Far above Kayla’s head, the Venomous Vipers of Bravo company gathered on the flight deck of the Banshee. They stood before the bulky Titan dropships that would carry them down to the mountains to confront an enemy worse than any that Valkyrie had faced in hundreds of years.

Thandi watched as Captain Aguilar strode in front of them, calmly observing the gathered women. Some sat or kneeled, allowing their comrades behind them to see, as they waited expectantly to hear what their commander had to say.

“Two days ago,” she began, “I got a call from Chieftain-General Smyrna, and Colonel Haft, the battalion commander. When I went to see them, Smyrna looked as grave as I have ever seen her in my time in this organization. She said ‘Captain, the situation on Caldera is grave. Very grave.’ Ladies, I did not hesitate—I looked her straight in the eye and I said a single word. When I said that word, I saw all hint of worry leave her face, and the gleam of victory was in her eye. That word was Viper. I have absolute confidence that this company, one of the finest companies of Rangers I have ever seen, will get the job done, and so does she.

“She also said ‘Praise the stars this didn’t happen on a forest moon’, but I won’t say anymore about that.”

The assembled Rangers laughed, happy to take a friendly jab at a sister battalion.

“There is a Jotnar device under those mountains capable of transforming animals and humans into killing machines. These have been the source of the attacks, the hundreds of deaths on Caldera that you will no doubt have heard about these last few years. A team of Helvetic scientists and Special Forces have been working in secret to turn the relics of a terrible alien war machine on innocent people to satisfy their political goals.”

Thandi’s heart burned with fury for the father that Kayla had lost, as well as the other colonists. If she was still unsure of her place in the unfolding war machine, she was at least certain that her friend would soon be avenged.

“Intel estimates,” Aguilar continued, “that more than two hundred colonists have been captured and potentially transformed. In a few hours, we will drop into the mountains to engage in battle with these creatures, while other elements take advantage of that opportunity to assault their main base. They will disable this technology and kill or capture those responsible.”

She paused for a moment, staring into the distance.

“When i heard about the loss of our sisters Rachel and Adaku last week, it tore my heart in two. Today, that pain has settled into rage, because I am sick to my stomach of losing the greatest women the galaxy has ever seen, because arrogant, ego-centric space scum couldn’t figure out how to break their cycle of violence, forcing us once again to expend blood cleaning up their trash.

“Vipers, make no mistake, this battle will cost us in blood once again. Here is my down payment.”

She drew a knife from her belt and the Rangers watched in silence as she ran it across her arm. A red splash fell to the deck. It was a deep cut, but the bleeding stopped quickly as nanites worked to repair the injury.

“If I must pay the rest in full today, so be it. I pay it willingly if it spares the lives of innocents. Vipers, keep in mind that the scientists on the objective are civilian non-combatants and will be treated as hostages. Whatever sins they have committed in the name of their political and scientific agenda is not our concern. They will be delivered to Caldera’s authorities to be judged accordingly. No matter what you see down there, you will not harm them unless they are armed, and threatening to harm you.

“We have learned that a terrorist named Allana Rayker is the leader of this operation. She is very dangerous, and apparently familiar with this alien technology. She is accompanied by forty or more Helvetic Special Forces, who’s hearts, minds, and… other body parts have been seduced into following her. In truth, we don’t know what she is or what she is capable of, but I am reminded of a passage from an ancient text, in whose pages I occasionally find words of comfort. It states ‘Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live’.”

She paused again.

“Vipers, the devil has recalled his spawn and entrusted us with the delivery. We will return this witch to the fire. We will cleanse Caldera of the demons she has spawned, laying to rest whatever remains of their souls. As for her dogs, I would ask you to bring me their heads so that I can mount them on stakes in Rackeye’s main square, so that the galaxy will know the punishment due to terrorists.”

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There was total silence on the flight deck as those last words sank in, even the flight crews having stopped their work to listen.

Aguilar smirked. “I might not get approval for that last part.”

A few cold smiles broke out on the Ranger’s faces.

“Any Questions?” she finished.

There were none. Thandi felt tension coiling within her muscles.

“Strike swiftly Vipers. I’ll see you in the field.”

“Old Aguilar sure knows how to get the blood flowing,” Ash commented as the squad geared up.

“I’ve got the tingles—I’m psyched,” Ray said with a laugh. “Thandi, what’s up?”

Thandi had been silent since the address. “I’m good,” she said absently, fiddling with her webbing straps.

“Ready to kill?”

She nodded. “Yeah.”

