Merrick and Rask walked to the East Gate, taking cups of strong black coffee to give to their mates. Their mates had refused to leave the East Gate and rest, worried about what was happening outside the dome with the plasma trap.

As they approached, Aleigha turned and watched them, a wide smile on her face. "Is that coffee I smell?" she asked, grinning.

Merrick smiled at his mate, then handed her the steaming cup. She took it gratefully and sipped the hot liquid.

Rask walked up to Niki, who wouldn't move her eyes from the barrier and those around it outside of the dome.

Rask set the coffee in front of her and gently took the binoculars, kissing her neck. "You drink your coffee; I will watch for you," he stated, not taking no for an answer. He raised the binoculars and peered through, scanning the area, paying particular attention to the plasma trap and those closest to it.

"They're still trying to figure out how that little group got out of the barrier. They've been searching for what seems like hours," Niki told her mate, as she sipped her coffee. She was tired and needed to wake up.

Rask scanned the barrier and the group circling it. "It looks like they figured it out. There is a group on the other side of the trap who are sneaking out. I think that those outside of the barrier are trying to be a diversion so that we wouldn't notice those leaving the trap."

Aleigha, hearing, rushed up to her sister and Rask, her coffee forgotten. Merrick was close behind her.

Aleigha picked up her rifle and peered through the scope. Rask was right. Those outside the barrier were moving around much more than on the other side; at the back of the trap, a group was trying to sneak out. The ones creating the diversion kept looking at the dome, trying to see if those inside the dome had noticed the other group yet.

"Idiots," Aleigha breathed, watching the group approach the dome as the others continued to try to look like they were still looking for a way in. "Talk about terrible acting skills," she sneered.

The approaching group had handheld firearms poised to shoot. It was so obvious what was going on that it almost looked ridiculous.

Aleigha turned to the sentry. "Don't open the gate; they appear not to be like the previous group. I don't want anyone to get shot because of those assholes."

Niki, sipping her hot coffee, looked at her sister. "What do you want to do? Shoot them as they approach, or wait and see what they do?" She sounded like she didn't care either way.

Aleigha shrugged. "Their weapons can't penetrate the barrier; let's see what happens. I bet a lot of them are just scared."

Niki leaned into Rask. "If they were able to get out of the barrier, what if they used the same tactics to get into the dome? It will put everyone in danger if they get inside," Niki pointed out.

Rask, understanding what his mate was saying, looked over at the sentry. Call all the gates to keep watch for intruders. They may be able to enter the dome. They might use the same tactic they used to get out of the trap to enter the dome."

Merrick pulled out his comm link and called Council Leader Vorik. "Sir, those in the barrier are free, and there is a group approaching the dome. They are armed and poised to shoot," he informed their leader.

Council Leader Vorik's voice came over the comm link. "Prepare for battle," he ordered. "I'm sending reinforcement to the East Gate. Have all gates watch for intruders. Shoot to kill unless you are given a reason to do otherwise."

Merrick scanned the group around him, who were listening to the conversation, "Yes, sir."

Aleigha looked at her mate, seeing he was not dressed for battle. "You need body armor."

Niki, doing the same, nodded in agreement. "You too."

Shots rang from outside the dome. Niki took the binoculars back from her mate and peered through. "Too late," she hissed. "I will never forgive you if you get hurt," she told him.

Aleigha pulled her rifle up, aiming. Through her scope, she noted that both groups were approaching the dome, some firing, the bullets bouncing off the protective plasma barrier. "I can't shoot at a barrier," she complained. "And they're too close to let the barrier flicker."

"What if a team is sent from the gates on either side, you know, the north and south gates, to box them in?" Aleigha asked. She was always good at battle strategies.

Council Leader Vorik, who was walking up, nodded in agreement. "Two teams, one on the left, one on the right. Full armor and bring something to use as a barricade that those bullets or blasters won't penetrate," he ordered.

Two squad leaders left the group, taking large squads with them to follow Council Leader Vorik's orders. Each squad leader headed toward a different gate. Those outside still shot at the dome, unable to penetrate the plasma barrier.

"We have to flicker the plasma shield for the squads to leave," Aleigha pointed out. "We need to make sure that none of them outside the dome make it inside, or anyone inside gets shot while the squads leave the dome."

Vorik smiled, "We can open sections of the plasma not affecting the East Gate."

Aleigha nodded, impressed. "Handy," she stated, then lifted her rifle again and peered through the scope at the approaching group. They were getting closer and shooting as they approached.

The groups outside the dome had formed one large group, no longer separated, making it easier for the two squads to box them in.

On either side, the squads approached, not yet seen by those shooting at the dome. The bullets continued to bounce off.

"Maybe they'll use all their ammo, and we'll only have to worry about blasters," Niki observed, still watching through her binoculars.

Rask stood behind her with one arm wrapped around her waist, his chin resting on her shoulder. "Blasters do not run out of power. It would be better if they did not have blasters at their disposal," he told her.

Seeran looked through his binoculars, watching the group shoot at the dome. He watched as the squads suddenly came into view and slowly converged on the group from either side. A hand-held barricade was pressed in front of each squad to prevent the bullets from passing through and hitting any of the men in the squad. It took four men to hold the barrier while the others prepared to fire on the group that was shooting at the dome.

The squad inched their way toward the group, easily boxing them in.

The group, finally noticing the approaching squad, turned back to back and began shooting at them instead. The barricade prevented the bullets from harming anyone.

Shots began to shoot back and forth between the three groups. Men were going down in the group but not in any of the squads. The barricade protected them.

All those watching from the dome realized that the squads were aiming to neutralize rather than kill them. They noticed that the blasters were set to stun. The high voltage renders their enemy unconscious.

The group in the middle didn't realize this and looked between the two squads that had boxed them in. Fear pulsed through the group, and they dropped their weapons in fear and put their hands up. It was their attempt to survive the battle.

One of the squad leaders called out to the group to step away from the weapons. All of them complied, more out of fear. While one squad used the barricade to push the group away from the guns and other weapons they had relinquished, the other rushed out and bound them.

It was a large group, and it took a while.

With the prisoners bound, the East Gate opened, and a group of medics came out. Working their way through the group, they injected each one of Travis's men with a sedative that put them all to sleep.

One by one, they were taken inside and stripped, their hidden weapons were taken, and their clothing was exchanged for a Gi. They even checked for fake teeth, similar to what the spy had that was filled with poison.

Once prepared, Travis's men were taken to the cells, one man per cell, or woman, depending on the person; they chose not to mix the genders. Vorik's silent order was to neutralize them so they could ensure that those who fought with them out of fear were saved.

After checking the trap, they realized how the group escaped. It would not happen again. Precautions would be made for the next time a trap was needed; if it would be needed.

The only thing they had to do now was weed through their prisoners and find the ones that were not with Travis's men. Those who fought only out of fear, nothing more. Vorik wanted to make sure that no innocent prisoners were executed.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.