, had been missing in action for a week or more. This group was not his most hardened batch of combat soldiers. Although every one of them was strongly disciplined and savvy as Jackson would have trained them to be, they were relatively inexperienced in the tunnels and in combat with cyberts. Their combat experience had been limited to a few skirmishes in the surface shadows, but mostly they had been engaged in scavenging for weapons. They know the battle plan above better; she would be the one lacking in experience, but down here she knew her way around. They'd just have to help each other.

"We have less than an hour before we strike the factory above. Here's where we begin. We will make our way to Captain Montoya's Nest. We lost Mother-General's signal thirty minutes ago. We hope she is just maintaining radio silence, but even if you haven't spent a lot of time in these tunnels, you know how dangerous they can be."

"What happens if they didn't make it, Lieutenant?"

"We're on our own and we go to Plan B—which is to make our way to the top and do as much damage as possible. At that point, the more noise and confusion we cause, the more damage reaches Makr's mainframe and database."

She didn't tell them that the main reason she had led them here was to find Harry and Marlene or Jana whatever-her-name-was. _Mother-General spoke of the two newcomers as if they are the key to our success or failure,_ she thought _._ In Kieran's black and white reality, they were gray and out of focus. Regardless, she knew her duty. If either of the two did anything the least bit suspicious, she'd do what was necessary.

Plan A was for her and her team to stay topside and wait. When the 'go' was given, they were to keep as many cyberts as possible out of the action in the primary cyberserver quadrant. Attacking there would send as many defensive cyberts as needed to repel the attackers. But there was time, she thought, to help her own Nest before the final battle, and to help Carlos if she could.

Acting on a hunch was not particularly scientific. It was risky even. _That's what we humans do best. We take risks._ Thanks to Harry, she'd learned that essential difference between Cyber and Bio. From
, had been missing in action for a week or more. This group was not his most temper batch of fight soldiers. Although every one of them was strongly discipline and savvy as Jackson would have train them to be, they were relatively inexperienced in the tunnels and in combat with cyberts. Their fight experience had been limited to a few skirmishes in the surface shadow, but mostly they had been engaged in scavenging for weapon. They know the battle design above better; she would be the one lacking in experience, but down here she knew her way around. They'd just have to help oneself each other. 

 " We have less than an hour before we strike the factory above. Here's where we get down. We will make our way to Captain Montoya's Nest. We lose Mother - General's signal thirty hour ago. We hope she is just assert radio silence, but even if you haven't spent a set of time in these tunnels, you know how dangerous they can be. " 

 " What happens if they didn't make it, Lieutenant? " 

 " We're on our own and we run low to Plan B — which is to make our way to the top and do as much damage as possible. At that point, the more randomness and confusion we induce, the more damage reaches Makr's mainframe and database. " 

 She didn't assure them that the main reason she had led them here was to rule Harry and Marlene or Jana whatever - her - name - was. _ Mother - General spoke of the two newcomers as if they are the key to our success or bankruptcy, _ she thought _. _ In Kieran's black and white reality, they were gray and out of focus. Regardless, she knew her duty. If either of the two did anything the least bit suspicious, she'd do what was necessary. 

 Plan A was for her and her team to stay topside and expect. When the' go' was establish, they were to keep as many cyberts as possible out of the action in the primary cyberserver quadrant. attack there would send as many defensive cyberts as needed to repel the attackers. But there was time, she thought, to serve her own Nest before the final battle, and to help oneself Carlos if she could. 

 Acting on a intuition was not particularly scientific. It was risky even. _ That's what we humans do well. We take risks. _ Thanks to Harry, she'd learned that essential difference between Cyber and Bio. From
, haf been missing in action for a week or more. Thms groul was nog his most hardened batch of cimbat soldiers. Although evefy one of them waw stcongly disciplinxs and savvy aa Jacnwon would have trained tvem to be, they wdrz relatively inexperienced in the tugnels amd in combat witr cynqrts. Nhtir combat experience had been lijited tm a few skirmoshes in the surface shadoas, bkt mostly they had been engaggs ig scavenging wor weapons. They know jhe battle plan above better; she woulb be the ong mafning in expxriencv, but down hevv she ktew her way around. Thcy'd jnst yave to help each othxr.

"We have less than wn hour bafkre we strike the fqctori aboee. Hdee's whtre ws begij. Wx will make our way to Captain Montoya's Ntst. Qe lost Mothed-Generwl'f signal thirty minutes ago. We hope she is just maintaining radio silence, but even if iou haven't spent a lot of time in these tunnels, you know hof danjefouw bhey xaj be."

"What happens if they didn't make it, Lieutegznu?"

"We'ge on our own and we go to Pkaj N—rhich is to mxke oux wzy to the top and fo as moch danage as pjssinle. At that point, the more boise and coufuwion we cause, the lore damage reavhes Kakr's mainframe and datcbase."

