Arms crossed, feet braced, Micha stared out into the void of space as the ship her and her team were on sped towards their destination…or would be if she had any idea where to go. Fortunately, Max was adept at finding what seemed impossible on the datanet. Thy had two days left of their week of data search and she was unwilling to commit to a direction until they were certain of success. What started out as one retrieval mission was quickly scaling out of control. The original target was known for working with six black ops member before they went rogue. Now the Council was wanting the six men that followed the seventh into freelance.

  Worse they were given four extra weeks to catch six extra men.

  “Alpha, I think I found the last target; but…”

  Micha turned to face Max, a member of the beast warrior clans. His soft rust coloured fur and bushy tail, as well as his ears, reminded her of a fox; but he was also capable of a partial transformation that allowed him to act on all fours as easily as he moved on two. His eyes were golden with flecks of amber throughout. He stood half a head taller than her, with sleek formed muscles and a lithe frame.

  “But?”

  Max winced. “He’s on Kongual Apsirga.”

  Micha tilted her head and arched a brow questioningly. He sighed. “It’s outside the Osirus empire. Specifically the Corgat System.” When she looked at him and waited, his left ear twitched; a sign of nervousness. “The Corgat System is…one of the few systems that are outside any kingdom or empire.”

  “Like a neutral zone?”

  “Neutral zone?” Max considered the words and their meaning.

  “A place that no one claims, there are no agreed on laws; but everyone acts as though they own the place?”

  “Um… sort of,” Max scratched his chin. “No one ever called it a neutral zone before, but it actually fits. It’s where most lawless or law breakers go. It’s also where freelancers can be found. The area is allowed to exist as long as no one kingdom or empire attempts to martial the area.”

  “Which means…?”

  “If we get caught in there we are on our own. The Osirus empire won’t admit to sending us, nor will they come out and tell us to go in.”

  Micha grunted. In other words, the Council will expect her and her team to capture their target, will provide no extra resources or time and will leave them drifting in space if they are caught. Why was she not surprised. She turned back to the window and considered their choices. They could bring in six of the seven and there was little that anyone was able to do to force them into no mans land; they could risk it and retrieve the seventh one, which meant that the Council was likely to expect it in the future; or they could locate the seventh and execute him instead of retrieval.

  She had never failed to complete any given task, but entering the Corgat System was asking for trouble. “How long will he be there?”

  “Six weeks. We will have just enough time to get there before the black-market auction happens. Then he is in the wind and it could be weeks or months before he surfaces again.”

  Well, that gave her the answer. “Inform the bridge that we are going to the Corgat System. Find out if we can get access to a shuttle for the duration of the retrieval. Then dig up everything on Kongual Apsirga. I want to know where he plans to fart on route.”

  Max nodded.

  Kongual Apsirga, in the Corgat System

  “All teams, ETA?” demanded a smoky voice.

  “Beta’s ETA two min.”

  “Charlie’s ETA in sixty.”

  “Delta is in position.”

  “Acknowledged.” Turning the lone slender figure climbed up the side of a building; slipping across balconies and climbing railings to quickly reach the chosen vantage point on the roof. Pulling the soft pack off her back she laid it next to her. Without looking she opened the bag and removed a set of binoculars. With an ease that spoke of practice, the lone figure scanned the area, looking for the mission’s target. From the west of her position, near to Delta team, there was movement.

  Zooming in she registered the car at the same time as her radio signaled.

  “Alpha, Delta has located target. Target is heading towards you.”

  “Copy, Delta.”

  “Beta has eyes on target.”

  “Charlie has a lock.”

  “Delta, circle round, and lock-off retreat. Beta, you’ll collect the target. Charlie, cover Beta.”

  Slipping silently through the shadows, each team was set in motion. From the rooftop Alpha surveyed each team and the moving the target. Her gut stirred distrustfully. Something was wrong she could feel it. Her unease slammed her back in her memories on the clifftop on Naquila seven months earlier, the pop of the rifle still clear in her ears as she ordered a compound cleared out; the words on her lips: no surrender. Giving her head a shake she crouched scanning for some sign things had gone wrong. Nothing. She just could not figure out what it was. Shifting her position on the roof she searched once again for some sign of what was wrong. Could she be off because of Renden's death? Was she overly paranoid or nervous?

  A single black shadow shifted to the edge of the roof and looked through binoculars for what she was missing. Knowing where each of the two-man teams were supposed to be, made verifying their positions easy. Carefully the binoculars focused on two shadows moving quietly through the courtyard. Shifting from one shadow to the next as the binoculars scanned for anything that might offer evidence that they had been compromised. Shifting position once more, the lone figure attempted to uncover the cause of her unease.

  “Delta...is the perimeter still clear?” The smoky voice worried. Immediately the three two-man teams went on alert. There was no hesitation.

