Soon after the interrogation the Terran Endeavour lifted off and set course for the building where Victoria was supposedly held. The security crew and the Justicars suited up as their armors were already unpacked and ready. Gabriel’s own were still sitting in a large box so he had to wait until the rest were done. Still, he had over two hours to get the armor on so it was no rush. Madeline followed him into the armory and together with Zura they began unpacking.

“So, I have watched the footage of your… let’s say talk with Turan,” Zura said and handed Gabriel a boot as he had just gotten the leg armor on. “It’s a good thing you decided not to hurt him physically, that would have caused trouble we can do without.”

“Good thing he spilled everything then,” Gabriel said.

“Yeah,” Zura said. “Just a question though, how far would you be willing to go. Would you follow up on your threats?”

Gabriel sighed and nodded, “Probably. I don’t like torturing, but for my sister's life, or freedom depending, I think I would,” Gabriel said and pulled on both boots before standing. “Still, I would limit it to something your level of medicine could fix, no permanent damages.”

“So no major dismembering?” Madeline asked and waggled her two new fingers at him. During the trip, she had gotten almost all the mobility back in them.

“Point taken,” Gabriel said. “and no dismembering, no,” He said. Madeline helped him with getting the chest plate over his head and in place.

“I think you went easy on him,” she said. “I’m sure waterboarding isn't a pleasant experience but he should have some painful reminder.”

“Maybe we can give you some time with him?” Gabriel suggested. Madeline grinned and grabbed the gloves.

“Yeah, maybe. What’s that human saying? I could beat some sense into him?”

“I’m sure,” Gabriel grinned back.

Zura huffed and grabbed the helmet, “Do I need to remind you I’m technically responsible for keeping Turan safe until I can hand him over to the Union?” She put a hand on Madeline’s shoulder. “I’m afraid we can’t have you beat him into the ground… for now.”

“Shame,” Madeline said.

“Yep,” Zura said. “Come on, Rik’Tensel should have the rest gathered for the plan.”

“I still need to get my armor on,” Madeline said. Gabriel opened his mouth to protest but Madeline already anticipated that and shot him a glare as soon as his lips parted. “No,” she said. Gabriel shut his mouth and followed Zura out.

“Not going to argue?” Zura asked.

“No point, I won't win,” Gabriel said. “Only way I’m getting her to stay is to lock her in. Or maybe you can arrest her?”

“I can tell you’re joking but I’m still going to give you a serious answer,” Zura said and slapped him on the back. “Outside of my mission, I can’t order anyone around. My mission was to investigate the Syndicate, not rescue your sister. While we plan to accomplice both that means that I and Rik’Tensel have no authority over you, Madeline, or anyone else on the crew. However, we can take the ship wherever we want so I guess there’s that.”

“So, what does that mean for when we get where we’re going?”

“Just that we might have to split up at some point,” Zura said, shrugging with her tentacles. “And that you have more authority over anyone on the ship than I do. Well not over Rik’Tensel me and Nyria. And you might share the spot with the Captain. While I imagine that Security officer Serani will lead the raid, you can technically order her around as well, although I don’t suggest it as she is very good at what she does. Or so I’m told.”

“Wasn’t planning on it,” Gabriel said. “But good to know if the power goes to my head.”

“Precisely,” Zura said and opened the door to the upper bridge. Rik’Tensel, Nyria, Captain Densiri, and Serani were inside, going over a map on the table.

“What’s the plan?” Zura asked as they joined the circle.

Rik’Tensel sighed, “Scuffed, we don’t even have floorplans. It’s built into a hill, but we have confirmed that it only has two ways out. A landing pad on the roof and the front door. We have contacted the Roniean government and they will arrive in time to stop anyone from leaving.”

“What are the chances they will just give up when the cops get there?” Gabriel asked.

“Cops?”

“Security,” Gabriel corrected himself.

“Not very high, I expect a hostage situation or something more drastic. But that’s going by previous encounters with the Syndicate, maybe Ronieans are more reasonable.”

“What makes them so loyal?” Serani asked.

“Most that are recruited, at least for guards and low positions are very poor, criminals or even adopted into the organization. All are young and raised to follow their ways I believe. But as I said, that’s going on just a few encounters we are pretty sure are connected to the Syndicate,” Rik’Tensel said.

“Crap,” Gabriel muttered, “So what do we do about it?”