But most of her mental energy was focused on rehearsing the movement out of the dropship on landing. She wanted to move and fight perfectly, so her squad would be unstoppable, the platoon devastating, and the whole company lightning fast in its annihilation of the enemy.

Once kitted up and ready to go, they loaded onto the dropships. They had carefully planned their seating with Thandi at the back, while Kes sat next to the loading ramp. Dropping down into the uncomfortable seats, several girls pulled out earphones or books as they waited, while others chatted idly. Across from Thandi, Ray played a video game on a portable device. They would have to wait for hours, but Thandi didn’t feel like distracting herself. Instead, she mentally played through every tactical movement she had been taught since she entered boot camp, until she knew with certainty that she couldn’t make a mistake.

Rose landed in Rackeye and hung around the starport until she saw the transit shuttle leaving. Then she walked straight out into the city, losing herself in the side streets before pulling out the stolen panic alarm and thumbing the switch. She didn’t have long to wait before a battered old car pulled into the street and stopped alongside her at the curb.

When she opened the door, she cringed inwardly at the site of a furious looking woman at the wheel.

“You better have a damn good explanation for yourself,” the woman snarled, “because it looks to me like you’re trying to use the panic button like a taxi service.”

Rose took a deep breath and stepped into the vehicle.

“I have no excuse—and I fully accept any decision you want to take with me. I have to get to the ship that’s in orbit.”

The woman stared at her in disbelief, then pulled the car out into the road. “I’m dropping you back at the terminal and making sure you get delivered back to Tyr with orders for a court martial,” she said firmly.

“Please hear me out—I just broke out of the hospital,” Rose explained desperately, even as she was sure that her plee would be rejected. “I’m a Mountain Ranger, but the doctors wouldn’t sign me out in time to join my unit. I’m going to miss this operation, and I had to try something. I can’t let my friends go in without me.”

The woman said nothing, only shaking her head.

“I know I did something really stupid,” Rose said again, “but I had to try. You can understand that, right? I had to try something.”

The woman sighed deeply. “You are one crazy, stupid-ass Ranger. All you Viper girls are like that. I suppose, if I’m being honest, I can’t blame you.”

Rose’s fingers went white as they gripped her seat. She was so close. “Write me up for it, and I’ll take whatever punishment I have coming. Please, just help me get back to my unit.”

There was a long silence. The driver cast a sidelong glance at her. “You know this is one of the biggest operations in a long time? It’s going to be a real fight.”

“R-right; that’s exactly why I had to do this,” Rose insisted, though she was stunned by the revelation. Was her homeworld in danger? She had had no idea that the situation was so serious, but now that she knew, her resolve only intensified.

The woman scowled. “Well, maybe I’m pissed because I’m sat here on my ass doing nothing, watching a pot that won’t boil. Goddamned Raiders—always jumping in on other people’s hard work.”

She paused for a few minutes, while Rose didn’t dare to breathe.

“You know what? Screw it—the least I could do is help out a Ranger. There’s a shuttle heading up to the Banshee in an hour. I’ll get you on it.”

“Thank you.”

“Just don’t tell them it was me who helped you.”

Rose laughed as she felt the adrenaline-fueled high. “I don’t even know your name.”

A strange and terrifying energy shot through her heart as she wondered what other forbidden and impossible things she could do if she really wanted.

They drove out to the suburbs, where a small, unmarked shuttle was waiting at a local transit hub. The driver wordlessly ushered her on board and shook her head at the pilot’s questioning expression. “Don’t ask,” she said, before squeezing Rose’s shoulder and heading back to her car.

Rose felt her stomach lurch as Caldera dropped away beneath them and the clear blue sky turned inky dark. She found herself gazing at the stars, wondering how she had managed to convince herself to go through with such a stupid plan, and exactly how much trouble she would be in once it was all over. Her leg was effectively re-broken, so she certainly couldn’t join the Rangers on the ground, even if they would have accepted her.

She might even be kicked out of Valkyrie just so she could stack ammunition crates onto a resupply ship, or whatever work she could find. That was the worst thought; losing everything she had earned, and the friends she had made. But it was for those friends that she had to take the risk.

As she stewed in the unknown, a deeper, wilder part of her mind, that had begun to grow in strength since her first days in the organization, tempted her with insane ambition. Perhaps they might let her on the bridge of the ship to watch the battle unfold, or onboard one of the dropships to get a closer look? Her rational mind told her that she would probably be thrown in the brig, but the whispers continued, promising adventure and excitement, if only she didn’t give in to doubt.