Alethea sits at her desk, radio set up. Aanya was in touch with Alethea a few days ago; since the obviously fixed election and Harper's mission to Elysiun to destroy the factory that produced the planet-killer, now is the perfect time for an assassination.

“The time is here,” Aanya says. “The Council have been falsely elected and everyone knows that. The reformists aren't being listened to, and they're going to take more reactionary measures over the next few months.”

Imogen nods shortly, “We need to assassinate the Council.”

Harper's eyes widen. “Finally. Okay so I have been working on this plan for like years; so we get the poison, we get fake IDs right-”

Alethea interjects, “I was thinking something different. The assassination of the Council needs to be absolutely separated from the Reformist Movement, or we'll lose all credibility. The political climate at the moment… Well they'll blame us and they'll be even more reactionary as a result.”

“You're right,” Aanya agrees slowly.

“Right. So… What if instead of sneaking in and doing it all quietly, we push for a meeting between the Reformist group and the Council, and you… Blow it up.”

There is nothing but radio silence for a few seconds afterwards.

Harper is first to speak. “So like… we'll be blowing up our allies? I'm not so sure-”

Alethea cuts in, “No, no, this is the thing, I can plant people. I'll use it to fake my own death and a few others in the movement will work with me. An explosion's perfect because no one will expect there to be bodies.”

“Alethea's right. This way we ensure which way the reaction swings,” Aanya says.

“It'll be higher risk.” Imogen glances at Aanya.

The corner of Aanya's lip quirks up. “You're not adverse to danger,” she comments.

“Imogen is right, my way we all slip away before anyone notices anything's wrong.” Harper worries at their lower lip.

“This way's no different!” Alethea argues. “You come in as cleaners, plant the bomb, and leave.”

“Alright. The place will be swept before the meeting.” Imogen starts to roll out plans of the Council building and takes out a pencil. “Between us though,”

“We should be able to make something undetectable,” Aanya finishes.

Harper mutters something about a room under their breath and then leans forward to look over the plans. “Okay so we're doing this.”

-

They set the plan. Alethea arranges it with a few trusted Reformists willing to lose their identity, and most importantly, she keeps Nicholas out of it. She helps Imogen, Aanya, and Harper get places amongst the staff serving the Council chambers. And Aanya radios her to tell her when the trap is set and she makes her own plans to sneak out just after the thing does off.

Alethea radios the instant she's out the room and the sound that follows is planet shattering. She's blown down by the force; she needed to be out of the room but not long enough for anyone to know she was out. In the chaos, she performs a quick change and slips out of there.

In just a few hours Alethea hears the announcements. A list of names, every Council member, a few of her friends who went their separate ways, and finally,

“Alethea Rucker is also reported to be dead….”

Now. Time to get to get a new identity.