"We have to go back!" Sirvanna said.
"We can't go back," Benton said. "We have to head back to base and make a full report. Maybe the Colonel will let you go on a rescue mission afterwards."
"No point," Alexa said. "Face it, she's gone. They straight up murdered her and came after us."
"She's alive!" Sirvanna said. "We just have to save her."
"It's wishful thinking," Alexa said. "They aren't going to take the risk of her escaping or being rescued. Not during a war."
There was silence for a time.
"She's alive," Yuni said, softly. Everyone turned to look at her.
"How would you know?" Alexa asked.
"Because that Rose lady told her people to take us alive," Yuni said. "If they wanted us alive it wouldn't make sense to kill her."
"That's right!" Sirvanna cried. "She did say that."
*****
"She's been in there a while," Yuni observed.
"Maybe she's working hard to earn a promotion," Katelyn said.
"Don't be crude," Alexa said. "They're obviously arguing."
"Why would they be arguing over a report?" Yuni asked. Alena's hand came to rest on her shoulder and she looked over at Alena who shook her head.
"Not the report," Alena said. "Ines."
"Please let me rescue her," Katelyn said, doing her best Sirvanna impersonation. "I'll do your taxes. I'll divide by zero. I'll even learn to cook."
The four heard a door slam and Sirvanna strode out.
"When do we leave?" Yuni asked.
Sirvanna looked over at her. "We don't," she said. "There will be no rescue mission. We're giving her up for lost."
"No way," Yuni said. "But that's too cruel!" Tears fell from her eyes. "It's just too cruel."
"We're to standby for further orders," Sirvanna said. "Return to your rooms for the moment."
She strode away, lost in thought. She didn't even hear anyone behind her until "So, you're giving up?" a familiar voice asked.
She turned around to see Alexa walking behind her. "We have our orders," Sirvanna said.
"Oh right, I forgot," Alexa said. "Orders are everything." She got right in Sirvanna's face. "We're such a lucky squadron to have a leader like you. Anyone else might have succumbed to their humanity and done something unthinkable like disobeying orders. How fortunate for us that we don't ever have to worry about you doing anything so unexpected." She turned away from Sirvanna and walked off in the opposite direction.
*****
"Stop crying," Alena said.
"I'm sorry," Yuni sobbed. "I can't help it." She loudly blew her nose. "It hurts when you lose someone, you know?"
"I don't," Alena said.
"You don't feel sad?" Yuni asked, still sobbing.
"N... Well..." Alena looked over at Yuni. "Seeing you cry makes me feel sad. So, please, stop crying." She gently wiped Yuni's eyes with a fresh handkerchief.
*****
"Where's Fury?" Trask asked.
"Maybe she went to powder her nose," Katelyn suggested.
"Benton," Trask called. "Find Fury and bring her here." Benton saluted and moved to comply. "As for the rest of you," Trask said. "I called you over here for a specific purpose."
"We're all getting a vacation and free ponies?" Katelyn asked.
"Not even close," Trask said. "With the unfortunate loss of Undine we're going to have to recruit a new plaguer into the squad. I've brought some dossiers for you to look at. I'd like you to pick three suitable candidates."
"Too soon," Alexa said. "Ask later."
"It may be short notice," Trask said. "But remember that Undine sacrificed herself for this country. The best way to honour her memory is to press on."
"Colonel Trask!" Benton's distraught voice came in over the radio.
"What is it, Benton?" Trask asked.
"I just found nearly three dozen soldiers suffering from severe electric shocks, Sir," Benton said. "And the new stealth jet is missing."
"Well, well," Alexa said. "I guess she is human after all."
"Should we activate Fury's implant, Colonel?" Benton asked.
"No," Trask said, after a long pause. "We'll let her go. If she succeeds we can take credit for the operation. If she gets herself killed we can report that she went off on her own. Either way she's sure to cause a lot of damage."