This time, Alec decided to become a part of the plans instead of dictating them. Until this place, he had been able to remain ten steps ahead of most scenarios. There was something unique about this place that had him feeling off guard. That feeling was only amplified by the lack of his impact suit. He looked across the table to T'sala; she looked like a mystic wartime officer, but Alec could see her nervously rubbing her fingers together as if itching for a trigger.

  The grounder boy put the sand board on the worktable. It was a large flat surface with magnetic sand that could be easily pushed and formed into shapes. Alec had seen it used for sports games on Earth Prime. The boy was talking and pointing to things, but the cacophony of the group drowned him out.

  Alec called out, adjusting his vocal modulator to cut through the many voices. "Everybody, quiet and listen to…" Alec came up at a loss for the boy's name and realized that he had not even asked it before asking the boy to die alongside them. "What do we call you, boy?"

  The grounder flushed at being the centre of attention and looked to Alec with a measure of pride that he would address him. He stumbled over the word "ur um… last place they called me Smudge. The group all took in the look of the boy. He was perhaps seventeen years old with messy, dusty, coloured hair and bright blue eyes. He was wearing oversized coveralls like the ones the rift station workers wore, though they were ripped in one leg. Covering his hands and face were dark patches of freckles that looked like smudges of coloured ink on his skin. They all seemed to agree in their silent acceptance that it was an appropriate name.

  Smudge continued now that he had their attention, "This station is laid out like the one I grew up in. I played all around the sappers and tubes and know the spaces in between that can get us around unseen." He pointed to the large walls he had gathered up in the sand, like a dark sand castle. "Difference on this one was, of course, the soldiers and security, the big walls too. And then this part." This time, he indicated a small platform he had made and pushed a hole through the sand, simulated walls, and a tunnel connected the platform to the outside. "I think it's a train tunnel, I was gonna use it to get out of there before, well…" He looked up to Alec at this, and then the group did as well.

  "Then you got caught, and I dragged your ass up this way. You're welcome." After Alec finished the story, the group turned their attention to Smudge.

  T'sala leaned forward and looked to where Smudge was indicating. "It is a train station, it brings food from the paddocks in the hills. That is where they make the seedfeed." All of the locals seemed to acknowledge this as general knowledge.

  "For those of us not in the know, why don't you expand on things?" Alec looked to the group for someone to offer more information.

  It was Preacher who spoke this time. "Darling, seedfeed is what the baron sustained the Teretha on. Those like Doc and myself would know it to be like a bread flour but thicker once it is ground. They grow it in marsh paddies and bring it in by train."

  Alec interrupted him. "That, that part right there, don't just say train. Give us a better understanding."

  Preacher continued, "Model X465, lightning speed freight flyer, Jannic Corp produced. Travels 635 kilometres per hour. Ten carts, crosses two bridges and carries a garrison of armed guards.."

  Alec cut him off, "That part, go back, the bridges. Where are they on the kids' map?"

  Precher walked over and piled some magnetic sand in a line to the edge of the board. "First one is here, it bridges a forty-foot gap that drops double that to the falls of the swamp run off."

  "That's it, that's the weak point, let's target our plans around that. I don't know what comes next, but I know we've got the perfect team to sort it out." Alec looked around the room. Smudge, T'sala, Doc, Preacher, the Dream Singer, and Maywil all looked at him, then back at the map. "Oh, and one more, Quip, does that match your scans?"

  A projection of the planet's surface with a detailed model of the rift station appeared over the soundboard. The group in attendance looked up and around, as if expecting a physical form to appear, as Quip began speaking over the internal speakers. "It does match Alec. If the Smudge knows of internal ways to traverse the inside of the rift-station, I would ask him to expand upon it so I can add to the schematics. I'm accessing data in the scans I pulled when we arrived, and if perhaps we can get to high ground, I could perform a better scan."

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  T'sala looked up to Alec, "There is a woman who was Quartermaster of the train yard amongst the others. She will have knowledge that will be helpful. Preacher, as the one who speaks for them, could you find her?"

