Free Lost in Barbarian Space by Anna Hackett Page B

Markaria’s smaller moon, Myrine, was growing larger and larger through the window.
    “You can undo your harness now,” Honor said as she unfastened her own.
    Soon the two of them stood by the window.
    “Starting scans,” the young science officer said.
    “It is a rocky, barren place.” Colm saw no evidence of a ship or anything else on Myrine’s surface. All there was were craters.
    “Nothing on scans. Moving to the next quadrant.”
    They circled the small orb and Colm waited. Beyond Myrine, he saw the vast darkness of space, dotted with distant stars. Incredible . It amazed him that Honor and her colleagues saw this kind of thing all the time.
    There was so much out there. Aurina had shared many stories and obtained archives of information for Kavon’s scholars. Colm knew they were beyond the galaxy’s official edge, deemed uncharted space, but Markaria was no longer alone, and life for their people would change.
    They just had to ensure it changed for the better. At first, he’d worried that having more technology would make warriors obsolete. He glanced at Honor. But it seemed that even people with more technology still needed their protectors.
    Finding this treasure was beneficial to Markaria. It would offer them more of their history, bring more interest from the outside, and also bring much-needed riches that Markaria might need in these new times.
    Colm tapped a finger against his belt. Not that it mattered. He doubted he would be there to see all these changes.
    “Nothing,” Agent Abora said. “Moving onto the final quadrant.”
    He had to admit that the walls of the ship felt far too close. Despite the vast space outside the glass, he still felt claustrophobic in this ship. He fell into a warrior breathing routine, one he used a lot to calm his nanami. He pulled in another breath, tasting the recycled air, and forced himself to calm.
    “Nothing.” Agent Abora flopped back in her chair. “There’s nothing here.”
    “We have another moon to search, Ning,” Honor said with a small smile. “Patience is vital on these kind of expeditions.”
    “I have a friendly bet going with Agent Hant on the Magellan that we’ll find the wreckage up here. He thinks it’s on the planet.”
    Honor crossed her arms. “Well, let’s move to the next moon and see if we can win that bet for you.”
    The science officer’s comp made a strange beep.
    “Wait!” She leaned forward, her hands dancing over the screen. Then a frown drew her brows together. “There’s something showing on long-range scanners.”
    Colm watched as Honor changed. Her easy, relaxed posture disappeared and she stiffened. “Report.”
    Agent Abora shook her head. “Nope. It’s gone.” She swiped and tapped some more. “Running a full secondary scan now.” After a few seconds, the science officer relaxed. “Nothing. It must have been some interference.”
    “Run it again and check,” Honor said, voice firm.
    “Yes, Agent Brandall.”
    A moment later, Agent Abora shook her head. “It’s all clear.”
    Honor nodded. “Good. Okay, are we ready to check out the second moon?”
    The ship moved, changing course. Now Colm watched the white orb of Ansar fill the screen.
    As they moved closer, he saw that it was completely covered in ice and snow. “It looks like the north of Markaria. Cold and icy.”
    “If we find wreckage down there, we’ll have to plan our trip down with precision.” Honor stared at the moon with a frown. “No one wants to be lost in that.”
    He smiled at her. “I spent several weeks in the north’s icy climes on a warrior’s test. It…wasn’t pleasant, but survivable.”
    “I like warmer weather.” Her gaze dropped down his body. “Besides, I’m guessing your nanami help you from feeling the cold.”
    “They help us withstand the cold, but we still feel the pain.”
    Agent Abora turned in her chair. “Prelim enviro scans show survivable temps…just. But there are wild snowstorms in places, and it