Lost in Barbarian Space
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Authors: Anna Hackett
Tags: #Romance, #Fantasy, #Military, #Science Fiction
Lost in Barbarian Space
Anna Hackett
Lost in Barbarian Space
Published by Anna Hackett
Copyright 2016 by Anna Hackett
Cover by Crocro Designs
Edits by
Tanya Saari
ISBN: 978-0-9945572-2-3
This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places and incidents are only for dpg either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, events or places is coincidental. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form.
Table of Contents
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~ Official Document ~
Galactic Institute of Historical Preservation
Private Memo from Director Niklas Phoenix to Head of Security Nera Darc
Subject: Sensitive information re: Markarian Expedition
Nera,
I’ve finished reviewing the old Earth archives you…acquired for me. I’ve discovered something fantastic but incredibly sensitive to our expedition to Markaria. It directly relates to the starship,
Excalibur,
that crash-landed on Markaria and founded their culture.
I won’t divulge the information in this memo. Please find me when you finish training with your security team and we can discuss the matter in private. We cannot afford for this information to get out before we reach the planet.
The
Magellan
is ready to depart and I suggest we start our expedition as soon as possible. My astro-archeologists are ready and I’m certain your team shakes in their boots whenever you speak to them, so I’m sure they won’t complain if we move the launch date up a few days.
Sincerely,
Niklas
P.S. I may have neglected to mention that we have a student assistant joining the expedition. I’ll tell you more about that later, too.
P.P.S. When I say we’ll discuss this in private…I mean in our cabin, alone, no one else there, just the two of us. Don’t take too long.
Chapter One
Her kick slammed hard into the spar-droid’s face with a satisfying
thunk
.
Honor Brandall pulled back, bouncing on the balls of her feet, before attacking again. Her roundhouse kick sent the floating droid rocking wildly away.
She rubbed an arm across her sweaty face. She’d been training in the ship’s gym for the last two hours. She had a few new moves she’d picked up from reviewing some historical military documents from Darrus III, and she’d wanted to test them out.
Conclusion: difficult, but effective. She bounced on her toes again. If she adjusted a few things, like her posture and positioning, she might have more luck with them.
The gym doors whispered open, and a fellow member of the security team entered.
“Hey, Derek,” she called out.
“Agent Brandall.” The young man headed for the free weights.
“Want to spar?” she asked. “Best of three rounds?”
He quickly shook his head, his straight, dark hair flipping back and forth. “I like my body parts where they are, thanks.” With a smile, he held his hands up as though to ward her off, and then turned to the weights.
Honor raised a brow and shrugged. Most of the security staff groaned in protest when she was in charge of their training sessions. At just shy of six foot, and with the strength and combat training to go with it, she was used to people—men
and
women—shying away from her.
She slammed a fist into the middle of the spar-droid.
She refused to apologize for her strength or her dedication to her job.
The gym door opened again, and this time, the person who entered made Honor snap to attention.
“Relax, Brandall,” the tall, lean woman said.
Nera Darc was Honor’s new boss. Honor had transferred to the Galactic Institute of Historical Preservation ship, the
Magellan
, just over a month ago. They were still settling into each other’s work styles.
Honor took in Nera’s black uniform. The standard Institute uniform was black and gray, but she’d never seen Nera in it. The woman had short hair the color of platinum, multi-colored eyes, and a face that could have put all the latest supermodels in the central systems out of business.
Honor was a military brat. Raised by a military father, she also had two brothers in the Galactic Security Services. Honor might work security for the Institute’s expedition ships, but she’d still had military professionalism instilled into her from a young girl. She liked rules and order.
Nera Darc, on the other hand—former treasure hunter and all-round badass—tended to disregard rules when it suited her. Most people were still reeling from the fact the woman had joined the Institute about eight months back—and some were still seriously hoping she would change her mind and leave.
But Honor suspected that would never happen. Not unless the new Director of Acquisitions—Dr. Niklas Phoenix—left. He was Nera’s lover…hell, that word didn’t even begin to describe what was between the couple.
Nik and Nera rarely indulged in public displays of affection, but Honor had seen the connection between them. It almost felt like something you could touch. She had no doubt that Nera would give her life to protect Niklas. And Nik might be an astro-archeologist, but he’d also been a treasure hunter with his infamous brothers. He could hold his own and, if needed, fight for the woman he’d made clear was his.
