System Harbinger : Legacy Earth 5 by Ross Buzzell

Author:Ross Buzzell [Buzzell, Ross]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Archimedes Books
Published: 2022-06-01T16:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-THREE

DEAL

Space warped in front of them as the hypnotic spiral overtook their windscreen. Justin slid out of the chair, dusted his hands off, and let one of the co-pilots take over.

“That’s beautiful!” Valdivia whispered.

“It is,” Lance replied. “And what’s our ETA for the next planet?”

“The first leg of our trip will take two days,” Drentlaw replied. “Then we’ll have a choice to make. Keep going straight, which’ll bring us through an oddly dense asteroid belt and by a planet marked as a ‘no-fly zone’ by the Alcazar. Or we can branch off and go around, making our trajectory add another two days to the trip.”

“Any reason why that’s marked a no-fly zone?” Lance asked.

“That’s has to be Malnara, home of the Draronians,” Kolar said as he itched behind his ear. “Only place outside of the Dark Pillar specifically forbidden to land on.”

“Any reason why?” Lance asked.

Kolar shook his head. The captain looked at Valdivia.

“I don’t know either,” she replied.

Lance turned his back on the cockpit. Chadavia walked behind the command stand and summoned the elevator.

“Chad!” Lance shouted.

Curiosity grew within the soldier as he jogged toward his fellow SOAT.

“Do you know anything about Draronians?”

Chadavia scoffed and shook his head. He looked at the ground for a second before crossing his arms and facing Lance.

“They’re a race that’s been known about since the Alcazar was established. Either they’re not space-faring or they’re incapable of it. There are rumors that they possess supernatural gifts to summon great beings of pure energy. All we know for sure is upon first contact they requested to be left alone so laws were put in place to leave them alone. Not even criminals are dumb enough to land on the planet,” Chadavia explained. “But all of that’s hearsay. I’d strongly suggest that we give their world a wide berth.”

“If we can pass it safely, we’re going to,” Lance countered. “We’re already behind and I don’t want to lose any more time.”

“So be it. As a SOAT, it’s within your power to make that call. All I’d suggest is having your pilot on deck when we get there just in case things get difficult,” Chadavia said, motioning toward Justin. “In the meantime, I think I’m going to relax and play some cards.”

“Would you like to learn a human game?” Justin asked.

“I would!” Valdivia exclaimed as she raised her hand.

“What are you thinking?” Lance asked.

“Poker, of course!” the pilot replied.

“With these two? We’ll get creamed!”

“We’re on the clock, so it won’t be with real money. Mattias brought a clay chip poker set he’ll let us use if he’s able to join in.”

“What’s poker?” Chadavia asked as the elevator doors opened.

“It’s a game where you don’t play your hand, you play your opponent,” Lance replied as they all stepped in. “But if we’re going to play, there’s one rule that both of you have to follow. None of your reading emotional cues because that’s out and out cheating.”

“Can I join?” Kolar asked.

Lance looked at the Galio, then to Chadavia. The Jarog shrugged.

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