Battles don’t end simply because the guns have fallen silent. The dénouement that follows is just as important to the outcome of any armed conflict as the actual fighting itself. There are the dead and wounded to be recovered, on both sides, intelligence to be gathered, repairs to anything damaged during combat, follow up patrols to ensure the enemy truly was gone, necessary maintenance on weapons and equipment, the list went on and on.

But there was one last task that was even more important, one fraught with potential pitfalls and hazards, one that troops fought to avoid like the proverbial plague: the handling of prisoners.

“That’s it, I’ve had it!” Yendrick snapped. “Why the hell are we getting stuck on Prisoner detail?”

“Cause the captain hates us,” Tawfiq brooded, still disconsolate at not having Rivka at his side.

“Captain Inaba doesn’t hate us,” Kai answered, rolling his eyes. “On the contrary, she’s impressed with our work.”

“Then why is it every shit job that comes down the pike, we get stuck with?” Doc insisted. “I know part of it is because we produce results, but this is ridiculous. And don’t think the other squads aren’t complaining about it either, I’ve been hearing grumbling about us being the captain’s pet.”

The squad eyed their leaders with suspicion, as Kai and Rúna shared an uncomfortable look. “There’s something going on, isn’t there?” Becca wondered aloud, speaking for all of them, “Something you haven’t been telling us.”

“Is that true?” Arthur asked nervously.

“... shit,” Kai muttered.

“It’s not like they weren’t going to twig to it eventually,” Rúna sighed.

“Yeah, I suppose,” he agreed, “though I was hoping to avoid this.”

“What?” Becca demanded. “What have you been keeping from us?” The others closed ranks around her, pressing in, as the two NCOs sagged in defeat.

“We have to tell them something,” she urged.

Kai glanced furtively around them. Inaba had pulled them off the line for the Prisoner detail, and currently they were cooling their heels outside the Battalion CP. “Not here,” he warned, waving them towards a more secluded area, one far from prying eyes and ears.

“Before we tell you, you all should know something,” their squad leader warned them. “Just hearing this is dangerous, the kind of danger that gets you put on lists labeled, ‘Terminate On Sight’.”

That got their attention. He nodded gravely at their reaction. “There’re already several bodies planted because of this, so I’m asking you now, are you sure you want to know? Cause if it were me, I’d be walking away from this as fast as I could. No shame if that’s your choice.”

No one budged, as Rúna chuckled bitterly at their reaction. “After a lead up like that, of course they’re not leaving,” she sighed, “even if it is the smart choice.”

“Enough with the foreplay,” Doc growled. “If our asses are on the line because of this, then we have a right to know. Stop blue-balling us.”

No one so much as smirked at the innuendo when the corporal touched Kai’s arm. “I’ll do it,” she said softly, as she faced the squad.

“Do you remember that operation back on Aya’Bhkhoz, right before last Rendezvous?” she asked them.

“Yeah, sure,” Yendrick nodded. “What about it?”

“Do you recall the folks we rescued right before we lifted? A Tinker, a couple of Knights, and a kid?” she persisted.

“Maggie and Diggs,” Becca agreed. “Think the Knight’s name was Blye… one of them, anyway.” She shrugged, “What about ‘em?”

Tawfiq snapped his fingers. “Of course!” he blurted. “It was right after Rendezvous that you both got pulled for that secret mission. That’s what this is all about?”

“It is,” she acknowledged, “and what comes next you aren’t authorized to tell anyone. I’m serious, we’re already putting our butts on the line just telling you guys.”

“Plus, you’d be putting their lives at risk if you do,” Kai pointed out, “not to mention your own.”

“What the hell happened on that mission?” Doc whispered.

The pair shared another look. “We went to Earth,” she said at last.

“Earth? You mean, Terra Earth?” Arthur said hoarsely.

“Our old homeworld,” Kai nodded.

The entire squad just stared at them, and then suddenly Tawfiq went to one knee. “My Lord and Lady,” he stammered, bowing his head, as the others looked ready to follow suit.

“Oh Jesus, will you get up?” Kai snapped, grabbing him by the harness and yanking him back to his feet. “Seriously, stop that already.”

“I’m starting to realize what Maggie was always going on about,” Rúna sighed. “That shit would get old real fast.”

“But… but… you’ve been to Terra,” Becca struggled to get out. “No one has gone there, not in fifty years, and those that have...”

“No, there’s a few of us,” Kai interrupted, “it’s just that we’re keeping it a secret for now. So no ‘Lord and Lady’ crap, all right? Just treat us like you always have.”

