Rubbing her temple, Zoe sighed, making up her mind. Glancing at Maddison was enough for the other woman, who turned and started walking quickly, following the path the group had taken.

"The base?" Anisha asked with a yawn.

"I think the best course of action is an orbital strike," Zoe replied. "I've got a handful of gps tags. Get some rest Anisha, you and Boo, and probably Maddison, will have to do that tonight."

"We should move our camp further away," Boo said, waving at the building. "Who knows when another patrol will come through."

"Good idea," Zoe said with a nod. "Anisha, rest. Let's do this nice and quick."

~

They drove back to Asquith, sending a message to Maddison to head back towards the town once she was done.

Zoe reported to Gregori, receiving the go ahead for the strike. She couldn't say that she was completely comfortable with the decision, but figured that it would likely be the way for the least amount of lives to be taken.

Before midday, she received word from Maddison that she had linked up with the nine heading towards Asquith and was guiding them. Zoe didn't ask and Maddison didn't confirm, but Zoe knew that the problem person had been dealt with.

~ Nix, run a full scan on my head. I have a headache. ~

As Zoe waited, Boo came into the dining room, tablet in hand, looking over the scan as Nix was doing it. Putting the tablet down, she rummaged through her med kit. "How bad is it and where?" she asked, pausing and looking at Zoe.

"Here," Zoe replied, retracing the helmet and placing her hand on the back of her head near the top of her spine. "And right behind my eyes. It's not bad, yet, but it is building."

"You need to stop stressing as much," Boo replied, passing her a pair of painkillers. "Let me know if it doesn't settle in an hour."

Zoe nodded weakly before taking the painkillers.

Boo patted her shoulder. "You'll be fine. You're still our leader."

"I know, and that terrifies me at times." Zoe sighed and sat back in the chair, tilting her head back to look at the ceiling. "I don't know what makes me any more qualified at leading than yourself."

Boo chuckled. "That's easy. You're smarter and quicker to make decisions that affect people's lives. When it comes to quick thinking, I'm only good for medical stuff. The rest I'm hopeless at."

Zoe smiled at Boo's levity, patting her on the knee. "I wouldn't trust many other people with my health," she said to her. "Mary, Tony and Jess are all good, but you have the best bedside manner."

Boo laughed brightly. "Mon ami, little do you realise that I'm selfish and need those around me to be their best." She stood, patting Zoe's shoulder again. "Eat and rest," she said, leaving her alone in the dining room of Lerma's house.

~

"It'll take her too long to get back," Tyson said to Anisha. "And, while she's learned to drive this thing," he said, kicking the truck tyre, "I haven't and need help."

Anisha cracked a smile. "I could teach you."

"Mmmm, not now. When we get back home, then I'll take lessons."

"What are you taking lessons in?" Boo asked, exiting Lerma's house, catching the end of the conversation.

"Driving," he replied, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "We're going to go pick up Maddison. She won't make it back here today, and I want her at her best for infiltrating the base."

"That's understandable," Boo replied, nodding. "I'll drive, Tyson, come with me, Anisha, stay here with Zoe."

"No," Tyson replied. "Anisha and I will go, you stay here. Zoe may need monitoring."

Boo tilted her head at Tyson. "What are you not telling me?"

"I can feel her headache and her thoughts are unclear, but not the same as when she's in her tech. They seem fuzzy, muffled."

"Then yes, I will stay here," Boo agreed. "Get Asquith to drive their car with you and get as many of the group back here."

"Makes sense," Anisha said with a nod. "Come on ladaka, let's go get your bahan."

Tyson closed his eyes for a moment. "Boy, sister," he muttered, trying to figure out what she had said.

Anisha chuckled evilly. "It's too much fun messing with him," she said, winking at Boo, who winked back before Anisha turned and walked to the truck. "Mere saath aao," she said with a wave.

Tyson shook his head, drawing a laugh from Boo, who patted his arse, pushing him towards the truck before heading back inside.

~

Maddison waved as the truck came into view under the hot sun. "Our chariots have arrived," she said grandly, waving towards the now visible car. "About fucking time."

As soon as the truck pulled to a stop, she opened the drivers door. "Nope," Anisha said, waving her away. "Go bother Tina, she's more likely to let you drive the car."

Eyes lighting up, Maddison trotted over to the car where Tina, seeing her approach, got out and held the door open for her. Sitting down, Maddison quickly adjusted the seat as the others she had been travelling with piled into the vehicles.

Maddison stomped on the accelerator, drawing a gasp of surprise and fear from most of the cramped occupants. Her grin widening on her face, she drove, enjoying the speed the ancient car was capable of.

~

"Tyson, you go with Maddison and Anisha," Zoe said to her group. "You trust that the eight others are loyal to Lucas?"

