Plans were crafted on wicker tables, sandboxes and parchments over the next few days. Crisanto developed a intercepting maneuver which brought the press of the Hispania to a warehouse to Kalye Legarda instead of the Guardia Civil headquarters. Though he left the same day he came, through the cover of nighttime, the group began planning both their ends of the interception and the actual printing of the pamphlets. 

Manileño contributions. The distribution done by the different chapters of the Katipunan (through the participation of men such as Bonifacio, Valenzuela and Jacinto) through Kalayaan, the official newspaper. And the system for which the press would actually create pamphlets.

They were entirely secluded for the entire weekend. Meanwhile, Adrienne could already stand, as the bruise started healing. She had a bandaged face, and had swelling, overlapping with her keloid scar, but she became an essential part of the plan, with her expertise in anything involving stealth and agility. 

Soon, the plan was materializing, from a faraway goal, into something tangible and achievable. All they had to do is wait for the right day. The general said that they needed time to prepare the case of the Spaniard, which was very much unlike the summary trial and execution of the natives and criolos. The current day then was the 9th. The raid was to happen on the 13th.

Adrienne noticed that the 13th fell on a Friday. The day was considered largely unlucky, especially in Britain and France, because of superstition, but Guelio replied, philosophical as usual: "There are many reasons people fear this day. 13 people were present in the Last Supper. It was also the day when Philip the XIV imprisoned and executed the Knights Templar. Even so, the Romans and Greeks considered 13 unlucky, but only for Tuesdays."

"In other areas, like Guangdong, British Hong Kong, and Portuguese Macao, 13 is lucky. Yat-saam. It is said to sound like "sure to live". Of course compared to yat-sei, which is "sure to die" this is a better number to pick.

"Whether or not luck may be on our side, it still wouldn't be on anyone's side either, it is destined for us to do this, because we willed it to be so. Fate rules over luck always."

Rodrigo, for the first time in a while, beamed while he nodded and declared: "This is ours for the taking!" Everybody exclaimed the same thing, filled with excitement and anticipation. Guelio smirked as his friends became his comrades. 'If there are enough people like this', he thought, 'the revolution will be won with 

~~~

The Hispania is one of the many weekly newspapers in the Philippines. Catering to the learned intellectuals who are in favor of the Spanish rule, it is an organ of the friars, the Peninsulares and the monarchists in the Philippines. The owner is rarely actually in the country— his apprentice, a Criollo by the name of Moises Guerrero, handles day-to-day business such as printing and publication — and is an active businessman in different Spanish cities such as Salamanca and Valencia.

Headquartered in Kalye Recoleto, near the Baluarte de San Andres, it has a total labor force of thirty people who work on two block printing presses. With these combined capital and labor, they are able to make almost two hundred copies in a week. 

As it is the end of the new work week, the Indio workers were setting the letters which were to be the different editorials, opinion pieces and news articles, for Monday's issue. Their day-to-day doings, however, interrupted by the Guardia Civil, who were knocking on their doorstep. At the helm was General Crisanto Rodel, brandishing his cutlass. Behind him were four soldiers of the Veterana, all armed with their own revolvers. Clearly, they were of native origin, and new too. One of them was adjusting his belt buckle awkwardly as he entered the business. Before entering, the General pronounced the charges.

"This establishment, La Hispania, is under order of confiscation issued by the Government of the Kingdom of Spain in the East Indies. Related to this order is the warrant of arrest issued to the owner of this establishment for the crimes of estafa and seditious behaviour."

On the other side, Guerrero, the head laborer was already preparing the ink when he noticed the arrival of the officers. Before the owner left, he was bidden to protect the expensive equipment whatever the cost may be. Though the order was to give no regard to both civilian and government threats, and use weaponry if necessary, he was still compelled to surrender the presses since he didn't want pressure to be put on his family back in Cavite.

If he were to be hard-headed about it, the name of his family, who are still being indicted in a land issue with Augustinian friars, may be even more tarnished and forced out of their hometown for good. Such was the case of so many families across the islands, who were becoming slaves under the tyranny of a government that was once sympathetic but now symptomatic of greed and lust for power. He wouldn't give up the safety of his own troubled family, than his job at a medium-tier newspaper. It wasn't worth it.

It took less than twenty minutes for the Guardia to fully confiscate all the equipment and assess the establishment. The presses, blocks, ink, tables and files were all loaded onto two carriages that carried Guardia Civil insignia, hauled away by the four soldiers from earlier. All of the workers were ordered to return back to their households to await further instructions on their jobs. The constables were unironically civil to the workers. They used the polite po, explained the situation, and one of them even gave advice on where to work while the crisis was being sorted out. These are unlike other Peninsular and Insular constables who would rather see them hit with a rifle butt.

When everyone left, Heneral Rodel faced his troops who were standing at attention. He eyed one of them, before saying: "Sanreal, for someone who Guelio calls whimsical, you are a convincing soldier. Respectable even."

Rodrigo jokingly saluted to Crisanto before answering: "What can I say, Heneral? Timidity does help in some situations."

They both had a hearty laugh, while Guelio and Sanchez carried the last crate of equipment, which was being tallied by Renee and Juvena inside, to make sure their plan would be followed. The subversive pamphlet was subject to the Kalayaan organ. Since they themselves had a press, and this was a largely independent affair, they only needed one press for a one-off thing. 

To give an alibi for the missing press, Heneral Rodel would simply say that one of the presses were already defective and was already disposed of. Though it was somewhat shaky, the entire process was moot to begin with, so losing a printing press as evidence of an unclear crime could be overlooked, especially when the word came from the second-in-command of the Guardia Civil. He ordered soldiers from another squadron to bring the carriage back to headquarters while the six of them traveled behind them, before sneaking out of Intramuros and toward Quiapo. 

After a few minutes, they arrived at the warehouse, a stone's throw away from the Basilica Minore de San Sebastian. It was owned by a Katipunan revolutionary who is good friends with Juvena. Unfortunately, when they arrived, guardias civil were posted there, with the Katipunero bound at the hands. Leading the charge was Constable Jose Losange, who was commanding the other soldiers from horseback. 

Heneral Rodel alighted from the carriage, telling the others to stay inside.