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‘This is Chief Bianchi. Power down and surrender, or I’ll decorate space with your insides.’

A pause. Then the flickering lights.

They complied.

Xander’s Corvette drew alongside hers.

His bass slid into her node, hoarse and husky. ‘Well, well,mi cielo.’

She turned her head to gaze at him through a porthole. The glow of the battlefield reflected in her eyes, and victory pulsated in her veins.

‘Your girl’s still got it.’

‘Correction,’ he murmured, in smoky utterance. ‘My girl just took out the Lombardi’s crowning glory. Atta girl.’

TheÚltima PeñaandÚltima Xcoasted in alignment through the darkened star field. Toward the wounded Lombardi destroyer, theSanto Venado.

Its hull sparked from Savvine’s earlier assault, scorched and trailing thin wisps of coolant vapor.

The once-arrogant vessel now limped in silence, its engine core stilled, and its defense systems scrambled.

A cordon of Signet vessels regrouped out in the void around it.

Their clamps locked into place with twin clunks, and docking arms snared the port and starboard airlocks with mechanical finality.

Savvine observed the seal indicator go green. She drew her sleek matte-black laser hand gun from its holster on her thigh and turned to the hatch.

With her weapon leading, she prowled through the open airlock.

She met Xander, Kaal, Mak, Boaz, and Zev in the empty hallway, stepping out of a hatch.

They exchanged nods as she approached them.

Xander’s cool and precise rasp sounded over the command channel Miral must have hacked into.

‘This is Commander Roman of Signet Company. Chief Bianchi and I, together with the Signet strong guard, are coming aboard through the port side. Our infiltration team will enter through the starboard. We are fully armed and will return any fire sent our way. You will meet us at the bridge, unarmed, or suffer the consequences. End transmission.’

He tapped the comm off and arched a brow at her, that ember of battle-light in his violet eyes.

Savvine nodded again, silent.

With her weapon drawn, suit sealed, and HUD glowing pale blue, Savvine prowled deeper into the dim corridors of theSanto Venado.

The ship reeked of scorched metal and sweat, but her boots made no sound on the matte-finished alloy floors.

Xander stepped up to her six, his laser rifle brandished, his aura like thunder.

The star wolves and Savvine swept hard and fast through the narrow halls, signs of chaos everywhere.

Empty firearm racks. Half-spilled packs of contraband.

A blood smear on the wall near a dented ventilation grate, but no resistance.

‘Where is everyone?’ she muttered over the neural link.

‘Waiting,’ Xander replied grimly. ‘In the bridge, gathering together for comfort in their distress. Kaal, Zev, please sweep the ship and hunt down any last, hidden pockets of resistance.’

The two men nodded and prowled away as the rest of Signet kept tracking to the command centre.