The Clan leaders’ reaction to the two breakouts was immediate.

“... I want them dead,” Commandant Zakiyya snarled, “starting with that traitorous son of a bitch Holme.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Diplom-Ingenieur Svéd cautioned. “I agree they need to be dealt with, but if we issue orders stating, ‘Wanted, Dead or Alive’, questions will be asked.”

“Let them,” Sibyl KriZ/AliZ hissed. “In less than an hour, my people can seize total control of the data networks. They can ask all the questions they want, but I assure you no one will hear them.”

A look passed among the group as they gauged their consensus. “Do it,” Dàifu Khatsakhox ordered. “In the meantime, we need to locate the traitors and decide on our next move.”

“Our shuttles can begin reconnaissance flights of the area immediately,” Admiral Van Aalst informed them. “Trust me, they won’t get far.”

“And when they shoot them out of the sky with Precursor weapons, what then?” Zakiyya fired back. “This escalation can not stand. We must answer it with overwhelming force.”

“If we use Precursor technology against fellow Terrans, we risk alienating our citizens,” the Tinker head admonished. “This fight is as much about public opinion as it is anything else.”

“That ship has sailed,” the Avatar fired back. “It was Holme’s people who crossed that line, not us. We’re merely defending ourselves against a dangerous threat.”

“We have no choice,” the Dàifu said firmly. “We’re committed to this course, and we can and must do whatever it takes to see it through. If that means responding in kind to this escalation, then so be it. We’ll deal with the fallout when it’s over.”

The Clan heads all nodded in agreement. “The Grand Alliance fleet will arrive on our doorstep soon,” the Dharmist continued, “and this rebellion needs to be dealt with before they do. We are this close to seeing our plans come to fruition, so get it done,” she snapped. “Send out your shuttles, dispatch your Valkyries, and shut down the Net. And when you find our ragtag band of rebels…”

“... no mercy.”

Instead of hiding out inside one of the ancient cities, the convoy sought refuge instead deep within one of the many forests dotting the landscape. As they came to a halt and laagered their vehicles, the Valkyries immediately went to work, erecting camouflage netting and tarps to conceal their position. A command tent was set up near the center of the formation, as Genvass and his cohorts were summoned for an emergency meeting.

“We just received word the Clan leaders are going on the offensive,” Colonel Holme informed them. “They are actively searching for us as we speak, and they’ve declared that our liberating the internment camp constitutes an act of treason. We’ve been branded as brigands and traitors, and accordingly, they’ve issued orders to shoot on sight.”

A moment of silence followed his announcement as they digested that. “So, it’s official then,” Genvass said quietly. “Civil war.”

“Actually, I think ‘Insurrection’ or ‘Rebellion’ is a little more on point,” Captain Inaba dissented, “but that’s just quibbling over details. The Clan leaders have drawn a line in the sand, which means this only ends when they’re removed from power, or we’re dead.”

“So what the hell do we do now?” Rúna demanded. “At least on Sonoitii Prime, we knew who the enemy was.” Her former CO shot her an odd look. “... you know what I mean,” she grumbled, shaking her head. “Quislings aside, who is the enemy, other than the Clan leaders? How do we decide who’s a potential ally, and who’s a threat?”

“I suspect most of our people will choose to avoid the question entirely,” Blye offered. “They don’t want any part in this, and I can’t blame them for that decision. They’ll lock their doors and wait it out, which honestly is the smartest thing they could do.”

“Historically, that’s been the usual pattern,” Holme agreed. “Most folks just want to live their lives, and not get caught in the middle of a full-fledged revolution.”

“Which just brings us back to the same question,” Genvass said pointedly. “What do we do now?”

“There is one possibility,” Remi said after a moment. “Athena.”

Inaba let out a low whistle. “Risky,” she decided. “What if she sides with the Clan leaders?”

“I don’t think so,” the Corsair demurred. “She backed us up when we needed her during the Battle of New Terra. I trust her… and there’s damn few people I’ll say that about.”

“... I suspect you’d be wasting your time,” a voice behind them interrupted. They turned to see Samara entering the tent, a heavy ruck over her shoulder. Joining the others, she unslung the backpack and set it on a folding table, before removing a data storage unit and setting it down where they could see it. Pressing an icon, the screen came to life, as a pair of familiar faces stared back at them.

“Gang’s all here,” Maggie remarked. “Hell of a long way from Earth, though.”

“As good as it is to see you all again,” Alphad sighed, “this is a reunion I could have done without. The reason behind it, I mean.”

