Page 47 of Rogue Starfighter

She did not look at me. “I have it.” The patrol sweep moved closer.

“Three. Two. One. Now.”

Priya released our orbital hold. The Wraith dropped. There was no engine sound, no acceleration alarm. Only the moon rushing up on the display and the pressure of Priya’s thigh against mine beneath the thermal layer.

“Two kilometers,” I said.

She made one correction.

“One.”

The iron field caught us in its magnetic field. The patrol sweep passed over us. Priya fired the attitude jets in two short bursts and leveled the Wraith thirty meters above the surface. Rock filled the lower canopy. The patrol ship passed without changing course. We waited until it cleared the moon.

“Exactly right,” she said.

“Thirty meters is unnecessarily close.”

“But memorable.”

“My reports about you are becoming repetitive.”

“Reckless, insubordinate, brilliant?”

“Trouble.”

“Add good under pressure.”

“That was already in the first report.”

She turned to look at me. I returned my attention to the sensor array before I did something irresponsible. We brought the Wraith back to observation position and finished the recording. The unidentified freighters unloaded at the largest shipyard. Their cargo was shielded, but the yard’s power draw spiked the moment transfer began.

“Whatever they’re carrying, it isn’t food,” Priya said.

“Weapons cores or drive components.”

“Can we get closer?”

“No.”

“You didn’t even consider it.”

“I considered it before you completed the question. The answer remains no. Our orders require identification if possible. It is not possible without exposing the Wraith.”

She sighed. “Fine.”

“You dislike following orders.”

“I dislike incomplete information.”

“A useful trait in a scout.”

“Was that more praise?”

“Do not become accustomed to it.”

The count completed. We had recorded every yard, every active military hull, and six unknown supply ships whose existence would make General Aryk very unhappy. All that remained was the run home. I restored life support to normal while Priya lined up the ship for our escape run. Warm air moved through the cockpit. She held her hands over the vent.

“Tell me something true about you,” she said. "A secret."