[45 minutes later, Void Star, Deck 2, Mess Hall.]

“So what is up with her?”

“What do you mean by that, Midea?” Vlondril looks at the Altherian young woman with an incredulous stare.

“The captain! She does not say much to all of us..” Midea pouts.

“Oh! She is not one for words.” Vlondril smiles at Midea. “And she is cute when she blushes.”

Midea blinks in confusion at Vlondril.

“Oi oi, I say she alrigh’. I mean, She i’int exactly lookin’ to make friends aroun’ here i’seems, but…” Jay offers

“Has a good head on her shoulders.” Vlondril muses

“I know that! But I don't know a single thing about her past.” Midea scowls.

“That shouldn't matter. Trust me when I say it is probably better if we don’t dig too deep. Women like her tend to have bones buried deep in the closet, so to speak.” Wesley interjects.

“I secon’ tha’ sta’ement.” Jay nods in agreement.

“So we have our plan together?” Vlondril looks around the table.

“I think so..?” Galinae finally adds her voice to the conversation.

All the members of the conversation stare at the data pad in the center fo the table. Jay chooses that moment to ask the question that everyone is currently thinking about. “So… Who gets ta’ deli’ier the plan tae’ the boss-lady?”

***

[10 minutes later, Void Star, Deck 3A, Armory]

A metallic clank indicates the bolt locking back into the chamber of the rifle as I pause, feeling a presence behind me.

“Kara?” That was Vlondril’s voice coming from the Armory gate’s direction.

“What do you have for me?” I keep a professional tone.

“Here, Kara.” I turn around, looking down at the data pad in Vlondril’s outstretched hand. She smiles at me. “This is the plan for Case Alpha and Case Bravo. Jay and I worked out their force compositions and what weaponry they have at their disposal.”

After a cursory glance at the contents there are two things to note; First off the Vasivich operation is massive. Secondly, they are spread out across Midnight City. “I will decide in a few hours. Let Jay know that I had the Yeoman prepare his quarters on deck 2.”

Vlondril smiles slyly “Right away captain! Oh, and..” she approaches, presses herself on me, and whispers in my ear, I try to back away but my back presses into the workbench behind me. I can feel her breath on my ear and down my neck. “We should go to dinner, you know. You are always so busy that you need to take some time to relax.”

I feel warmth in my cheeks. Trying, and failing, to clamp down the blush creeping on my face as she backs off and leaves. Pausing at the Armory gate. “How about tomorrow night? You don't have to answer now though.” After a coy smile, Vlondril leaves.

“Cheeky woman.” I sigh, shaking my head as a smirk creases my lips before I speak my mind aloud. “Maybe she is right, I need to stop working so hard and have some fun.” After finishing the assembly of the DMR, I put it back in the racks gently, and vacate the armory, shutting the gate behind me.

After my rather intimate, and uncomfortable encounter with Vlondril, I head to the main engineering core of the ship. Admittedly, that is probably the first room I should have looked at when I first boarded the ship.

[A week later]I spent considerable time going over the few final details of the plan in the past few days.

At the moment, there was a team meeting going on to review said plan in the makeshift planning and meeting room we furbished in the space rear of the CIC on deck 1.

“...Midea’s job is to jam comms planet-wide once we make our move, Rendering response to the takeover useless as communications will be down. To that end, Vlondril is to infiltrate the main communications post for the Vasivich mob. Eliminate the entire staff.” I look at Vlondril before continuing as a smarmy grin creases her face, I continue. “B’Nan, Jay, Myself, and our new hires will enter the Vasivich compound. Our target is Karrina Vasivich, Makarovo’s wife. I want her alive.”

Everyone nods, including our hires. I managed to negotiate pricing on a few mercenaries to bring aboard. Jay even recommended his old lover, Starri Ivaako. Among others, Slava Konyev, and an Altherian woman named Danae. Danae’s brunette hair framed a long, slender neck typical of altherians. With human facial features except the eyes. Which had black irises. Her skin had a tan complexion, pigmented by the higher output of their homeworld’s star, Canis-Majoris.

Starri was a Chimera as well. A bit crazy, but she took the job to re-connect with Jay. Which was making Jay rather nervous and antsy. According to Jay, she was quite the fighter, if a bit crazy. She had pouty lips and a round face, with green eyes, red hair, and a slender physique. She stood at about 170 centimeters tall, which was a bit shorter than Jay. The two were side-by-side in the briefing room.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Slava was a human male, with a deformed face from one too many blows to the head. Rumor is he was a prize fighter on Solaris, who was disgraced after it was found out he threw fights for the Mob to launder dirty money. A goatee with curly brown hair hid scars on his chin and skull, and sunken eyes with a jaded expression topped his burly physique. He usually wore a hood to hide his disfigurement in public.

