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“Have we shut those bitches up yet?” Ashford snapped

“The suppression tea at the colonial administrative offices, sir,” Jojo said And then, aso?” he asked

“Sir?” one of the other guards said

“Are the co systems online?”

“Um Yes They’re responsive”

“Well, while they mop up downstairs, let’s line up our shot, shall we?”

“Yes, sir”

Clarissa kept hold of a handle on the wall absently, watching the captain and hisIt was hard for her to re was, and how vast the distances they’d traveled to be here She had to admire the precision and care that they would need to destroy it The beauty of it was alical Behind her, the security station popped and clicked A the alerts, she heard the murmur of a familiar voice, lifted in fear She looked around No one was paying any attention to her, so she pushed herself gently back

The security station monitor was still on the newsfeed Monica Stuart looked ashen under her makeup, her jaw set and her lips thin Anna, beside her, was squeezing the tip of one thumb over and over anxiously Anotherwe can to cooperate,” the earnestinto the camera

“Thank you, Lieutenant Willia note to all this, but I’ve just been informed that armed men have arrive outside the studio and we are apparently under attack at the ht was probably newsfeed anchor code for, Ohto die on the air Anna’s voice came in a moment before the cameras cut to her

“This is an extre like this is probably going on in every ship that’s listening to us right now We’re at the point where we, as a co and trau to do would be And—”

In the background, the un throwers interrupted Anna for a moment Her face paled, but she only cleared her throat and went on

“And violence is a response to that fear I hope very o down talking,” Cortez said Clarissa hadn’t heard hi “I have a tre”

“I think her optimism is misplaced,” Cortez said

“—if we do escalate our attacks on the station and the Ring,” Anna said, “we have to expect that the cycle will go on, getting bigger and erous until one side or the other is destroyed, and I wish—”

“What do you think she’d say about your pessimism?” Clarissa asked