'Fly casual Kahn. No heroics needed this time,' Myers said from the Ravens cargo bay.
'I'm never living that down am I, sir?' Khan replied checking their altitude and fuel level.

The local radar net was focused around key locations but that was no reason not to get careless. Their mission called for low altitude nape of the ground flying, at night. Kahn was running off passive instruments only since anything active might have given them away.

'We should be coming up on the meeting point. You set down and be ready just in case. I'll go get Clarke's people back and meet our misplaced friends,' Myers said, opening the door.
'Copy that. I'll keep the guns off till anything starts,' Khan said, checking the door guns.

Due to the shortage of crew their door guns had been replaced with automated turrets. Khan could flick a switch and set them loose. She was keeping the chin gun linked to her helmet. No point being able to see what she couldn't shoot.

After a few more moments Kahn spotted the signal beacon. It was flashing a landing signal on the IR spectrum but the multispectral highlighted it fine. That and the three figures standing at the edge of a clearing.

'I have them. Coming up on 036. Looks like our strays and their new friend,' Khan reported.
Myers turned his head spotting the figures.
'Affirmative. Keep the rotor turning till I say so. No point staying if we're not welcome,' Myers instructed.
'No objection here,' Khan said, checking the cockpit window was polarized. If they turned out to be hostile she and Myers would both be targets.

Khan set down nice and easy inside the clearing. Myers dismounted and darted through the rotor wash. Moving around the extended fuel tanks on the pylon mounts. This was not a short flight and Khan rechecked the gauges again. Enough for some room but they would be cutting it close soon. She turned her head back to the sensors. They might be up against commandos but their tech was decades out of date compared to the MK2 Ravens systems. Hopefully that would level the playing field.

'Strange to see the Onyx Guard out in the field. I almost regret laughing when you said you were coming. Almost,' Rodriquez said standing behind the two agents.
'Times change. Onyx is more active then under prior leadership,' Myers said, coming to his full height.
'So I see. You can shut the engine off. I figure you're already out numbered. No reason for you to try anything. Unless that is… you're as pompous as the last Onyx I met.'

Myers reached up and unlatched his helmet. Attaching it to his belt and giving Khan a signal with his hand. After a few moments the rotors started to die down.

'Better?' Myers asked.
'Much, thank you kindly' Rodriquez said,' You two can go if you want. I just need to have a chat with the Captain here.'
The two agents began to walk towards the Raven gloomy at their capture.
'Clarke sends her congratulations to you both,' Myers called after them.
They both looked back confused for a moment.
'She set your orders, not me. You were scouting not performing reconnaissance in force. You've done your job and then some. Catch your breath though, I might need your help in a moment.'
Looking back at each other confused but encouraged by the praise Wilson and Cortez boarded the Raven.

'Now the grunts are out of ear shot I have some questions,' Rodriquez said, her tone turning serious.
'As do I. You first, you and yours were here before us,' Myers said with a shrug.
'That whole thing about the war ending… was that real?' Rodriquez asked in a hopeful tone.
Myers nodded solemnly as he spoke, 'Over eight decades and it was won with the push of a button.'
'Well… shit,' Rodriquez said with a sigh,' So the other stuff. The Locust, Hammer strikes and all that was real too? Not just some propaganda to make us look scary?
'I'm afraid so… You had people back on Sera I take it?'
Rodriquez shook her head, 'Just our unit. We figured that was why we got picked for this shit show. And I've had two questions there so it's your turn.'

Myers nodded then said, 'You said you got picked. I take it that the orders you got were legitimate to your knowledge?'
Rodriquez spread her hands, 'Far as we could see yeah. Everything checked out on paper and data. Grab our kit and board the Raven to the ass end of nowhere.'
'Second question. Did they fly you right there or switch before you got where you were going?'
'Switched five times. To and from Ravens and trucks. All windows blacked out and covers tied down. Total isolation. Tipped us all off.'

'My go now,' Rodriquez said,'How did you get here? Because from what I've picked up that was a total weapons grade cluster fuck pardon the language, sir.'
Myers grunted and folded his arms.
'We were meant to be an expedition. Building a fortified base of operations for the region. Equal parts factory, fortress and shelter. Only thing is we got screwed before we even set out. Someone messed with the plans to make sure we wound up where we did. Cut us off and drag us here.'
'So you're in the same boat as us then? Screwed and you can't even put a name to the one that did the deed.'