I clear my throat. “Once we have the lady of the hour in custody, secure the perimeter. Jay, you have auto-turrets so I suggest we set a perimeter up. Just in case Makarovo attempts to make a move.”

“You go’it lass!” Jay responded cheerfully. He seemed quite cheerful to get back into a fight. “I Mae’be Old, bu’ I still can fight!”

“Not quite like you used to.” Starri grumbled.

“Ach! Oi! If I remember co’ectly, You are ta’ one tha’ too'off me leg, lass!”

Starri pouted in her annoyance. I clear my throat louder.

“Anyways, back on track.” I pause a moment before continuing. “Once we make our transmission to Makarovo, I want the perimeter secured and airtight. Oh, and..” I look between the three mercs. “If this job goes well, I might extend an offer to stick with us long-term.”

“Sounds good to me.” Starri shrugs dispassionately.

“I’ll think about it,” Danae responds with a professional monotone.

“Couldn't hurt.” Slava shrugs.

“Good. We have…” I look at the chronograph on my wrist. “...9 hours to sunset. Sanitize, prep, do whatever you need to do before then. meeting’s over, kids.”

[An hour later]

After our meeting, I took it upon myself to scout out the Vasivich residence in Midnight City. Taking the time to walk on foot, through the streets of the city to my vantage point. When I arrive, there is activity in front of the compound.

From my vantage, there are several armored vehicles outside, along with a setup of heavy weapon emplacements, mortars, and barricades. I slip my mGlass from my cleavage and type a message.

TO: V

FROM: K

SUBJ: Compound Security

MSG BODY: Vasivich is beefing up security on the compound, Suggest you advise the others to bring some anti-tank weapons, I am heading to the bazaar to buy some munitions.

I slip the device back into my jacket after tapping ‘send’.

[Meanwhile…]

At the ship, Vlondril quietly sat as she started pondering to herself over a glass of vintage wine. Her thoughts wander through the past few months, how she has grown accustomed to each crew member, as well as her assessment of these new hires.

On that note; Danae was dependable, honest to a fault, and professional. She would not last long in Midnight City, and she probably sees placing her lot in on this crew as her ticket out of a worse fate. Slava? It was rather hard to place his motives.

He was either desperate or he had an ulterior motive for that indifference to pitching in with this crew. Vlondril made a mental note to voice her concern about him with Kara later. That left Starri…

Starri’s the exception, Her motive was rather straightforward; She wanted to reconnect with their latest crew addition. Jay did seem Bemused at the idea, however, they are critically short-handed for capable fighters. Only time will tell if Starri would be an asset or a liability.

Vlondril’s mGlass chirped, Ripping her away from her thought train as it notified her of a new message. She reached over her head to fish for it on the end table behind her head. She did not feel like exerting energy to sit up on the couch. After finally managing to slide and grab it with her hand, she brought it into her vision and read the message. She pursed her lips as she saw it was from Kara. She always used her first initial for her messages.

“Interesting. Seems our little visit ruffled some feathers.” She smiled, it seemed that was a slight mistake, but it looked as if Kara has a plan to handle it.

“Should be interesting.” Vlondril mused as she plopped the mGlass back atop the end table and settled back into her couch.

This was going to be an interesting fight up ahead.

***

I take the time to observe movement in and out of the compound, plot the routes for the various armed perimeter patrols, and note any infil and exfil options. Jotting down my notes on my mGlass.

There are several roving patrols around the perimeter fence, which will make infiltration difficult on foot. Other options are the gate and an aerial insertion. There are two armored vehicles posted at the gates, we need anti-tank weapons to deal with them. That left the aerial insertion. While not stealthy, it has the most flexibility. Plus we can bring our air support with us if push comes to shove. I sigh, slipping my mGlass into my cleavage, fishing for my cig case.

I start lighting my cig just as a shuttle approaches the compound. A low rumble rattles the buildings around the compound as the shuttle’s engines retro-fire, the nozzles tilting downwards to generate thrust to keep it airborne as it hovers precariously over the concrete landing pad. Slowly, the pilot sets the shuttle down on the concrete as I watch, taking a long drag of my cigarette.

The shuttle’s side door opens, and A tall woman in a slinky red dress exits with a white fur coat on her shoulders; Clutching a small purse that matches the color of her coat as she strides to the front door of the Vasivich estate.

I hastily retrieve my mGlass and type a one-line message on it: ‘The Queen has landed’