Alethea sits at her desk, radio set up. Aanya was in touch with you 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-”

You interject, “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.”

-

You set the plan. You arrange it with a few trusted Reformists willing to lose their identity, and most importantly, you keep Nicholas out of it. You help Imogen, Aanya, and Harper get places amongst the staff serving the Council chambers. And Aanya radios you to tell you when the trap is set and you make your own plans to sneak out just after the thing does off.

You radio the instant you're out the room and the sound that follows is planet shattering. You're blown down by the force; you needed to be out of the room but not long enough for anyone to know you were out. In the chaos you perform a quick change and slip out of there.

In just a few hours you hear the announcements. A list of names, every Council member, a few of your 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.