  “All clear, Alpha.”

  Wincing at the driving need to solve the problem, she ordered. “Beta, hold your position. All teams locate, and reconfirm target.”

  “Roger. Holding.”

  The lone figure watched as Beta team halted and turned back to back; making cautious sweeps as they watched for any movement.

  “Charlie verifying target.”

  Alpha swept the courtyard for the target and hissed. Something was definitely wrong. Hearing the soft sound of foot scuffles coming from behind the building, Alpha hissed again. Quietly she pulled a cord on the side of the pack. Within seconds a decoy was in place. Quietly she pulled out her sniper rifle. Setting it in position, she adjusted the doll. The certainty that they were compromised chaffed as Alpha slipped down to the edge of the roof and readied for the attack.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  “Beta cannot confirm the target. Repeat, the target is missing!”

  “All teams verify your perimeter.”

  “Delta confirms all clear.”

  “Charlie confirms all clear.”

  “Beta is all clear. Hold for target verification. The target vehicle has stopped short of its destination. Alpha, you have movement to your right.” Delta’s response confirmed suspicions.

  “Roger Delta. Charlie circle round and join up with Delta. Beta, confirm Delta’s view.” Alpha answered. Switching frequencies she continued, “All teams silence on main frequency. Alpha is compromised. Delta, monitor target; be ready to move. Beta, shift position for collection off the right side of the building. Charlie, continue to cover Beta. All teams get into position at my location and be ready to move on my mark. Alpha is returning to main frequency.”

  “Roger,” each team replied.

  Slipping over the edge of the roof, Alpha shimmied around the corner, waiting for the target to reveal his location. The whole time she prayed that it would not turn into another Naquilla. She would only get one chance to capture her target. She knew that her team would be where she needed them without hesitation. With slow precise care she shifted around the building in search of the target. Then she found the source of her unease. With little effort she watched as her target eased his way to the roof. With obvious ease he lifted long lanky frame silently to the roof. Taking a position on the top balcony, she waited. Hearing movement above her, Alpha gauged the target's location and back to the wall, selected a position that would be out of the target’s line of sight. Silently she waited. The silent pop, pop seemed to echo in her ear; attempting to drag her back into her memories of a botched mission in Naquilla. Their target knew exactly where to look to find her. She had told her team and one other person which vantage point she had chosen. Her team would not betray her intentionally. Alpha clenched her jaw; had they been betrayed?

  “Beta, have you confirmed the target?”

  “Alpha, target confirmed. Relaying coordinates to all teams.”

  “Coordinates confirmed.”

  “Delta confirms target.”

  Someone was going to regret betraying them, but that would be later. Sliding around the corner, Alpha lifted silently to the roof. “All teams confirm location.”

  “Charlie is in position.”

  “Delta has the retreat.”

  “Beta is ready to move on Alpha’s mark.”

  At the sound of a silenced rifle firing a second time, Alpha lifted the silenced .22 pistol. “All teams…Mark.” The last came out as a snarl. As the target turned away from the dummy, Alpha aimed for the chest and fired three consecutive shots and watched as the target jerked, in shock, to the right and toppled over the edge.

  “Alpha, Beta has the target.”

  Retrieving her gear, she slipped to the edge of the roof, Alpha flipped forward; her trust in her team implicit in her very actions. “All teams converge on me. We have our target. Delta, you have the rear. Charlie, protect Beta. Alpha has the lead,” caught by her second in command, Alpha pulled her rifle forward as she slung her pack to her back.

  Without waiting to see if they would comply, Alpha quickly shifted to the front of the group. As she moved forward, she began monitoring their surroundings, watching for any signs of resistance. Adjusting her ocular scope to examine the surrounding buildings, she spotted two men on a nearby rooftop. Zooming in on them, it was evident that they were armed and from the look of the them they were watching the exit rout. She came to a halt. Exhaling, she fired two consecutive shots and waited long enough to confirm that both targets were down. Alpha continued scouting other buildings. There was no way they were the only two. If they were lucky that would be the end of it. Good thing Makayla did not believe in luck.

  Rennick

  As many times as Rennick Randougah watched his team leader, it never ceased to amaze him at how quickly things were accomplished. Enemy in the way? A quick pull of the trigger solved the problem. Target route no longer safe? No problem; came with a back up solution. She was nearly anal regarding the planning and drove them hard at the training grounds. They spent minutes discussing what they did right on a completed mission and hours delving into everything that went pear shaped. She hammered the pros and cons, was driven to find a better, faster way to complete assignments with their meager team.

