Chapter 13

Cause for Concern

‘WHAT DO YOU mean, missing?’ snarled the Chairman. ‘How can a squad of five guards just go missing?’

The Chairman was seated behind Dr Grinkov’s expansive desk. He had commandeered the head scientist’s office for the duration of his visit. He had been happily doodling a design for a new robotic beast for the Arena when the White Knight captain arrived with its worrying report.

‘The unit last checked in at eleven seventeen hours,’ replied the android impassively. ‘They were assigned a security task in the quarantine area. They have failed to contact Control since.’

‘And have you looked for them?’ snapped the Corporation boss impatiently.

‘Yes, sir. There is no sign of them in the quarantine area or anywhere else in the compound. But one of the search team did find this.’ The White Knight placed something slim and metallic, about ten centimetres long, on the desktop.

The Chairman’s eyes narrowed into a scowl, as he looked at the mystery object. He had seen something identical to this only recently, buried in the wrecked body of one of his White Knights following a raid on a Corporation field generator. It was a bolt from a crossbow. Only an Armouron Knight would use such an antiquated weapon.

The Chairman lifted his livid face to the android officer.

‘I want a repeat search conducted immediately!’ he spat. ‘And this time, don’t report back until you can tell me what happened to those guards!’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘And, Captain  . . .’ the Chairman added as the Knight turned to leave. ‘Make sure my shuttle is refuelled and on standby for lift-off, as a matter of priority!’

The Kasteesh outpost had a garrison of several hundred White Knights. Even if an enemy of the Corporation had somehow managed to infiltrate the compound, there were more than enough guards to deal with them.

But in the Chairman’s experience, it always paid to be ready to make a swift exit.

Just to be on the safe side.