Leo took a hit from his inhaler, an attempt to catch his breath. The Djarik command ship dwarfed them now, though most of its cannons were trained on the bigger ships it was engaged with. Kat, finally managing to get a firm handle on the Aykari-designed controls, rolling and banking to avoid incoming fire, her sights set firmly on the main hangar, nearly empty now, an open invitation for a pirate boarding party. They burst through the magnetic shielding, and Leo’s head whipped as Kat turned hard and fired the reverse thrusters, the transport executing a perfect half circle before setting down roughly in the command ship’s bay, nose pointed outward.

Ready for a quick getaway. The only kind.

Through the cockpit canopy he watched the two EDF shuttles land beside them, their ramps already opening. Soldiers—decked in gray-and-green battle armor with the emblem of the Coalition emblazoned on their pauldrons—poured from the ships as they touched down, moving with precision. He spotted Zennia emerging from her fighter as well, her prized rifle tucked into her shoulder. None of the soldiers seemed to think anything of the emerald-haired bounty hunter in their midst. She was human, which meant, for the time being at least, she was an ally.

Kat stood, unholstered one of her pistols, and started to hand it to Leo, before thinking better of it and offering it to Gareth instead. “Have you ever fired one of these before?”

Leo’s brother nodded.

“Ever at someone?”

No nod this time.

“That’s okay. You can handle it,” Kat said, placing it in his palm. “Djarik armor isn’t as strong as Aykari. One shot is usually enough to take one of them down, but fire as many times as you have to.” She checked the charge on her other pistol—a gesture Leo was all too familiar with. “Hang tight and watch the door. I’ll be back as soon as I find him.”

“You mean we,” Gareth said. “As soon as we find him.”

Kat shook her head. She suddenly looked so much older to Leo. Something about her look reminded him of his mother. “I need someone to stay on board and protect Crayt. Only the one bullet, remember? And he’s the only guy who knows how to make more. This isn’t just about us.” It was the same thing Crayt had told Leo: that everyone should be given the choice. The Djarik wouldn’t give up just because they’d been thwarted here. The war wasn’t going to end just because one planet was left spinning.

Gareth started to protest again, but Kat cut him off. “Listen, I know how much your father means to you. Believe me. And I’m going to bring him back. But I need to be sure there’s someone to bring him back to.” She looked hard at Leo. “I’ve lost too much already.”

Leo stole another glance at the EDF soldiers advancing across the hangar, then back at Kat. “We’ll wait here.”

Kat nodded. “If it looks like the command ship is about to fall apart, you start those engines and jet. Just try to keep the controls steady and get as far away from this thing as you can, then use the coms to call for help.” She put her hand out, palm down. “All in.”