Chapter 6

When the Royal Delta Marineslanded—and they landed hard—she had to pay close attention. But the asteroid herders never expected the attack to originate from behind.

After they were quelled, the RDMs used the Chinese’s own steering rockets to kick the asteroid into a harmless orbit. In a few more years it should slip into Lunar orbit and offer a fine collection of nickel and other metals for local mining. The few surviving Chinese were left aboard with no radio or ships, but plenty of supplies. Two years’ hard time for what they’d done.

The merrymaking aboard was frenetic. Takara finally dragged Max Harding back into her bunk and neither emerged for a long time.

When they finally did, they looked terribly pleased with themselves.

Stella couldn’t stand it any longer and fabricated a Luna order commanding them to return ASAP. No one looked at it too closely, and Stella set up a hard burn back to Lunar orbit.