ADRASTEA TOWER, PLATE 1C, AKATSUKI CLUSTER

July 15, 2092 - 9:12 A.M.

Xander met Farrah’s concerned glance with a shrug, as the latter handed Lira a tablet.

“How many men can we still spare?”, Lira asked as she scrolled through the screen. She was sitting behind a simple white desk on the fifteenth floor of the Colony’s main government building. Behind her was a large window wall through which the Venusian sunshine poured in sulfuric yellow streams. Outside the window, the green-and-yellow colors of the Veneran flag flew from a horizontal pole fixed just under the sixteenth floor.

“That depends on the task. What do you have in mind?” Farrah responded.

“I want to be able to intercept everything that goes in and out of these VLF strongholds. Every single one of them. I want to know what they’re doing, and what they’re up to. I browsed through the files Karl gave us, and there’s been a whole lot of noise lately. There’s a grand plan in there somewhere, and I want to know what it is.”

“Sorry, who’s Karl?”, Farrah asked with an eyebrow raised.

“Our sponsor,” Lira answered as she sat back with a sigh. “Our former sponsor.”

“Most of those VLF locations are in factories, and we have people in each one,” Xander chimed in. “I don’t think it will be easy, but it can be done. Give me until the end of the week.”

“Okay then, thanks.” Lira absentmindedly scrolled through the tablet for a few seconds. Her eyes were distant, and appeared sunken under the harsh light.

Farrah threw Xander another glance before speaking up. “Uhm, Lira… would you like to take the day off? Everything’s on track for now, and there’s nothing that needs to be done that the two of —”

“No can do,” Lira interrupted. “It’s a jam-packed day… unless either of you can help solve those precision issues and power line faults we’ve been having in Vega.”

“Well, at least go take an afternoon nap or something!”, Xander pleaded.

“It’s barely ten.”

“You know what I mean,” he groaned.

In response, Lira sighed again. “I know you two mean well, but really, I’m okay. There’s just a lot happening lately, and you know I can’t rest until we’ve untangled all these knots. Besides, why don’t you take a break? You’re the ones who tangled with death just last night.”

“Well… ugh, Farrah, wanna go see a movie or something?”

“Hmm… Maybe, but not with you,” Farrah mused.

A small smile slipped through Lira’s lips. She then lifted up both arms to stretch, breathing in the cool, filtered air of the room.

This office used to be that of the Veneran Governor, the highest elected position in the old colony government. That government had fallen apart years ago, choked by a lack of resources and the rise of a nationalist terror group, calling themselves the “Veneran Liberation Front”. Publicly, the VLF seeks to have Venera recognized as a state by Earth nations — a distinction that had long been denied due to “technicalities”. Internally, its leadership had always set its eyes on the takeover of the Veneran government.

Just as the government was crumbling and the VLF was rising to power, Earth’s military forces “visited” Venera for a “peacekeeping mission”. The anarchy and disillusionment in the wake of this “War Train” period sparked what would go down as the single deadliest terrorist act in all of history — the Miss Universe Massacre of 2091.

Lira touched the choker on her neck. Backlash following the event caused the VLF to lose face, but its followers remained many and loyal. The group had since fashioned itself into a shadow government, retaining enough power to remain a key player in the upcoming conflict.

As their destruction loomed, the colony realized it needed a figurehead, someone under whose banner both VLF haters and supporters can rally under. Someone people could trust enough to bet their lives on. A Joan of Arc.

More than half a year ago, the entire colony watched as the beautiful Venaria Fari sounded the drums of war. To many, she was a victim. To some, she was a martyr. But everyone believed that she was a symbol for something. And they all agreed that her twin sister should be fit to carry her torch… whatever that meant.

Still, Lira wanted to be far more than a token leader.

“Say, Xander, can you lend me the shuttle for the day?”

“Sure. Where d’you want me to drop you off?”

“Just the shuttle. I’d like to drive around by myself, maybe relieve some stress.”

“Uhh… okay, I guess. Just make sure the GPS beacon is active, okay?”

I wonder if Joan had friends like these two, Lira thought as she copied the shuttle’s key code from Xander’s comms bracelet. I know Vira didn’t.

11:25 A.M.

Everett Callahan sat at the head of a long wooden table. The room was as bright as daylight, but the white LEDs bouncing off the plain gray walls gave off the air of a prison cell.