'Guess that answers what your briefing was. I'm guessing you're the ones that installed those poles we found all over the valley?' Myers asked.
'Yep. They dropped us off inside some bunker,' Rodriquez said, 'No markings, same for the guards. A few officers with names so fake they sounded like prank callers. Marched us into some big cavern with a load of glowing rocks. Some big platforms with pallet loads of supplies were waiting. First order, stand on the platform. Second, once we got where we were going, scout the place and report. We had to map out some massive areas plus some smaller ones. I take it that our work paid off?'

'Paid off in spades,' Myers remarked, 'If that bunker was the same one we found the whole thing moved here plus its defenses.'
Rodriquez let out a long whistle, 'The whole thing? The most we saw them move was a few crates and us tops. They must have kept working after they burned us.'
'Burned you?'

Rodriquez nodded solemnly for a moment, 'You found Mich I guess.'
Myers nodded, not commenting on her break in calling her sergeant by a nickname.
'They gave us this weird radio to talk to them on,' Rodriquez continued,'Non-standard as hell. Standard check-ins though. It really got on our nerves, we weren't commandos because we liked being ridden like they wanted. So we… adjusted our Tac-Com signals.'
'You spoofed your locator?' Myers asked, not really surprised.
'Yeah. Turns out that was what saved us. We got called back by the guys running the show. They said they were getting ready to pull us out. Wanted to head straight back for one final briefing telling us how they were getting us home. The rest of the squad were out on patrol and were going to take the long way back. So Mich set our location to say we were heading back right away and when the system said we were there. The "radio" exploded.'

'God damn it. A trap that whole time?' Myers asked in disbelief.
'Yeah. Whole time. They knew we would check for anything unusual. Checked the armor, weapons, food, even the crates it all came in. But we had no clue how to open that thing. And because of that a comrade I served with for five years got killed.'
'And that meant the Grimm got interested in you.'
'Yeah real interested. You can fool them for a while. Camouflage and stealth can work on the regular ones. But that explosion had them coming from all around.

Rodriquez let out a long sigh. 'We grabbed what we could and ran for the coast. We'd found structures so figured this was some part of Sera. Buildings mean people and we knew we just needed to run till we found one or the other. About a month later we got picked up by a mining expedition. They must have thought we were crazy. Babbling in gibberish and half starved.'
'But they took you in just like that?' Myers asked.
'Oh yeah we must have looked like wretches. But we were sure to pay them back. All those lessons in integration into other cultures helped get some bridges built. Most of them still call our little village home. We got to work. Used what we knew about civil affairs, got them organized and helped with what we could. Built a little slice of heaven out in the wilds. Got settled and all that. Found myself a girl if you can believe it.'

Myers nodded approving of the commando's use of their skills. They had gone well beyond what anyone else could have done. If anything they seemed to have earned their peace.

'So,' Rodriquez said, turning to Myers, 'Why don't you tell me what the hell you did when you got here.'
'What do you mean?' Myers asked, feeling a chill.
'Before you got here I had spent years learning the local language. I taught my other half some tyran as well. But if we ever got into an argument we would just pretend not to understand each other. But on the night you turn up I wake up with a massive headache. When I muttered I wanted to speak tryan. My wife said I was talking normally to her. I thought I might have slipped. But no. It's not just that. My wife is now able to read my writing now as well. And whenever I go to write I can't tell the difference no matter what I try to write it it's the same. I had some local books I bought to learn with. I checked them all, they're in tyran. As far as I know there are less than a handful of people who know that language. Now it's everywhere and nobody seems any the wiser.'

Myers took a slow breath. How did this get more complicated?
'That is a very intricate matter. I'm not sure how much I can tell you since I'm not up-to speed on the science. But as far as anyone in our group was aware the locals have been speaking tryan since our first contact with them. I can't speak about anything before that.'
Rodriquez's face remained stoic.
'And here I thought Onyx had turned a corner. Seems you're still not telling me everything,' She said, folding her arms.
'I can tell you that someone tried to have you killed. And your village taken off the map as collateral.'
Rodriquez's eyes narrowed slightly as she spoke, 'Is that a fact?'

