“I give it a week, tops, before he decides we’re stringing him along.”

Administrator Lainseng Pujai’s welcoming committee had returned to the CP following his departure, and once again the rest of the squad were left to cool their heels once again while they ushered Kai and Rúna inside, where the colonel was deliberating over what they’d learned.

“I don’t know sir, we might get a few more days out of him,” Captain Inaba countered. “It’s worth trying, at least.”

“Oh, of course, of course,” he agreed with a wave of his hand, before turning to the two junior NCO’s. “So, your thoughts. Is our friend fronting for the Troika?”

“Hard to say, sir,” the sergeant shrugged. “He didn’t really give us much.”

“It’s consistent with what we saw on the mission,” Rúna pointed out. “Except for the attack on Freya, they seemed to prefer operating in the shadows, letting others do their dirty work. Samara admitted as much after we nabbed her.”

The two officers shared a look. “This Samara. What can you tell us about her?” the colonel asked.

Kai scratched his head. “She’s... complicated, sir. Dangerous as a snake, but there at the end, I kind of felt bad for her. I got the impression they shanghaied her into what she was doing.”

“She’s the one who’s been battling the Troika, isn’t she?” Rúna ventured. “We’d guessed as much when you told us about those attacks. She’d sworn to do exactly that before she left.”

“Best you keep your speculations to yourself,” Inaba cautioned, “you never know who might be listening. But to answer your question, let’s just say your knowledge of the Troika isn’t the only reason we’re keeping you two under wraps.”

She glanced over at Kai, who was slowly nodding in appreciation. “Understood, ma’am,” she agreed.

“As you said, he didn’t give us much,” the colonel agreed. “At this point it’s too early to know for certain if the Troika are involved or not but given the situation and their resources, it would be foolish to assume they’re not involved.” He turned to the captain. “Considering how fluid our current situation is, plan on keeping their squad handy in case we need them again.”

“I’ll let Lieutenant Danielov know,” she replied. “We’ll work out something.”

“Excellent. In that case, I’ll let the two of you get back to whatever it was you were doing before we pulled you in off the line. Dismissed.”

The pair rose to their feet. “Aye aye, sir,” they answered before exiting the structure.

“Not sure I like the idea of being the colonel's personal troubleshooters,” Rúna grumbled, as the rest of the squad spotted them and went to rejoin the pair.

“Why do you guys keep getting called into the big man’s office?” Becca grilled them. “Something we should know about?”

“It’s nothing,” Kai snapped, shutting her down. “Head back to the trenches, people.”

“Hey, I was just asking,” she told him, putting her hands up in a placating gesture. “No need to get testy.”

“And I’m just saying,” he countered. “We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us before company arrives, so we’d better get to it.” He headed back towards the trenches with the rest of the squad in tow, now more subdued than usual because of his reaction. Becca shot her team leader a questioning look, to which Rúna could only shrug. She’d need to talk to Kai later and see if she could get him to tone it down a bit before everybody started asking questions.

Retrieving their tools they got back to work, digging out the trenches and bunkers that would mean the difference between life and death when the Troika came calling. Despite the natural reluctance all enlisted personnel share for physical labor, they’d dug out and reinforced a good stretch of trench line when the platoon leader suddenly appeared in their midst.

“Kai, what’s this nonsense about putting you on detached duty for the colonel?” he demanded. The squad members within earshot came to a halt and looked over at him curiously, as Rúna shook her head. It was looking to be one of those days.

“You know as much as I do, sir,” Kai lied through his teeth.

“So they’re just going to pull your squad anytime they feel like it? Do they realize what kind of hole that puts into my work schedule?” he snarled, before stomping off and heading towards the CP.

Rúna glanced over at Gunny Satou, who had been trailing behind the lieutenant before he went off on his tirade. The older woman just shrugged. “Forget about it, he’s been in a mood all day. I’ve got no idea what set him off.”

“We’re just doing what they told us, Gunny,” Kai said defensively. “If he’s got a problem with that, he should take it up with them. Let the brass sort it all out.”

“My thoughts exactly,” she nodded. “Don’t worry about it, I’ll handle this,” she told them, giving them a nod as she went off in search of the lieutenant.

