In the aft portion of the starboard hangar bay, he found her: The Lupicana, white as fresh snow and resembling the head of a wolf, sat unguarded.
Bryce allowed a brief smile before turning to his crew. He signaled them with his hands, relating the position of the two guards. Pointing to Vernon and himself, he motioned to the forward row of Tridents. He gave Tabitha a separate signal, and they both nodded before the two men proceeded into the hangar bay, crouching behind the parked fighters.
Tabitha stood, took a deep breath and strolled toward the shuttle. As she passed the third row of Tridents, she let two fingers of her left hand caress the wingtip and called out to the guards.
“Hi there, fellas,” she said, flicking back her curls with the opposite hand. “Come here often?”
The smoke
