Star Alliance Read Online Free Page A

wouldn’t keep me around if I weren’t,” Kandra Rene said.
    The door chime sounded, and Sion Shif entered. The Xiiginn wore black armor, and his face always seemed moments away from scowling since the loss of his cruiser. Mar Arden weighed whether or not to replace him.  
    Sion Shif joined them by the holoscreen. “The Boxans have grown bolder. Their change in tactics exposed a blind spot on our ships—an oversight we will not fall victim to again.”
    “Their actions reveal much about their intentions,” Mar Arden said. “Have you been able to recover anything we can use from the wreckage?”
    “Tentran-level data was dumped to this facility,” Sion Shif said.
    “And the captured Boxan?” Mar Arden asked.
    “Her whereabouts are unknown. The intruders came aboard to rescue Ma’jasalax, which means they had to have known she was there in the first place,” Sion Shif said.
    Mar Arden changed the output on the holoscreen to show the surveillance feeds from the research station that was attacked on Selebus. “We need to confirm my suspicions, but I believe the group of Boxans that attacked the research facility was also responsible for the cruiser’s destruction. A bold move from them, considering the risks involved.”
    “The Boxans are adapting and taking more risks, it seems,” Sion Shif said.
    “This was Kladomaor. He was the one who attacked the research facility. He’s managed to convince some Nershals to help him,” Mar Arden said.
    “They’re using our own tactics against us. Should we expect more of these events in other star systems?” Sion Shif asked.
    “The Nershals aren’t as susceptible to our compulsion as the Boxans are. It’s one of the reasons why they tried to cultivate the Nershals. We’ve driven the Boxans back on almost every front, but the presence of the Mardoxian priestess warrants some scrutiny,” Mar Arden said, and glanced at Kandra Rene.
    “She didn’t follow protocol. The records indicate that she was alone when she was captured, so if she didn’t follow the protocol herself that means her protector wasn’t there to enforce the protocol,” Kandra Rene said.
    “That is correct,” Sion Shif confirmed. “We’ve observed the engagement of the protocol where the Boxan armor self-destructs, disintegrating all remains.”
    Kandra Rene nodded. “So if she didn’t follow standard Boxan protocol, she must have been acting alone—a rogue faction acting independently of the Boxan High Council.”
    Sion Shif snapped his gaze in Mar Arden’s direction. “A rogue faction!”
    “Yes,” Kandra Rene said. “The question that stands out in my mind is whether this Mardoxian priestess expected to be rescued. If she did, this implies that the events that occurred on Selebus and the events that occurred on the cruiser are related. The question remaining is how?”
    Mar Arden smiled and enjoyed the realization that registered on Sion Shif’s face.
    “Is this your latest protégé to come from the Astra program?” Sion Shif asked.  
    “Yes, and pretty substantial proof of the program’s effectiveness,” Mar Arden said.
    Kandra Rene kept her expression bland, and Mar Arden added another notch to his approval of her. The Astra program was the latest iteration in genetic modifications meant to further improve the perfection of the Xiiginns over the other species in the Confederation.
    Mar Arden switched the holoscreen to show the unconscious form in the room beyond. “I think some of our answers lie with the being in the other room.”
    Sion Shif glanced at holoscreen and nodded. “I’m not sure what to think about rogue Boxan factions.”
    “We suspected something had to change,” Mar Arden said. “For the Boxans to keep going as they have been would have all but assured our victory over them.”
    “They still represent our biggest threat,” Sion Shif said.
    “We have the Confederation to do our fighting for us, which effectively keeps the Boxans’ hands tied,”