Lost Planet 02 - The Stolen Moon Read Online Free PDF

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    Captain Lennard didn’t live on the soldiers’ level. His private quarters were up on the second floor behind the main command bridge, so that he had quick access in case of emergency. This also placed him farther away from the ship’s escape shuttles, but a captain was never expected to flee his own ship.
    As Chase neared the captain’s suite, he could hear shouting. When he rounded the corner, he saw the leader of the Movala mining colony, a coarse, ruddy-faced man with pocked skin, waving his hands in an agitated fashion as he spoke. “Our company signed an agreement with the Federation when we set up operations out here that promised uninterrupted Fleet protection. Where is that promise now?”
    Captain Lennard stood in the doorway to his quarters, arms crossed. “You know very well that between the instability in the Crayder system, the attacks on the Primus shipping pathway, and the continuing aftermath of the Trucon disaster, there’s barely a Fleet vessel to spare these days. The Fleet can’t offer you a replacement for the Kuyddestor after we leave. You should bring your men in from the outer belt.”
    Leave? Chase frowned. He knew that the captain had intended to spend at least half a year at the Movala colony. Why was he talking about leaving already?
    â€œThe inner clusters are nearly ninety-five percent depleted,” snarled the miner. “If we stop mining the asteroids in the belt, we’ll have to do four times the work to extract a tiny fraction of what we’re getting now.”
    â€œI’m sorry, but that’s your best option.” The captain’s voice was firm. “We’ll be starting preparations for our departure immediately.”
    Hurling a storm of angry curses, the miner stalked off toward the stairs. The captain shook his head and turned to go back into his quarters when he spotted Chase. A tired smile stretched across his face. “Hey there. What a day, huh?”
    Chase pointed after the miner. “Was he here with you during the blackout?”
    â€œLuckily, no. He just teleported over a few minutes ago after we sent him word that our plans have changed.”
    Chase hesitated. “Are we really leaving?”
    Captain Lennard sighed and nodded. “I’m afraid so.” He stepped back to usher Chase into his quarters and gestured for him to take a seat. “Fleet command has ordered us to change assignments. Actually they’ve been trying to switch our mission almost since the moment we got here. They’re sending us to the Galloi star system to help moderate a territory dispute.”
    Chase sat down on the hard brown couch in the captain’s spartan sitting room. “Can’t you tell them no?”
    â€œI’ve already given High Command a long list of reasons why we can’t leave the miners alone out here, but they just keep after us. Pretty soon it’s going to look less like wanting to protect the miners and more like insubordination, and I can’t risk bringing more attention to the ship than we’ve already got.”
    Chase stared at the arm of the couch, running his finger along the seam. “I thought we’d be able to stay out here for a lot longer.”
    The captain didn’t speak until Chase looked up and met his pale, wolfish eyes, and then he smiled. “We haven’t been called in to answer questions; this is a standard change of mission. I received the most recent orders from Rear Admiral Shaw, who’s been a personal mentor of mine for many years. And the mission isn’t a dangerous one. We’re escorting a Federation peacekeeping envoy to Storros, which is a peaceful, prosperous planet and an important ally to the Federation.”
    â€œBut what if it’s an excuse?” Chase asked. “What if this was all planned by the people who want to get back at you or Maurus?”
    â€œI don’t see how it could be. This