Commander Garrin stood at the front of his briefing room, the light from the holo-table’s tactical display casting a blue sheen on his face. “You’re headed to the city of Astrax on the planet Dynassa. It’s a new addition to the Liberty Union, brought in from the Corporate Expanse. While they’re officially part of the LU, there are still corporate powers fighting back with various methods of subterfuge.”

  The Corporate Expanse wasn’t a true government, just a collection of fractured mega-corporations scrambling for dominance. It had been born out of the anarchy following the collapse of Earth's central government, and without centralized leadership, it devolved into a ruthless free-market chaos. Unlike the Conservatory’s empire-like oligarchy, the Expanse’s power was fluid. Companies rose and fell based on how well they could manipulate resources. While not as overtly discriminatory, racism and bigotry still thrived. Non-human races faced steeper climbs up the corporate ladder, often forced to prove their worth with sharper elbows and fewer second chances.

  The display shifted, showing the wireframe of a cruiser. “An LU ship, the Sentinel Aurek, was attacked and destroyed last week. Most of the crew is believed dead, but several escape pods were jettisoned and made it to the city. There has been no word on the location of the inhabitants.”

  Inelius leaned forward, his lower arms resting on the table. “Do we know why the ship was attacked?”

  “We have a pretty good idea. Governor Adanis Anturi was aboard; he was newly appointed to oversee the planet’s full integration. There were also several senators with him.”

  Riza’s quiet voice cut in firmly from the far corner. “Why wasn’t there better protection for such a high-profile transport?”

  Garrin visibly tensed. He swallowed, stammering a bit when he responded. “T-the security was nothing below standard, ma’am. To my understanding. They just uh, got hit really damn hard. Ma’am.”

  “By who?” Aurania asked.

  Garrin took a breath to steady himself. “That’s what we need you to find out. None of the corporations on Dynassa are talking. As a result, the LU has the planet under a full blockade. Until it’s revealed who’s behind the attack, no corporate ships are allowed to enter or leave. Since you all don’t wear LU colors, aren’t officially LU military, and have your own unique tactics, we want you to go in quiet. Pose as privateers. Find those missing officers.” He paused, his gaze hardening as he looked at Aurania. “I can’t officially put this next part in the written orders, but…”

  “Then don’t say it,” Aurania cut him off. She could already tell what he was going to say: Any means necessary. “I will assume full responsibility for tactics. Whatever necessary means we choose to employ, it’s on me.”

  A flicker of relief crossed Garrin’s face. He gave her a grateful nod.

  “How we getting in?” she asked.

  “You’ll ride down on an LU military shuttle since they can still come and go without suspicion. But getting out of the ground-side base will require… discretion.” He glanced around the room, a nervous look laced with a hint of amusement on his face. “Any of you have qualms about dumpster diving?”

  There was barely a moment of quiet before Soren said, “I’ll do it.”

  Aurania’s nostrils flared and she shot him an annoyed glare. “Hey, don’t be so quick to volunteer. It takes the fun out of it if I want to volunteer you myself.”

  Soren just shrugged back at her with a flat stare. “Wah.”

  Smug fucker.

  Garrin continued with a faint smirk on his lips. “You’ll be able to hide in a large waste container—we can ensure it’s actually clean. An automated hauler will take it out of the secure zone and into one of the city’s reclamation centers. You won’t… all be able to fit in there, though.” He gave them all another analyzing glance.

  “Riza, Elias,” Aurania said. “Enjoy your break. Your presence will only increase the chances of us being flagged as LU-affiliated.” She pinched the bridge of her nose for a moment, then looked up and smirked. “Any volunteers for not hiding in the garbage?”

  Amalia and Violet’s hands immediately shot into the air.

  “Yep, thought so.” Aurania’s grin widened. She ticked off the names on her fingers. “Soren, Inelius, Veolo, myself… Tamiyo—up for some field work? A CIPHER might come in handy down there.”

  Tamiyo perked up, her gaze flicking first to Soren, then to Aurania. “Of course. Count me in.” She didn’t sound excited, but her voice was firm, confident.

  It was cold, dark, and cramped. And it smelled like bleached garbage.

  “Someone’s elbow is in my side,” Aurania growled.

  “Sorry,” Soren’s voice answered, too close. “Someone’s hoof is on my foot.”

  “Sorry,” Veolo muttered.

  A moment of quiet, filled only by the groan of the hauler’s suspension.

  “My ass is numb,” Tamiyo squeaked.

  The container shifted, making a heavy, metallic clank as it was set down. The rumble of the hauler’s engine slowly faded, replaced by the echoing drip of water somewhere. After a full minute of absolute silence, Aurania finally said, “Okay. Go.”

  Inelius hit the manual release. The side of the container gave way, and they all spilled out in a tangled heap of limbs and curses. Aurania landed on her back, then grunted as the wind was knocked out of her lungs from Soren’s massive frame landing right on top of her. She just stared up at his face with a bored, unimpressed look, then casually shoved him off.

