Usually bustling cafeteria of Engineering Laboratory number eight was now quiet with only small group working on a special task for the commissariat present. The job wasn’t mundane: to profoundly rework “Odin" from the scratch in full compatibility with Coalition technical regulations. The overhauling was going successfully, leading engineers came to here to have a break and discuss the latest augmentations.

– Praise Katz, Mykolaiv had the documentation on XKR and "Sichel".
– Of all places, I wouldn’t have guessed that we find it on Complex 19 hard drives. I assumed the instruction provided making copies to the archive.
– And this is how one becomes an archaeologist. Hey, Anton, does SCEC still hunt for those ruins?
– Nah, it seems the Alliance has left us nothing. Doctor Belov believes that in current situation it is easier just to shoot down a few “squids”.
– To hell with those. Smoke?

The tobacco, supplied to the Coalition through omnipresent Zoners was a pride of the Ministry of Plenty. Cigarettes like any other goods of mass consumption were exchanged for Social Credits if above the norm and were a more feasible indicator of citizens’ welfare in Edge Worlds.

– So where were we? Ah yes, we cannot simply install "Sichel’s" systems on "Odin". Different reliability.
– Let’s take reinforced conductors. Zoners have delivered a cargo of Iridium to Kamchatka recently. We are waiting for it to be transported here.
– Commissariat business and still delayed? Interesting.
– Nah, it’s OK. Dmitry from the docks told me that those morons by mistake delivered the wrong cargo. I have already made arrangements for them to be sent to "Eighth".

Suddenly, the door opened and a young officer in synth-leather coat so beloved by Commissariat personnel entered the room.

– Shweik here?
– I am.
– Here you go – said the officer having checked the ID – a package with direct instructions.

Having opened the package and read the name of the sender and the task for a few times, Shweik frozen.

– Anything wrong? – asked the officer.
– Is this some kind of joke?
– We never joke. He said that in case of misunderstanding just to proceed with instructions by the book. Everything else is under your responsibility. The transport with the cargo has already been dispatched.
– Aye-aye, Comrade…
– Good luck. Remember – failure is not an option – added the commissar and saluted on leaving the room.

– What is in there, Shweik? Something classified?
– Read yourself. In any case, you are to carry this out anyway.

Shweik shared the message to other engineers in the smoking room, some of them turning pale.

– Sweet Lenin, why does anyone need that?
– I… I don’t know if I can work under those instructions.
– If you can’t, I’ll arrange express-transfer to other group. Also, I want you to make a list of members of other groups who cannot do it. It’s better to transfer everyone at once so that we don’t call an inspection upon us later on.

---

Numerous armoured panels were scattered across the production unit of Laboratory number eight; workers were finishing applying the special radiation-absorbent coating to ship’s hull that usually gives Coalition’s ships blind black colour.
This time, however, the dye had a different shade and armour segments were more grey. The presence of guards at the entry checkpoint and a group of exhausted people in grey robes they were accompanying was also unusual.

– You sure it gonna work?
– Yes. The dye is to absorb and transfer through ion channels of iron compounds to the lower layer to bound it in "iron ball". The layer above will be transparent only for optical diapason.

– Comrade Shweik, shall we proceed? – inquired the sergeant of the guard. Workers finished applying the coating and were packing their tools.
– Affirmative, sergeant. All scientific and engineering personnel – clear the area. Only responsible for the state of the production unit are to stay.

A group of prisoners was walked to prepared panels. Shweik didn’t want to look what happens next. Truth be told, engineers were not needed at this stage, but the regulations required constant presence of at least two in the control room.

– Prisoner number ED9021, Maltese. Caught while opposing Coalition forces. As a result of his collaboration, three officers and eight soldiers of Militsiya were killed. Sentenced to death after the interrogate. Enforce the sentence!

Scream and gurgling noises filled the room. Shweik shivered.

– Prisoner number FS7064, Cretan. Caught while on a raid in Coalition space. As a result of his actions, two Militsiya officers were killed, multiple civilians sustained injuries of various severity. Sentenced to death after interrogate. Enforce the sentence!

More disturbing sounds followed. Heinrich turned away from the screens. The executions were continuing. Officers of each Alliance House were executed in order afterwards. Once everything was finished, Shweik could still hear croaking sounds of prisoner’s agony.

– Dispose of the corpses. Send in the cleaning team.
– Have you finished, comrades?
– Yes, Comrade! The cleaning team will be here in 2 minutes.

Production Unit of the "Eighth" was still smelling with fresh blood. Heinrich was dizzy. Shweik wanted to get wasted. They should wait for the cleaners.

– Why, Anton?

Shweik took out a cigarette. After what happened, the regulations made no sense.

– I know too little of the customer, Heinrich. I only heard that he is one of the top-notch agents. I saw him fighting. A dancing death. – Anton drag on a cigarette. – This man is needed for the Revolution. The one who can do evil in the name of greater good. Krsnik.