Tyson nodded. "They're mostly kids who have gone through some basic training. He's their leader and what he's agreeing to on their behalf is reasonable to them all."

"Good," she replied with a nod before sighing and running her fingers through her head. The headache had eased off, and she was thankful for Boo's attention. "I can't believe I'm going to ask this, but we need as much info as we can. Can you get Lucas to come here please?"

Tyson closed his eyes for a moment before nodding. "On his way."

"I am going to ask him questions that he won't want to answer, but will likely think of the answers. I need those answers."

The other four stared at her for a moment. Tyson's expression was knowing, Maddison's was almost bloodthirsty, Anisha's was blank and Boo's was almost disgusted.

"I know," Zoe said in a barely audible whisper. "I… I can't see any other option. This is the way to save the most lives, I think." She looked at Boo, meeting her gaze. "I feel as you do. I don't want to end lives. Where's the line though? How do I justify not punishing their actions and allowing them to keep killing innocents?"

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"He's almost here," Tyson said, cutting off further conversation. "Come on," he said to Boo, holding his hand out to her. Breaking her gaze from Zoe, Boo took his hand, the pair following Anisha out.

Maddison moved to the wall, leaning next to the open doorway, arms crossed, as Lucas entered. She exchanged nods with him before he came to a stop in front of Zoe, standing at attention.

Zoe smiled faintly and waved a hand at the taller man. "No need to be formal around me," she stated. The man nodded, relaxing a little. He still had his machete on his waist, but held his hands away from it.

"How can I help?" Lucas asked.

"Come, sit with me," Zoe said, waving to the end of the dining table where their tech wasn't. A few glasses and a wooden pitcher sat on the end, constantly refilled by Lerma for her guests.

He sat awkwardly on the side while Zoe sat around the corner at the head of the table. "Now, I know you're probably already aware of what I intend to do, but I still need as much information as I can get."

Lucas glanced at Maddison over his shoulder. "I presume Tyson is nearby, which means he will read whatever I think, giving you answers whether I give you them or not."

She sighed, rubbing her face before nodding. "That was my intention. Can't say I want to use that option, but I have to use what I have at my disposal to get my job done."

"What is your job?" Lucas asked.

"Emissary, negotiator, commander, and more," she replied, sitting up a little straighter. "My goal is to bring people into a brighter future than the one humanity gave us previously."

"And how does the information I have affect that goal?"

"With your information I can target specific individuals and buildings, making the coming strike as bloodless as possible, saving future lives from harm from individuals who have already proven to prefer harm."

Lucas nodded. "How would you strike at them?"

Maddison coughed pointedly. "Zoe's supposed to be asking the questions," she stated flatly.

Zoe nodded to her. "We have a way of being able to level a building from a distance," she supplied. "Now, you know my reasons, will you assist me?"

"Yes," he replied. "I presume that, with the twins with you, that, if they were to attack, there would be more bloodshed than absolutely required."

"Uh, yeah," Maddison interjected with a snort. "Zoe's way is minimal, involves less of me. I grew up here, just like you. I'm used to making calls like that more than her. Given the chance, I'd borrow her suit and storm the place myself. I doubt I could be stopped then."

Lucas visibly shook for a moment. "That is a sight I never wish to see."

"Me neither," Zoe added. "Now, will you help me against your former leaders?"

Lucas nodded, answering her questions as best he could.

~

Electricity. That's what humanity relied on the most. When WWIII hit, the smartest leaders targeted power plants and stations first. Sure, they paid for not targeting military installations, but they fared the best before their own power was taken from them.

No country survived having their own citizens turning on them once their power was gone. Some survived better than others, but barely.

Zoe had studied the best she could of the tactics employed during the war, but data was limited. A lot of what happened occurred after power was taken out.

Her first target was their power production and storage. Their communications would be cut immediately. Lucas had stated there were backup generators, but that, as far as he knew, they didn't have much fuel to use them. Zoe regretted the impending destruction of the generators, but knew the necessity of it.

That evening, Maddison, Tyson and Anisha drove off with the handful of gps tags and new information on where to place them. Boo stated that Tyson was more useful to the other women and also said, in a tone that allowed for no argument, that she had to stay with Zoe to monitor her. Zoe nodded, agreeing and feeling better for Boo’s presence.

~

"Sir, reporting all green for the strike," a tech stated into the buzzing war room, their gaze not leaving their screen.

Gregori nodded once to himself, more out of habit than anything as he took mental notes on the checklist. Communications had a slight delay because of the distance, but Zoe had already cut as much of that out as possible.

Alianora entered the room, following one of her juniors, the young one pushing a trolley of food while Alianora pushed one laden with a boiler, cups, tea and coffee. "Lunch is here," she called cheerfully as the trolleys were pushed to their normal spot and the boiler plugged in.