  They all stood and, after a few moments of getting their bearings, they determined they were alone.

  “Veolo,” Aurania said, her eyes scanning the dark. “Where to first?”

  “Oh,” Veolo answered, a little surprised. “Well, we’re posing as privateers, right? Bounty hunters? So I guess we should find someone offering corporate bounties. They may at least have a line on information about the escape pods.”

  Aurania offered her an impressed nod. “Good job.”

  Four hours and three public transport rides later, they had left the undercity’s grime and found their way to an urban mid-level hub. Aurania and Veolo were leaning against a bar in a lively cantina, chatting up an information broker. The last time she’d seen him, Soren had been leaning with his back to a wall in a dark corner, arms crossed and trying not to draw attention to himself. Near the back, Inelius was playing cards with a group of cargo workers from the local spaceport. Tamiyo was observing as he cleaned them out.

  "Come on, you've gotta know something," Veolo pressed.

  Quelsh, the information broker, narrowed his four eyes at them. He was a lazarco with a splotchy hide the color of old butter and a nervous habit of wiping his upper hands on his vest. He eyed the greataxe Aurania casually held in one hand and asked, “Why y’all so keen on knowing?”

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Aurania let a flicker of calculated fire enter her tone. “Because we’re stuck on this dumb rock same as everyone else. I’m not one to sit around and wait. Figure if we can track down who they’re looking for, turn ‘em over, all the quicker we can get moving. Might even get a reward for our effort.”

  Quelsh scratched the underside of his jaw. He looked like he was thinking it over, weighing the truth of her words.

  Before he could answer, Soren suddenly appeared, a handful of glasses balanced in the grip of one massive hand. He pushed one into Aurania’s, one into Veolo’s (who blushed), and the last into one of Quelsh’s, keeping the last for himself. “Here,” Soren added, producing a physical credchip and passing it to the broker.

  Quelsh looked at the drink, then at the chip, then his gaze traveled up, and up, and up in Soren's direction. “You are one big motherfucker.”

  “Yep,” Soren said flatly. “Answer the lady’s question, please.”

  Veolo took a long swig of the drink. Her eyes widened. “Fuck, this is the good shit.” She looked up at Soren, the flush on her cheeks deepening—hopefully just from the drink. “Where’d you get all this money?”

  He glanced at her, then thrust a thumb over his shoulder toward Tamiyo and Inelius.

  Quelsh pocketed the chip and took a deep pull from his glass. “Alright. All I know is that the pods crashed down in the undercity and were immediately set upon by salvage gangs. Whatever was recovered, they didn't have it long. All the major corporations sent heavy hitters to shake the gangs down. If anyone survived in those pods, one of those corps has ‘em.”

  Aurania exchanged glances with Soren and Veolo.

  Then Veolo spoke up. “If all the corporations sent heavy hitters, was there any big scuffle between them?”

  Quelsh gave them a curious look. “No there was not.”

  “Is that common?” Veolo asked.

  He took a sip of his drink. “No it is not.”

  Aurania finally tasted her drink. Veolo wasn’t wrong, Soren picked out the good stuff. Looking across the bar, she saw one of the workers that Inelius was playing with had a company logo on his shirt, Davi-Co. She looked back at Quelsh. “Would Davi-Co be one of the corporations that sent some heavy hitters?”

  Quelsh swirled his drink, then said, “Hm,” and downed the rest of it. He nodded a bit excessively, and said, “This was a really good drink, thank you.” Then he took his leave.

  Aurania watched him go, then turned to Veolo and asked, “Alright, what's your next move?”

  Veolo was quiet for a long moment, her eyes distant as she thought. She took a sip of her drink, then touched her chin with her other hand and said, “Hmm.”

  Finally she looked up between both of them with a confident smirk. “Stay here.”

  She walked over to the card game, swaying her hips just barely more than was normal for her without looking exaggerated. She approached the table, said something to Inelius, and then turned her full attention to the man in the Davi-Co shirt. Even from this distance, Aurania could see that Veolo was turning the charm up to eleven. She usually wasn't overly flirty, even if she wanted to be, but the drink had apparently imbued some charisma.

  Soren looked over his shoulder and ordered two more drinks, then set one down in front of Aurania. She looked at it, then at him, failing to keep the heat from her expression.

  “No, thanks,” she said a little too sharply.

  She had grown used to him just rolling over, so she found herself surprised when he let out an almost irritated huff, his gaze fixed on their teammates. “Drink it or don’t. It’s there if you want it.”

  He took a slow sip from his own glass, watching as Veolo laughed at something the Davi-Co worker said, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder.

  Aurania felt a pang of something—guilt, maybe, or just the weary recognition of her own stubborn pride. After a moment, she picked up the glass and gingerly said, “Soren.”

  He turned to look at her, and she could see it—a flicker of hurt and anger in his eyes. She softened her own expression and offered up her drink to clink with his. “Thank you.”

  He looked at the glass, then at her. He took a breath, sighed, and then tapped his glass against hers. “You're most welcome.”

