Military intelligence officer Lieutenant Barb Carolus is ordered to investigate Colonel Locke, a rogue officer suspected of selling military weapons on the black market. Colonel Locke is from Barb’s home planet and she knows exposing his crimes will tarnish the reputation of those rare people like her who’ve escaped the poverty and gangs of their home world to become officers. But orders are orders and she always does her duty.<br><br>For the mission she’s teamed with the unconventional -- and in Barb’s opinion, entirely unprofessional -- undercover agent Taya Borovsky. Working with Taya will test Barb’s by the book approach to the limits, especially when attraction overcomes her irritation with Taya. Bitter about upholding standards nobody else does, Barb gives in to her desires.<br><br>When the mission goes bad, Barb and Taya are on the run and outgunned. To survive, Barb must learn from Taya’s unconventional methods and improvise a solution to complete her mission and save their lives.

Loose Cannon

“Ninety degrees,” Taya reported on the progress of the turn. A moment later, she said, “One twenty.”


Barb watched the display, seeing a representation of the ship turning in a circle, degrees counting up.


“One hundred eighty degrees.” Taya cut the power to the thrusters, which had been turning the ship, then, more slowly, to the thrusters on the bottom of the ship, which had been keeping them hovering. The ship settled gently to the floor of the cave. “And we’re down.”


Barb sank back in her seat, but Taya was still working.


“Grab the flashlight under your seat,” Taya ordered. “I’m cutting main power.”


Barb scrambled for the flashlight even as the displays began to go dark. The lights went out, and dim emergency lighting kicked in a second later. Then the air blowers cut out.


Chapter 17