The Star Thief (8 page)

Dallas turned to Renna. “What I am about to say is not to leave this room.”

She smirked. “I’m a thief. I know how to keep a secret.”

“You also know how to sell them to the highest bidder,” Keva muttered.

Renna clenched her hands in her lap. Someday she was going to knock that smug smile off that woman’s beaky lips, and it wouldn’t be in the sparring ring.

“I assume you’ve heard about the attack on Banos Prime three years ago?” Dallas asked, jerking her out of her dark thoughts.

She nodded. The murder of ten thousand civilians was always big news. “Myka said his parents had been killed there.”

“Correct. They were there as scientists, ostensibly working for the mining colony doing research. In reality, they were part of the MYTH team investigating a strange mineral found on-world.”

“And Myka didn’t know?”

“Of course not. He’s a child. But what his parents found put us on high alert a few days before the attack. Someone had built a station to take the minerals found in the Banos Prime soil and convert them into a new type of clay.”

That drug seemed to be the cause of every problem in her life. She took a deep breath. “So someone killed an entire colony to keep production secret?”

“Partly. We also think the Aldanis had additional information about technology they discovered.”

Renna tapped her finger on the smooth white surface of the table. “Well, you have the kid now, and I’m assuming the tech I retrieved was the stuff you were looking for. What else do you need me for?”

Dallas’s lips tightened into a thin line. “Whoever was behind the attack on Banos Prime hasn’t stopped. They’re still after something, and we need to know what.”

“I haven’t heard of any attacks.”

Dallas stopped pacing long enough to tap the holopad on the table, careful to keep his eyes averted from the screen. The map of the galaxy on the wall flickered and then disappeared, replaced by high-definition photo images.

Mangled bodies, smoking cities, blood, death, and destruction flashed by in a blur. Renna’s stomach roiled, and she pressed a hand to her mouth.

“That’s Nath. Or what’s left of it. Two months ago, it was attacked without warning, and most of the humans on the planet killed. We don’t know what the attackers were looking for or if they found it.”

Renna dragged her gaze from the screen, swallowing the acid burning the back of her throat. “There’s been no word of this. Not even a hint.” She had contacts on every planet. There was no way the Coalition could have kept this a secret.

“MYTH is a powerful organization.” Dallas’s gaze fell to the table and his expression tightened. “And there were few survivors left to talk.”

“But what do they want? Why are they doing this?” The pictures kept coming, and she wanted to scream at him to turn them off. She’d seen it all before, but there was something about the way the bodies had been gutted, the way their blood splattered everything around them… It was horrific.

“That’s what we need your help to find out. We know the gamma particle destabilizer is part of it. So is Myka. Dr. Aldani agreed to help us if we rescued his nephew, but he refused to work on anything until Myka was returned. We think he knows more than he’s telling us.”

Myka’s uncle seemed like a very smart man. “Nice to see someone able to stand up to you.”

Dallas’s face darkened. “We’ve found another manufacturing installation in the middle of the desert on Banos Prime, about twenty klicks from the city’s ruins. We think it’s the same people.”

Renna’s gaze rested on Lieutenant Keva and the two silent men sitting beside her. They all looked more than capable. She already knew the captain was. “I’ve seen how your space ninjas work. You’re telling me they couldn’t rescue a little boy from thugs like the Cordozas?”

“It wasn’t that we couldn’t. We just wanted to see if you could.”

Her nausea faded away as every muscle in her body hardened. “You mean you used this kid as a frakking test for me?” she snarled.

Dallas raised a hand calmingly. “No, not at all. Myka was genuinely in danger, and we needed to rescue him. You were the closest thing we had to a stealth team. Had Finn’s crew broken into the warehouse, it would have alerted the Cordozas immediately. And this way I was able to force my superiors into agreeing to give you those pardons if you helped us. It was for your benefit as well as ours.”

“I don’t much like your definition of benefit.” Renna crossed her arms. “What I don’t understand is what you think I can do at a manufacturing facility. I’m no scientist.”

“No, but you can get into places no one else can. And this facility is…different.” Dallas nodded at Keva, and she used the tablet in front of her to pull an aerial photo onto the screen.

A dull gray building sat in the middle of the desert. Keva flipped through several pictures, different angles. The walls were completely smooth. No doors, windows or other entrances. It looked like some sort of huge box.

“What the hell is that?”

Dallas frowned. “That’s what we’d like to know. And we need to get inside. We’re working on alternative solutions, but you’re the only person who might be able find us a way in and help us uncover whoever is attacking these colonies and why.”

Renna leaned forward to study the pictures. “I can’t get into something with no opening. No matter how good I am. What makes you think there’s anything in there to begin with?”

“Aldani says there is. He’s developing the tools to help you get inside.” Dallas motioned to Keva to turn off the holovid. “Our next step is for Captain Finn’s team to take Myka and the particle destabilizer home to Aldani. Renna will work with the doctor to figure out the best way to get into the facility. Once we know what we’re up against, we can figure out a way to stop the people behind these attacks.”

He paused, letting his gaze drift over the team. “I know some of you are not happy with my team selection. I assure you that each of you has been handpicked for your exceptional skills. You all know what is at stake here and what needs to be done. I trust you’ll do whatever it takes to ensure the end result.”

Keva jumped to her feet and saluted. “We are honored to be part of this mission, sir!”

Dallas saluted back.

And then the earth trembled as an explosion rocked the room.

SEVEN

“What the hell was that?” Dallas demanded into his communicator. His face blanched at whatever he heard, and he steadied himself on the back of a chair. The rest of the team watched him, too well trained to question him.

Renna had no such qualms. “What was it? Felt like we were hit with a bomb.”

