Free Syndicate's Pawns by Davila LeBlanc Page B

our prey is helpless. That being said, Mikali, I need you to block that transmission from going any further than the edge of this system and mister Loc, I need you to make contact with them.”
    Loc nodded. “Erm . . . what do I tell them?”
    â€œSimple.” Domiant took another moment to admire the Jinxed Thirteenth . A crippled find like this in the lawless Covenant-­free sectors of space? All Domiant’s crew would have to do in order to secure it was to follow standard ship-­to-­ship protocol. To all outer appearances nothing of this vessel justified the incredible payday promised. “We will identify ourselves and offer a helping hand.”

 
    CHAPTER 8
    MORWYN
    It has often been wondered which is more valuable. Love? Or Trust? The answer to the question lies in figuring out which is scarcer. Love is everywhere and in everything. Trust? Not so much. Love is priceless, Trust is rare. The two are not exclusive, but it is dangerous to presume that having one means having both.
    â€”­Prefect Atrian Silenus,
3rd of SSM–01 1444 A2E
    20th of SSM–11 1445 A2E
    W hat was maddening about this entire situation was the extremely vulnerable position in which Morwyn presently found himself. A transport vessel identifying itself as the Althena had slipped into their system and hailed the Jinxed Thirteenth less than an hour ago. Pilot Harlowe had run a search on the vessels registrations and they had come out clean.
    The captain had requested to board the Jinxed Thirteenth to negotiate a trade. This had made Morwyn nervous, but what else could he do? They were in need of parts and if this merchant vessel had what they needed he would have to broker a trade with its captain. The longer they remained stationary in End Space, beyond the laws of the Covenant, the greater their chances of being found by far less scrupulous individuals traversing the cosmos.
    Lizbeth Harlowe had assured Morwyn that there were no weapons systems of any kind on the Althena . This had done very little to reassure Morwyn. In this day and age it was often the crew serving on the vessels who were far more dangerous. Then of course there was the question of just what a merchant vessel was doing this far in End Space.
    This was why Morwyn had agreed to meet with the Althena ’s captain and one other member of his crew. He had chosen Chord as his second; the Machina’s capacity for languages and cultures would be useful at circumventing any misunderstandings. Also prior to arranging this meeting, Morwyn had made Chord promise him that the Machina would reveal nothing about Jessie Madison or their previous mission. If asked anything, Chord was to remain silent and let Morwyn do the talking.
    â€œYou appear to be restless, Captain.” Chord was standing at Morwyn’s right side. Both of them were in front of the Jinxed Thirteenth ’s main loading-­bay door. The Althena had bound itself to the Jinxed with its own collapsible tunnel. Presently parties from both ships were waiting for the pressure to equalize on both sides before meeting with each other.
    â€œThere is something about this that I simply do not like.” Morwyn looked to Chord. If the Machina felt anything akin to suspicion it did not show on its artificial face.
    â€œThis unit understands and will be mindful of any strange behavior.”
    â€œGratitude, Chord.” Morwyn took a moment to straighten his uniform. He would have to keep this transaction as brief as possible. The longer it took, the greater the chance of Jessie’s accidental discovery.
    â€œCaptain, the pressure is equalized on both sides.” Lizbeth Harlowe spoke over the ship’s intercom.
    Morwyn took a calming breath and readied himself. “Right, let our guests on board, Lizbeth.”
    The doors to the main loading bay clicked and grinded as they pulled themselves open. Perfectly sealed around the edges of the entrance was a