Looking around, she realized the entire squad was watching the drama, with expressions ranging from worried to stunned. “We’re not paying you to take in the scenery,” Rúna barked. “Get back to work.”

“Aye aye, corporal,” they mumbled, picking up their tools once more and returning to their digging. She waited until they were focused on the task at hand before snagging Kai and moving him out of earshot.

“Can I offer a suggestion?” she asked him.

“Since you’re going to no matter what I say, I’ll go with ‘Yes’,” he smiled.

“You realize that the entire squad realizes something’s up now, don’t you?” Rúna pressed him. “Maybe a little more nonchalant next time?”

“I don’t really do nonchalant very well,” Kai answered, “but I’ll take your suggestion under advisement,” he said in a rush as she glared at him.

“I hope that’s not code for blowing me off,” she replied, irritated.

“No, it’s code for ‘I need to think about it’,” he explained. “I’m not saying no, just that I need to work through your reasoning on my own.”

She deliberated on that for a moment and then nodded. “Fair enough. We’d better get back then, before they sneak off and cause trouble.” Rúna paused for a moment as she caught him staring at her. “What?”

Kai smiled. “Just thinking about a certain bluff overlooking the bay,” he grinned, “and this girl I know.”

“You are not making this any easier,” she sighed. “Come on, back to work... and lose the shit-eating grin. The squad sees that, they’ll know something’s up.”

“Aye aye, ma’am,” he chuckled, before adopting a more serious expression.

Rúna just shook her head as they retraced their steps back to the others.

Spending the day guarding VIP’s and digging in the dirt didn’t get you out of all the other duties the job required. On top of everything, standing watch for your sector was mandatory, cutting into your already short sleep time. Everyone pulled two hours, the shift’s time frame rotating among the squad. Tonight she’d drawn the midnight to two slot, the worst of the bunch. It cut the night in half, leaving you a short handful of hours on either side for sleep, never enough for proper rest. That it only came around every few days was the only comfort to be found.

“Corporal, can I ask you a question?” Arthur asked.

“Depends on the question,” Rúna chuckled, squirming in their shared foxhole as she tried to find a more comfortable position.

“Oh. Well, I was just wondering… how did Tawfiq get those scars?”

She froze for a moment and then cocked her head. “You should probably ask him that one, but I get why you haven’t. It’s probably for the best.” She chewed that one over for a moment and then nodded. “Better you ask me than say, Rivka. She’s kind of defensive of the big guy.”

“Is she… I mean… are they…?” His words trailed off into silence as his face reddened. “Not that it’s any of my business, but…”

“No, they’re not an item,” Rúna interrupted. “She’s more like a sister to him, and she’s protective to a fault. Getting those scars was bad enough, but what came after…” She sighed and shook her head. “Tawfiq’s a good guy. Got a good heart. We all kind of look out for him, me included. So I’ll tell you, but don’t you dare bring it up unless he does first. You read me?”

“Yes, corporal,” Arthur nodded, his eyes wide.

She nodded, remembering. “It was a couple years back, maybe three, and we were on this freezing hellhole of a planet. We’d just been rotated off the line for a few days of warmer quarters and hot chow when the enemy attacked. Brass had told us the area was secure, but of course they were wrong.” She rolled her eyes, spitting into the dirt. “There was an Aid Station we were evacuating, getting the wounded out, when a nearby fuel depot got hit. We got told to pull out, but there were still wounded. Tawfiq went in to grab one more, and…” She spread her hands, pantomiming an explosion.

“Holy shit,” he whispered.

“Yeah, we almost lost him. Probably would have, if one of the Knights hadn’t been right there, overseeing the Evac. It burned him pretty bad, but they pulled him through. Wasn’t easy, though. Guy went through a lot.” She shook her head. “Never get burned like that, kid. The Rehab’s a bitch.”

He nodded solemnly, afraid to speak and break the spell.