The few who got up straight away took a drink and a few bites back to their desks as they kept working. Gregori was fine with people either taking a proper break or eating as they worked. Everyone functioned differently and they all gave their best, knowing they were helping further the Community.

"Beacons are coming online," another tech stated, the first two locations appearing on the larger screen.

"Set the timer for midday local time," Gregori. A timer appeared at the top of the map, counting down just over twelve hours. Gregori huffed to himself as he calculated the time difference to put the Community at two hours after midnight.

"Sir?" his aide asked in a hushed tone. "Why midday local time?"

"That's when the most people will be outside of the base," he replied with a glance. "Most of their leaders will be in a handful of buildings, which is where these tags are mostly going. It should reduce casualties."

The aide nodded as the room bustled with activity.

"Sir, morning report coming in from Beta team."

"Put it to my screen," Gregori requested. An itinerary appeared alongside a map of the north American continent. He read the message, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. His choice to promote Kalinda had been met with enthusiasm and it showed in the way she reported. "Send back confirmation and approval," he requested as he turned his attention back to other, more pressing matters.

~

“Here,” Boo said, handing Zoe a steaming cup of tea as she entered the dining room in the morning. “It has some stuff in it that I got from Evelynn that should help keep the headache at bay."

Taking it gratefully, she gingerly sipped the steaming liquid, letting its pleasant aroma fill her nose. "Thanks."

Maddison nodded to her from her spot standing next to the table, a tablet with the gps tags locations showing over an orbital view of the area. "We got them all last night," she stated.

“Good,” Zoe replied. “That means this should be quick and efficient. We leave in four hours.”

~

Zoe ran alongside the truck, Nix helping her keep pace with the vehicle as it sped along the major roads towards the base, Maddison not relenting in the speed for Zoe's sake.

They passed a few people, startling them as they blasted past, leaving gaping expressions behind them.

As they neared where they had camped and met Lucas, Zoe slowed their pace, engaging the radar in Nix and checking on the timer till the orbital strike was to begin. Quickly figuring out how long it would take them to get there and for the strikes to hit, she waved them forward.

"How long?" Anisha asked through their localized comms system as the truck followed Zoe.

"Eighteen minutes till impact," she replied, slightly breathlessly. "If we drive there, five minutes." She waved the truck towards an underground parking lot they had previously sent a drone into. The drone had shown a few wrecks and plenty of space to hide the truck in. "We'll wait fifteen, then take our time getting there."

"No wukkus," Anisha replied, drawing a chortle from Tyson and putting an amused smile on Zoe's face, releasing some of the tension that had been building in her.

The truck rumbled down the ramp and into the cool, underground parking lot, coming to a stop just around the corner from the entrance.

Folding the helmet back, Zoe leant against the side of the truck, breathing heavily as her suit worked to cool her down.

"You sure you won't let me try Nix on someday?" Maddison asked, handing Zoe a bottle of water.

Zoe shook her head as she drank, swallowing before answering. "Not till I have back up parts for everything," she replied, passing the bottle back. "I don't know what damage it would likely sustain under your care."

"Party pooper," Maddison said with a frown. "You know I would take care of Nix."

Smiling faintly at Maddison, Zoe patted her shoulder. "Some day. Let's get this done first. Final equipment checks people."

The truck occupants started checking rifles, blades, armour and electronics. Nix ran a full suit check as Zoe verbalized the request, giving an all systems green message moments later. Zoe double checked all the connection points, even though Nix and the run would have alerted her to any issues.

By the time they had all stretched and gotten back into the truck, the countdown passed the three minute mark.

"I've received word that the payload is on its way," Zoe said. Maddison started the truck and, with Zoe leading, rolled up the ramp and into the sunlight again. Turning south, they kept the pace slower, waiting to speed up as the impact timer counted down.

1:03

1:02

1:01

1:00

Zoe picked up her pace, recalculating their arrival time to be a minute after the impacts. The bombardment window was only ten seconds, and their experience with them previously gave them confidence in using the weapons.

0:30

~ High elevation radar confirmed ordinance on route, ~ Nix notified Zoe. ~ Calculating impact sites. Confirmed within seventy two centimeters of targets. ~

Confirming the message, Zoe glanced up as she jogged forward. With the suit and Nix zooming in, she saw the rods, long bars of metal with stabilizing fins, falling through the sky.

The small group rounded a corner and turned to face the main entrance of the Bloodless Pact base. Her weapon array sprung out as she retrieved a pistol from its home on one of her legs, both charging up as the guards at the entrance spotted them and raised their rifles.

0:03

Maddison pushed harder on the accelerator.

0:02

Zoe aimed both weapons, clearly at the guards.

0:01