They exited the hyperjump in the solar system where the Veirus planet was and hid behind one of the other planets so the patrols couldn’t see them.

“First things first, we haven’t been here for more than five years. We need a scan of Zeddicus’ fortress and access to it.” One said. “Six. Take Loki and fly over the planet cloaked. Scan everything with everything you got, just don’t use the deep pulse.” One said.

“I’m on it.” Six said and took the Loki out of the hangar.

“Three. The only one who wasn’t down in the fortress is Seven. Think of a way that we can use that to send him in as a recon mission.” One said.

“Seven, how are the gadgets for Two’s hidden weapons going?” One asked.

“I made her a bulletproof vest with six hidden guns. The guns are under a plate that their scans can’t see through. Each gun has three ammo mags to reload and two rockets. She can control the guns with these glasses and voice commands. When she puts the vest it in the scanner it’s going to look like a normal bulletproof vest.” Seven said.

“Two, do you think that will be enough?” One asked.

“With my regular hidden gear and the weapons I can take from the enemies, I think it will.” Two said.

Three came back and said. “We can give the Seven the Dagger. He’s a runabout, like an exploration ship but bigger. Seven is from a race obsessed with technology so he could go there and ask to trade technology. I think that that would work.”

“Yeah, that could work.” Seven agreed.

“Good work three.” One said.

“Alright then. Take the Dagger and go down. Don’t bring any weapons. Take the Sleep shooter just in case.” One said. “We need to know who has access to Zeddicus’ tower and information on security around it.”

“Got it.” Seven said, got into the Dagger and left for Zeddicus fortress.

A few hours later, Six came back with Loki.

“Did you scan everything?” One asked.

“Guys, you’re not gonna believe this.” Six said and started the file transfer to the ship’s computer. They all went to the meeting room and waited for the files to transfer.

As the transfer was over Three took a tablet and put up a 3D picture of the planet above the table. “Am I seeing this right?” Three asked.

“Yeah, the whole planet is barren, it’s a desert.” Six said. “There is just the massive fortress on the planet, nothing more.”

“Zoom in on the fortress.” One said.

“It’s a fortress under a dome and the dome is covered by some kind of shield. I think Seven would know more about that. The shield and the dome make it impossible to enter the fortress from above. It has only four entrances. Three, switch to thermal scan. Each of the entrances has guards inside and above it. There are around a hundred soldiers at each entrance. When you enter, you walk on the upper level that is circular and has soldiers around the inner entire circle. You see them?” Six said.

“Yeah. Is there a shield on the upper level at the inner circle?” Three asked.

“I don’t know. I didn’t see one. Three, go to the lower level and back to normal imaging. There is only a single way to get down to the lower level and here is a shield that goes from the entrance to this big two-story building. There’s a small room before the entrance to the building and then a big room and three two smaller rooms. There are two guards outside the building, two in the small room before the building, and four guards inside.” Six said.

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“Why are they so many guards inside?” One asked.

“There are so many guards because the first room is where they scan you, the four guards inside are there because there are three doors in that building. Two guards have the key for the door to the Zeddicus tower. One has the key for the treasury door and the other for the vault where I stole the blue Astrum from.” Nexeer said. “And there is a shield on the first level in the inner circle above the lower level. It’s not just above the lower level, it’s also below and around it and if you touch it, you die. It’s also undetectable by any normal scans. Maybe by a deep scan.”

“How do you know all that?” Three asked.

“You hear things here and there when you plan to rob the place.” Nexeer said.

“Yes and the tower has only one floor, the top floor. At the bottom, there is an elevator and it just goes to the top. Six said.”

As they were talking Seven entered the meeting room. “Guys, you’re not gonna believe this.” He said.

“That fortress is massive. When I came in I walked in, I walked on a circular plateau. My every step was being watched. I need to rethink our gadgets now that I know their security protocols. The two upper floors are homes for soldiers only. There has to be thousands of them in there. Two, we will never have enough weapons.” Two said.

“What about Zeddicus tower?” One asked.

“It was hard to see from all the soldiers standing at the inner circle but what I could see was that the only people allowed to go there were some gray guys in red and gray robes with some kind of paper scrolls and I think house cleaners.” Two said.

“Then it’s good that we have a shapeshifter with us.” Three said. “You can shapeshift into the gray guy like you shapeshifted last time, when you stole the blue Astrum.” Three said.

“No can do.” Nexeer said.

“Why?” Three asked confused.

“You remember when my mom told me how they captured me. That I don’t emit heat. One thermal scanner and my cower is blown. And one more thing.” Nexeer said.

“What?” Three asked.

“I can’t shapeshift into something I haven’t touched.” Nexeer said.

Everyone was looking at him confused.

“Yeah. Let me show you. I can’t shapeshift into Two, no matter how hard I try. But, if I touch her...” Nexeer started to say and saw a big gun pointed directly between his eyes.

“If you touch me it will be the last thing you will touch in your life.” Two said.

“Ok. Bad example. But you get my point.” Nexeer said.

“So we need to go to the fortress, find a gray guy and let you touch him so you can shapeshift into him. And we have to make you pass a thermal scanner.” Three said.

“Ok Three, you know what to do. We need a plan.” One said.

“I’m on it.” Three said and left the meeting room.

“Six, upgrade the weapons on Dagger. Better safe than sorry. Two, Seven go work on weapons and gadgets. Nexeer, come with me.” One gave the orders to his crew and went to the kitchen. Nexeer followed.

“Want a beer?” One asked.

“Shure.” Nexeer replied.

“Sit.” One said and Nexeer sat opposite of him. “When we go down to Zeddicus fortress I’m gonna need the blue Astrum.” He said.

“You know I can’t give you the Astrum.” Nexeer said.

“I didn’t say that I want you to give it to me. I said that I would need it. Did you see anything when Fate pulled the string after fixing the Astrum?” One asked.

“I did.” Nexeer said.

“What did you see?” One asked.

“If I tell you I could change that event into something worse and as I told you there’s a way to cheat fate, so it’s not worth mentioning.” Nexeer said. He again saw One getting shot.

“Yea, you’re right.” One said.

“So will you help me make things right? Will you use the Astrum?” One asked.

“Yeah. I will.” Nexeer said.

Two days later Three ran into One’s quarters.“ I got it!” She said. “I just need two pieces of information and I think I have a plan”.

They called everyone to the meeting room. When everyone arrived, Three said. “I got it. I figured out a plan. However, it all depends on two things. First, Nexeer can you shapeshift into inanimate objects?” She asked.

“Yea sure.” Nexeer shapeshifted into a chair then shapeshifted back.

“That’s good, one down, one to go. I need one volunteer to be a heat source so Nexeer can pass through thermal scans.” Three said.

“I volunteer.” One said

The crew looked at him and Three asked. ”You sure one?”

“Yes.” One said.

“That’s it! We have a plan!” Three explained the plan and said. “Now let’s celebrate!”

There was a tradition that before such a difficult mission everyone celebrated their time spent with the crew because, who knows, maybe this is their last time here amongst their friends, amongst their family.