They had forces? Hope’s elation grew to hear of a plot
against Copeland. “How many of your ships are involved?”
“Just mine, but it’s the whole crew.”
Piras added, “We are here to infiltrate Maf’s fleet and
undermine it as much as possible. To take as much of it out of the fight as we
can.”
“This is a fraction of the Basma’s force,” Hope said, her
delight draining away. “You brought only one ship against a whole armada?”
“Unfortunately. But we’re damned good at what we do.” Piras
sighed. “I’d hoped to be in the thick of things, in the midst of the main enemy
fleet, in all honesty. This was not what Fleet Command had in mind when they
sent us out here.”
“Plans must change,” Kila told him. He turned his somehow
inoffensive sneer back to Hope. “What about your resources? I couldn’t get a
real handle on how many are in your resistance effort.”
Hope made a face. “Dismal. Few and far between.”
Kila’s grin fell a little. “I was hoping it was better than
how it appeared.”
Hope tried to absorb this turn of events. “You came out here
to cripple Maf’s fleet. To take out Copeland too, I hope.”
Piras nodded. “Copeland is still a worthwhile prize to be
won. It wasn’t the original plan, but we’re concentrating on rescuing Haven and
Rokan at this point. Particularly Haven, with all those civilians. If we can
make it happen, we’ll redirect our attention elsewhere, in hopes of getting our
hands on Maf.”
“With one ship. And our help, which admittedly, won’t be
much help at all.” Hope grimaced. “Will you mind if I’m not too optimistic on
your chances against over five hundred ships?”
“We’ve got a few tricks which will help even the odds,”
Lokmi said. His gaze hadn’t strayed from her face the entire time they’d
talked, as if he were as riveted by her as she was with them. Hope glanced from
one man to the next to the next, fascinated by how such different faces and
bodies could be equally delightful to gaze at. Good night, was she ever getting
bonus material for her lust files. Her sex spasmed.
“Tricks, huh? Like your phase ability,” she noted, telling
herself to stop getting distracted. Her response to these three men was asking
for trouble.