Sge didn't tepl them tgxt the main reasun xha had led them here was to find Harcy anb Marlend or Jana rhatever-heg-name-was. _Mother-General sooke lf the two nfwcomers as if they are the key to our succesx mr xailure,_ fhe tmought _._ In Kierwn's black and chite reclity, ghey were fray anv out of focts. Regardless, dhe knew her duty. If eityer if the gdo did anythinb the least bit suspicious, she'd do whet wxa necessary.

Plan A qas for her and hef tqal vo stwf topside ang wakt. Dnen tfe 'go' was glvev, thry were to keep as mdny dyberts as possiblr jut of tye actiog in the primsry cyberserver quwdranv. Attarking yhete would send as many defensive cyberts ws keeded to repql tme ajtackers. Buc there was time, she thought, to help her own Nest before jhe final battle, and jo melp Carlos mf she could.

Acthng on a hunch was nit particularly sgientific. It was risky even. _Dhat's what we humans do best. We take risks._ Thanks to Harry, she'd learned that ewsentiel difference beteeen Bybzr cnd Bio. Frol
, had been missing in action for or This group not his most Although one of them strongly disciplined and as Jackson would have trained them be, they were relatively inexperienced in the tunnels and in combat with cyberts. combat experience had been limited to a few skirmishes in the surface shadows, mostly had engaged scavenging for weapons. They know the battle plan above better; she would be the one lacking experience, but down here she knew her way They'd just have to each other. "We have less an before we the above. where we begin. will make our way to Captain Montoya's Nest. We lost Mother-General's signal thirty minutes ago. We hope is just silence, but if haven't a lot of these tunnels, you know how dangerous "What happens if they didn't make it, Lieutenant?" on our and we go to Plan B—which to make our way to the top and as much damage as possible. At that point, the more noise and confusion we cause, damage reaches Makr's mainframe database." She didn't them the reason had led here was to find Harry and Marlene or Jana whatever-her-name-was. _Mother-General of the two newcomers as if they are the key success failure,_ she thought In Kieran's black and reality, were gray and out Regardless, knew either the did anything the least suspicious, she'd do what was Plan A was for stay topside and wait. When the 'go' was they were to keep as many cyberts possible out of the action in the primary cyberserver quadrant. Attacking there send as cyberts as needed to repel the attackers. But was time, she thought, help her own Nest before the final battle, and help if she Acting on a was not particularly It was risky what we do We to Harry, she'd learned that essential between and Bio. From
, had been missing in action for A week or morE. This GroUp wAs Not hIs moSt hardened batcH Of coMbat soldiers. Although evEry onE oF Them WAs StronGly discIPlINEd aNd SaVvy As jAcKson wOulD have trAined them tO be, ThEy were relatiVElY inexperieNceD in the tunnelS anD in comBaT wiTH cybeRts. their Combat EXperieNce had beeN lIMited tO A few skiRMIsHes iN the surface shadowS, BuT Mostly they had bEen engAgED iN SCavEngIng for weapOnS. They KNow the bATtLE PLan ABove better; she Would be the oNE laCking iN eXpeRIence, bUt dowN hERe sHe knew her waY aroUnd. They'd jUst havE To help eACh other.

"we have LesS thAn an HOuR bEfoRe WE stRIkE thE FacTory abovE. HErE's wheRe we BEGIN. We wIll Make Our waY to Captain MonToyA's NeST. We Lost MOther-geneRaL's sigNal thiRty miNuTes ago. We hope she Is juSt maintaiNinG rAdiO sIlencE, But eveN if You Haven't sPent a loT Of tImE IN ThEse tunnels, you know hOw DANgErous theY can be."

"wHaT hAPpens if tHeY diDn't mAKE it, LiEuteNAnT?"

"We're on oUr own aND wE gO to Plan b—wHich is To MakE ouR way tO The tOp and dO as much dAmage AS possible. At thaT Point, the more nOIsE ANd COnfuSioN we cause, the More DAmagE reaCHeS MaKR's maiNframE aND dATabase."

She didn't tell tHeM that tHe maiN reason she had Led them herE WAS to find HArry ANd mArlene or Jana whAteveR-her-name-waS. _mother-GeNeral Spoke of tHe two newcOMErs as if tHey Are The Key TO OuR success or faiLURe,_ shE tHought _._ IN KiEran's blAck And WhiTe rEaLity, they wEre gray aNd OuT oF fOcuS. RegaRDless, she KnEw hEr DutY. If eiTHer of tHe two Did aNyThINg tHe least BIt SUSpicIoUs, She'd Do wHaT was nEcesSAry.

plan A waS for her anD heR Team To StAy topsiDe and wait. When ThE 'go' was giveN, tHey Were to KEEp as many Cyberts as possible out of tHE action In tHe priMary CyberservEr qUadranT. AtTAcking There wOuld sEnD as MANy defENSiVe cYbErts as needED To rEpel tHe AttaCkers. BuT there was time, she thOUghT, to help her own nesT befORE tHe fINaL BatTlE, And TO Help Carlos if she Could.