“We were.” He ran an unsteady hand through his hair and started barking orders into his communicator unit. “Send Spec Ops 7 to intercept. We need men on the ground now! Get the cruisers into the air.” He whirled on his heel. “Keva, get the boy and meet us on the ship. The rest of you move. Now.”

The crew raced from the room in a thunder of boots and shouted orders. Renna turned to follow, but Dallas stopped her with a raised hand. He paced the room twice, shouting orders into his comm unit, before he turned back to her. “Okay. Follow me, Renna. I know you haven’t had time to ask questions. What else do you need to know for this job?”

She expected the facility to be chaotic and crazy, but the workers still sat at their stations in the command center, speaking softly into their headpieces, moving things around on their holovids. She assumed those moving pieces were ships or people, but it was hard to tell as she and Dallas hurried past. He called out a steady stream of orders as they exited the room and headed down a hallway toward what she assumed was the hangar bay.

“How many troops?” Renna asked when Dallas was done issuing orders.

“Ours or theirs?”

Despite herself, she was beginning to like the major. “Let’s start with theirs.”

“Two destroyers have been spotted attacking the Warehouse District. It’s gone. Everything is gone.” He swallowed, his eyes flashing before he brought himself under control. “They’re moving north through the city, looking for…whatever they’ve come to find.” His hands clenched at his sides. “But how did they know? It’s like they launched their attack as soon as we sent in Finn’s team to rescue you and the boy. It doesn’t make any sense.”

Renna swallowed. There was only one thing she could think of that made sense if that was true, and it meant MYTH might have a leak. But Dallas’s pale face made her hold her tongue.

Instead she asked, “What are our troops doing? Where are they focusing the attack?” She pushed aside the thought of Boyd, her fence and the closest thing she’d had to a friend. His apartment wasn’t too far from the Warehouse District. He always said it paid to be close to work.

Her stomach ached, but she focused on Dallas’s next words.

“We’ve sent three platoons of MYTH soldiers and two regular platoons of Coalition troops, and three starship cruisers are in orbit. Whoever they are, they won’t get out of here without a serious fight.” He cleared his throat as if remembering who he was talking to. “But right now, we need to worry about getting you off-world. The hangar is down this hall. The MYTH team and a small platoon of soldiers are already waiting.”

“How big a crew do we have?”

“The
Athena
is a frigate with a service crew of thirty, plus the six MYTH officers. They’ve all served together on several missions now.” His gaze was cold, and she could read the warning there. “I’ve read your file. You need to behave yourself, Renna. It’s not a buffet.”

She smirked and tossed her hair over her shoulder. “I am a professional. You don’t need to worry. Much.”

Dallas entered a code on the datapad at the hangar door, and it slid open with a
whoosh
of air. Renna inhaled deeply; the smell of starfuel, machinery, and space filled her lungs. Gods, it smelled like home.

And then she spotted the prettiest cruiser she’d ever seen gleaming in the helolights. The ship was long and silver, with a dark red stripe running down the center. Two long wings jutted from the back, and the nose of the ship was blunt and wide, all the better to jump to hyperspace with.

Her skin prickled. She recognized it as an Infiltrator-class frigate. One of the newest and stealthiest on the market. She was going to enjoy getting to know her new home.

Dallas smiled at her. “That’s the
Athena
. She’ll get you where you need to go and then some. Be nice to Finn and I can promise you, you’ll get there unharmed.”

“I planned on it. Anyone who captains a beauty like this deserves my best behavior.” Or at least his pilot did.

Inside the ship, the familiar hum of the engines and the smell of recycled air greeted her like an old friend, but Dallas was moving too fast for her to get much more than an impression of the main deck. The crew was already sitting at their stations to man the ship controls. It might be a new frigate, but the ship couldn’t fly itself.

She followed him to the command center, a circular space looking forward over the ship. Captain Finn paced back and forth, barking orders as they prepped for takeoff. Keva sat at a terminal beside him, her fingers flying across a holoscreen.

Major Dallas turned and clasped her hand in his. “Good luck to you, Renna. We’re all counting on you.” Then he strode over to Captain Finn. The two men spoke in hushed tones, glancing at her once before Dallas spoke into the ship’s comm unit. His mellow voice filled the empty space around them. “The success of this mission depends on you. Be swift, silent, and deadly. And may the gods be with you all.” He saluted before stepping down from the command center. Without a look back, he strode from the ship.

As the hatch closed behind him, Renna heard footfalls as someone sprinted toward her. She spun just in time for Myka to throw himself at her.

“I thought they were going to leave without you!” he said, hugging her around her waist.

She patted his back. “Can’t get rid of me that easily, kid. They been treating you okay?”

He stepped back and nodded, scuffing one of his shiny shoes against the deck. “New clothes, a shower, some food and water. I’m much better now.”

“Good. They really don’t want to see me get angry.” She winked at him, then nodded toward the bridge. “Come on, I have a feeling this is going to be a bumpy ride. Let’s find somewhere safe.” Renna waited for a pause in the action before calling up to Finn. “Captain, where do you want us?”

He glanced at her in surprise, as if he’d forgotten their presence. Her smile slipped. Was she that forgettable?

“Private Adams,” Finn said, “Take these two to the observation deck and strap them in. Then get your ass back here.”

One of the young men scurrying around paused when he heard his name and saluted the captain. “Sir. Yes, sir.” He turned to Renna and Myka. “Follow me.” He led them past the comm station, through a large meeting room, and into the port observation deck.

“Can you take care of him? I need to get back.” Adams jerked his head toward the command center.

“We’re fine. Go.” So Finn still ran a tight ship. At least that hadn’t changed. She swallowed away the memories. “Okay, kid. Have a seat.” She strapped Myka into one of the chairs, then took a seat by the window.