Mission Critical by T.R. Harris

Author:T.R. Harris [Harris, T.R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Human Chronicles Saga - Continuum - Book 1
Published: 2018-02-26T22:00:00+00:00

12

The three starships met up about half a light-year outside the Navior system. They powered down to minimums to keep from being spotted by any Cartel craft out looking for them. Riyad fastened an umbilical crossover tube to Adam’s ship, while Angar came over in a small, one-person transfer pod.

Adam hadn’t seen Riyad for a year, not since he stormed off the planet Earth in a huff after learning all his money was gone. There was also talk he might be charged with some twenty-five-year-old terrorist activities he was involved in back in his old life. Adam had to admit, their homeworld was fast becoming a very inhospitable place for him and his team.

The two old friends hugged and laughed, while the Nimorian Angar stood back looking relaxed and confident. The alien had once been the second-in-command of the sixty-ship-strong Fringe Pirates, just one position below their diabolical leader, Riyad Tarazi. When Riyad ran off to join Adam’s merry band of rebels, the alien took over and had led the group ever since. Adam greeted him warmly. Although they didn’t know each other well, they had crossed paths several times throughout the years. Adam noticed a silent strength about the husky, hairy alien he hadn’t noticed before. It had to be from age. Like the rest of them, Angar was older and wiser. He also knew Humans better and wasn’t intimidated by them like he had been in the past.

“So what are you doing here?” Adam asked.

Riyad flashed his trademark white smiled, enhanced by his dark, olive-oil skin. “Broke and desperate, I returned to the Fringe and looked up my old friend Angar. He was still operating a small fleet of raiders, but times were tough.”

“When the Klin destroyed the population of Silea, it put an end to commerce in the Fringe,” Angar went on to explain. “I only had five ships when General Tarazi showed up. Three of the captains decided to stay in the Fringe, while Riyad and I sought more profitable ventures in the Kidis Frontier. It is larger than the Fringe and still wild to a degree. We have been hunting vulnerable vessels for half a standard year.”

“And we’re glad you have been,” Adam said, placing a hand on the Nimorian’s shoulder. He turned to Riyad. “Did Kaylor say how far away he is?”

“Another two days. We’ll send him our coordinates when the reunion is over.”

The reunion—as it were—was brief, cut short when Copernicus and Sherri insisted on changing the subject.

“Yeah, great to see you too,” Sherri said impatiently. “But look what we have!”

Copernicus waved a hand at the grid-covered dark matter collector and the satchel holding the containers of gray cubes. “These things are worth over a hundred million credits,” he proclaimed proudly. He wasn’t afraid any of his friends would try to muscle in on his action; he was already going to share some of the money with them for the rescue.

“What’s wrong?” he asked when neither Adam nor Riyad appeared impressed.

Adam’s expression questioned Riyad’s reaction.

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