Page 86 of Her Lawless Prince

“It’s dangerous down there,” Nyle said. This wasn’t a game, and he didn’t want Rick treating it like one.

“Never is down there,” Rick answered. “The wind in our sails, lads, the stars at our feet, as we plunder for women, thick brown, and good mead.”

A beep sounded.

“There we are.” Rick cleared his throat and opened communications with the other ship. His tone changed to mockingly formal. “Greetings,World Traveler.I hope your quarantine protocols are ESC-89 standard if you’re thinking of landing in that hotbed of virus activity.”

Rick paused, waiting for a response.

“What is ESC-89?” Nyle asked.

“Whatever I want it to be,” Rick answered, before hailing the ship. “World Traveler,please respond with your ESC-89 quarantine plan, including your three-year supply list and quarantine docking location.”

Finally, Captain Rita’s voice answered, “Who is this? Why are you on the Federation’s channel? Your credentials are coming in scrambled.”

Rick smirked but kept his voice even. “World Traveler,this is the Federation Health Protocol shipCysgod Guardian. Please respond with your ESC-89 quarantine plan, including your three-year supply list and quarantine docking location confirmation.”

There was a long pause before Rita answered, “We’re here on Federation orders.”

“World Traveler,we do not have you cleared for biohazard landing. Check your planetary advisory channel. This is an active virus location. I repeat, active level one virus location. We have orders to contain any universal threat for the greater good of all aliens. No one is allowed to leave the planetary atmosphere without an ESC-89 quarantine plan. Trespassers will be blasted from the sky in accordance with MAPH, ESC, HIA, and Federation joint protocols.”

Rick didn’t slow their speed as they neared the other ship.

“We’re here on Federation orders,” Rita repeated, “from General Griggs.”

“World Traveler,you are not authorized. Turn your ship around immediately. This is your last warning. If you proceed to Cysgod, you will not leave it. This is a level one virus containment with a one hundred percent infection to death rate.”

Rick switched communication off.

“What are they thinking?” Nyle grumbled.

“Dev, get ready to divert power to the shields,” Rick said over the ship’s comms. “Jackson, going to need you on weapons. Payton, get your strap back on and stay put, or I’m locking you in a room for the rest of the trip.”

“They had a child on the ship when we were with them,” Nyle said. “We can’t shoot them down.”

Rick stiffened. “Jackson, they might have a kid with them, so if it comes to it, disable, don’t destroy.”

“Who in all the stars brings a child to a place like this?” Jackson answered.

Nyle stared at Rita’s ship, willing them to leave. There was no love lost when it came to the mercenary crew, but that boy…

He took a deep breath. No one wanted to be in a spaceship battle in the middle of the deep black. There was no telling which, if either, ship would fly away from it. An instant explosive death would be better than being stranded and drifting, hoping a benevolent rescuer would not only answer a distress call but would stop to help.

“World Traveler,we’re going to need your response. A Federation elimination fleet has been dispatched to your location,” Rick warned, lifting his hand as if to silence Nyle before he spoke.

Nyle held his breath.

Seconds ticked by.

“Rick, are we a go?” Jackson asked.

Rick motioned his hand to wait even though Jackson couldn’t see the gesture.

“Our mistake,Cysgod Guardian,” Rita finally answered. “We have the wrong coordinates.”

Nyle released his breath. Rick clenched a fist and pounded it up into the air in celebration.

Rita’s ship began to move away from the planet.

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