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lit
this world was either dim or fading for the evening.
    The
team wore surface breathers over their faces.
    “Are
we restricted to this?” Cilreth asked, holding up a stunner.
    “No.
Outfit yourself from the ship,” Relachik said. “We’re making an approach right
before dark, so there’s a bit of time. This planet rotates slowly.”
    Cilreth
nodded. Her appearance changed instantly as she donned a military skinsuit for
the simulation. Arlin added to his inventory as well. One of the sword tubes
appeared at his belt.
    “Should
come in handy getting in,” he said. “It can cut right through most locks.”
    Relachik
nodded. “Ready then? You’ll see the target on our maps now. To the north.”
    “Got
it,” Cilreth said. She cast a glance around the forest.
    She’s
alert. That’s good. I’ll have to take a bit more time and add outside threats
as well, to encourage that. And Arlin is thinking ahead, too, bringing the
sword to cut in.
    They
moved out. The alien forest floor was strangely clean, devoid of anything that
resembled dead leaves. Strange tracks of glistening goo crisscrossed the scene,
as if the debris had been cleared by giant slugs. Whatever had done it didn’t
appear to the newcomers.
    The
target structure came into view. It was a primitive-looking two-story dwelling,
made of local materials. The huge hulks of cut trees were visible in its walls.
The roof was covered in rough ceramic tiles. What few windows it had emitted
bright white light into the forest around it.
    “Wow,
this place is really out there,” Cilreth said over their link channel.
    “Yes,
very isolated. We have to get in suddenly and hit them. The grenades won’t
work, the house isn’t airtight and they’ll have breathers on in there.”
    “I
can get us through that door,” Arlin said.
    “Let’s
see if there’s a side door or a back door,” Cilreth said.
    “Out
here, does it really matter? There is not real front.”
    “But
there’s a deck. Psychologically, this is the front. Tradition dictates it would
open into a wider common area than the back door.”
    “We
don’t know the local traditions, but I see a sensor module there, just above the
entrance,” Arlin said. Relachik couldn’t see anything. He looked over and
noticed Arlin had a scope goggle on.
    “Cilreth,
do you know how to disable security systems?” Relachik asked.
    “No.
But I can look into it for next time,” she said.
    “You’ll
have time to learn the basics, most likely. But we’ll have to work around not
having an expert in that area.”
    The
team slipped around the cleared perimeter of the homestead until a side door
became visible. It didn’t have an obvious sensor module, but that didn’t mean
there weren’t others out of sight.
    “That
looks good,” Relachik said. “If there were one more of us, I’d say we should
break in at two places simultaneously. But with only three of us, it’s a close
call. Arlin and I will go in that door. Cilreth, see that window? It may open
into the room we’ll hit first. You can go up there and check if it’s empty or
not, and cover us once we’re in.”
    “Okay,”
she agreed.
    Arlin
grasped the sword tube at his belt and prepared to draw the blade out.
    They
took their positions beside the house.
    Cilreth
reported immediately. “There’s a woman in there. But it’s not Telisa.”
    “Does
she have armor? Weapons? Do you have a shot?” Relachik asked.
    “No
armor. She has a stunner, like me. I think I can hit her if I break the window.
But how strong is it?”
    “Probably
very strong,” Arlin said. “No one out this far would take any chances.”
    “I
agree. Just tell us when she’s facing away from the door.”
    “She’s
not looking in that direction,” Cilreth said.
    “Okay,
go.”
    Arlin
drew his sword and sliced it across the locking mechanism. The sword sliced
completely through the lock and a large bit of the door. Arlin kicked it in. He
tossed the sword aside while Relachik