  She noted he didn't say it with the warmth he probably would have if she hadn't thrown her attitude at him first. She just couldn't seem to stop herself.

  Before she could continue dwelling on it, her thoughts were pulled back by Soren's voice. “They’re on the move.”

  Across the cantina, Veolo was leaving with the Davi-Co worker. She stood a head taller than him, but she had still draped herself on his arm. He was laughing at something she’d said, his face flushed.

  Soren and Aurania made their way over to Inelius, who looked up from his pile of credits with a mixture of amusement and surprise. “Well, that was a completely new side of her.”

  Aurania smirked. “Come on. Let's follow them.”

  They slipped out of the cantina into the neon-drenched chaos of the mid-levels. The air was thick with the smells of fried food, alcohol, and a thousand overlapping perfumes. They kept a careful distance, keeping to the shadows as much as possible for two of them being as tall as they were.

  Tamiyo's antennae twitched and she nervously asked, “Aren’t you worried about her being alone?”

  Soren let out a single, low chuckle. “I’m over 700 pounds and Veolo put me on my ass no problem. That guy wouldn’t stand a chance against her.”

  The admiration in his voice was unmistakable. It was a simple statement of fact, a soldier acknowledging a fellow warrior’s skill. But it sent a strange, unwelcome jolt through Aurania’s chest. Her mind flashed back to the battle circle, to the sight of Veolo straddling Soren, when a primal, possessive instinct had made her step in. The words had surprised her as much as anyone else when they ripped from her throat and ordered Veolo to get off him.

  Thinking back on it now, she felt shame wash over her.

  She focused back on the mission, on the two figures weaving through the crowd ahead. The Davi-Co worker led Veolo down a series of winding side streets, away from the main thoroughfares and into a quieter, more industrial sector. The neon glare of the mid-levels gave way to the dim glow of loading bays and maintenance depots. Veolo’s laughter echoed off the metal walls, a little too loud, a little too bright.

  She was playing her part well.

  When they rounded the next corner, they found a secluded staging area for Davi-Co, a small loading bay tucked between two massive warehouses. Veolo was there, her back pressed up against a wall, the Davi-Co worker's tongue halfway down her throat.

  The man heard their approaching footsteps and broke away, spinning to face them. "Who are you?"

  He looked from Aurania to Soren, then back to Veolo, and the pieces clicked into place. His face twisted with rage. "You trying to set me up or something? Drag me out here to jump me?"

  Veolo's face was near crimson, and her eyes went all the way down him, then back up. She swallowed and said, "For what it's worth, you're a decent kisser."

  His hand came up, trying to slap her.

  She easily caught his wrist and twisted.

  He let out a choked cry as his arm was forced into a submission hold. "Ow, what the fuck do you want from me, you crazy bitch?!"

  "Ah, see," Inelius groaned as he got closer. "Here I was, thinking of giving your money back in exchange for helping us. Now you're over here calling my friend names."

  The man grunted in pain. Aurania noticed Tamiyo's expression was bordering on disgust. The raw, physical nature of the confrontation was clearly making the CIPHER uncomfortable, and Aurania knew she had to de-escalate.

  She stepped forward and firmly asked, "What's your name?"

  He grunted again, still caught in Veolo's grip. "Kang."

  "Kang," Aurania repeated. "Here's what's going to happen: she's going to let you go, and you're going to keep a civil tongue. Then you're going to help us get access to your company's network, and you'll win back everything you lost in cards tonight."

  "I'm a nobody!" he yelled. "You're gonna get me fired! Or killed!"

  Aurania glanced at Veolo. "Let him go."

  Veolo released her grip. He stumbled back, clutching his arm and glaring at them.

  "Look, Kang," Aurania said. "You might just be a worker low on the ladder, but you have clearance. Your bosses had something to do with the attack last week that resulted in the LU putting everyone's balls in a chokehold. I got no beef with you; you just played some cards, talked to a pretty lady. But regardless of whether you help us, you might need to start looking for new employment. Davi-Co might not be operational by the time I'm done with it."

  He thought it over, his eyes darting between them. Finally, he let out a defeated sigh. "I can't give you my access card; it'll be traced to me. But I can tell you where my supervisor's network terminal is. You'll just have to figure out how to get access to it."

  Inelius stepped forward. "And the location of that terminal could have been given to us by any number of workers just like you, right, Kang?"

  "Exactly.”

  Aurania nodded. "Acceptable. Tell us."

  When they had the info they needed, they left Kang standing in the shadows of the loading bay. As they walked away, Tamiyo moved up beside Aurania and quietly said, "Thank you, Aura.”

  "You're welcome,” Aurania said.

  Then she looked over her shoulder as she heard Soren proudly say, "Damn good work back there, Veolo."

  She blushed for what felt like the hundredth time tonight and stammered, "Uh, thanks."

  Aurania faced forward, feeling that same, strange, unwelcome twist in her gut. Then she pushed it down, forcing herself to focus on the mission.