“Right now the Naxids are working off a list of everyone who lives in the High City,” he said. “Workers have to provide documentation from their employers that they’re needed. But the rumor is that special identification will be required soon.”

 Sula gave the matter some thought. “That’s good,” she said. “A letter would have to come from areal employer, one already on the list—and they might check. It’ll be easier to get the special badges.”

 She had ways of getting false documents out of the Records Office.

 Her mind was already abuzz with plans.

 That night she checked into the Records Office and found that Lieutenant Rashtag’s word for the day was“Observance!” The newly appointed head of Records Office security was fond of bombastic bulletins, and they always included the single-word exclamation intended to inspire the security staff.

 Sula saw that the next day’s bulletin was already on file, and that its inspirational word was“Compliance!” For a moment she was tempted to alter it to“Subversion!” but decided to save that for another day, the day when the loyalist ships appeared above Zanshaa and the Naxid domination was at an end.

 She wondered what single-word exclamation Rashtag would utter if he knew that she had free run of the Records Office computers, and with Rashtag’s own passwords. With a combination of luck, carelessness on the part of the previous administration, and one long night of caffeine-fueled programming, Sula had gained mastery of the Records Office system before the Naxids had even arrived. Any password created by the head of security was sent to her automatically, so even if she were detected and the passwords changed, she’d still have complete command of the place.

 She was now able to access, alter, or create any personnel record. Birth and death certificates, marriage and divorce decrees, records of education, residence, and employment, primary and special identification…