Thirty-Three

A Rak-hund attack kills multiple members of Ostencour's rebellion group, including Synnia and Dennia. Jessyn and Rickar discover that they were spared because they hadn't committed to the bioweapon plan against the Carryx, while those who had were systematically targeted.

Jessyn works in a new lab alcove with Rickar, processing berry pulp to create nutrition for an alien creature as part of their research. They test the compound on a three-legged, turtle-like animal, which eagerly consumes it. Synnia, their guard, suddenly stands alert as a pale Rak-hund approaches. Dennia draws a gun and shoots the creature in the head, but the Rak-hund kills her with brutal efficiency before departing into the alien crowd. Jessyn realizes the attack was targeted: the Rak-hund came for Synnia and Dennia specifically because they were part of Ostencour's rebellion group planning bioweapons against the Carryx, while she and Rickar were spared because they had not yet committed to the plan. Synnia flees to warn the near-field workgroup quarters, where she finds Allstin, Merrol, and Llaren Morse already under attack. She helps them barricade the door but they are quickly overwhelmed by two Rak-hund. Jessyn and Rickar arrive to find the door destroyed and discover the bodies of Allstin, Synnia, Merrol, and Llaren Morse. Upstairs they find Else Yannin dead with no visible wounds, but Jellit is missing. They leave the quarters and return home to report the deaths.