No plan survives first contact with the enemy. When the enemy is your former commander? You need a new plan.

Growing up in mercenary company Phalanx Eagle, Ruhger has a set of skills most teens can only dream about. But when the leaders of his merc company go to the dark side, Ruhger and his friends must save the orphans of Jericho Mining Colony to save their parent's reputations—and all their lives.

Since the usual procedures won't work, Ruhger must use his cunning, marksmanship and piloting skills to lead his team on a daring mission to save the orphans. Cheat to win is his motto for this mission—this is not a test.

Join Ruhger and his friends on their first solo mission through the spooky tunnels of Jericho Mining Colony. Will this rescue forge the future crew of Lightwave into an unbreakable team or shatter them completely?

This short story was previously published in The Expanding Universe 5 Anthology.