[Lauchenoiria]

Ginsap Prison, near Lorentonia

Josephine Alvarez lay in her cell, breathing deliberately slowly though her heart was still beating too fast. She was waiting for the signal. What if it doesn't come? She thought, then quickly tried to banish it from her head. It lingered there, insistently. She had been here for over a month, far too long. She shuddered at the knowledge that in some places, people had been imprisoned for far longer when no crime had been committed. This last month had felt like a lifetime. The thought of spending an actual lifetime in this place...

In a different cell, Kathy Thomson imagined what she'd do once this was over. This wasn't her first time in prison for reporting the facts. As a young reporter, she had been in Kerlile, reporting on the aftermath of their civil war. It had been during the time when the government there had been starting to show leniency on fact sharing. Of course, they'd clamped down again without warning. They released all the foreigners after a week, but the Kerlian citizens were still there. As far as she knew.

Olivia Quirós lay on the bunk above Thomson. She was impatient. So impatient. She would have done anything to get out of here, but all she could do for the moment was wait. And wait, and wait...

Suddenly, they heard an explosion and all three women jumped up.

Outside Ginsap Prison

"Are we all ready?" Sonja addressed the gathered forces. They nodded. She gave the signal. BOOM.

Sonja coughed. "I said a little explosion!" The man in charge of blowing the outer door off it's hinges shrugged. They pressed forwards. They encountered some resistance, but the guards were slow. Evidently the poison was working, thank you Laeral. They were through the outer sections and into the main building quickly.

They went from block to block, scanning the sleeping prisoners for those they sought.

"SONJA!" yelled a voice, and Josephine came running to the cell door. Sonja rushed to open it with the key they'd swiped off an unconscious guard. As soon as the door was open, Josephine embraced Sonja.

"Um, perhaps we should..." interrupted one of the others. Sonja pulled away.

"Yes, um, do you know where the other political prisoners are?" she asked Josephine, who nodded. "Lead the way."

Josephine led them down the row of cells, as they freed those on their list, including Kathy and Olivia, who sighed with relief in such an exaggerated manner, Sonja was quite bewildered. They began to make their way out of the prison, quickly.

"Oi! You're not just leaving me here," came Rayna's voice from a cell as they passed. Sonja looked at Josephine, who nodded.

"Are you sure?" Sonja muttered quietly.

"She helped me, and she can help you, if what I've heard about a civil war is true."

"You don't know the half of it. The state of this country at the minute is giving me childhood flashbacks," shuddered Sonja, but she unlocked Rayna's cell.

The group headed out of the prison, shooting at any remaining guards that got in their way. They headed for the Fleurian Forest; from there they would make their way to the coast and evacuate the prisoners. At least, those that wanted to leave.

"Like hell!" exclaimed Josephine when told of the evacuation plan. "I am not leaving you, we will fight and we will win."

"I don't suppose I have a choice?" Rayna added.

"No, you do not... Josie, are you sure?" Sonja asked. Josephine nodded.

"I'm staying too," said Olivia. The entire group of freed prisoners turned to stare at her in shock and surprise.

"All right, then. Those of you who are staying, with me. The rest, go with the Laeralites," Sonja walked over to create a gap. Josephine, Olivia and Rayna joined her, while the rest remained with the evacuation group. Josephine took a hold of Sonja's hand and squeezed.

Fleurian Forest, further north

Laura Moore sat in silence with Peter, waiting for Sonja to return. The reality of what had happened a few nights ago had hit her earlier, and she had only just stopped shaking. Some nearby trees rustled and Moore sat upright. Too soon.

One of Sonja's messengers emerged from the trees and Moore exhaled.

"Is Sonja here?" asked the youth. Moore shook her head.

"Give me the message," she requested. He handed her a note, and then quickly left.

"What is it?" asked Peter as Moore read the note.

"Someone's blown up the MCPD building. Chaher's blaming us."

"Was it us?"

"Not as far as I know. But chances are, whatever happens next in Melissa City will be. If I know them, they'll try something now."

"Can we win in Melissa?"

"Not without help. It's the most populated province, and a lot of communists. Half of them still believe Chaher's one of them. Fools. He arrested a bunch of big businessmen, sure... but only those he couldn't control. Chaher wants what's best for Chaher. Nothing else comes into it. He'll betray the communists as quickly as, well, as quickly as he betrayed me."

"What if the communists knew that?"

"If they'd known that before, we could have avoided this war. It's too late for that. But if they were to see Chaher's true colours... that could turn the tables against him."

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Liaville, Aeluria

"Welcome to Aeluria," said Keitha Noguera, "we are very happy to have you here." Anael stood by the staircase, looking distinctly less happy.

She spoke with the man, Igor, the rest of his group hovering behind him silently. She figured they didn't speak English. She barely used the language herself, though she was still fluent. One of the other men in the group said something to Igor in a language she didn't understand, then Igor turned back to her.

"We would like your assurance you do not plan to attack our ships," he spoke slowly, pronouncing each word separately.

"I give you it. We won't attack you," she promised. Not like we have the capability to, anyway. "Just beware of Chaher's forces. He still has a line of ships between us and the mainland. He seems more concerned at the moment with stopping people leaving Carville than with us, but that could change."

The group conferred again in their language, then Igor nodded to her.

Once the Kivasekians had left, she walked over to Anael.

"Cheer up, it's not forever."

He turned away from her, without speaking. She was worried about him.

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Buttercity

"Our informant on Aeluria says that a Kivasekian volunteer force has arrived there," Clarke said to Chaher.

"I guess we can't keep ignoring them forever. But before we can handle Aeluria, we need to deal with Usera, Carville, Summersea... and the terrorists in Melissa City."

"Agreed. Aeluria won't attack us, but we need to deal with the terrorists, and the Coalition."

"Tell Gonhog to surround Carville, and shoot anyone who tries to leave. And when Kerlile reaches Summersea, I want them engaging the Coalition as soon as possible."

There came a knock at the door.

"Enter!" shouted Chaher. Jonas crept inside. His cautious movements were a clear sign of bad news.

"Um, Prime Minister, the... the resistance has raided Ginsap Prison. Josephine Alvarez and the others... have escaped."

Chaher seemed to growl, then turned back to Jonas, "find Josephine, and Sonja, and bring them back here, to me. I will cut the head off this snake, and watch their little terrorist organisation shrivel and die!"