It took the squad some time to process that. “So why is your mission to Earth a secret?” Doc asked at last. “What did you find?”

Rúna closed her eyes. “This is your last chance,” she said quietly. “Knowing about the mission to Earth is dangerous enough, but the rest…” She shook her head, opening her eyes and gazing at each of them. “After this, there’s no going back. Nothing will protect you if the wrong people find out, so I strongly urge each of you to walk away from this, right now.”

Nothing short of a contact nuke would have dislodged them as they stared breathlessly at the pair, waiting for the big reveal.

“We found a clue,” Kai said at last, once it was obvious no one was leaving, “a clue that might just lead us to Terra Nova.”

“Next year, on New Terra,” Arthur recited from memory, the ancient vow sounding like a desperate prayer. “Is it… could it… it really exists?”

“We think so,” Rúna agreed, “but there are entities out there who want it for themselves… and they will go to great lengths in order to possess it, including killing anyone who learns the truth or gets in their way.”

“The Troika,” Becca announced without emotion. A statement, not a question.

“Yes, the Troika,” she admitted. “Those are the stakes we’re playing for. It’s the reason they attacked Freya, and it’s part of why we’re here.” She shook her head sadly. “And now you’re in the thick of it, all the way up to your necks.”

“Which the Troika will gladly cut, if you breathe a word of this to anyone,” Kai warned them. “That’s not a bluff, or an exaggeration. They’ve already tried to kill us at least once.”

“Holy Mother Terra,” Tawfiq said reverently, his eyes misty. “I mean… wow.”

“Who else knows?” Doc asked them. “The Captain, obviously. Is she the only one?”

“The Colonel, Top Berger, Gunny Satou. That’s it,” Rúna informed him. “And now you.”

“Plus the Commandant,” Kai added.

Yendrick let out a low whistle. “No wonder we’re getting all the high-profile jobs.”

“And this Prisoner detail?” Doc asked.

“Guess we’ll find out,” Rúna shrugged, just as the CP door opened, with Top Berger stepping outside and waving them over. “Looks like we’re on,” she told them, grabbing her gear as they jogged back over to where the first sergeant was waiting.

“We picked up a handful of prisoners after last night’s attack,” she informed them, “mostly wounded. There’s a squad from Easy company babysitting them at the moment, but I want you lot to take charge ASAP. Lieutenant Danielov and Gunny Satou will meet you there; we’ve authorized them to handle the next phase.”

“Where are they?” Kai asked.

“Aid station,” she informed them, “having their wounds ministered to. They’re getting four-star treatment.”

“Over our own?” Becca said hotly, earning her a silent rebuke for the senior NCO. “... apologies, Top,” she mumbled, lowering her gaze.

“Before you get all pissy, you might want to consider that we’re not the only ones with prisoners,” she pointed out. “We’re trying to set up an exchange as we speak, and if we want our people back in decent shape, the smart move is to make sure that theirs are as well.” She folded her arms, regarding them. “Questions?”

“No Top,” Kai answered.

“Then what are you still doing here? Get it done,” she told them, dismissing them with a wave before heading back inside.

Rúna glared at the scout. “Seriously?”

“It won’t happen again,” she grimaced. “I didn’t think it through.”

“No, you didn’t,” Kai agreed, as they made their way to the Aid station. “Don’t make a habit of it.”

“I won’t, Sarge,” she answered, bobbing her head. Minutes later they arrived at the Aid station, only to discover a familiar face waiting for them.

“Rivka?” Tawfiq said in surprise, only to grin and spread out his arms for a giant bear hug.

“Don’t even think about it,” she warned, warding him off. “I just got my ribs patched up.”

“They’re letting you out?” Rúna asked.

“Had to say, ‘Pretty please’, but yeah,” she nodded. “I was going stir crazy in there.”

“And you’re a hundred percent?” Kai said dubiously.

“Close enough,” she shrugged, though her movements were stiff. “I’ll be fine.”

“Uh huh,” he answered, unconvinced. “You know where they’re keeping the prisoners?”

“Sure, follow me,” she told them, leading them inside. “We’ve got the detail?”

“We do now,” Rúna confirmed. “We’re taking over for a squad from Easy.”

“... who’d we piss off?” she grumbled, unaware of the knowing looks being traded behind her as they made their way past the wards, now filled with wounded. The squad came to a halt, staring at the tableau as the staff made their rounds. They looked exhausted as they worked to treat their injuries, and it was obvious even from here they were understaffed.

“They’ve been coming in all night,” Rivka said quietly. “I figure it’s the only reason they cut me loose. They needed the space.”

