited you?" North asked with a scowl.

"I was retained as an advisor. I'm advising." He turned his gaze to Oleg. "Beefing up security isn't a bad idea. People are going to be scared after this. Murder is nothing, but nobody's set off a bomb on Omega in over a century. But if you want to sell it as a security measure, you're going to have to do it to everyone. Humans included."

"Which will weaken our sole base of support," Oleg reminded him. "But Kandros won't be able to use race as a factor in recruiting. We shall be absolutely fair in our application of the security measures. And they will see that we have no interest in oppression, only in maintaining order."

"Good man."

"Humans won't take kindly not being able to go anywhere without an escort," North said.

"Then maybe we don't need to implement that particular security measure. Absolute fairness. I want a buyback program instituted for all firearms, combat knives, and anything that can be used to make explosives. Anyone found with these items after the next fifteen days will go to the detention camps for an indefinite period of time."

The wheels turned in his head. They had the stick, but there must also be a carrot to go with it. He must prove to the bomber and to Kandros that he would not be cowed. "And announce that we will be continuing our infrastructure plans. As soon as the debris is cleaned up, we'll resume work on the purification plant. We'll also be taking recommendations for other projects from the citizens of various districts, human and otherwise. Dismissed."

Miranda was the last to leave. "You should be in bed, my dear. You'll exhaust yourself and have a flareup."

"We all have to do our duty, no matter the cost," she said with such casualness that Oleg hardly knew whether to smile or hug her. "Though I'd say you almost did more than your duty."

"North's suggestions, you mean? Yes, that would have been a disaster. A very seductive disaster." It was frightening sometimes. He preferred to think of himself as a good man who obeyed the laws and customs of war, but he had almost committed the same sort of oppression Cerberus was supposed to stand against and almost without thinking about it. Here was a threat. Here was the most obvious way to end the threat. "Let's see what Omega makes of there being one law for all of them. And see that Patriarch gets some decent alcohol."

"And North's other suggestion? He was right about that much you know. Blackstone would help you tremendously. If I weren't here."

"But you are here and immensely valuable to the mission." He took her hands in his and planted a kiss to her palm. And to me. "I'll talk to the techs again. If the mechs can be programmed not to confuse trash and actual weapons, then we'll have the police force we need." He squeezed her hands. "And before you know it, you'll be plotting how to steal Blackstone from Henry."

"May I again state my objection to this, sir?" North's anxiety sounded genuine. Oleg wasn't sure whether to be insulted or touched. "If the mechs go crazy, you'll be in the firing line."

"It's theatre," Oleg said. His gaze went to the omni-present camera drones. Every citizen on Omega would see him commanding mechs moving with a precision that organics could never match. And, if Kandros decided to show herself, then he would be on hand to take up pursuit. "I'll be fine."

The Gozu district was cleaner than it had been a few weeks earlier, but that had come at the cost of liveliness. Shops were shuttered closed, and the people who did mill about on the streets seemed quieter. He frowned. It was a foreseeable consequence of the curfews he had imposed, but the station should have more life than this. Their mystery bomber would have much to answer for. A few turians eyed the mechs warily, but none dared approach.

There was shouting in the distance. Ah, perhaps things were not so quiet as they appeared. He order his patrol team and accompanying mechs forward. By the time they got there, one batarian had picked another up by the shirt collar. "Don't lie to me, Kalask. I saw you with her!"

Ah, the oldest story in the galaxy. And perfect for testing out the mech's containment capability. He signaled for his men to stay back while the two mechs went on ahead. They advanced slowly and deliberately until they were almost on top of the irate batarian. "Desist. You are disturbing the peace of the station."

"Make me, tin can."

Oleg stilled. Another incident like the one at the food dispenser could spark a riot that would make the Nika Revolt look absolutely peaceful. The mech's eyes began to glow more brightly as it emitted a cloud of blue vapor. The batarian fell to his knees as he began to cough. "What did you do to me? Can't…breathe."

