The attack against Gilda was met by a fierce resistance. Although the fort had not yet fallen, however the Rogues had suffered a harsh punishment, and Inez and Betty were now isolated. "Why don't you destroy the space station instead of taking it?" Mofaz asked. JS noticed Maurr's sudden stiffness, so replied tersely: "For two good reasons. Nuhrr landed his elite troops here, and on the space station there are only technicians and penal battalions' soldiers, most of which are either heretics or politically unreliable. They'll be sensitive to Maurr's call to arms. It's worth the risk, if the prize is that many of them will join us." Eve felt Maurr ready to accept any decision without protest, but offering a chance to his countrymen increased his degree of loyalty to JS. "Second. The destruction of the station wouldn't pass unnoticed." JS continued, "there are contacts between the space station and the fleet, and a sudden silence would get the Admiral straight away here and we don't want that, right?" "No, if we can avoid it." The Shundorians agreed. "Once taken, we'll deliver the space station to you." JS stated, calming the Shundorians' hidden fears. "At the moment we aren't able to keep it," one of the Shundorian leaders admitted. "You should help us." "Don't count your chickens before they hatch, it may jinx." Roma pointed out. "All right, we'll use the trick of the Trojan horse, though very old, it almost always works." JS said. "With a captured Rogue transport we'll approach the landing deck on the side under construction faking an emergency. Most of their guns aren't operating on that side. Roma with a couple of fighters will pursue us to make it believable. Once landed we'll secure the deck for the second wave. NMS Vendetta will engage and destroy the two pocket frigates moored to the other docks." "A single ship against two! It's daring!" Mofaz murmured. "Why don't you deploy all your ships?" "Never show your trump cards! The Rogues reckon we came with a small armed yacht and at first spotting Vendetta, they'll think the same as you: 'It's just a small frigate, nothing to worry.' So no one will ask for help and Vendetta will knock the frigates down before they take off. Anyway, Blaze will be ready to join the battle. Taken the space station we'll send false messages calling the Rogue fleet out just when we want to." "Eve, you stay with Vasquez, I need you here," donning his space suit JS said to Eve. "This way I'll know exactly what happens." "Who you don't trust?" Eve asked. "I don't trust anyone." JS replied, hugging her, "Under stress people can react in strange ways." "Do you never feel guilty?" asked Eve. "Guilty of what?" JS frowned, staring into her eyes. "By lying on your telepathy, not telling them." she said anxiously. "I never lied to them, I only followed the they don't ask, I don't tell policy." JS kissed her gently and added: "For ten years my job has been assassinating people, not in war, but murdering them while breathing their last breath." He paused. "And to survive I learned to lie as I breath. Truth is a weapon that should be used with care. Moral issues fade into insignificance once you can live with this." He kissed her passionately savoring her mouth. She clutched to him. Teopolos called from outside: "We're ready, sir." "We'll continue later, Jay, so let's not get killed." Eve kissed him. The troopship approached the space station with the fighters in hot pursuit. In the mud-sunken tanks, JS had found the Rogue new codes, so Maurr and the others gave the right passwords. "This is a maximum firepower job, let's go!" JS yelled, a hail of bullets chattering out of his guns. Once inside the assault team flew out shooting in all directions while Etta struck the outer defenses. A team made his way up to a control station, while others put out the weak enemy resistance. "Quench that fire!" JS roared and ordered the second wave to land. -- Thanks!