Page 27 of Grulen

Wurvez’s fingers drummed on the armrest.He turned to Grulen.

“Feel like hunting?”

“What are you thinking?”I’d like to get off this shuttle for a bit and do more than observe.

“We know a Svesti noble has been working with the Zuvgran.This might be our chance to discover who he is.”

“I like the idea of identifying a traitor.What is your plan?”Grulen’s tail sped up.

“Land on the leeward side of the pit.Less chance blowing sand will reveal the ship and it’s in the shadows of the walls.We’ll leave the ship cloaked and get to high ground with our surveillance equipment so we can watch and if we’re lucky, we’ll be able to hear.We should still be able to track the freighter when we’re done here.”

Grulen tapped the console.

“I’m not seeing any planetary defenses or active scans.There is a chance of passive scanning potentially revealing our presence.”

“I believe it’s worth the risk.Take us down.I’m going to gear up and gather the equipment.When I return, you can get ready.”

“I’ll try to send another encrypted comm to theInvictuswith the latest update.Hopefully, it will get through.”

“Good thinking.”After he stood, Wurvez slapped Grulen’s shoulder.“I’m looking forward to this.”Again with the crekkin’ shoulder.

The yellow moon provided minimal light as Grulen and Wurvez swiftly and silently made their way to the top of the seating surrounding the pit.Layers of brown dust stirred briefly as they lay prone and set up their surveillance equipment.Centuries ago, the Zuvgran invaded Millus, but the Svesti joined the fight and pushed them out of the solar system.However, they couldn’t save Millus itself—it was now another lifeless world.

They watched as the speedster landed in the center of the pit.Three Svesti disembarked.One stepped forward to meet the Zuvgran waiting.Wurvez’s chest rumbled with a silent growl.Grulen took the magnifying equipment Wurvez handed to him.When he looked and saw the noble, his tail flicked hard once before stilling.

The long-range microphone did not catch everything discussed in the pit, but they heard enough to confirm that the noble informed the Zuvgran of the human females being on Theron the intent to infect them with the virus.Another Zuvgran approached the males and he heard, “We are not alone.Did you send others?”Crek.

“You recognized the noble?”Wurvez whispered.He quickly gathered the equipment and handed the packed bag to Grulen.

“Yes.”Grulen’s response was barely audible.

“Go back to the ship and depart.Hide in the asteroid field if you need to.Relay everything to Commander Durek or King Sovex—no one else.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Be a distraction long enough for you to escape.This information must make it to the king.”

Grulen shook his head.“Come with me.”

“No.”Wurvez’s voice was firm.“The odds are better if we split up.Once you know they receive the intel, you can request additional warriors to return for me.”

“I do not like this plan.”

“Go now.There’s little time.That’s an order.”Wurvez made his way in the opposite direction of the cloakedTenacity.

Grulen silenced his unhappy growl at having to leave Wurvez behind.We are supposed to be a team.He’ll be unprotected.

Grulen powered up theTenacity,checked the cloaking device, and took off for the asteroid field.He ran a low-level scan of the surface.Crek!It looks like Wurvez was captured.

He debated disobeying orders and returning, but the odds of a lone warrior rescuing the male were slim.His tail flicked as he growled at the circumstances.An alert sounded.He cursed as two Zuvgran fighters left Millus and headed toward him.Do they see me?

Grabbing the bag of surveillance equipment, he stuffed some water pouches and snacks inside while he kept an eye on the fighters.Crek.I need to go.

He threw the bag into an escape pod and fastened the safety restraints.Tapping the console, he plotted a course toward the backside of a mid-size asteroid.Maybe I can wait them out and return to the Tenacity once they’re gone.

The pod slid silently from the ship using minimal thrusters.Dodging asteroids, he piloted the shuttle manually when he saw one with a large indentation where he could hide.He cut off the thrusters and drifted to remain off the fighters’ sensors.A blast of orange light flashed behind him.His body shook from the forces acting on the pod as it sped up from the explosion.The asteroid approached quickly before the pod impacted the surface and Grulen saw no more.

Blaring alarms and flashing lights interrupted the darkness.Lifting his heavy head, he groggily noticed the blood and debris on his lap.He winced at the noises piercing his eardrums and smacked a clumsy hand to the console.Squinting through foggy eyes, he read the reports of damage.Crek.Gotta seal some of those hairline cracks in the hull.It’s getting cold in here.

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