Oleg exhaled. "Containment test passed with flying colors." He approached batarian as he continued to cough and splutter on the ground. "It's a new compound, quite similar to pepper spray, but safer for other species. You'll be fine in half an hour. Now get up and get out of here before I'm forced to arrest you for attempted assault. And do try to control your temper in the future."

The batarian hauled himself to his feet and scampered off. "North, make sure the drones picked that up. I want it on tonight's broadcast. From now on, we have the capacity to deal with even these minor disturbances and—"

"Sir!" North cut in, his voice edged with anxiety. "Intel is reporting sightings of Target Alpha near your location. I don't have confirmation yet, but it seems like she has a squad with her."

"Then let's go confirm it." His mind whirred. If it were only a handful of Talons, then they would want to keep their strike swift and surgical before retreating back the way they came. And there was only one way to safely move unseen through the area. "I want the mechs here and all those from Charlie company deployed to the tunnels."

"But sir, I thought we were supposed to test how they fight?"

"No, we're testing how effective they are." And if he knew Kandros' code of ethics as well as he believed, then the mechs would be more effective at capturing the Talons than any human squad ever could be. "The rest of you, with me."

They came to the Kokomo Plaza. The old Blue Suns symbols had been taken down, but otherwise it looked much the same as it had when he had come here. There was no sign of the Talons. "Spread out and secure the perimeter. They're here somewhere."

If he were a guerilla, where would he hide? Down here, the pillars and various assorted structures provided more than adequate cover, but also impaired line of sight. Surprise would be critical. Ideally, he would want to have the high ground to achieve an uninterrupted view of the plaza. His gaze drifted to a nearby balcony. Of course. "Move to—" Something red glinted in the upper story window. A spotting laser. "Duck!"

The bullet missed him by inches, and the battle began in earnest. This was the part of war he hated most. There were no grand strategies or larger objectives, merely the desperate fight to kill the other man before he killed you. Just like New Macau. At least there was no mortar fire this time.

The grenades fell as if to mock him. He dove behind cover at the last moment, but two members of the fireteam weren't so lucky. A biotic field lifted them in the air just as the adjutant lifted Rolston before, slamming them onto the concrete with a sickening thud. A figure in the red and gold armor of the Talons strode forward. Kandros had taken the field.

She moved with an easy fluidity more at home with at the ballet than the battlefield as she fired her pistol. One man went down, then another. Ten meters away, two other turians were engaged in a gun battle with Matthews and Hadley. Oleg signaled for the remainder of his team to concentrate on them while he circled around behind.

Kandros' responded as expected. She made for the besieged turian and threw herself in front of the bullets. Her biotic sphere ensured the bullets bounced off harmlessly, but an enemy who was defending, was one that wasn't attacking. And now to press his advantage. Time and patience were the greatest warriors, but fear was a potent weapon.

He switched on his comm. "This is General Petrovsky. We are facing heavy resistance in the Kokomo District. Tell Operative Lawson that the adjutants are going to have to be released sooner than planned."

"Sir?"

"Just relay the message. I need those adjutants down here ASAP." And, if the Talons had been as thorough at cracking their encryption as he thought they were, then the Talons would be hearing it very shortly.

They had. Nyreen stiffened visibly. "Fall back. We can't let those things hurt the civilians."

And into the tunnels they vanished. Check, Kandros. "North, are the mechs in position?

"Affirmative. And I've got a few panicky troops here. They're scared of another Rolston incident. I'm having to threaten them with court-martial. Lawson looks like the cat that got the canary, though."

Because she knows me. "I want all sensors on those tunnels. If this is going to work I need a real time map of Kandros' location."

"She's heading for….let me see…Sector 343."

Oleg unbuckled the sphere from his belt. The communications drone zoomed after the Talons. Check, Kandros.

The tunnels were an inescapable maze unless you possessed either the knowledge of a native or extensive monitoring equipment. Steam choked the air. He maneuvered down the tunnels and watched on his omni-tool as the red dots representing the fleeing Talons split off into two groups. Five dots with east. One went west. He followed the one going west.