Honor fought the restless urge to shift her feet. She’d never seen a man love a smart, dangerous woman like that before.
For all of Nera’s lack of military bearing, she was a hell of a fighter and a good leader. Honor had learned tons from her already.
“We’ve arrived, Brandall.”
Nera’s voice broke Honor’s musings. She turned to look at the large, round window at the back of the gym.
And saw the perfect, blue-gray orb of a planet hanging in the blackness of space.
“It looks pretty from here,” Nera murmured. “The barbarian world of Markaria.”
Honor had done her research. Markaria was a rocky world, with small amounts of water. It had snow to the north, bands of dangerous, mountainous areas, and some gentler meadow areas with small lakes and some low vegetation. It was apparently populated by hordes of dangerous beasts.
It was also home to a part-human race of barbarian warriors.
“So, when do we get started on our mission?” Honor asked. They were here to look at the ancient crash site of an old Earth ship that had crashed here thousands of years ago…and forever changed the planet and her people. In her head, Honor was already organizing the supplies and the security team for protecting the archeologists as they worked.
“Soon,” Nera said. “Brandall, I need you to stay on your toes. There’s added information that hasn’t been shared about this mission.” Her gaze flicked to Derek Wu on the other side of the gym and she lowered her voice. “It’s been classified until we reach the planet.”
Honor felt her interest sharpen. “What?”
Nera shook her head. “I can’t share yet—” she held up a hand when she saw Honor’s face tighten “—I’m sorry, it isn’t my call. Niklas wants the Markarians to be the first to hear it.”
“You have to give me something,” Honor protested. “I’m your second, and this really hampers my work. How does it affect the mission? Does it make it more dangerous—?”
“Yes.”
When Nera didn’t add any more, Honor released a breath. “That’s it?”
“For now. You’ll get all the details on the ground when we meet with the Markarians. All I can tell you is that Niklas got his hands on some ancient records about the ship that crashed here. There’s more to the story.”
Honor raised her brows. She felt a slight electric buzz through her body. It was the feeling she got when a tightly planned mission was about to spiral out of control. “So, what now?”
“We’ll take a shuttle down to the surface shortly to meet Niklas’ cousin, Aurina, and her bondmate.”
Right
. Nik’s cousin Aurina, a former deep-space scout, had discovered Markaria when she’d crash-landed here. She’d since mated with a barbarian warlord and made her home here. Honor couldn’t imagine giving up technology for a man—no matter how good he was in bed. Honor loved hot showers, laser weapons, and twenty-four-hour VelocityBall channels.
“Unfortunately, we won’t get to work straight away.” Nera’s face didn’t change, but Honor got the impression the woman wanted to grimace. “We’re to be welcomed with a sword-fighting display and feast in our honor.”
Sword-fighting? Honor hid her smile. That didn’t sound too bad. Maybe she’d find a few moves she could incorporate into her training. “It at least gives us a chance to scope out our hosts before we head out on the mission.”
Nera nodded. “Assess their strengths and weaknesses.”
“Ah…they aren’t our enemies, right?”
One of Nera’s brows rose. “Everything can change in an instant. Be prepared. Always.”
Right.
She’d forgotten that Nera Darc trusted no one…except Niklas Phoenix.
“Oh, Nera, there was one other security issue I wanted to discuss with you,” Honor added.
“Yes?”
“The explosives sensors keep going off in Lala’s cabin. I’ve searched the girl’s room numerous times, and I can’t find where she’s hiding the damn stuff.”
Nera’s lips turned up for the briefest second. The closest she got to a smile. “Our student assistant won’t blow the ship up, Brandall. She’s an expert with the stuff.”
“It’s against protocol to allow a student to bring uncatalogued explosives aboard.” Honor didn’t care if Nik’s ward was an explosives expert. She was a teenage girl, and Honor didn’t think teenagers and explosives were a good combination in any situation.
“I’m sure,” Nera said, that smile threatening again. “I’ll talk with her. Now, back to our trip to Markaria. Ensure you gather as much data on the planet as you can. We know it’s home to some unpleasant beasts. I want to know the best ways to take them down if we come across any.”