Rúna sighed. “Thing is, Tawfiq was married. Corsair gal. Had a brand-new baby girl, too. She took one look at those burns, and…” A dark look came across her face. “I get some people can’t deal with it, but she just took their kid and got herself transferred to the other side of the Perseus Arm. Didn’t even give him a chance to say goodbye to his daughter.” She gave him an awkward shrug. “Part of the reason they gave you such a hard time when they learned you were born a Dharmist. We’ve been betrayed by outsiders before.”

“... damn,” he whispered. “Did he go after her? Try to get his daughter back?”

“No, he didn’t,” she shrugged. “He didn’t blame her for leaving him. Still doesn’t, even now. You might have noticed how he hides his face around strangers.”

“He did that when I arrived,” he realized.

“Yeah, exactly like that,” she agreed. “He was in a dangerous place for a long time, and his wife wouldn’t even tell him how his little girl was doing… at least until we had some friends lean on her a little.” He blinked in shock as she chuckled. “Nothing too serious, just a few words of directed encouragement. Now he gets regular updates, and even pictures. He’s happy enough, I suppose.” Rúna sighed, shaking her head once more. “Still hasn’t seen her in the flesh. Says he won’t, cause he’s afraid she’ll react like her mom.”

Arthur sat there, stunned. “That’s… terrible,” he said at last.

“It is,” she agreed. “So now you know. Like I said, don’t bring it up unless he does, and even then be damned careful what you say, otherwise Rivka is likely to rip your lungs out.” She leaned forward, eying him. “Capiche?”

Arthur nodded earnestly. “Yes, corporal! I mean, no corporal... I mean…”

“... I get it,” she told him, holding up her hand. “You have any more questions like that, you come to me, at least until you’ve got a better handle on how things work around here. Otherwise…”

Without warning, a flash lit up the night sky as a streak of light slammed into the earth. Rúna and Arthur both jumped at the sudden flare and sound, the corporal forced to tackle the young private as he climbed out of their position to get a better look. “Are you crazy?” she hissed, pulling him back down. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

Suddenly a high-pitched warbling shriek tore through the night, making both of them clamp their hands over their ears in anguish. Those who had been sleeping staggered out into the open, the ear-shattering sound driving them from their bunkers. It spared no one, with neither earth nor stone blocking even a fraction of the strident squeal.

There was no way the timing was a coincidence. The agony in her skull and guts threatened to drive her to her knees, but even as the private retched, Rúna knew what had to be done. She wanted to cry; she wanted to scream, but instead she grabbed Arthur by the harness and dragged him behind her as they lurched drunkenly out into the open, struggling to track where she’d seen the streak impact the ground.

The plummeting crash had set a patch of brush ablaze, and she used that to home in on her target. Something was causing that god-awful racket, and as the pair fought with every agonizing step to get closer, she spotted a metallic cylinder protruding from the dirt in the center of the bonfire. “Shoot!” she howled, but she couldn’t tell whether her warning was getting through. Her arms shook as she struggled to lift her weapon, making it all but impossible to keep the barrel pointed at the target. Rúna pulled the trigger, spraying the vicinity with slugs, with most of them going wide.

A fwoom knocked her off her feet, throwing her to the ground...as the wailing discord finally came to a crashing halt. On her hands and knees she struggled to breathe, her vision still swimming from the aftereffects, panting with effort as her head came up at last. Arthur clenched his grenade launcher like a baby, his eyes bulging as he vomited yet again.

In the distance, she could hear other versions of that mechanical cry, while those around her grappled their way back from its effects. “... you did... good, kid,” she wheezed, as she felt her own dinner fighting to make an appearance.

Hours later, they were still putting the pieces together. Colonel Holme emerged from the CP and came down to the line, insisting to see the device for himself. They’d put out the fire, and the other infernal machines had long been silenced as he squatted over the ruined junk, poking the debris with a stick.

“That courier boat broke orbit just before these things hit the atmosphere,” Captain Inaba reported. “Several landed in the water. The Sonoitii are not pleased.”

“I’ll bet,” he grunted, rising to his feet.

“Sir?” Rúna blurted out, “why? Why do this? I mean… what’s the point?”

“The Troika are sending us a message,” he said quietly.

“What message, sir?”

He sighed as he turned to face them. “Play ball… or suffer the consequences.”