The inside of the tent, with its equipment and the Union pragmatic aesthetic felt somewhat alien to Brooks.

Kai had let him know that there was a priority message from the Craton. He'd come in as soon as he could.

Jaya appeared, her face serious. "Captain," she said.

He nodded. "Is all well, Jaya?"

Her head lowered slightly, her eyes darting away. "I must tell you what has happened."

She told him about the discovery of the camp, the Response Team's investigation, and their losses.

Brooks closed his eyes. "Three dead? These mercenaries must have been well-armed."

"Yes, sir. It was peer-level technology, and each individual was extremely well-equipped. They were a well-trained unit with good fighting experience." She paused. "We are fortunate that only three were lost."

"How is Pirra taking it?"

"As well as an officer should," Jaya replied. "While I am sure this is difficult for her, she is ready to go back into action - and I believe safely able to do so."

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Brooks nodded. "Now, tell me what we've learned about these mercenaries."

She did so; about their group and known crimes, about the captured officer and his information, and finally her thoughts on it.

"The strange thing is," she said. "That we found no evidence of smuggling artifacts. They are not even equipped with things one might expect."

Brooks frowned. "Show me their manifest of known equipment."

The file came through, and Brooks skimmed it. "I agree," he said. "I'd expect preservation equipment for perishables, cryo tanks, packing equipment, bulk cargo modules, and scientific equipment for cataloguing, the black market in research can't be overlooked. Then they'd need a launch platform for regularly bringing things out, as well as local transit. It would take twenty tons of goods to break even on an expedition like this, and an ability to search far afield."

Jaya paused, surprised at how much more thorough Brooks's thoughts were on this than her own had been.

"So what were they doing here?" she asked. "I cannot figure it out."

Brooks leaned back. "Investigate the moon. If there are any clues there . . ."

She nodded. "I feel it is worth the risk. I will take the Craton as close in as I safely can."

Brooks hesitated before speaking again. "Do you feel confident enough to command this? I could return-"

"No, Captain," she said calmly but firmly. "I feel every confidence in my ability to lead. And your mission is important."

He studied Jaya's image for a few moments longer. She was not a rookie; she was a seasoned officer. He had never met a junior officer who he thought was more ready for command than she was.

"All right," he said. "Good hunting."