'I take it you heard about our little bandit problem,' Myers said with a shrug.
'Heard about it,' Rodriquez said, 'Heard some weird rumors. But what does that have to do with someone coming after us?'
'Someone with inside knowledge sold the bandits intel in return for coming after you.'
Rodriquez balled her fists.
'Fuck. Fuck. Fuck! How did they know we were even alive? We had no contact, not shit.'
'That might be our fault.'

Rodriquez's head snapped to look at Myers.
'What?' She asked her voice hard.
'When we found Mich the report got entered into the systems. Someone must have found out even though it was marked for Onyx only. They knew we only had one body. Not a long jump to think they started looking for you then. Here this is what they gave to the bandits,' Myers said, pulling out a copy of the folder.

Rodriquez took it and started reading.
'A Lot of this is basic. That picture came from my file though. You guys have that kind of stuff?' She asked.
'No. Which means whoever was gunning for you has information we lack. They know you're here and wanted to silence you,' Myers said walking back to the Raven.

As he reached it Khan and the others unloaded a crate. Myers lifted the lid and stepped aside. Inside were several sets of light vests and helmets.

'We figured you could do with a care package,' Myers said, 'You might have problems in the future. The First Minister felt you should be repaid for your work.'
'About time the COG started paying us back. Haven't seen a penny of my pension but I'll live with the gear. Noah, Mel get over here we have new toys,' Rodriquez said into her radio.

A few moments later the two commando's appeared. They were driving the car that Wilson and Cortez had brought. It drew up then reversed to the open door to help the loading. Crates of equipment moved from one vehicle to the next.

'Hey,' Mel said as Khan passed him a box.
'Yeah?' Khan asked.
'Are you the Khan? The one that took out a Goliath with a Condor?'
Khan sighed, 'Yes I am. You're about the thousandth person to ask me that.'
'Sweet that thing almost caught us a few times. Folks sleep better knowing that thing's dead. You get the reward?'
'I um. Sort of had to pass that on given the fact I crashed my bird into it.'
'Yeah… Stuff like that doesn't buff out. Still you're flying right?'
'Yep transferred to Onyx and already out of my depth.'
'Don't worry, just don't turn into a total snob. If you ever get bored just leave. We could do with a pilot at the village.'
'I'll keep that in mind,' Khan said before her curiosity got the better of her, 'What would you have done if things went sideways? With this meet I mean.'
'Oh easy. You're sitting on about five hundred kilos of dust charges.'

Khan looked down at the ground.
'How did you pull that off?' She asked.
'Easy. We buried the charges years ago.'
'How did you know you would need them?'
'Around here air travel is the main way to get around. This is one of seven places suitable for landing. If not you then some bandits would get a surprise when their skids touched the ground.'
'Pretty nasty way to fight,' Khan said, shaking her head.
'We're commandos nasty is part of the job,' Mel remarked.

With their agents recovered and cargo handed over the Raven departed flying back south. The commando's watched it leave. Once it was gone they took the car to an old cottage farm. It would be left there until they could check the gear. They had been burned once.

'So what do we do now?' Noah asked as they marched back to the village.
'Stow the gear for a rainy day. Not like we need it now.' Mel said.
'That wasn't what I meant. Do we tell the old man or not?' Noah asked.
'Tell him what? The COG is having internal issues? I won't salute the damn flag after those bastards burned us,' Mel said spitting, 'But fuck telling that chess playing shit anything. They seem like good people. I say let them sort themselves out.'
'We didn't tell them about him or that pale witch either. Should we call them back?' Noah asked, 'They're out there totally unaware of what they're up against.'

The two of them looked at Rodriquez. This was just part of the process. Any time they needed to decide something like this each took a side for arguments sake. But the decision would be hers. It had been hers since Mic died.

'I'll call the old man,' Rodriquez said finally, 'But I'll play it loose for now. Myers wasn't being totally honest. I don't think he was involved with anyone that sent us here. But right now the COG is as much a danger to us as that old fart.'

Both Mel and Noah simply nodded. They'd fought too many shadow wars to stick their necks out for another try. After that they continued back to the village.

