The tiny Muuori drifted slowly over the wreckage of the larger airship. Gathered in the observation bubble, two members of the senior staff looked on grimly. One was a serious young man. The other, a woman of stately beauty despite the silver in her hair. Both were dressed in the crisp gray uniforms of the Lantharian Empire.

“Looks like the remains of the Hydra, sir.” Kalista said coolly.

“Damn the man! He was only supposed to slow them down, not stop them himself.” Porimus said.

“Gerard was a greedy sort. Perhaps he thought he could adjust his bargaining position if he successfully took down a high priority target by himself.”

“He was certainly arrogant enough to think himself equal to the task. Clearly he fell short.”

Kalista snorted. “Pirates are notoriously unreliable. The Minister won’t be happy but it’s not our fault his plan failed.”

“He’s been successful enough. No, we’re carrying on.”

Kalista blinked in surprise. “But we don’t have enough firepower-”

“Let us try guile where force failed.”