"What did you do?"
His laugh was sinister. "Just a little sabotage here and there. They really should do regular maintenance on their environmental systems. They'll be picking up the pieces for weeks. It'll take at least that long to figure out what happened. If they figure it out."
Elena stroked the lu-ong's head. "I knew you were my favorite uncle."
"Nice try, but we've got bigger problems now." Despite that statement, Uncle Jin leaned into her touch. "They've caught your scent. My distraction won't work for long. We may not have time to wait for a rescue."
Elena dropped her hand. "What does that mean?"
The lu-ong flicked its tongue. "We might have to go with your plan after all."
"You mean the one where we steal a ship?"
"Yeah," Uncle Jin sighed. "That's exactly what I mean."
Twenty Three
Kira - Secret Base
"Are we sure this is the place?" Brie asked, glancing up uncertainly from the view outside the window. "I don't see anything there."
The celestial object that Raider's coordinates had led them to was a rogue planet located in the asteroid belt several light years beyond Rothchild's solar system. In the vast distance of space, this planet could be considered in Rothchild's backyard.
The surface was barren and dark, covered in craters from asteroid impacts.
Its lower gravity would make it an ideal docking station for any fleet looking to do some repairs before their next mission.
"If you could see it easily, it wouldn't be considered a secret base," Kira answered as Lathan guided them along the course he'd been given.
The ship dipped into a canyon whose depth rivaled the Grand Canyon of old Earth, flying straight toward a bank of towering cliffs straight ahead.
"Guest ship—please hold your course. We’re preparing to receive you."
"Understood," Lathan answered.
Brie moved away from the window to stand beside Kira as the cliff parted, allowing light to seep out of the narrow opening. The base's blast doors blended in with the surrounding environment, making them unnoticeable until they opened.
It was an ingenious way of hiding the base from discovery. Unless you knew it was there, it would be nearly impossible to find.
Pallas's ship hadn't picked up any energy readings that might indicate its presence either, until now.
Lathan flew through the membrane protecting the hangar bay's atmosphere from escaping into the void of space.
"This is beyond anything I imagined," Brie whispered, taking in the massive cavern. Several battle cruisers were already docked inside, dwarfing the smaller transport ships around them. The cruisers filled the space, making it difficult to get a clear picture of just how many craft there were.
"It's not bad," Kira said, patting her shoulder before heading toward the cargo bay.
Graydon was already waiting for her at the open hatch. Odin stood next to him in a cloak that looked a lot like the ones Pallas had made Kira and Graydon wear on Rothchild.
Pallas leaned next to the open hatch, his arms crossed over his chest.
Kira arched an eyebrow at him. "You coming too?"
"I'm good here." Pallas scratched his jaw as he glanced outside at the landing bay. "I prefer not to breathe the same air as them."
"Suit yourself."
This worked better for her anyway.
At a nod from her, Graydon nudged Odin out of the ship before following. The J1N and Brie trailed after them.
"Watch yourself, would you?" Pallas said, not looking at Kira as she passed him.
"I always do."
He grunted, hitting the button to close the ship hatch as soon as she was on the other side. It sealed shut with a note of finality.
"J1N, make sure you stay by my side," Kira instructed the drone quietly. "Don't stray."
"Roger that, Nixxy."
With a deep breath, Kira started toward the group waiting for her. Here's hoping she could give the performance of a lifetime.
At her approach, Graydon glanced at her, moving over to make room.
"I see you caught up to the group in my absence," Kira said to Solal and Amila who were standing a short distance from Raider and the others.
The oshota regarded her calmly. Solal with an expressionless face. Amila with a faint smile that suggested she knew that Kira wasn't as angry as she was making herself out to be.
Maksym cleared his throat, raising his hand. "What about us? Where's our greeting?"
Kira sent the orange haired Tuann a glance before looking at Wren. "You brought quite the crowd with you."
Kira's seon'yer allowed a faint smile to touch his face. "Entirely necessary. I assure you."
"So much for them acting as decoys," Kira grumbled to herself.
Maksym shrugged his massive shoulders. "We fulfilled that obligation. I promise. Now, it's time for a little payback."
Zoella's nod showed her agreement.
"How is Auralyn?" Kira asked.
The playfulness fell from their faces at the reminder of Wren’s First. A woman who lost her arm while trying to protect Elena.
"She's being stubborn," Zoella answered. "Tavas is keeping her company."
Tavas was the fourth member of the pod. He was a quiet man who kept his sense of presence low. Pretty much the only thing Kira knew about him was that he was talented at long range attacks and loyal to Wren.
He made a pretty good babysitter too. At least he'd done well managing her niece the few times he'd been put in charge of her.
"It's a good thing we came since your fellow yer'se ended up needing our services," Maksym said.
Kira glanced at Amila with raised eyebrows. "You and Solal weren't enough?"
"They flatter themselves. We had the situation well in hand without them,” Amila said with a smirk.
Maksym blew a raspberry as Kira finally turned to the person she'd saved for last.
Finn took his time looking her over before giving a brusque nod. "You look like you're in one piece."
"Maybe now you'll finally believe I can take care of myself."
Finn snorted. "Don't push it."
She suppressed her grin and she nodded a greeting as Raider and Jace joined them. "How did the mop up go?"
"It didn't take much effort on our part. Rothchild already had things well in hand," Jace answered.
Brie let out a relieved sigh.
"Who's this?" Jace asked, looking at her.
"Rear Admiral Jace Skarsdale meet Brie." Kira stopped realizing she didn't know the woman's last name.
Brie snapped a salute. "Sergeant Brie Lockhart of Rothchild's Defense force. Third Recon Unit, Second Battalion, First Infantry Division."
Jace answered her salute with one of his own. "Well met, soldier. How did you get swept up into this one's matters?"
Brie’s hesitation showed on her face. As did her struggle not to glance in Odin's direction.
"It's complicated," she finally settled on saying.
"Whatever the case, we'll see about getting you home as soon as possible."
"I appreciate that."
Jace gestured at a pair of his subordinates, a man and a woman. "Please see that Sergeant Lockhart is shown to a set of temporary quarters in the meantime."