Rodriquez walked in to see Aloe sitting on a chair by the door. The green haired woman's head snapped up and she quickly rose to embrace Rodriquez.

'I was so worried. What happened?' Aloe asked.
'Not much,' Rodriquez said, kissing Aloe on the cheek, 'Seems my past might have got us into trouble nearly. Good news is we might have some extra tools in case it happens again.'
'I know you don't want to tell me. But just remember not to bear this all alone okay?'
'Yeah yeah. Don't go all mushy on me. Is he still up?' Rodriquez asked, looking to the ceiling.
'He is. He tried a very good impression of sleep but not good enough,' Aloe said smiling.
'Okay. I'll go read him a story. You head up too. I just need to send a call quick.' Rodriquez said leaving her wife's embrace.

She headed into her room. It had been a pain to build given none of the locals knew what a faraday cage was. But it was shielded and sound proof. She pulled a scroll from its case. Picked the battery from another and loaded it into the scroll. As it started up she connected it with a wire that ran out of the room. The scroll had no wireless ability to stop it from linking to the CCT directly.

The wire would take it out of the house and to a relay that would send the signal to the network proper. It was a poor way to hide her location but any protection was better then none. Rodriquez opened the contacts area and pressed to dial the only number in the list. It rang four times then connected.

'Hello,' A male voice said. Different than she remembered. But then she knew that was likely not the only thing that hand changed.
'Hello Oz. How's the school?' Rodriquez asked.
'Quite quiet given the hour. I take it this is not a social call? You've never been one to beat around the bush.'
'We had some guests over. Old friends.'
'You've been contacted? By the people that sent you here?'
'No. The current leadership. Seems the story about them not planning to come here was true. They got dragged here without warning.'
'I see. That is good. I was somewhat worried this might be the start of well…'
'An invasion?'
'Yes. But at least we can cross that off for now. Would you be interested in coming to visit? I can have Glenda-'
'No, thank you Oz. Just keep your eyes open. Just because most of them were surprised might not mean they all were. Someone might be playing from the shadows.'
'Hmm. I'll keep that in mind. Still thank you for letting me know Rodriquez. Not often I can get a call from an old friend.'
'Me too Oz. Me too.'

Rodriquez ended the call unplugging the scroll, removing the battery and putting both into their boxes. She felt tired. For years she had hoped to put this sort of life behind her. Yet here she was, hiding her conversations, picking and choosing her words.

She removed her armor and sighed. Then she left the room, locking the door behind her. She walked across the small living room and pulled a book from the shelf. One more night of peace, one more than she had ever thought she would have.

Salem tapped her fingers on the arm of her throne. It was a bad habit. More than a few of her thrones had worn patches where she had done that. For days, weeks or even months at a time. Being immortal meant you could just sit and think for that long.

She was waiting for Cinder to return. The girl had grown up quite well. Far from the scrawny child that had first been delivered by her agents. Now she had the air of a woman. Sending her to the Browning Academy had been a good choice. The fee was a trifle compared to the gains.

Cinder entered the room and bowed low, 'Master, you called for me?'
'Yes,' Salem said, rising from the throne to walk around Cinder,'Despite the changes in the world at large. My plan remains. You will take the power of the maidens. But first you will need to gather your own subordinates.'
'Subordinates?' Cinder asked, hiding the fear well, but not well enough.
'Yes,' Salem said, savoring the moment. Even now the scared girl worried about being thrown away.

Salem stood behind Cinder before continuing, 'A maiden's power is not something you can fight alone. There are a few people that should be suitable for you to use. Their lives are second to yours so use them as you wish.'

As she spoke a Seer floated over holding a small list of names. Alongside each was their last known location. Each was an assassin or mercenary of great skill and few to no morals.

'Thank you Master,' Cinder said, taking the list from the Seer.
'Go. Show the world your power. Let them learn to fear the name Cinder Fall,' Salem said returning to her throne.

Cinder bowed and left with her head held high. It was… amusing. But she was simply the latest tool to be shaped and used. If she died, it would be a setback, but Salem could always find another. There was no end of broken children to pick from. Time as always was on her side. Cursed time but time all the same.