Federal? Country? That was the first information about anything outside of the Institute I.R.I.S. had let slip; General Aguilar and his army had been proof that there was more, but they'd been very tight-lipped. Federations meant multiple allies, working together -- or at least they started out that way. Factions. Fractionalization. And all on one planet, too.

Oh, and a combination lock and a power crystal. She shot a glance at Rita. She didn't know anything about a code, but Rita knew crystals. "Give us a moment, please," she said to I.R.I.S. "Any ideas? Is that the kind of crystal you're used to working with?"