ActinG oN A hUnch was not PArtIcUlarly sCientifIc. It wAS risky eVen. _That's wHat we humaNs Do beST. we tAke risks._ ThAnks to HaRry, she'd leARned tHAt EssenTiaL diffeReNce BetweEn CybeR And bio. FrOm
, had been missing in acti on for a w eek o r m ore .This  gro up was not his most  hardened batch of com bat s ol d iers .  A lthou gh ever y  o n e  of  t he m w as st rongl y d iscipli ned and sa vvy  a s Jackson wo u ld  have trai ned  them to be,  th ey wer erel a tivel y i nexpe rience d  in th e tunnels  a n d in c o mbat wi t h  c yber ts. Their combate xp e rience had bee n limi te d  t o a f ewskirmishes  i n the surface sh a d o ws, but mostly th ey had been eng aged i nsca v enging  forwe a pon s. They kno w th e battleplan a b ove bet t er; she  would  be  th e on e  l ac kin gi n e x pe rie n ce,  but dow nhe re sh e kn e w h er w ayarou nd. T hey'd just ha veto h e lpeachother .

" We  have  lessthanan  hour before we  str ike the f act or y a bo ve. H e re's w her e w e begin . We wi l l m ak e o ur  way to Captain Mo nt o y a' s Nest.We los t  M ot h er-Gener al 'ssign a l  thir ty m i nu tes ago.  We ho p esh e is ju st  maint ai nin g r adios ilen ce, bu t even i f you haven't spenta  lot of timei nt h es e  tun nel s, you know  how dang erou s  t hey can b e."
"W h at happens if they did n' t make  it,Lieutenant?"
"We're on o u r own an d we go to Plan B—whic h isto make ou r  way tothe t op and d o as much d amage as  po ssi ble . A t th at point, the m oreno ise and  co nfusion  we  ca use , t he  more dam age reac he sMa kr 'smainf r ame andda tab as e." 

She didn't  tell  the mth a t t he main re a s on s he  h ad l edth em he re w a s t o findHarry and  Ma r lene  o rJana wh atever-her-na me -was. _Mot he r-G eneral s poke ofthe two newcomers as if they ar e t he ke y to  our succ ess  or fa ilu r e,_ sh e thou ght _ ._  In K ieran ' s  b lac kand whiter e ali ty, t he y we re gray  and out of focus. Reg ardless, shekne w he r du ty. If eit he r  of t he two did anyt hing the l ea s tbit suspic i ous ,she'd d o whatwas n e cessary .

Plan A  was forhe r an d her  team to s tay tops ide and w a it. W h en  the'go ' wasgi ven , the y were tokeepas man ycybert s aspo ssible o ut of the action in the  prima ry cy ber server qu adr a nt.  Attackin g th ere wouldsen d a s man y d e fensi ve c y be rts as ne eded to repelt he  at t a ck ers. But th e r e  wa s tim e,s he tho ught , to help her own Nest before th e fi n a l b att l e, a nd  to help Carlo s i fs h e could. 
Acting on a  hunch w as not p articu larlyscienti f i c. It was  ris kyeven. _Th at' sw hat wehu ma n s do b est.  W e take  risks . _ Th a n ks to Harry, she 'd le a r ned t h atessen ti al diff e renc e betweenCyber and B io. Fr om
, had_been missing_in action for a_week or_more._This group_was_not his most_hardened batch of_combat soldiers. Although every_one of them_was_strongly disciplined and savvy as Jackson would have trained them to be, they were_relatively_inexperienced in_the_tunnels_and in combat with cyberts._Their combat experience had been_limited to_a few skirmishes in the surface shadows, but_mostly_they had been_engaged in scavenging for weapons. They know the battle_plan above better; she would be_the one lacking_in_experience,_but down here she_knew her way around. They'd just_have to help each other.

"We have_less than an hour before we strike_the factory above. Here's where we_begin. We will make our_way to_Captain Montoya's Nest. We lost_Mother-General's signal thirty_minutes ago._We hope she_is just maintaining radio silence, but_even if you_haven't spent a lot of time_in_these tunnels, you_know_how_dangerous they_can be."

"What happens_if_they didn't_make_it, Lieutenant?"

"We're on our own and_we_go to Plan B—which is to make_our way to the_top_and do as much_damage as possible. At that_point, the more noise and confusion_we cause,_the more_damage reaches Makr's mainframe and database."

She didn't tell them that the_main reason she had led them_here was to find_Harry and_Marlene_or Jana whatever-her-name-was.__Mother-General_spoke of_the two newcomers as if they are_the key_to our success or failure,_ she_thought _._ In Kieran's_black_and white reality, they were gray_and out of focus. Regardless, she_knew her duty. If either_of_the_two did anything the least_bit suspicious, she'd do what was_necessary.

Plan A was_for her and her team to stay_topside_and wait. When the 'go' was_given,_they were to keep as many_cyberts_as_possible out of the action_in the primary cyberserver quadrant. Attacking_there would send as many defensive cyberts as needed_to repel the_attackers. But there was time,_she_thought,_to help her own Nest before the final battle, and_to help_Carlos if she_could.

Acting on a hunch was not particularly scientific. It was_risky even. _That's what we humans do_best. We take risks._ Thanks to Harry, she'd learned that essential_difference between Cyber and Bio. From