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Maden paced the bridge. Nic, Daveld, Dahteste, and Spence maintained silence while listening to their captain mutter various Messerian words. From the guttural sound, Nic assumed they were curses. Maden’s crest eased up from his hair, which increased the speed of the grumbling.
He turned and leveled his golden gaze at his crew and mate. “We have another commission. It’s from SUN. It’s time-sensitive and is going to require troops. Nic, Spence, Dahteste, Gilda, and Oicu all know I have a small personal army on Messeria. I don’t often drag them offplanet. I lost the taste for those sorts of actions long ago. The thing about this job is we will need them, but not for an all-out battle. Stones of Aakra willing.”
Nic placed his hands behind his back and linked his fingers. Whatever Ramos had talked Maden into no longer had the feel of something worth doing. It reeked of a rescue mission. He hated those. Civi forms must be handled gently. They were to be spared if possible.
He understood Maden’s agitation in the pod bay. Those contracts were fraught with danger for the force taxed with rescuing the life forms involved.
“You all know the rules. Let me reiterate. This is to go no further than this ship. Ramos may have a line on the head of those fucking pirate cells.”
Behind his back, Nic’s fingers clenched. The leader?
“If we can grab him, the coordination will stop. I doubt the cell, or whatever groups remain, will disband until we force the issue. The problem we face is the piece of snake shit is the ruler of a planet. The regular civilians know nothing of what he’s involved in. The Life Foundation is neck deep in this one. They want us to grab the leader without causing harm to the populace.”
“Marvie wonderful. Do they have any idea how difficult that can be?” Spence had the balls to ask. Nic thanked him mentally.
“We are supposed to have a key to get in,” Maden said.
Spence snorted. “It had better be jewel-encrusted.”
“I suppose you could say it is. We have the other half of the royal family. He’s going to get our people in.”
“Have we any idea what kind of numbers the leader has behind him?” Nic felt comfortable asking that question. It wouldn’t get him into trouble.
“We will soon. The male is supposed to contact us through the Foundation and give us a guesstimate of the troops this Inved form has at his disposal. There’s another part to this little jaunt. We need to find the family of the male who gave Remse the information.”
“That shouldn’t be that difficult if the form has a general idea of the location,” Daveld ventured.
“If only,” Maden grumbled. “He has three sons, an older male, and a set of twin brothers. They’re not on planet and he has no idea where they might be.”
Everyone but Maden and Dahteste groaned.
“How exactly are we to pull this off? We’ve got to finish the contract with NMD. We screw up with Nippon Mining and Development and we’ll get handed a cease and desist order from the Union pending mediation of a contract dispute.” Spence shook his head.
“The form, name of Notalt, hired the female who has the males from a casino on Calius. We’re going to send Nic in undercover to see what he can dig up. I’ll have more data from Notalt later on. As for NMD, I’m hiring the Demon Lair as soon as it gets back with the other part of our crew. They can help the Poignard ride herd on the freighters.”
Shocked silence followed that statement.
“Captain, that bunch of wannabes probably doesn’t have any idea how to fire the weapons on the ship. How in the seven hells...”
“Easy, Spence. Notalt swears this will be a quick grab. I want you to contact Major Eargen. He and Sargent Natsu are to pick out four companies. I’d prefer they be pulled by lots. That way no one can whine about not getting in on the action. Get them on a vessel and they are to be in a long orbit around Hocte within forty SUN hours. No complaints. I want results. I expect the Demon Lair will return in thirty-six. As soon as they get back, we’ll be on our way. Daveld, get me Captain Camat of the Demon Lair. Then I’ll need to speak with Commander Eirson of the Poignard. Route them into my office when you have them. Nic, with me. Let’s talk.”
––––––––
Ivanda watched her charge and the other male she knew hid secrets return from their meeting with Admiral Ramos. She hadn’t been sure about a babysitting detail in the beginning. Then she got to know Ruket. She knew of no kinder, more compassionate male in the universe.
He hooked her and reeled her in as her father brought in his catch when he took her fishing as a child. Ruket rivaled her father for patience. He delved gently into the raging emotions of the male. She wouldn’t have put up with Natt’s obvious attempts to bury the truth.
Instead, Ruket’s need to soothe, to bring peace to a tortured soul, led them to this rendezvous with Admiral Ramos. Ruket’s generous heart had won the refugee over. The key to shut down one band of pirates, a large and infamous group at that, got exposed by kindness. Military tactics would have uncovered the leader eventually.
Eventually. That one word couldn’t begin to explain the cost to others in the universe. Lives and property lost, free people enslaved. Who knew how much pain the leader would inflict before being stopped?
She’d not been allowed to follow Ruket and Natt into the belly of the huge SUN ship which acted as the admiral’s base of operations. Instead, she stood guard in the landing bay at the ready. No one would touch their craft.
The Enforcer might be the admiral’s flagship; still, a spy with a heart full of bad intent could be anywhere. She would do all in her power to make sure nothing happened to Ruket Remse. Her responsibility, she’d grown to care for the male as she did her father. He did too much for the disadvantaged of the universe to be brought down before his time.
The weak and vulnerable of the worlds looked to the Life Foundation for help when other resources failed. Someday, Ruket would grow too old and tired to work and another would take his place. Ivanda had already decided if it came to a choice of her life for his, Ruket came first. The Warrior Saint knew she would never confess to having made that decision. Nor would she ever tell Ruket.
A tiny smile lifted the Fjellskoglander’s lips. Ruket would lecture her incessantly were she to give him a reason to suspect how dedicated to him she felt. He chose to believe there were others who served as well or better. Pure foolishness. Someday he must be replaced. Not on her watch.
The pair entered the cavernous bay, talking animatedly as they strode toward her and the flyer. She opened the door while taking in the area. Her gaze never stopped scanning. A threat could be anywhere.
With Ruket securely inside, she got the other male in. One last check and she entered. Ivanda tapped the pilot on the shoulder. “Get clearance and let’s get back to the Futura. The sooner we leave, the happier I’ll be.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
A few moments later, they left the SUN ship behind. From the copilot’s seat, she watched every sensor. Once tucked safely on board their ship, she took a deep breath.
In the corridor which led into the interior of the Futura, Ruket came to a stop. He smiled at Natt. “Go get some rest. I know what a trial that was for you. The admiral will contact us when it’s time for action. Before then, you should build up those reserves which are depleted.” He patted the male on the shoulder. “You’ve done all you can for now.”
Natt nodded and left the two of them in the corridor. Ruket turned to her. “You’ll want to hear this. Join me in my quarters for a drink?”
“Certainly, sir. After you.” Ivanda followed her charge as he led the way. She knew some of it. Now she would get to hear what the admiral had to say. That taken care of, she would make her plans to safeguard Ruket Remse.
