The room in which they had landed was empty so there was no one to hear Solae groan from the impact. Rene had done all he could to shield her from the blow, but it had still managed to knock the wind out of her and make her body ache. Both male and female nobles were genetically modified for the benefit of improved athleticism, but the Falia's specific modifications for women made her delicate and petite, not enhanced for such situations as these. Later she might purposefully exploit the bruises- although she'd heal quickly enough- as an excuse to have her paramour rub her down with a salve as he had done shortly after they left New Concordia. It was possibly the only positive spin she could put on their necessary yet thoroughly unpleasant landing.

"This place should have its own security AI," the marquise whispered as she tried to quiet her coughing on the smoke through willpower alone. Staging a takeover of a synthetic intelligence had not been part of the plan, but she imagined things would go more smoothly if she could assert her authority over the computer system that governed the basic functions of the building. It would not gain her access to the PEA itself, as that authentication process was self-contained to preserve its integrity, but she'd take any help they could receive. This was the most difficult aspect of their endeavor. If they could survive long enough to send out the message then the first stage of victory would finally be achieved.

Rolling to her side and then to her stomach she pushed herself up off the ground. Broken glass crunched under the benign movement. Had anyone told her a couple weeks ago she'd be part of a hostile takeover of a foreign embassy she would thought them mad. It was amazing how desperate need compelled adaptation and new strength. Before Duke Tan massacred swaths of innocent stellar citizens, she was arguably incapable of concealing herself as a mercenary soldier, much taking initiative in cunning strategic plots against her enemies. Solae had always thought herself more suited for times of peace than war. As an aristocrat she was more merciful and less vindictive than nearly the whole of Armistice. She shook off the disorientation that was created by the fog and their crash arrival before she pressed the button on her communicator. "Mia, can you hear me?"

"Yes, Lady Solae," Mia purred with her predictably inappropriate sultry purr.

"Would it be possible for you to send my identification codes to the AI of this building, the embassy? It might not have a record of my existence- I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't- but could you send that data through a standard encrypted channel?" she asked with pensive excitement. She had learned people vastly underestimated anything that was not human, whether it was another race or species like the Syshin, or because it was a machine. The respect she had for other forms of existence had forged great allies that the coup did not even consider in their boundless arrogance.

"Yes, Lady Solae, of course," was the aggressively sensual response. Solae bit the side of her cheek to keep herself from laughing as she brushed off a few errant chunks of demolished window. "The transmission has been sent. The embassy's AI is named Decimal. I am unable to determine if you have the highest rank in the embassy, Lady Solae, if you wish to assume command."

"Thank you, Mia, we'll be in touch again soon," the marquise promised as she switched off the communicator and turned towards Rene. "We should take advantage before anyone realizes what I am doing. It can't kill anyone for us," she added with a grimace, "but its sensors might give us an idea of what obstacles are in our path."

The PEA itself lay on the top floor. By design it was always on the top floor or the lowest floor underground. In the case of the former, the roof was typically a hazard on which automated weaponry was affixed to deter any would-be saboteurs, but the height also restricted access. Not many individuals were capable of scaling the side of a building without the correct equipment or landing an aircraft on a place that could not bear the weight, heat, and had tactical defense missiles. Generally underground was favored when it was possible. Zatis's domes hindered communication and thus this restricted their options. The embassy they just breached could only use a schematic with an upper level PEA to have a chance of being effective. It was unfortunate they could not have landed on the floor with the PEA but it understandably lacked windows as was protocol.

"Decimal," she called out, "this is Solae Falia. Do you recognize my authority?"

"Yes, Solae Falia," replied a cold, detached baritone that resembled the professional callousness that pervaded the culture of the planet. Ralch could have chosen from a variety of minor cosmetic alternatives, a soothing masculine bass, a tender soprano, or even a capricious child-like imitation. That he had elected this set told her everything she needed to know about his disposition; he was almost certainly as ruthless and heartless as his distant connection that had instigated the bloody rebellion.

"Excellent. Please add my companion, Rene, under my authorization codes." She turned to her lover and nodded once to indicate to him to lead the way. Even with the assistance of Decimal she did not know how to take point, clear a room, deal with threats, or even ask the right questions of their newfound monitor.