Read Carinae Sector: 01 - Traders' Scourge - Part 1 - Alien Flight for Free Online

further marshal his reasoning, before they were driven through the gates of the star port. His concerns were well founded as they approached a large Vorinne transport occupying a privileged landing site reserved for Vorinne nobility or above. The above part of the privilege had him breaking out in cold sweat as he considered the implications, and in moments they had left the two ground cars. Brodinal noted that an imperial seal was being unrolled and that a Tilmud media crew was also present and had started filming a live broadcast.
    The four Quixxe were soon waiting nervously several meters away from the imperial seal. The security director now had a long feathered arm around both the engineers, and was speaking to them quietly, as Brodinal eyed their surroundings and found no comfort. Both engineers straightened and again found resolve, and Brodinal again thought of his family, and he hoped they would find safety. A hunting horn was sounded by one of the Tilmud mercenaries, and the four Quixxe knelt face down in supplication as their master walked down the cargo ramp of the large transport.
    Malang’troh walked on his second and third set of limbs across the imperial seal without concern of the status of the seal. He cradled in his two front limbs or his arms his staff of office, both a weapon and badge of rank. The Vorinne towered four meters off the ground even when walking on four limbs, and all the Quixxe shivered in fright at his approach. The planetary supervisor looked balefully over the four kneeling Quixxe, and rapped his staff hard on the ground to show his displeasure as he harshly spoke.
    ‘I do treat my servants and slaves well, indeed I have always done, yet look how I am repaid. My prime research facility has been destroyed and the Vorinne overseer has been killed. The overseer was a third cousin from a junior branch of my family, and they will want me to pay blood money for his loss.’
    Brodinal now knew that the four of them were going to die, and he could only hope it was quick. Silently he remembered the secret lessons of his race’s history, even as he paid careful attention to his master. He knew that his race in antiquity had nearly defeated the Vorinne themselves in a series of wars, before the Zronte intervened and cast his race down. He returned his attention to their surroundings, and noted the anticipatory glares of pleasure from the vile Tilmud mercenaries clustered behind them as Malang’troh continued to speak loudly.
    ‘The new cruiser guns were taken and years of research into these new weapons were destroyed. All of it brought about by an unknown assault shuttle landing at night, and so were are my servants? They are all home in the comfortable beds I supplied them. Brodinal, I put you in charge of the facility, now do you have anything to say for yourself?’
    Brodinal waited and kept silent, and Malang’troh now spoke again in fury.
    ‘Yes, Yes, I give you leave to speak your mind and all that, now speak!’
    Brodinal remained kneeling, and spoke softly in attempt to defuse his master's anger.
    ‘Honored master, this humble slave humbly begs your mercy and forgiveness. The facility security footage shows that a combined force of Deltas Vass drones and Barus mercenaries arrived in cloaked assault shuttle and attacked your facility. As you say, three of the four new guns were taken and much of the research is destroyed by powerful explosives. They also removed a several new types of shields and portable fusion generators. From what I can tell they also downloaded key areas of the research server into a portable recorder.’
    Brodinal knew that he would risk the wrath Malang’troh extending beyond the four of them if he offered any criticism or opinion. He especially avoided mentioning the unexplained absence of Vorinne military patrols or even of the motives of the attacking forces. The Quixxe waited patiently as the Vorinne planetary superintendent studied the four of them at