Another ship’s wreckage floated around the loon. They stopped again for Copperfield to jump over and investigate, confirming this one was unmanned.

  “It’s weird,” came the mech pilot’s voice. “I’ve never seen wiring like this before.”

  “I am unable to connect,” the Loon announced.

  “What? Copperfield, are you plugging the drive in right?”

  “The fault does not lie with Crewmember Copperfield,” the Loon spoke over the former pirate’s justifications. “I am able to get readings from the remains of the craft, but not to pull any data beyond the most basic of observations.”

  “Weird. Copperfield, get back over. If fancier bounty hunters are sending drones to soften us up we’d better keep it moving.”

  “Aye, Captain.”

  While he leapt to follow orders, Heath and the rest surveyed the video from Copperfield’s mech on the viewscreen. The man had been right, Heath had never seen anything like it either. Green veins spread throughout the remains of the craft, light still pulsing down them in uneven bursts, originating from a knot in what remained of the central controls. Like the ship was being piloted by some sort of creepy vine. He was glad they used the mana-port to try and pull data without hard-wiring to the Loon, none of that looked safe to mess with.

  He shunted it out of his mind when they got back underway. It was just more motivation to finish out this contract. It would have been even better if the Syndicate had cancelled the bounty before they left, rather than of on receipt of goods, but given how fucked everything was, he was just grateful to hold onto the slim bit of hope that they would find a way out.

  Getting to the Syndicate system was easy, up until the last gate. Unlike the usual metal hexagon marking the entrance, they found a grav-locked weapons platform floating nearby.

  “Hail, please.”

  “Right away Captain.”

  “This is the Wandering Loon, we have a delivery schedule to keep, so kindly let us through.”

  A synthetic voice returned over the comms. “Who authorized your delivery?”

  “Falcon,” Heath replied. At the same time, he nodded to Emerald to send the confirmation data packet they had been given, identifying they were here on Syndicate business.

  “All in order. Good luck Wandering Loon.”

  Heath cut the line, they were still on course for reaching the jump gate in a few minutes.

  “They’re paying to guard the gate but still sending us with supplies and not one of their own. Makes total sense.” Copperfield said.

  “I doubt they’re paying for the gate guard,” Jenny Mae countered. “Imperial regulations allow colonists to request grav-locked automation to keep people warned of dangerous systems. Most people don’t bother, since it’s still a pain to set everything up yourself and usually no one is stupid enough to fly through a system they can’t handle.”

  “Except for us.” Ekaterina scowled at nothing, or maybe her own inability to out-maneuver the criminals.

  “All crew prepare for jump.”

  “Eyes up everyone.”

  “Jumping in five, four, three, two, one.”

  After the usual moment of disorientation, they found themselves drifting in the interior of the Fortitude system. Three planets already rated for habitation made it a goldmine. No matter what happened, this system would be colonized. But none of the tiny settlements, wrapped in enchantments and defensive constructs that could protect them from a military-grade bombardment, were their target. That was a small station in an asteroid belt further out.

  “Sensors?”

  Emerald let out a long, low whistle before answering. “Now we know why they were so eager to send us here. Three planets and a high rank 3 dungeon. This place is gonna be worth more than the next five systems combined.”

  “No immediate hostiles,” Ekaterina said. “But if there really is a dungeon that strong, whoever has rights to this system is going to become a minor noble, once the full colonization wave gets here.”

  “Don’t worry, we’ll get some hostiles. Mid-range scan showing that station is fighting something.” Emerald’s pronouncement was reinforced as they sent the first readings to the rest of the stations.

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  “Great news for our levels,” Jenny Mae said, trying her best to lighten the situation. “The station is our target. Cross-referencing from Emerald’s readings, it looks like it’s locked onto the dungeon.”

  “Any idea what we’re dealing with?” Copperfield asked.

  “Nope, and I hope we don’t find out. I’m setting a course to start wide. No point flying through station fire if we don’t have to.”

  “Time to destination, six hours,” the Loon announced.

  “Everyone take a break, back here in four hours.”

  Heath didn’t bother following his own orders, and neither did his crew, not fully. They relaxed on the bridge as a compromise. Reading, gaming, or meditating to pass the time. For his part, Heath pulled up all the data they could get on the limited previous forays into the system.

  Early settlers hadn’t struggled as much as the recent wave. There were more of them, and they were almost all connected to the Syndicate in some way, but mostly it read like any other subjugation. Colonists staked a claim, monsters attacked, classers defended.

  Three planets that didn’t need any terraforming was already a treasure trove. The dungeon was the cherry on top. When the planetary settlers were situated, the Syndicate had started building the station.

  As with most such constructions, the delicate work was done by high-rank Classers in the Core, and shipped out to the Rim. Local shipyards built the rest in massive pieces, which would be transported to the target system at great expense, and assembled on site. Classers focused on extreme-environment construction would slot the pieces together like a massive puzzle, and ensure even the backups to the backup systems were in place and running before clearing out to the next job.

  It was a long, expensive process, and for the station in front of him, only half an imperial year had passed since its completion. Which was when the problems started. Deliveries to the planets were still getting through, most of the time. But a long-distance comm had confirmed that three expected ships had either never made it, or made it but failed to get out. The last comm before it was likely destroyed by whatever was causing the issue. Heath had taken a look at the cargo this time, and a nigh-indestructible long-range transmitter was one of the larger pieces they were delivering.