“Could have done without the last one,” Remi retorted, “seeing how it was Isi’s funeral.”

“Samara, what did you mean when you said it would be a waste of time?” the colonel asked her.

“I’ll let Guardian explain,” she told them, as her voice and mannerisms abruptly shifted. For those who hadn’t witnessed the cognates taking control and puppeting her body before, it was an eerie sight.

“This insurrection of yours is not without precedent among my kind,” the Precursor explained. “In our history, there have been many such conflicts, and given Athena’s role, we reached a decision regarding her programming long ago. During instances of internal conflict, those without outside interference, the artificial intelligence protecting this system will remain neutral, taking no sides.”

“Damnit,” Maggie muttered, shaking her head. “So much for that, then.”

Genvass started to reply, only to be interrupted by a chime from one of the tablets littering the tent. Inaba picked it up and logged onto, only to stare in confusion at the display.

“Please tell me Ambassador Shaafvaazif is somewhere nearby,” Ess Peon said in a rush. With a shrug, the captain handed it over, earning a brief smile from Genvass as their eyes met.

“Hello Ess,” he said, “it’s good to see you again. I wondered if you’d managed to escape.”

“Just barely,” she affirmed. “I’d love to catch up with you, but I’m afraid we’ve got bigger problems. The Sibyl is shutting down the datanet.”

”Of course she is,” Colonel Holme sighed. “How better to keep us from rallying support?”

“That’s it exactly,” Ess agreed, “and I’m afraid there’s more. I was able to glean a few scraps of intelligence while I was hiding from Chris’s goons, and we’ve got trouble. A fleet is headed this way, and they are not friendly.”

“Son of a bitch,” Taneka snarled. “The Alliance? I fucking knew it.”

“It’s even worse than you think,” the Avatar grimaced. “They’re now calling themselves the Grand Alliance, and in addition to the original lineup, they’ve added both the Oivu and the Troika. They’re all coming for us.”

“I mean… not to put too fine a point on it, but so what?” Remi sneered. “They’re not getting past Athena.”

“That’s not the problem,” Ess said carefully. “They won’t approach the system, you’re right about that, but the Clan leaders have something in the works. They’re planning to ambush them and wipe them out. All of them, down to the last ship, if they can.”

“Holy Mother Terra,” Genvass whispered. “We can’t let that happen. All the goodwill we’ve earned, the bonds we’ve forged, they’ll destroy all of it. We’ll be no better than the Troika.”

“No,” Inaba said quietly, “we’ll be the Troika. And we’ll be armed with Precursor technology to make sure that no one can stop us. Ever.”

They stared at one another in quiet horror as they each envisioned that dark future. “We have to prevent that from happening,” Genvass said. “We’ve got to warn them, tell them to call off their attack.”

“And what makes you think they’d listen to us?” Remi fired back. “With every navy in the Perseus Arm gunning for us, that means they’re done talking. If you go anywhere near them, they will shoot you down.”

“We have to try,” the ambassador implored them. “We can’t just stand by and let this happen.”

“... I would think carefully regarding that decision,” Samara said, only it wasn’t Samara.

All eyes turned to the Protean. “What are you talking about?” Genvass asked the Precursor speaking through her.

“Athena will remain neutral in all internal conflicts,” Guardian said ominously, “with one exception.”

“Outside interference,” Blye said in sudden realization. “Are you saying that if we try to warn the fleet, she’ll see us as a threat?”

“I am saying that it is possible,” the Cognate warned. “Whether she decides you are no longer deserving of her protection depends on several factors, and only she can determine what those conditions are. But should she rule against you… you will have no notification, no defense, and no chance of survival.”

Guardian’s pronouncement landed like the Sword of Damocles on their shoulders. Colonel Holme wearily sank into his chair, shaking his head. “Well, that’s it then. That’s the ballgame.”

“Colonel, we can’t give up now,” Genvass implored him, “not with what’s at stake.”

The Valkyrie commander looked back at him with ancient eyes. “Ambassador, I’ve already fought one pitched battle against overwhelming odds. Just ask your head of security.” He glanced over at Rúna, her expression suddenly more distraught than he’d ever seen from her. “But even at our most desperate moment on Sonoitii Prime, there was still a chance. A razor-thin one, perhaps… but a chance nonetheless.” He leaned forward, fixing Genvass with a scowl. “Facing off against Athena? There is no chance. None. I will not place my people in that kind of jeopardy, Ambassador, not when the odds of success are zero. Not effectively zero, mind you… zero. Period.” He released a long, drawn-out breath, almost seeming to deflate. “Given the complete and total certainty of our destruction at Athena’s hands, there is only one option left open to us.” His resolve crystallized as his jaw set in a hard line. “To contact the Clan leaders, and sue for peace.”