“Hit hard and fast,” Rik’Tensel said. “The Roniean Security should have surveillance on the place before we get there so we just drop onto the roof and head in. They will pick up any that might escape, hopefully.”

“And then?”

“Improvise, move fast and find your sister and whatever else we can.” Rik’Tensel finished.

Serani nodded. “Then I will take my squad and move towards the front, take the entrance and move in from there.”

“Right,” Gabriel said. “So, before we storm this place, as much as I want to, are we perfectly sure my sister is in there?”

“Turan was very willing to provide what he could after your talk,” Zura said. “And we have enough evidence to arrest anyone inside, but no, we’re not sure.”

Gabriel nodded and scratched his chin, “So we storm the place, arrest—”

“Subdue,” Zura interjected.

“Arrest or subdue the guards and whoever is running the place, find my sister, hopefully, and… mission complete?”

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“With paperwork that will last days yes,” Rik’Tensel said. “We have an hour until we need to get ready for the approach. Stay in armor but get hydrated, eat and prepare. Gabriel, I imagine you can shoot?”

“Yes,” Gabriel confirmed.

“Good, I will find you later when I get a hold of some spare guns. I would like you to stick with us during this raid.”

“Works for me,” Gabriel said.

“Good,” Rik’Tensel glanced over Gabriel’s shoulder. “I suggest you tell your partner of the plans, I will go with Serani and brief the rest.” Gabriel nodded and turned, finding Madeline standing against the doorframe, armored up.

“Let’s go back to our room,” Gabriel said. As the plan was not very involved it only took a minute to get Madeline caught up.

“We’ll just have to do what we can,” she said. “Not ideal but we have worked with less.”

“Yeah,” Gabriel said and sat down in a chair. It creaked a little under the weight of his armor. “You’re right, at least we have more than rumors to go on this time.”

Madeline sat down in the other chair and reached over, taking off his gauntlet. Then she grabbed his hand and squeezed. They sat together in silence for quite some time before Rik’Tensel knocked on the door and showed them to the armory.

“We don’t have much to choose from,” Rik’Tensel said as they looked over the weapons. “All are for ship defense. We have… for convenience sake a beam rifle, a small projectile machine gun, a projectile handgun, and a nonlethal, well almost nonlethal scattergun.”

“Almost?” Gabriel asked and picked up the shotgun.

“Yeah, shouldn’t kill anyone armored unless they’re not wearing a helmet and you aim there. But when fired in very close quarters it’s not as sure. And it’s unwieldy, quite heavy, and kicks hard.”

“Hmm.” Gabriel looked the gun over. It had a detachable magazine, an angled foregrip built into the barrel, and a foldable stock. “What does it shoot?”

“Quite heavy synthetic rounds that hits hard and sticks to the target, delivering electrical shocks for two seconds,” Rik’Tensel explained and showed Gabriel a round. Or maybe shell were more appropriate.

“I’ve never seen one before, well no, technically I have but that one shot metal pellets,” Gabriel said. He had been shot in the stomach with one after all.

“Not many use them, they were developed by us Igris and used to hunt a large animal with thick skin. Though with different ammunition. The kick, slower rate of fire, and weight mean that for more races, there are better alternatives.”

“Cool, I’ll take it, how many rounds?”

“15 in the magazine, I have three extra,” Rik’Tensel said and handed a belt over with the magazine attached. The shells were similar to that of a human shotgun with three rubber-looking rounds in the front.

“Don’t fix what isn’t broken,” Gabriel said. “We have similar weapons on earth.”

“I’m not surprised, everyone usually starts with combustion weapons and the other designs follow.”

Madeline walked up to the table and just picked a handgun, “Just in case, I don’t plan to use it,” she said.

“Hopefully none of us will have to use any weapons,” Rik’Tensel said and picked a submachine gun and a shotgun. “But in that case, would you mind grabbing restraining foam? I have a launcher around here somewhere.”

“And what’s that? Though I can more or less guess,” Gabriel asked.

“A canister that deploys a sticky foam that is used to quickly restrain combatants and the more rioters.”

“Yeah, I’ll take some,” Madeline said and got a shot launcher with a drum mag handed to her. Every round was about twice the size of Gabriel’s shotgun shells.

“Come,” Rik’Tensel said. “We should head for the cargo bay, we’re deploying there.”

“You two go ahead,” Madeline said. “I need to get something.”