  "Leana, yes, I do know of her. She is cold but does not turn her eyes from suffering. She will help us. I can go implore her." Preacher stood up as if, despite being used to being the one who had to go, and despite having no physical form to tire, he seemed exhausted by this.

  Preacher left to get the woman, and the rest of the group listened in as Smudge outlined his knowledge of the rift-station. After Preacher returned with one of the townsfolk, they all sat down to determine the best path forward. Their council of war was now completed, with every group accounted for, a group of equals. Alec allowed the process to happen around him, dictating nothing but providing advice or insight where he could. As the day stretched on into yet another evening, the group was beginning to find hope. Happy with the work and plan that had been accomplished, they left the confines of Quip, and all stood stunned at what awaited them outside.

  Stretched out across the cave floor were every man, woman, and child of the Teretha and the townsfolk together. The group Doc had put in charge of the rations were walking about, spreading the food to each person. The youngest children were playing amongst the group, oblivious to their differences. As the group stepped forward, the hundreds of faces all turned to them. They looked fed, yet scared and eager for a path forward. Alec looked around at the group. He was not one for speeches.

  Smudge ducked behind one of Quip's tires to avoid the attention, and Preacher struck a pose like a showgirl finishing her dance. It was T'sala who took the lead, even before the dream singer could. "Free people, equals all." She was careful to include weighted looks at the ones she called others. "We will take this planet and make it ours. We will strip the baron and any who follow him of any claims upon these lands and call them ours!" A small clap met her words, but the crowd was not swayed to inspiration. T'sala seemed at a loss, as if she expected that to endear the people to her. It was the first time in all of this that Alec saw her vulnerable and innocent; despite having a wealth of knowledge from the baron's trophy room, she had no real-world experience.

  The Dream Singer stepped in. "It was foretold to us years ago, the lost warrior, the great beast, a child of the wind and…"

  Alec wanted to cut him off and explain away any mysticism. The faces of the crowd were not interested in fantastical tales of saviours, save a few who seemed to follow the dream singer with rapt attention.

  It was Maywil who actually cut him off, continuing his thought. "And a woman warrior, and an elder dream singer." She walked over and put a hand on Preacher's shoulder. "The false man and the Doctor who saves through death!" She continued walking around Quip and indicated to Leena the commoner woman. "A woman of a still calculating heart and beautiful mind." The woman, Leena, flushed. She and Maywil had been exchanging weighted looks all day, though the planning. Did Alec detect a spark? Maywil pulled Smudge from behind the tire. "A rat boy who can find the way." Maywil held the group's attention, and none moved to take the spotlight from her. She walked out into the crowd first to the 'sewing circle' of elderly technicians. "A circle of technicians that can bring walls down without a fight." She walked over to the townsfolk. "A group of like hearts that felt the world changing around them." She then indicated to Teretha, "And a people who call each other equal. We are one now!"

  This got the crowd's attention, and excitement began to grow. Chatter grew to cheers throughout, but the majority looked nervous. Alec took his turn, feeling, if any, this was his moment.

  "The baron is a cancer." His voice was not yelling,; with the modulator,, it reverberated off the wall,, and the people calmed to listen. "A cancer requires surgery, and surgery needs a small knife. This is that small knife." Alec pointed to the group behind him. "Now I won't lie, the more who volunteer, the more chance of success we have." He looked at the faces, hungry and anticipatory. "But to a people who have given so much, we cannot ask any more of you. I know we all have our reasons, some faith, "he pointed to the ones who looked at the dream singer like acolytes. "Some family," he looked at Teretha and townsfolk alike, and this they seemed to take in. "Whatever your reasons, you've put your trust in us, and we will honour that. If you'd like to join us, gather over by Quip." He pointed to his vehicle for those who would not know it. "For the rest, we ask you to share and welcome each other, keep the peace in this place. When we return, you can exit to a new free planet."

  The people began to chatter among themselves immediately, and some moved towards where Alec had indicated. There weren't many, a handful of Teretha and townsfolk. That plus this team and Maywil's warriors, now down thirty. If Alec followed through with his analogy of surgery, this would be the most difficult and specific in all the worlds. And the stakes could not be higher.