Page 118 of Stars in Halo

‘Got ‘em,’ he growled with a sense of satisfaction. ‘The lure worked. K’Sumi has taken the bait and set his D’Hanna lackeys on the job. Please send word to Duke and Khosana DKRT. Let them know of the op so they’re not in the dark. Tell them that we’re working on preventing House ALMQ access to the Viper’s Eye. Also, explain how its potential manipulation of the geomagnetic field could endanger all life on Iccythria. Give them as much intel as possible so they’re pre-warned and prepared to go after K’Sumi when the time comes.’

‘Like the stray monster that he is,’ Mirage said.

‘That he is, and the sooner I can get Katya away from this op, the better, but I need to let it play out.’ Xion leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples, trying to ease the sudden onset of worry for his woman.

‘She’ll be fine,’ the ever-prescient Sable AI murmured.

‘She’d better be. She’s the best thing that’s happened to me since the Riders and, later, you came into my life.’

Mirage, ever the pragmatist, reassured him. ‘Katya’s a survivor. She can handle herself.’

Xion sighed and sat back in his chair as the Tachy carved a path through the expansive stellar region surrounding the B145x Nebula, aiming for the inner rim of Pegasi where the Zanyria lay.

On Iccythria, a comm link was initiated.

The House ALMQ’s AI announced itself to the recipient on a ship in hyperspace millions of klicks away.

The receiver took the call with haste.

On Iccythria, their face shimmered into view.

His Highness K’Sumi Hinata Alamaq of House ALMQ turned in his chair to face the man he’d reached out to.

‘Your Highness,’ Akira Claw exclaimed. ‘Good to see you. Are you calling about our recent haulage operation?’

‘Nada. Akira, I require your support in a different matter altogether.’

The roguish individual leaned forward. ‘Please, share.’

Akira’s face screwed into distaste. ‘It is true you’re acquainted with House D’Hanna?’

‘I’m familiar with the lot.’

The King rubbed his hands together. ‘Good, I need you to babysit them.’

The buccaneer raised a brow. ‘May I ask why?’

‘Well, for one, I’ve got the three D’Hanna brothers on a mission for me. However, they’ve proven less skilled than they made me think. They’ve dropped the ball once before, and I can’t allow that to happen again.’

‘I see. What can I expect in return?’

‘Ah, payment. Always the pirate, always about profit,’ the King sniped. ‘I can make it worth your while, my friend. You’ll be cared for and rewarded beyond your wildest dreams.’

‘What’s the job?’

The King proceeded to outline his request.

‘It sounds too good to be true,’ Akira mused.

‘The job has been vetted. My team has looked into it, and the consortium backing the infil job has been verified. They’re called the Justians, a group of religious nut jobs who have made billions of schills in the resource markets, selling agricultural seeds, food and on Dunia and Galicia. They worship the Paladian Gods, and any chance the artefacts in the Sable Vault coming up for auction are Paladian, they want first dibs. They’re outraged that the Sable Riders are handing them to museums and art galleries and want them for themselves. However, if we secure the job, it gives us access to those vaults first. And to the one thing I need in it.’

‘Audacious. The Riders are not to be played with.’

The King leaned forward, eyes flashing. ‘Neither am I. Just imagine the wealth the ALMQ House will offer you if I claim the Viper’s Eye. I promise you won’t regret this.’

Akira stroked his jaw, unconvinced.

The King pushed his face closer to the camera and dropped his voice into a sotto whisper. ‘I’ll make this even sweeter for you. You know of Katya D’Hanna?’

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