The selected cargo bay had cargo nets set up as handholds and all ship security were here, holding on in preparation. While the flight was smooth, a quick stop wouldn’t be. Madeline appeared and handed Gabriel a backpack.

“Here, take this,” She said.

“What is it?” Gabriel asked as he put on the pack.

“Victoria’s clothes.”

“Good thinking.” They both took a spot close to the three Justicars on the right while the guards stood to the left.

“Alright! Listen up!” Senari shouted. “We will land shortly, Ambassador Walker, Miss Nioni, and our three Justicars will go off doing their own thing, we will secure the landing pad and then split up! One team led by me will move inside with the Justicars and then towards the front, the other team will use the outside stairs to head around and we’ll meet up after securing all exits!”

The guards nodded, Gabriel tried to locate Sen’Chakar but all had helmets on.

“Last chance for a bathroom break, or to grab another weapon,” Zura said where she stood, one arm tangled in the cargo net.

“I’m good,” Gabriel said.

“Alright, and when we get there, would you mind staying behind us?” She asked. “Just in case.”

“Of what?” Gabriel asked.

Zura shrugged, “Who knows, but whatever happens, losing the only human ambassador is going to look bad on us Justicars.”

Gabriel chuckled, “Politics huh?”

“Sure,” Zura said.

“I’ll try to stay back,” Gabriel said.

Several minutes followed where some checked their weapons, some took the opportunity for a pee break and some simply stood ready. And finally, an alarm began to sound. A voice said to prepare for disembarkment and hold on.

The ship slowed and Gabriel heard the engines increasing in power. They spun and although everyone held on, some were close to losing their grip. The large cargo door opened and Gabriel saw a landing pad. Not nearly large enough to land this ship but it was flat enough so they could hover.

“Go!” Senari shouted and the guards let go of the net and more or less slid down the ramp to the landing pad. Gabriel, Madeline, and the three Justicars were close behind. Like Senari had said, there was an external staircase that half of the squad headed for. The rest moved towards a door protruding out of the landing pad.

No guards were stationed up here and everyone got to the ground floor without any conflict. Unfortunately not much further though. Senari and her squad headed off towards the front and Gabriel heard some shouting and gunfire but then heard Senari’s voice giving the all-clear in his helmet.

“Let’s go, we have to find a floor plan,” Zura said as Nyria and Rik’Tensel headed off into the building.

The first patrol of guards they met was quickly neutralized with some well-placed stun rods and a shot from Rik’Tensel’s shotgun. Madeline then shot foam over each guard. It turned into a rubbery pink substance holding them in place. While it expanded as foam, the end result looked more like chewed bubblegum.

Straight, first left, first right, down a staircase and another set of guards later they found themselves in a large office of sorts with a few computers and large servers by the look of them.

“Cover me,” Zura said and began looking through the computers. Gabriel took the left side of the door and waited. “There is something here, this is a storage bank of… well many various things. Nothing illegal though. There should be somewhere to access the floor plans though here,” Zura said and typed away.

“Hello Justicars,” A female voice said over some hidden speakers. “I have to admit, you came here faster than I expected, we didn’t have much time to prepare a welcome party. But I have this!” The voice continued as a turret descended from the ceiling.

“Crap!” Zura said. Rik’Tensel ducked, Gabriel swung his shotgun towards it, but just before firing a glob of pink foam hit it. The turret beeped, tried swinging around, which pulled the sticky mess tighter around it. It let out a fizzing noise and tried going back into the ceiling, getting stuck halfway and shutting down.

Gabriel looked over at Madeline who stood frozen with her gun raised. “I hit it?”

“...Yes, you did,” Gabriel confirmed. “Good job.”

“Thanks?” She said.

“Nice shot,” Zura said. “Aha! got the floorplans.” Gabriel walked over, changing places with Rik’Tensel who took over the overwatch. “Let’s see, I would assume the upper part, meaning this floor and the smaller one we headed through is legit. You see this part,” Zura asked and pointed to a spot on the map. “Hidden staircase, which leads here,” she continued and pulled up another map, showing a floor with about ten offices, two breakrooms, and a large office at the end of a corridor.

“On each side, two offices each look down into an… a cell, or holding area,” Zura said. “The stairs at the middle lead down to the cell level.”

“Do we know which cell?” Gabriel asked.

“No,” Zura said. “No time to waste,” she said and stood up. “Let’s put an end to this.”