Page 75 of Stealing Jia

“The Legionnaires have been hiring mercenaries to fill their ranks for some time now. They are offering a million-credit signing bonus and another million if your mission is successful,”Loki advised.

I threw up my hands in disgust.“Why haven’t you told anyone about this?”

“The Bjarke High Command is aware of what the Legionnaires are doing and has taken steps to correct it, but it is not our responsibility to inform the Coletti, Askole or the Alliance,”Loki shot back.

I blew out a long breath. “The Rodan eat Bjarkes too. How many are you willing to let die needlessly?”

“That is a matter for the diplomats to settle,”Ivan said.

Loki interjected, “Lilkee has been hiring Hador mercenaries.”

I jumped about a foot when Sariel and Trayon bellowed their war cries. “That bad?”

“They are without honor,”Sariel snarled.

“Hadors?” I cocked an inquiring eyebrow. “I’ve never heard of them.”

Trayon tapped his gauntlet. A three-dimensional picture of a squat humanoid with a rodent-like face and porcupine spines for hair appeared mid-air.

“Can they fight?”I had to ask.

“Not very well. They strike from behind, hoping to take their enemy by surprise. Their spines are tipped with poison. Any warrior not wearing armor is killed instantly,”Zan advised.

Trayon added,“Once their spines are gone, the cowards run.”

“They aren’t too smart either or they’d know Lilkee’s warriors have a short life span,”I said.“I mean, you can’t collect the bonus if you’re dead.”

“The Hadors desire for credits outweighs common sense,”Ivan said.

I rubbed my suddenly aching forehead. “Someone is financing her, but who?”

“That is the question. Zarek investigated Lilkee’s finances and found she has less than fifty credits in her account,”Trayon replied.

Loki chimed in, “That would explain why the few mercenaries that do survive their missions are murdered when they return.”

“The only logical conclusion is we have a traitor in our ranks.”My shoulders sagged. Saving Adam seemed an impossible task.

“Who has kept the Rodan informed of our movements,”Commander Zan said.

I sighed. “Which is why they risked seven battle cruisers to ambush Trayon’s and Zarek’s ships. It should have been an easy win for them.”

“But they did not count on my talented mate or Chiara’s ability to port onto a shielded ship,”Trayon gloated.

I grinned. “I imagine the Emperor wasn’t pleased by the news.”

“No, he was not. Three of his commanders were beheaded and served for dinner,”Jubal said.

“Ugh!” I wrinkled my nose in disgust.“If they know we’re coming, they’ll be prepared for a siege.”

“A long bloody siege,”Jubal concurred.

An evil smile curved Sariel’s mouth.“The Gorum have agreed to help.”

“Can they teleport through the Rodan shields?” Call me curious.

“They can,” Trayon replied.

Jubal smiled gleefully. “A single Gorum once ate the entire crew of a Tai-Kok ship.”

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