Page 91 of Stars in Halo

‘Looks like House ALMQ has several of these safe houses dotted all over the planet,’ Xion murmured to the Iccythrians.

‘It’s some sort of divide and conquer strategy,’ Zoran grunted. ‘It’s also inhospitable, a deliberate decision to keep out any curious eyes and rescue attempts.’

‘Makes sense,’ Xion added. ‘The King kept my kidnap location far from this one, most likely to reduce the chances of recovery of both parties. Either way, we still get to bust your loved ones out,’ the Rider told Katya.

‘You don’t know how much this means to me,’ she said.

‘You can tell me in detail later,’ he growled, still heart sore.

As they approached the compound, the infil team fell silent, their focus sharp and unwavering. Any small mistake could cost them dearly, and time was not on their side.

Xion flicked over the holo and the intel, narrowing in on the massive fortification before them. The complex was a sprawling labyrinth of metal and concrete, its towering walls adorned with advanced weaponry and defensive systems.

It’d be a challenge, but nothing he hadn’t seen in his vast security, military and mercenary experience.

He jerked his chin to Zoran, who input a command into the console. The ship’s stealth technology kicked in, cloaking them from detection.

The infil team synced their wrist comms, as the plan relied on precision and timing.

Xion turned to Katya and tagged a slight tremble of her lips.

With a soft curse, he strode to her, lifted a gloved hand and touched a forefinger to her lip. ‘It shall be well,’ he murmured into her earpiece.

She nodded, gazing up at his reflective HUD mask, and then, on a whim, she pressed a kiss on his upper chest.

Giving him a tremulous smile, she stepped back.

Not seeing the emotion that charged through his face under his helmet.

The Rider gave her a chin lift and turned, heading for the airlock.

On Zoran’s count, he launched himself into the sky, employing the Sable suit’s power pack to hurtle towards the target.

Onboard the bridge of House DKRT’s lead ship, Katya’s heart raced, eyes on Xion as onscreen, his shadowy form moved through the compound.

He’d made a solid landing without encountering any resistance.

He was now serving as the vanguard, rapidly navigating the compound’s defences to gather intel.

Meanwhile, the House DKRT forces, a crew of twenty, flitted out of the airlocks one by one into the soot-infested sky.

Infiltrating the complex from above, they landed one by one on the surface, just inside the facility’s perimeter.

Katya’s eyes, however, were focused on Xion’s signal.

He was a blur of motion, avoiding detection and cameras.

‘I’ve found them,’ Xion’s voice crackled through his comm. ‘They’re in a holding cell in the basement. Thirteen children, including a young three-year-old and two carers. Per our count of fifteen.’

Katya let out a long sigh of relief, her hammering heart calming. He’d located her family. Now, they just needed to get out.

‘Katya, you OK?’ Xion rasped into her private HUD signal.

She jolted. ‘Naam, sante. You’re doing great, kodan; keep going.’

‘You stay strong now,’ he rasped, ‘khaliya,’ he added, warming her soul with the endearment.

He clicked over to the wide band. ‘The hostages are asleep, but I’m going to throw in a knockout grenade so that they don’t wake when we expatriate them. But first, the guards. The back door is covered. I’m firing stun beams to knock them out. Zoran, please also set your weapons to the same; we don’t need to start a war here. Are you primed to move in?’

---