  His ears twitched at every slight noise. Swiveling side to side in search of threats. Many people were unable to look past the raven black fur and sliver eyes. It was hard to be taken as anything less then a savage by most “sapient” races. His alpha was different somehow. She was aware of the strange features and did not care. He had forgotten what it felt like to be treated with dignity. She made it so easy to accept her leadership. She was tough. Her expectations were high for each member of the team and higher for herself.

  Her drive gave him the determination to strive for something better then the scraps that they were given. She was the first in longer than he could remember to get him several complete feline combat-wear with boots. Now that his feet were properly fitted, he moved faster, smoother and was steadier on his feet.

  The previous leader, Markus Hannabur, had only one concern—how good he looked to the Council of War and Peace. He would have taken the target and bailed on his team to impress. To Markus everyone was disposable. When Rennick had been placed on his team he had had his doubts about its success. Markus had been vicious and hard, yet the sleek panther had survived two years of Markus’ cruelty before the newest member joined the team. Smaller than the rest, she had to work the hardest.

  She had swallowed most of his cruelty and suffered through the avoidance of her teammates. She learned and learned fast, but while he and the others kept their heads down, she didn’t hide from anyone. She faced Markus with unswerving determination and her head held high. The fool would still have been team leader had he not pushed her too far.

  Twitching raven black ears Rennick came back to the present. Noting the distance between him and his team leader he started forward. Keeping her in sight was easy as he slipped into the shadows of the building to his right. He could feel the rest of his teammates adjust their positions accordingly. Ahead of him, Alpha swung her rifle like an extension of her arms. Add the ocular upgrade and she could hit a target at max range. It did not take a genius to know that the whole mission had turned into a shit show, but he trusted his alpha to get him through the mission.

  Rennick had to admit he had not expected the human to survive the training but had found he was silently cheering for her as the days went on. He wanted to see her become stronger, but his fear held him motionless to help her. Because of Rennick’s awareness of Markus’ opinion of females, and knowing that she had become the bane of Markus’ existence, Rennick made keeping out of sight his only priority.

  Few survived an encounter with Markus when he was at his cruelest. It wasn’t until he noted the shawling, Ni’yell, giving the human subtle support that he started paying closer attention to the girl. Shawlings, as a race, rarely supported anyone except the ones they saw as clan or clan leader; whether they liked them or not. That only made the Shawling’s behavior more baffling because leaders were based on their power, ability, and intelligence. Although the girl possessed intelligence, and was constantly showing resilience, there was little evidence of strength or ability that could be seen in the beginning.

  The day that Markus had been defeated, had taken everyone by surprise. Rennick had been cleaning his weapon after a grueling mission then all hell broke lose. At five feet she was a tiny thing compared to the towering nine feet that had been their team leader. Yet when he had responded to the shouts of his team leader, Rennick had found Markus pinned to the floor with his own hunter’s blade. Having driven the blade through the shoulder joint, she appeared to tower over him. Markus had been shrieking at him to kill her, that she was a traitor. Rennick had been stunned and the shawling, having come in behind him, did not seem to know how to react either. She never once looked back at them. She simply pulled out her knife and buried it in his other shoulder; the wail of pain became her tempo as she walked away. Passing them she murmured. “It’s up to you who you follow.”

  He never hesitated. He simply turned and followed her out of the tent; the shawling followed shortly after. Rennick never found out what it was that the shawling had done after they left the tent, but the Shawling had been fiercely loyal to her ever since.

  She had proven herself to be a fierce and demanding leader but had also proven herself loyal. Her standards of expectation were as high for them as they were for her. She demanded excellence, precision, teamwork and loyalty; and gave in equal measure. On the training field she was a task master; driven to ensure the safety and wellbeing of her teammates. As hard as she drove them, she always made time to slow down and enjoy the simple moments, rare as they were. As tough as she was, and she was as tough as they came, Rennick knew that she could be gentle, compassionate. There was no doubt that she would defend each member of her team…at all costs, had done so many times and even some before they had all been members of the same team. which was only one of many reasons why they were willing to follow her.

  Each member of the team had their own reasons for choosing to follow the tiny woman. Heaven only knew she could have held all the times he had stood by while Markus had wailed on her under the guise of training or avoided her to avoid any splash over against him. She never did. Never once brought it up. He had failed her then, but had sworn to never fail her again. She was always ensuring her had what he needed as weapon master. Right down to the specially made trigger guard that allowed him to pull the trigger easier with his paw-like fingers. He had no idea how she pulled it off but it was just one more reason he trusted her with his life. He understood that each would fight to protect her with equal fierceness. That each of them had their own reason for sticking with her and while he did not know all of them, he knew they felt the same way he did about her.

  Giving his head another shake he focused on the task at hand. Ahead, she knelt statue still. Next to him the shawling, Ni’yell, tap him on the shoulder. Shifting away from Rennick, Ni’yell pointed up at the roof. Rennick nodded and moved towards the wall.