“Keep moving,” Kai ordered, muscling them past the busy wards to the rear of the station, coming to a halt when they found a pair of guards watching a door.

“You guys our replacements?” one asked. “They told us you’d be coming.”

“That’s us,” Rúna corroborated. “Are the others inside?”

“And anxiously waiting for you,” the guard affirmed, as he opened up the door.

“Rivka, Tawfiq, relieve these two,” Kai ordered. “The rest of you, follow me.” Entering, they found a smaller version of the medical wards they’d just passed, with beds filled by a dozen aliens of various races. They watched with interest as the squad came to a halt beside their counterparts, interrupting a conversation between Lieutenant Danielov and the guard’s squad leader.

“There you are,” Gunny Satou announced. “I’ll keep the briefing short. You all see that red line?” she asked, pointing to a bright red border marked on the floor.

“Yes, Gunny,” Kai answered, as they all nodded.

“That’s the Kill Line,” she told them. “They don’t cross it, and neither do you. You both stick to that and you’ll be golden. Let the medical staff do their thing, you just make sure they don’t cause trouble or run off.”

“Is that likely?” Rúna asked.

“… No,” Danielov answered, interrupting the gunnery sergeant. “They know we’re going to trade them back for our own, so there’s no point.” He glanced over at the others. “Any of your people hardcore xenophobes? Any of them looking for payback?”

“No sir,” Kai said in a rush.

“Good,” he nodded. “Last thing we need is some hothead screwing things up for everybody. We send them back safe and sound so that their people do the same with ours. Understand?”

“Yes sir,” Rúna answered for them both.

“Outstanding.” He turned to the other sergeant. “You’re relieved,” he informed him.

“Aye aye, sir,” he agreed, whistling up the rest of his squad and pointing them towards the door. “They’re all yours,” he told Kai, as they filed out.

They spent the next few minutes positioning the squad, so that the prisoners were under observation at all times, briefing each one individually to ensure there was no misunderstanding. Once that was accomplished, Lieutenant Danielov approached the Kill Line with the Gunny at his elbow, looking over the prisoners. “Who’s senior among you?” he asked.

“That would be me,” an insectoid answered, its clicks and buzzes translated through the voder it wore over its bandaged thorax. “I am Optio Quijzhiz Tsaxaux. What is it you wish of me, Terran?”

“I am Lieutenant Isaac Danielov,” he answered, “and I’m here to make you an offer.”

“An offer? What kind of offer?” it asked with suspicion.

“My colonel has authorized me to extend to you the chance to join our ranks, with very generous…” he began, only to have the rest of his sales pitch drowned out in a sudden burst of noise. It was impossible to make out which alien was making which sound; given that they represented several races, the voders weren’t making much sense either. The humans stared at the aliens in confusion until finally Rúna leaned over to Gunny Satou.

“I think they’re laughing,” she told her sotto voce.

The Gunny just rolled her eyes. “Figures,” she spat.

The lieutenant fumed silently until the alien mercenaries ceased their racket. “You Terrans are funny,” the Optio answered, still obviously amused.

“I assure you, the offer is genuine,” Danielov insisted.

“I’m certain that it is,” the alien replied, “but what inducement could you possibly offer enticing enough for us to switch sides?”

“If it’s a question of pay...” he started again, only to have the insectoid wave one of its limbs at him.

“It is in part,” it agreed, “considering that you Terrans are one of the poorest mercenary companies in the sector. I did not join the Legion in order to lose credits.”

“I am certain we can work something out,” the lieutenant tried gamely once more.

“I am not,” the Optio fired back, “for the question of pay is only one part of the reason I refuse your ‘offer’. It is not even the largest part, in fact.”

“Then what is?” Danielov asked.

The alien cocked its head, regarding him. “Surely you are aware of the forces currently allied against you,” it pointed out. “We outnumber you by at least five to one, and our technology and weapons are both more numerous and more advanced. Simply put… I have no wish to join the losing side, considering how thoroughly you are about to be crushed.”

“We sent you running last night!” Yendrick spouted off, only to earn a smack from Becca to shut him up.

The insectoid gave what seemed to be a pitying look. “That was merely a probe, Terran,” it reminded him, “designed to test your defenses and learn from them. And we did, I can assure you.” It leaned back in its bed. “I hope they can negotiate the exchange soon.”

“And why is that?” the lieutenant prodded him.

“I have no desire to still be here when our combined forces destroy you.” it answered. “Tell me, when will they be feeding us?” it inquired, overlooking the uneasy glances being shared amongst the squad.