Page 336 of Commander’s Mate

“We take the ship first,” she said.

“Yes.”

“Then Julconi.”

“Yes.”

“No rushing because Meya may be there.”

My jaw tightened.

“No.”

“Zared.”

“I said no.”

“You said the word. Your face said murder.”

“Both can be true.”

Degatu sighed.

“Can we finish one theft before planning the next war?”

“Requisition,” Pyrr said.

Scarlet laughed.

For a moment, the tactical room did not feel like a place built after the end of a world.

It felt like a beginning.

Not clean, safe, or legal—but ours.

The Farseek Mercenaries had started as warriors with four stolen-back dreadnoughts and no money.

Now we had survivors who wanted to join.

A registry that could find families.

A civilian recovery division.

An Earth lead.

A prison-world target.

And a plan to steal the transport required to make the next rescue possible.

Harper stood beside me.

Not behind.

Beside.

I remembered the first time I saw her in the auction house.

Barefoot.