  Now it was their turn.

  Whatever skirmish had been going on when they entered the system had cooled by the time they made it to the station and hailed the docking authority.

  “Wandering Loon to Fortitude Station One. Delivery from Jazeen.”

  “Thank the Traveller,” came the reply. “You’re clear to dock at berth one.”

  Heath looked around the bridge. “I doubt it needs saying, but no shore leave this time. In and out as quickly as possible.”

  With the Loon taking over for docking, Heath unbuckled and made his way to the cargo hold, followed by the rest of the crew. By the time the hatch slid open, their own hover dolly was loaded and ready to transport. On the catwalk connecting the ship to the rest of the station were four burly Spacers, and two more of the dollies.

  What followed was a hair shy of frantic. Crates were practically flying as everyone pitched in to unload the cargo. Examining the station Spacers a bit closer, Heath could see the desperation beneath the surface. This delivery was a matter of life and death. Which lessened the extortionate blow, just a bit.

  Heath hefted his special delivery under his arm and went jogging out into the station.

  “Here!” a voice shouted across the barren concourse.

  He turned to find a station master approaching. They all had the same look, across every system he’d ever seen. These were Classers with an aura that expected to be obeyed, in utilitarian clothes and for whatever reason, univserally wore the same close-cropped haircut.

  “I’m Station Master Eloise.”

  “Great!” Heath said. “Then this is for you.”

  He passed over the box and the pad, into which the intimidating woman pressed a point of her own mana, confirming the delivery.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Seems like you all have been having a rough time out here. Hope this will help.”

  “It hasn’t been the easiest year, but then it never is. We’ll get through it.”

  “No doubt.”

  As if the gods were mocking him, that was the exact moment the entire station rocked from impact.

  “Stars-cursed bastards! All hands to defense positions,” shouted the Station Master. A Skill blasted the same message throughout the station on a wave of mana.

  That was the last thing Heath heard as he was already sprinting back towards the Loon.

  Another hit tossed him into the wall with enough force to bruise, even with [Steady], but he jumped back up and continued. Before the docks even came into view, he could hear shouts and crashes as the unsecured cargo went tumbling.

  He leapt over a crate in time to hear one voice he recognized, screaming in pain. Around the last bend he saw Jenny Mae, leg pinned by one of the heavy boxes that had been knocked off the dolly. He poured on speed he didn’t know he had.

  The rest of the crew was already there. Copperfield shoving at the crate while Ekaterina tied a smartbandage around Jenny’s knee.

  Reaching the crew, he put his effort in with Copperfield, shoving the heavy load to the side. The leg was broken but not so bad she would lose it. Cargo accidents were rare, but not unheard of, and Heath could tell when a limb needed immediate attention. Ekaterina’s quick thinking with the bandage was already working. The expensive piece of tech seeped down Jenny Mae’s calf, and would form a cast as soon as it was in place.

  They didn’t have time to wait for that.

  “Sorry Jenny,” he said as he scooped down and came up supporting one arm. Emerald appeared and supported the other, and they carried their Administrator on board. Tears tracked down her face but she didn’t let any of the screams out he knew were begging for escape.

  They were back aboard the Loon within moments.

  “What’s happening?” Heath shouted as they towed Jenny Mae toward her bunk. Without a medbay, their options were limited. Ekaterina appeared again, this time holding a painkiller dispenser, which she stabbed into the Administrator’s thigh.

  Heath waited only long enough to strap Jenny Mae to the bunk before sprinting back out again.

  “The station is under attack.” The Loon wasn’t even trying to hide the strain of worry in her voice.

  “From what I am gleaning, this is a more serious attack than they have faced in some time.”

  “Is the cargo unloaded?”

  He reached the bridge at the same time as Copperfield. “It’s all out. Had to toss the last few crates.”

  Another impact on the station shuddered through the Loon and sent Heath stumbling forward. He shoved himself in his seat and activated the harness.

  “Then let’s get the fuck out of here. Loon, disengage.”

  The rest of his crew, sans Jenny, appeared and strapped into their stations.

  “Captain, the station AI is rejecting my request to leave, citing the current engagement.”

  “You tell them they let us out or they end up with a hole in the hull.”

  “Understood.” The Loon paused for a beat. “Emergency undocking protocols engaged.”

  “Emerald, tap into the station feeds, what’s going on?”

  “Not sure.”

  A visual blinked on the main view screen to accompany the words. It was horrifying in a beautiful way. A horde of monsters attacked the station. But not in the chaotic swirl of a dungeon break. This was an organized testing of defenses. Rumors of a hive mind were proving unfortunately accurate.

  He watched the monsters, floating on the other side of the station in a cloud. Every second, blue mana would flash behind one of the creature’s grasping feet. The platform existed only long enough for the threat to shoot forward, slamming into the station’s impact shielding. The harsh slam flared the rainbow sheen across the monster’s skin, before it faded back to the same low luster as the rest of the pack.

  “We’re getting out of here. Everyone, hold on.”

  The shimmering iridescence and pure white eyes were hypnotic, tempting them to stray closer, but Heath was not sticking around to fight off creepy magic space frogs.

  He shook off the compulsion and pointed the Loon away from the station. Before they could jet off and leave this place to its fate, three impacts jolted the Loon.