“You mean surrender,” Genvass said quietly. “Let them win, despite everything. Let them destroy the Alliance fleet and rule this galaxy with an iron fist forever. Let them create the most brutal and effective dictatorship in all of history, backed up by Precursor weapons that no one can stand against.” He closed his eyes, staggered by the enormity of it all. “Let them turn us into a race of monsters,” he said hoarsely. “Is that to be our legacy? Is that what we fought so hard for these past two hundred years?”

“Ambassador, We. Can’t. Win. Not against Athena,” Holme said quietly. “All we can do is die.”

In desperation, he turned to the others, but what he saw in their expressions filled him with dismay. Their visages ranged from despair to abject terror to outright capitulation, with none of them betraying even a sliver of hope. In the space of a heartbeat, they’d gone from grizzled survivors to a defeated and broken band, eyeing the slave’s collar being held before them with a sense of inevitability.

“Colonel, I understand what you’re saying, and I can’t disagree with any of it,” he said at last, “but there has to be a way. There has to be. It can’t end like this… and I can’t just stand by and watch it happen.”

“Actually… there might be a way,” Ess Peon said tentatively, “but it’s the longshot from Hell.”

He lit up like a condemned man being offered a reprieve. “What?” he insisted. “Whatever it is, I’ll take it.”

“Honestly, I don’t know what you could even do with this information,” the Avatar shrugged, “but the one commanding the Alliance fleet? He’s an old friend of yours… Paygan Kuosha Xeing.”

His jaw dropped at the news, his mind racing at the possibilities now before them. Genvass whipped around to face his security chief. “Rúna, you know him better than anyone. Is there any way you can get him to stand down? At least long enough for us to put our own house in order?”

She shrugged helplessly. “Under normal circumstances, I think I’d have a good chance, but now?” The Valkyrie shook her head. “You were there when they forced us to decamp Achxii. He told us he couldn’t be our ally, not with all that happened.” Despite her best efforts, she shot a venomous look at Remi and Samara. “There’s no way he’d be in command of that fleet by choice,” she continued, “which means his Emperor must have ordered him to do it. Which means that his hands are tied.” If anything, she looked even more despondent. “He won’t disobey an order from the Emperor, even if they are family.”

The words had no sooner left her mouth when she suddenly froze, her eyes going wide as thoughts began racing behind them. “What? What is it?” the ambassador asked, with a renewed sense of hope.

Rúna slowly turned to face him. “On Sonoitii Prime, right before the end, he came to me,” she said, a light now dawning above her head. “The Emperor had ordered him to evacuate before the Troika started dropping asteroids on us.”

“I’m not sure I understand where you’re going with this,” Genvass responded, his brow furrowed with confusion.

“My point is, he didn’t evacuate,” she said in a rush. “He disobeyed a direct order from his sovereign, and when I asked him why, he said…”

She flushed, her cheeks turning bright pink. “He said that a warrior he respected refused to evacuate themself and that his honor would let him do no less. And when I reminded him of his orders, he laughed it off, assuring me his cousin would eventually get over it.”

“You never reported that conversation,” Colonel Holme said curiously.

“No, Sir,” she agreed. “It was personal.”

“So you’re saying there’s a chance he might disobey the Emperor?” Genvass said cautiously.

“Only if his honor’s involved,” she cautioned. “You’ve seen how touchy he can be about that. But if there’s a way we can somehow… invoke that, then maybe, maybe there’s a chance.”

Genvass thought furiously, putting the pieces together. “Guardian… if we can get the fleet to stand down, will Athena stay out of it?” he quizzed the Precursor.

Samara/Guardian cocked his/her/their head. “If there is no outside interference, it remains an internal matter,” the Cognate answered. “She will not involve herself in domestic affairs solely involving Terrans.”

With a growing sense of optimism, he turned to the colonel. “If we can get the fleet to stand down and keep Athena out of this, will you finish what we’ve started?”

There was a long pause as everyone assembled awaited his reply.

“If you can keep things just between us and the Clan leaders,” Holme finally answered, “then yes. We’ll keep fighting.” A hint of a smile appeared on his face, but it disappeared again almost immediately. “But if you fail, I’ll have no choice but to surrender my forces and try to make the best deal I can.”

He and Rúna shared a look.

“Then I guess it’s up to us to make sure we don’t fail,” the ambassador said at last.