Batin's ship was a Covert Ops Corvette, designated COC-17 Specter. It was a sleek, high-tech recon vessel suited for a range of covert missions—but only on the inside. From the outside, it looked like a junker. Its hull was cobbled together from mismatched panels and debris, with rusted plating and components that looked ready to fall off. It passed easily as a Drifter vessel that should’ve been scrapped years ago.

  For this mission, it would pose as a smuggler transport. Despite its battered appearance, Specter was more than capable.

  Batin was the only human crew member. Though the ship could support up to twelve personnel, the SIA often relied on droids for support roles. Frontier manpower was stretched thin, and every agent counted.

  The team boarded Specter and made their way to a compact multipurpose room now serving as a briefing area. They took seats around the narrow conference table.

  “Specter,” Batin said, addressing the ship’s AI. “Disembark from dock and set course for the rendezvous coordinates.”

  “Acknowledged, Agent Batin,” came the ship's calm, synthetic reply.

  “Let’s get right to it.” Batin tapped a control on the tabletop console. A holographic model of a mid-sized freight ship hovered in the air.

  “This is our target. No name, no official designation. Intel places it in regular transit between Barnard’s Star and Ross 154, but its origin point is still unknown,” Batin explained.

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  “So we don’t know shit, basically,” Rollins said dryly.

  “We know enough to make contact and get onboard. Our cover: smugglers delivering DNA samples and supplies. According to the intel, the real contact has never met the cloners. If that’s accurate, they shouldn’t know what he looks like. If our story checks out, they’ll dock and let us aboard.”

  “And if it doesn’t?” Ving asked.

  “Then we improvise.”

  Batin continued. “Once we’re onboard, Ving and I will keep them busy. Rollins, your task is to disable the ship. First, seal off compartments to prevent reinforcements. Then take down the engines to keep them from jumping away. After that, we move on the bridge and secure command. Once we’ve got control, we sweep the ship room by room.”

  “Do we know how many are onboard?” Ving asked.

  “No, but a ship this size could carry a crew of fifty, plus droids.”

  “Wonderful,” Ving muttered. “Always love going in vastly outnumbered.”

  “The SIA couldn’t spare backup in time. This is what we’ve got,” Batin replied without apology.

  “How long until we arrive?” Rollins asked.

  “ETA: four hours, twenty-two minutes,” Batin said. “Get some rest. Eat something. It’s going to be a long day.”

  “Might as well get in a last meal before this suicide run,” Ving said.

  “You’re not much fun to be around, are you, Ving?” Rollins quipped.

  “Nope. Not usually,” he said as he stepped out of the room.