Well, if that weren't just the longest damn chapter I ever wrote... This one also deals with some un-funny stuff, but since it's happening to Jacob, it doesn't seem to be as disturbing. To me at least. Anybody who reads this will know that this is more or less 90% War Stories, with a lethal twist at the end.

Now that we've gotten the character death out of the way, we start getting enemies gathering together, and Jacob's incredible ability to gather them leaves him in a bit of a pickle. Also, we learn a bit more about the relationship between the Operatives, and what the hell happened that made Sylvia go from whooly to not so much so damn quick. And Zane learns to shoot.

Joss owns... a lot of what I just wrote. Please don't hurt me.

Feedback: Always appreciated.

A Greater Evil

"I don't like it," Sylvia said darkly as she stared at the hard packed grit which billowed up as they landed. Ezra weren't exactly the safest place to land, nowadays, but Jacob had cargo what could only be sold here, what with Hera locked down nice and proper. So to Ezra they went.

"Oh, it can't be that bad," Jacob said, staring down through the front windows from the gunner's seat. Anne was pointedly ignoring the telepath, focusing on her own work, namely finding a nice nowhere place to land.

"Niska tried to kill you," Syl pointed out.

"That's 'cause of a perfectly legitimate conflict of interests," Jacob retorted. "Hell, it was more'n a year back, besides. I ain't holdin' a grudge, don't see's why he should neither."

"Reputation," Sylvia said, raising one finger. Jacob nodded his admission.

"Well, he's going to be on the far side of the planet, and we came in nice and quiet. Plan is not to even let him know we's here till we's long gone."

Syl let out a laugh, somewhat unsteady, he noticed. "Well," she said, "what you plan and what takes place ain't ever exactly been similar, you realize?"

"Nobody's tellin' that you gotta come along," Jacob said. "We all just figured you'd as well sit this one out."

"You all, me