Page 156 of Stars in Umbra
‘It appears to be headed for a location in Dunia’s upper stratosphere, a floating fortress concealed above satellite view, unreachable without codes and clearance,’ Mo growled.
‘Stygian Corp HQ,’ Mirage confirmed with a grim tone. ‘It’s crawling with activity with gunships, multiple weapons, and life signs. Seems we’ve just poked the hornet’s nest.’
Mo’s jaw tightened, a shadow falling over his features.
‘Then it’s time to bring the fire, and burn them all down.’
Mo stood at the head of the Corvette’s bridge, his arms crossed, eyes locked on the data stream flickering and flowing over the central console.
Rina stood beside him, with the Sable Group’s AI.
Mirage had just sent the Kainan evidence of Stygian Corp’s operations, from the black-wet and kill contracts to ghost missions and proof of terror strikes that reshaped borders and destabilized governments across Pegasi.
‘Let’s make the call.’
The holo link went through encrypted channels, every packet triple-verified, and now terabytes of classified intelligence.
Kainan’s face soon appeared on holo view, framed by the giant windows of his meticulous office.
He cut to the chase. ‘For years now, I’ve kept an eye on Stygian; they never quite smelt right. I suspected those bastards were shit,’ the Commander growled with deadly calm.
Mo said nothing at first, observing hisKhosi’sexpression shift as he took in the full extent of what they uncovered.
Kainan growled with deadly calm. ‘Fantastic work, team. We now have proof that they’re behind most of the unrest in Pegasi, stirring shit, terrorizing, and selling illegal arms to the highest bidder.’
Onscreen, Kainan’s gaze narrowed on the trio. ‘On paper, we’ve authorized a strike for you three to hit Stygian’s HQ,’ he said. ‘We’re in motion. But I’m asking you to hold for a bit.’
Mo tilted his head. ‘Why, bosskhan?’
‘Because this can’t just be a hit,’ Kainan replied. ‘It has to be the end of Stygian. We need to shut down all their operators and all their locations, which requires coordination. I’ll speak with Kage, Zane, Xion, and the Pegasi Military leadership. One wave. One purge. We can’t give them time to react or worse, disappear.’
Mo exhaled, the burden of his secrets tightening across his shoulders. He nodded once. ‘How long?’
‘24 to 48 hours,’ Kainan said. ‘Get some rest. Kick back until I give you green light.’
‘Fokkyeah,’ Mo growled, signing off the call. ‘I’m all about downtime.’
His gaze drifted toward Rina, standing in the corner of the bridge, arms folded, hips cocked, eyes on him with a slight upturn of her lush lips.
Mo’s eyes darkened, heat blooming in his chest, for her, the woman who now walked beside him.
He didn’t have to say a word.
The gleam in his eyes made his intentions exquisitely clear.
He had plans for her.
Ones that did not involve weapons, intel, or schematics.
Only soft gasps and the fall of clothing, taking her to places she had experienced, starting with the depths of his desire and ending in the sanctuary of his arms.
He had no wish to be a gentleman.
He wanted to pull her into a tempest of sensation.
Until she forgot her own name, and clung to him as if he were the only solid thing in a world gone mad.
He would not stop until her body bore his brand, a silent testament to a passion so fierce it threatened to consume them both.
