Page 6 of Krin (The Protectorate Warriors Alien Fated Mates #3)
Krin
SOON AFTER WE SET OFF , we started receiving alerts indicating unauthorized entry into different parts of the ship. We quickly realized that Riley had hacked into our computer systems.
“Sir, how would you like me to handle the situation?” helmsman and pilot, Dril, asked.
I had to smile to myself at her persistence. It was impossible not to be impressed by the intelligence and capabilities of the attractive female.
The situation only heightened my feelings of guilt.
Maybe I should have taken Trex’s advice and invited her to join the crew.
My own selfishness made me shake my head silently in disapproval.
I was torn, hesitant to endanger Riley by asking her to stay on the ship.
And reluctant to drop her off on a human colony.
“Observe her actions within the computer system. Do nothing unless she compromises the ship or endangers herself.”
Apart from Riley’s occasional successful attempts at accessing restricted areas, she had done nothing to worry about thus far.
After some private discussion with my first officer, Ezan, I made the choice to stop at Novara, the nearest human colony on our way to the trade route.
He suggested that if I was unwilling to allow her to join the crew, the only option was to give her a choice once we arrived at the colony. Riley could choose to leave or remain on the Chetok at that time. I reluctantly agreed but kept my concerns to myself.
What if she wanted to leave?
Ezan also made it clear he thought I should speak to Riley sooner rather than later, but I chose to ignore his advice. Of course, I had no desire to bring her to Novara.
The very idea of leaving her there caused my heart to constrict.
We were now only a rotation away from the colony, and I still hadn’t found the words to speak to her about staying on the ship. Nor had I admitted to her she was my beloved K’sha.
Meeting one’s K’sha was rare. Once I entered adulthood, I had always hoped the Gods Tenage and Veshar would bless me with a fated mate. Though I never believed it would happen. Not really.
Then I saw Riley and everything changed. My mating marks would ignite, burning into my skin whenever I got close to her. The connection I felt with the desirable female was unlike anything I had ever experienced before.
Without fail, my conversations with Riley always seemed to leave her upset with me due to my words. I held back from approaching her, worried that she might not be open to talking unless I brought up the opportunity to work on the ship.
If I could not bring myself to discuss her staying on the Chetok, how could I mention our fated connection?
WE HAD A RESPONSIBILITY to both the Protectorate, and the people in Alaran space. Our new mission was clear. We had to put a stop to enemy ships entering Alaran space and stealing not only other resources but most importantly, our females.
Other than the occasional run-in with several Krilex vessels, and a couple of Zinid ships, our first few rotations to the trade route were relatively quiet. We had spotted no recent signs of the shape-shifters’ vessels.
I had a strong sense they were still lurking.
The Krilex’s alliance with the shape-shifters presented a considerable obstacle, given the Krilex’s lack of morals and their greed as motivation.
The Zinids abducted females and then sold or passed them on to the Krilex.
Still, the reptilian race would just take females if the opportunity arose. Following that, they traded the females for weapons with the Unknown aliens.
We knew very little about the Unknown. Only that they’d shown up in Alaran space from another Universe about a hundred tenri ago. Thankfully, I had the awareness to detect them.
Unlike my people, they didn’t possess telepathic abilities. When confronted with capture they transformed back to their original form.
King Trex and I interrogated a captive Unknown alien back on Alara. They were not fighters. Their sole means of protecting themselves was their advanced weaponry.
We had been made aware that the Unknown aliens direly needed minerals to produce a fuel called flonium for their ships. They also insisted on using females as incubators for their cloning technology. They claimed they were going extinct.
The faster we could remove them from Alaran space, the better it would be for everyone.
Each Protectorate ship was assigned a specific patrol area. The Chetok had the task of safeguarding a long section of the trade route in Alaran territory.
The helmsman interrupted my train of thought. “There is a distress call coming in.”
I cleared my throat and replied. “Disengage warp and acknowledge the communication.”
As the ship decelerated, the stars became clearly visible through the holo-screen.
The helmsman responded to the distress call. “The information originates from our ground-based Protectorate forces stationed on Novara, reporting that a Krilex vessel has been seen above the planet. It is believed they may have taken females from the surface.”
My chest tightened. Novara was where we were taking Riley.
“Scan the area nearby, see if you can find any Krilex vessels,” I ordered.
It took us a while to scan the route between the human colony and our whereabouts just a rotation from the planet.
The silence of the bridge was broken at last.
“I found it!” exclaimed the helmsman eagerly. “Sir, the scans indicate several humans on board.”
“Deactivate their propulsion system.”
The crewman obeyed my command, and fired upon the engines of the Krilex vessel, stranding them in space.
Commander Ezan and I exchanged a glance. True to form, the enemy hailed us, and their Captain wasted no time in making threats.
I folded my arms, telepathically instructing the helm to teleport the females from their ship to ours once the Krilex vessel’s shields were disabled, all while sporting a smile.
When we noted their safe arrival, I addressed one of the other warriors without taking my eyes off the holo-screen. ‘See that the females are checked out by the medic and tell them we will return them to their colony right away.’
I glared at the reptilian who stared back at me on the screen. “We have the females you have taken. I want information about who you were delivering them to.”
“What do you mean? We weren’t...” he stopped speaking and growled.
I continued to direct my gaze towards him, letting my hands fall to my sides. “Nice try. Where were you taking them? Is it to the shape-shifters?”
With a puzzled expression, he tilted his head in confusion. “There are no shape-shifters in this section of space.” He spoke as though he believed I was trying to deceive him.
“The Unknown aliens you are working for are shape-shifters. Weak, pathetic creatures, actually.”
It was clear that the Krilex Captain was not happy with the turn of events.
“The deal with our allies was orchestrated by our leader ‘ Yaz the Strong’ . Their shape-changing abilities were unknown to us. If it were up to me, I would sell the females at auction in the neutral zone. They are worth far more than we receive from the Voletti.”
A low growl vibrated through me at his words. The repulsive reptile lacked any sense of morality. “The Voletti?” I asked, glad we finally had a name for the new enemy. “That is the name of their race?”
He grunted his response.
“What do the Voletti give you in exchange for females?” I already knew they gave the Krilex technology, but wondered if I could gather more information from the reptilian.
“Their payment has solely been in technology. Specifically, only to a handful of Krilex vessels.”
“Let me guess, you are not one of those vessels?” My hands were on my hips as I studied the alien on the screen for any signs of deception.
“Correct. I plan to return to the Ashrak cluster after this last drop off.”
“You did not answer my earlier question. Where were you taking the females?”
He complained but ultimately yielded and answered with a location.
“Our intention was to rendezvous with a Voletti ship at the designated spot for the exchange.”
“If you’re not there to meet them, what will they do?” We were headed in the opposite direction to where the Krilex were meeting the enemy. I would have Dril contact another Protectorate vessel in that area to deal with the Voletti.
The aliens face twisted into a sneer. “It does not matter. I am done following the Voletti’s orders.” He paused. His lipless maw pressed tight. “What will you do now that you have disabled our ship?” His voice told me he was annoyed by the inconvenience rather than afraid.
I stood in silence, arms crossed, glaring at the enemy.
Though I preferred not to kill unless necessary, I knew any Krilex ship found floating in Alaran space didn’t stand a chance if a Drakkari Protectorate vessel found them.
“I think we will leave you here. If you manage to get your ship’s engines working again, I suspect you won’t get far. A report has already gone out to all Protectorate ships in the area of your presence. If you survive long enough to leave Alaran space, I suggest you do not return.”