“I was wondering how long it would take you to find this little basement, Field Marshal,” Callahan said with a sneer. “It turns out, not long. Not that I should be happy about it, but I admit I’m impressed.”

“That was a classic move, setting up next door to the enemy. I’d bet I can see my office from the roof deck of this building.” Lira entered the room, escorted by a rust-clad soldier.

“Enemies, really? After all this time?”, Callahan jested. “Anyway… how did you know?”

“A friend told me,” Lira shrugged as she chose a chair farthest from the VLF leader.

“That sponsor from Earth?”

“Ah, so you know about him. Not that he made it easy, though. He gave us raw data, but I still had to dig around. Still, it was just a matter of time before I figured out where the VLF chatter was densest, and where the lines of communication intersected.”

Callahan let out a small laugh. “So I guess we have to make some adjustments. But I’m sure you didn’t drop in just for this?”

“Of course not. Actually, I was hoping that since you know so much… you might happen to know something about the assassination of one Donato Alvez and his young wife.”

“Assassination?” Callahan’s voice dropped, and his brow furrowed.

Well at least he’s got the acting part down pat, Lira said as she took out a tablet from her coat’s breast pocket. She unlocked it and slid it across the table to Callahan. On its screen was a collage of crime scene images from Room 4A.

“What are these?”

“Pictures from last night,” Lira answered. “The sixty-sixth and sixty-seventh unexplained casualties in just over half a year.”

“Sixty-seven? That figure sounds a little… exaggerated,” Callahan said as he slid the tablet back to Lira.

”Oh, really? Well, what would be a realistic number?”

Callahan smirked. “Isn’t it your job to find out?”

“And this is me doing that job. Now, tell me,” Lira stood up and slammed her palm on the table, just as she had rehearsed in her head. “What do you know about these deaths?” Lira’s voice was icy cold.

“Nothing at all.” Callahan replied nonchalantly as he stood up and headed for the door. “So I’m afraid you wasted your time coming here. Should I see you out?”

“What are you hiding, Callahan?”, Lira’s fists clenched involuntarily. “Two of my people — my friends — were almost attacked in there last night,” she jabbed a finger at the tablet screen. “What are you playing at? How is killing civilians helping you?” I should really just leave the tough guy parts to Farrah, Lira thought as she felt a tremble creeping into her voice.

Callahan glared at Lira as he stopped in his tracks. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, and it seems neither do you. Please. Both our time could be spent in more productive ways.” He then gestured towards the door.

Dammit, Lira thought as her jaw clenched. She had hoped her sudden entrance in the VLF headquarters would shake Callahan long enough for her to catch him off-guard. So much for shock and awe.

Well, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to go all-in.

“Have you sold us out?”

“What?” Callahan’s eyes narrowed. For a moment, Lira thought his normally bulky body took up even more space in the room.

“Have you sold us out for Earth? Is that why civilians keep disappearing or dying? Are you silencing those who stumbled into your secret?”

The VLF general strode towards Lira. A heavy thud echoed through the room with each step, and it was all Lira could do to not take a step back herself.

“Do you really think I would do something so shallow?” Callahan growled, a mad glint in his eyes. “You underestimate me, woman. For your own good, I advise you to watch your mouth and keep your nose out of things that don’t concern you.”

“These things do concern me. I am the Field Marshal of the Veneran Colony.”

“You really believe that title?”

“I don’t need to. The people do.”

“They’re desperate, of course they’d believe anything! Anyone facing death would believe anything!” Callahan’s voice rose to a roar.

“Or they’d drop everything and betray their long-held beliefs,” Despite her efforts, a slight shudder made its way into Lira’s voice. “Which one are you, Callahan?”

“What do you think would I —”

A shrill electronic ring suddenly pierced the air, interrupting the General. At the same time, Lira’s bracelet flashed a solid bright red. It was the government’s emergency line.

A second later, the deafening sound of an air-raid siren blared through the entire building.

Lira froze for a second before shaking her wrist to take the call.

“Lira!” Xander’s voice fought through thunderous metallic crashes in the background. “Vega! We’re under attack! Drivers!”

A shock ran through Lira’s body. “What — ?”

Then, her eyes found Callahan already at the door. “You heard the man, we’re under attack! Move! Now!’