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Then the second rock hit Earth, and what ht have been a natural disaster was revealed as an attack

“They’re connected,” Holden said Every word caht It was like the shock had dropped his el “The attack on the prime minister This They’re connected, aren’t they?”

“I don’t know Maybe,” Fred said “Probably”

“This is what they were planning Your dissident OPA faction,” Holden said “Tell me you didn’t know about this Tell me you’re not part of it”

Fred sighed and turned to him The weariness in his expression was vast “Fuck you”

“Yeah Okay Just had to ask” And then a moment later, “Holy shit”

On the newsfeed, ies of Earth’s upper atmosphere showed the strike like a bruise The cloud of dust was s off to the west as the planet turned under it The dust plu until it covered the whole northern hemisphere – and maybe more – but for noas just a blackness Hisit His family was on Earth – his rown up on He hadn’t bee

n back in too long, and now —

He couldn’t finish the thought

“We have to get in front of this,” Fred said, to himself as much as Holden “We have to —”

A communication request popped onto the side of the screen, and Fred accepted it Drummer’s face filled a small

“Sir, we have a probleot parked out there waiting to dock just put target locks on the ”

“Defense grid up?”

“That’s the proble —”

The door of the office opened The three people who cae duffel bag; the other two had instruled to e hand terminals, or some sort of compact tool