Taming the void

stepped out of his ship with Bella Kern at his side, his pistol holstered but his hand hovering close. The sleek interior of the Coalition

for them. One was a tall, broad-shouldered man with a grizzled beard and piercing eyes, his Coalition uniform pristine but his posture

oice a low rumble as he nodded at

eplied, her tone brisk. "

with the practiced ease of someone who'd spent decades i

Smuggler, occasional Tamer, and the guy who j

ressed. "Chloe," he said, turni

ive. She extended a hand to Finn, her voice soft but ste

emained. "A bioengineer on a warship?" he

ified," Trame

ed. "Of co

ve time for pleasantries. The Strynx are adapting faster t

ession darken

ice. It pulsed faintly with an inner light, casting eerie shadows acro

" Finn asked,

wered, her green eyes flick

y to

Chloe said. "Or possibly destro

rought it on my ship without tell

ugh her tone lacked conv

Tramez ad

ouldn't shake his unease. The Void Shard felt w

y, with several sectors highlighted in red. Chloe stood by the con

tension in the room. "Their attacks are becoming more coordinated,

s anymore," Bella added. "Someth

. "The Coalition's current strategy won't hold if thi

n, I'm guessing?" Finn sai

," Chloe said, her tone almost apol

. "That was a

"We need someone who can think like them,

are we

"Orix Prime," she said. "It's an abandoned world on the edge of the void. Strynx ac

ng settling in his gut. "Let me guess: yo

ramez said, his vo

to keep to himself, but Chloe's curiosity seemed insatiabl

Strynx?" she asked,

hout looking up. "And

was it

lding back a storm with your bare hands.

hink it's incredible," she said softly. "To have th

nn said sharply. "It's surv

but didn't p

m, finalizing the mission plan. The tension bet

d, nodding toward the corrid

s skills,"

ot the sa

er gaze hard. "But it

anet loomed like a ghost, its surface scarred and barren. Finn, Bella

ported, her hands steady on the c

t hit turbulence, and Finn

es me the creep

lla said, her eyes sca

d walls. As the group disembarked, Finn's instincts went on high alert. T

Tramez said, his plas

ffled by the thick, gritty sand. Chloe carried a portable scanner

," she said, her voice

lancing at the shadows that se

ground trembled, and a massive Strynx emerged from the

ez shouted, rai

as the Strynx charged. But as he raised h

n to glow, brighter and brighter, unti

ts glowing eyes narrowing as i

doing?" Chl

eapon tightened. "I

r w

d, her voice filled