Page 14 of Stars in Halo

‘The fokkin Iccythrians,’ Xion ground out.

‘Indeed. The jewels are super rare and collectables now, and after I’ve cleared them, perhaps I can sell them to some broker for a silly fokk off fee. Or place them on my mantle as a reminder of how much I sucked.’

‘You OK?’ Xion growled, sensing Mirage’s ruffled mood, an uncommon disposition.

‘I’m vexed. This breach was only made possible by a fundamental threat vulnerability. I will need to apologise profusely to all the Riders for my mistake in not detecting it sooner or faster or having a deterrent against such an assault.’

Xion shrugged. ‘De nada Mirage, even the most sophisticated institutions are susceptible to basic lapses in cyber-security hygiene. What did they nab?’

‘Rather than leveraging or pilfering financial data or our corporate secrets, only location information was stolen. Of all our offices and assets across Eden II. This very anticlimactic outcome suggests the objective of the incursion was to steal specific site particulars—for possible use in future targeted attacks.’

Xion sucked his teeth, crossing his hands over his massive chest. ‘Even though what they took wasn’t that crucial, we’ll need to implement an attack surface monitoring solution and increase the security of all our buildings and holdings. Also, I must follow that woman and discover what she’s up to. Did you send me a node file on her?’

The Sable consigliere shook their head. ‘Nada. That’s because there was not much more than what I shared earlier. According to her file, she’s bland, almost too boring, like white sliced bread. Which we both know is bullshit.’

‘How did she get a seat on the mesa?’

‘I got an anonymous request to set aside her seat from a friend I know.’

‘Another AI?’

‘Naam. I trust them. They’re a superb source of intel. So I complied.’

‘She’s no small-time player; she made a ballsy play and lost us some data which might be crucial to our security,’ Xion sighed. ‘Thank fokk, I got some noids on her. Can you track them, please? They’ve gone beyond my neural reach, and I haven’t got Zane on standby for a psionic search.’

He sent Mirage his noid links via their node connection.

The AI’s eyes fluttered for a moment. ‘Got her.’

‘Care to share?’

Mirage gave him a baleful stare.

Xion sucked his teeth in impatience. ‘Mirage?’

‘What do you take me for? She’s on her way to Enia.’

He nodded, lips pursed in deep thought. ‘I’m going after her.’

‘Is that because she hit different and you want to hit it with her?’ Mirage mused with a slight smirk. ‘I tagged how you eyed her like you wanted to devour her.’

‘Fokk you. She just stole from us. I need to bring her to justice.’

‘Which could be achieved with a call to our Rhesian friends who’d dispatch a team to pick her up.’

‘I want to make it personal,’ the Rider growled.

Mirage raised a brow. ‘No doubt. It’ll be her pleasure, not mine.’

He narrowed his eyes at Mirage. ‘I liked you better when you were a gyrfalcon and kept your thoughts to yourself.’

‘A girl’s got to spread her wings,’ Mirage shot back. ‘Why this hard-on for her, and I mean that with all due respect?’

Xion glowered at his companion. ‘Something doesn’t read right with her, and I got a niggling feeling that if I don’t tail her, we’ll be sitting ducks.’

‘For what?’ Mirage murmured.

‘Not sure yet, but why steal location data unless you’re planning a physical attack on a Rider holding? My hackles have never been more raised and at attention than they are now.’

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