Page 74 of Commander’s Mate

One syllable.

Enough.

I turned the tablet toward her.

She read the entry.

Her mouth hardened at NONCOMPLIANT.

“What does that mean?”

“Whatever the buyer wanted it to mean.”

She looked at me.

“You’re going to Breskaa.”

“Yes.”

“Now?”

“Yes.”

Tivid spoke quietly. “We need Halor first.”

I looked at him.

“Fuel.”

“We have enough.”

“To arrive. Not enough to fight, extract survivors, and escape.”

“We take it from Breskaa.”

“Perhaps. Or perhaps we arrive with one damaged dreadnought, no support ship, no medical overflow, and no safe destination for those we rescue.”

Every word was correct.

I hated him for it.

Harper studied me.

“Your sister.”

“Yes.”

“And twenty-two other names.”

“Taren. Fourteen when taken.”

Her face changed.

“How many people are on Breskaa?”

“Unknown.”

Tivid almost apologized with his eyes.