Kandros stood in a large, open area that formed part of the station's ventilation system. She was covered in dust and panting heavily. Ahead of her, the mechs stood silent and waiting. She readied a grenade.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," he said as his image materialized. "Their heat-dispersal sinks are highly flammable. If you set off an explosion in here, the blast will be fatal. More to the point, you will damage the life-support systems in this district. We'll get them repaired eventually, but I won't be responsible for any casualties."

"Let me go, Petrovsky. Someone needs to protect Omega from those adjutants. You don't have them under control as well as you think you do." He saw the exact moment she understood what had happened. Her eyes widened in recognition. "There never were any adjutants, were there?"

"I would never endanger this station by using a weapon I didn't have control over. It may astonish you to learn this, but I do have some care for your precious civilians. I only want an orderly and safe Omega."

"It looks more like a police state to me."

"An unfortunate consequence of your bomber friend." He extended a hand toward her. "If your concern for the people of this station is as great as you claim, then he should be your priority. Seven civilians murdered for no better reason than that they wanted jobs."

A wealth of emotion flickered across her face. Guilt, anger, doubt. Oleg pressed his advantage home. "Give me his name and throw down your weapon, and I'll extend the same amnesty offer to you as I did your subordinates. There will be no punishment of any kind. Otherwise…" The Ramparts advanced on her.

"I won't give up until Omega is free." And with that, she ran back the way she came.

"But you'll let a terrorist walk free." He recalled the sphere. "Deploy all available mechs to Sector 343. I want all known exits blocked." And even if Kandros slipped through his fingers again, well, he had given her something to think about. Victory began with a single chink in the armor.

"Aye, aye, sir." North could barely contain his excitement. "We did manage to capture three of the other Talons. Feels so good to finally get one over on them for a change."

"Don't get cocky. This is a battle, not the war. Have them moved to a detainment center for interrogation. With any luck, they can tell us what else Kandros is planning and perhaps give us intelligence on the bombing."

By the time he got back to base Miranda was waiting for him. She was grinning, once more the arrogant young girl who cheerfully fleeced rich idiots. "Good job bluffing Kandros. Though I'm afraid some of the staff was fooled as well. Dr. Walker seemed rather disappointed. He so wanted to test out his new toys."

Oleg raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"Yes, he's convinced that—"

Chambers walked through the door. "Excuse me. There's a man outside waiting to see Operative Lawson."

"Tell him to come back later. The security of the station is very fragile at the moment."

"I tried, but he says he thinks he has information about whoever blew up the purification plant. And he said he would only tell you."

Oleg looked at Miranda. She shrugged. "Show him in."

Hadley and Matthews followed a few minutes later, escorting a middle-aged dark-haired man that Oleg had never seen before. But Miranda's eyes lit up in recognition. "Matt the woodcarver. What's this about information?"

"Is he safe?" He jerked his thumb toward Oleg. "Some of the Cerberus troops can be real blabbermouths, and if word gets out I'm talking to you—" He wiped sweat from his brow with trembling hands. "—I just want Peter not to have to worry about some crazy with a bomb. He's been having nightmares."

"I assure you I'm safe, as you put it. What you say will go no farther than this room."

"Well, maybe it was nothing, but I think I might've saw a couple of turians skulking around the district. I remember thinking it was weird because we hardly ever saw turians even before the force fields went up. One of them had this really flashy omni-tool."

Miranda leaned forward in her chair. "If I set you up with a sketch artist, you think you could describe these turians well enough to help us create a wanted poster?"

"Sure, I guess." He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked down at the floor. "Is there some kind of reward for all this? I mean, those turians will kill me if they find out I was talking to you."

Oleg sighed. Money. It always came down to money on Omega. "How much do you want?"

He shook his head. "I don't want credits, and I don't want it for me. I know you get supplies from the outside. The education modules here on the station are crap, and I want Peter to have a real top-flight education. Maybe be able to get off this rock someday." His expression turned pleading. "Please. It's all I can give him."

Catherine thrust the brochure into his hands. "If we can get Nikolai into Salendale, his chances of qualifying for a decent private school will triple. And if he gets into a privte school, he might end up going to Harvard or Cambridge instead of some lousy state school in Missouri like I did."

"I understand. He'll get everything he needs. Just help us catch this madman."