Page 51 of Coveted

“I asked him about it when I noticed workers coming out of the level below us. Alcam said it was approved because the need for crystals was so great, and that they were taking extra precautions. He said it was only going to be a temporary shaft, and they’d fill it back in once they’d gotten all the top-grade crystals.”

His head dropped.

“I didn’t know they were right under us. I should have checked.”

Vax knew the guilt weighing down his friend.

“It’s not your fault. Alcam knew it was dangerous and that he’d never get the okay on it.”

Red eyes met his again, fresh anger written across Yivesh’s face.

“It couldn’t have just been him. The engineers should have known they couldn’t dig there without weakening the level above and risking a collapse.”

Vax nodded.

“He could have threatened them, but bribery is more likely. That’s why I’m putting you in charge until we figure out who all was in on this.”

Yivesh pursed his lips.

“I don’t think the crew knew it was an illegal dig. There’s no way it would have been kept quiet if that many people knew.”

“I don’t think they did either, but it goes farther than just Alcam. I’m bringing Alcam here for questioning, but I need you to ask around and see what you can find out on that end. The mines are closed until further notice.”

Yivesh’s brows jerked up, his surprise clear. In all their years on Farcon 1, the mines had never closed.

“Are you sure?”

Vax nodded, confident in his decision.

“Our people need to heal and mourn, and I need to find out how far the betrayal goes. Make sure everyone knows, no one sets foot in there till I give the okay. The Council has to be behind this, and they need to see we aren’t pawns whose lives mean less than the crystals they want so bad.”

“What about pay? We’ll be okay if we’re closed for a few days, but anything more and people will start to suffer.”

Vax knew he was going to end up depleting the planet’s accounts if things took too long, but he’d deal with the fallout if it came to that.

“I’m hoping this won’t be for too long, but I won’t deny them over my decision. We can do half their usual pay, plus free basic food for as long as it takes.”

The miner’s housing came included in their benefits, so they’d still have a home and food to eat, even if Vax had to keep the mines closed for longer than he was hoping it would take to prove his point. He couldn’t offer their full pay since therewouldn’t be any income without crystals to sell, but half was more than fair for their forced vacation.

“Understood.”

Yivesh ended the call and Vax continued on to the next, shutting down the second mine, then the third.

Varner made it to his office as Vax was finishing up the last call, folding himself into the chair facing the desk. His usual stiff posture was gone, the man slouching against the seat cushion and rubbing a hand over his face.

“This is a mess.”

Vax huffed, opening a message to the refinery. There wouldn’t be anyone there, but they would get it in the morning, hopefully before they started working. The Council wasn’t going to get a single crystal from Farcon 1 until they atoned for what had happened.

“How is Medical holding up?”

He knew there had been a lot of broken bones that had come to be set, but he was more worried about the number of unconscious workers that had to be transported.

“Everyone with any training is helping, and the doctor has been in surgery since your hopper made it back with the first group. Leir’s medic should arrive to help at any moment.”

“Leir’s medic is already in the Medical Wing,” Leir announced as he strode into Vax’s office, the door snicking shut behind him.

He dropped into the chair beside Varner, leaning forward and bracing his arms on his knees.

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