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“The paradise planet? Lush green canopies and—”

“Yeah,” he gri with creatures”

She sidled up to hirubby hands on her overalls, and offered him her sweetest smile “Please, may I come?”

He id pose “Absolutely not”

“I’ll be a good girl,” she chirped, rocking forward on her toes

“Staying here will show me your obedience Fail this command and our future is in jeopardy”

He meant it

She sed back a protest “If that is what you wish, then of course, sir, I’ll remain here”

His features softened and he bent a little to kiss the crown of her head “I’ this to keep you safe, sweetheart Krul is deadly I’ him”

Resigned to her fate, she shrugged off the disappointment “What’s your plan?” She slotted the last piece of the processor back in place

“I’ the Steadfast down to the surface of the planet to his last known location It will need a maintenance check before I take it out”

The Steadfast was the Titan’s own shuttle, which wasn’t docked next to Callo’s

or Stealth, but hung in a birth beneath the interceptor The Steadfast was ideal for short runs to planets, because the interceptor couldn’t land on the planet—it needed a docking port Katha facilities The Steadfast wasn’t fast like Stealth and it had limited space—it could hold one person in confinement and little else

“Sure,” she said “I’ll get onto it tomorrow”