Alice had called Olympus squad to the conference room. Ian had sat down at the head of the table, contemplating what he was even going to say. Maeve and Aaron entered together, sitting on either side of Ian, followed soon by Cameron, Snezhana and Thanatos. Apollo was in the cryobay, so this was it. Olympus Squad.

'We need to talk, and I need this spread to our crew. The rules for November Victor.'

Ian explained everything Jacqueline had gone over with him. No one spoke, though Maeve seemed annoyed she was still being tested. Once Ian had finished, Maeve rose her hand.

'Yes, Maeve?' Ian said.

'I should stay in Medical.'

'No,' Ian shook his head, 'I need you to come as well. Kailey will handle Medical, Maeve, I need all of Olympus. Those are the rules. We're going to follow the rules.'

'We're still suspect,' Aaron chimed in. 'Sure, we tore our chips out, but we're still an unknown.'

Maeve sighed, nodding her defeat. Since the pulling of the chips, Maeve had been a little more accepting of the situation they all found themselves in in the future. But Ian knew what she was capable of. Fighting Wights of Isis Station had proved that.

'So we meet Jonathan again?' Snezhana said, beaming. 'This time properly, yes?'

'Hopefully,' Ian murmured. 'Though, it stands to reason we'll be more likely to meet a governor or a second. Jonathan's likely a busy man.'

Snezhana looked a little crestfallen. Since the removal of the chips, Snezhana's mood had improved two-fold. She had more freedom now, to say and do whatever she wanted. Her bubbly personality was always welcome in any room.

'What about Apollo?' Thanatos asked quietly. From how everyone's eyes moved to Ian, they were all wondering the same thing.

'I asked. So long as he's on ice, there's nothing to worry about with Apollo. We aren't leaving him behind this time.'

Thanatos closed his eyes, content with the answer. Ian was still a little nervous Thanatos had not accepted his old name after losing his chip. In fact, Thanatos had been against rebelling, he'd been forced to. But he fell in line quickly, almost like his loyalty as to Ian first and the Agency second.

'It seems like it needs asking, but Belle?' Aaron asked.

'Belle's being handled by Minnie. She's the only one of us not scrutinised. So she's going to do her best to help us save her. Until then, Alice will have to pull duty for all of us.'

Aaron breathed in slowly, but Alice appeared on his shoulder and nodded eagerly. Aaron had changed the most drastically out of all of them, even before the chips. Something had happened on Isis Station with the Wights, and suddenly he was a different man. Like he had something worth living for now.

Ian was about to continue when Cameron cleared her throat. 'What if they don't believe us?'

Ian smiled reassuringly. 'We have Minnie, White Squad, and everyone we brought here to vouch for us. But if for whatever reason we're still banished, we stick together. Always.'

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Cameron nodded, liking this answer. Cameron had been forced into so many difficult situations since fighting the Klisk, and the eye-patch she wore now was just evidence of her determination and willingness to help her squad. Her family.

'Alright then. Olympus, let's roll out.'

Ian led the way out of the cargo bay, raising his hands as he felt dozens of rifles trained on him and the others of Olympus Squad. Jacqueline stepped around Olympus and walked forward.

'They're with us, don't shoot!'

Jacqueline was trusted, but there was protocol. Olympus Squad was led towards a grey and depressing building, mildew eating at the corners. Inside was the tan carpet and cheap plastic chairs that reminded Aaron, Maeve and Cameron of the DMV. The six were sat down and disarmed, and one ever tried to pull Alice from Aaron's head. After Aaron growled and Ian worked overtime to prevent an incident, they allowed Aaron to keep Alice, but she stayed offline.

Olympus waited in silence. No one wanted to talk, to say the wrong thing that could be used against them. This was still, until proven otherwise, enemy territory. Yes, an enemy they wished to join, but after all the demonising the Agency had thrown at the Concord, it was difficult to shake.

Finally, a door opened and an old man with snow white hair and beard walked in, but Ian recognised him.

'Luke?' Ian said.

Luke looked up at Ian and grinned. 'Oh, it's you guys. Hey.'

'What are you doing here? I thought you were Alliance?'

'I was,' Luke explained, leaving the door opened but standing there like he was catching up with friends. 'But after Copperhead got away, The Alliance blamed me for everything. I was dishonourably discharged and stripped of my pension. Concord found me on Titan and showed me The Truth.'

Luke's grin softened into a smile as he looked at the six of them. 'Actually glad you came to the same conclusion. You're all too good for the Alliance. Alright, in, I gotta run you through this.'

Luke entered the room and Ian waved his squad inside. The new room was more living room than interrogation room. Sofa and armchairs, a coffee table, even a television in the corner. There was still a two-way mirror. Ian suspected that they were being judged twice.

Ian sat down on the sofa with Maeve and Cameron. Aaron leaned against the wall in the corner of the room, Thanatos sat in an armchair and Snezhana sat on the floor, leaving Luke the last armchair. He sat down carefully and sighed.

'Alright. Olympus Squad. First things first... You all read The Truth?'

Everyone nodded, except Thanatos. Luke looked over to Thanatos.

'My chip was refused against my will,' Thanatos said quietly. 'I didn't read the document. Nor do I have a desire to.'

Luke wrote that down on his clipboard. 'Alright. So why are you here?'

'The Alliance gave me a second chance... but Zeus is my leader. I would follow him through hellfire and brimstone, even if I do not agree.'

Ian felt honoured by this. He smiled at Thanatos, wanting to say something but the words didn't come. Thanatos glanced over at Ian, and nodded. He understood.

'I have watched this man lead us and others through one impossible situation to the next. We only lost two. Cerberus and Apollo. Given the dangers of our missions and the hatred towards the Alliance, I consider this number acceptable.'

Luke seemed convinced Thanatos was not a threat, as he gave Thanatos a tick on the clipboard.

'Are you all aware we have a price to pay for being able to stay here?' Luke asked.

'Yes,' Ian said, leaning forward onto his knees. 'Jacqueline mentioned that. What in particular do you need?'

Luke used the remote and turned the television on. In orbit there were dozens of asteroid with metal sticking out of them, burning into the atmosphere and towards November Victor.

'You want us... to stop asteroids?' Aaron asked quietly.

'We want you to stop what's in the asteroids, Mr. Dietrich. Those are Orc landing crafts. They found a world they seek to pillage. Ours.'

Olympus had never fought Orcs before. Phil had said they were incredibly stupid, and Minnie had let slip they were walking slabs of meat. Ian was expecting a Tolkien monster, whereas Cameron was expecting something more Warcraft.

'Orcs,' Ian said slowly. 'We've never fought Orcs before, Luke. We don't have tactics for them. We're willing, but we need to know what Orcs can do, and we need our gear...'

Ian looked at Aaron. 'All our gear.'

'Understood,' Luke said. 'We'll give you that, certainly. Your crew will also be able to assist you if you want. And we don't expect a death-only outcome. If you have another way, please do it. Dead Orcs attract attention.'

Try not to kill what was basically space barbarians? Sure...