Chapter 18 · What did he erase?

Her eyes sharpened. "What did he erase?"

"The supply convoy. The western shield grid. And the message from Captain Orin warning you that the enemy was already inside the perimeter."

Selena’s face went pale for one quick second.

Kane caught it.

"You never saw that message," he said.

"Who sent it?"

"Orin."

"He was dead before the attack."

"No. He was alive. Victor kept him in the lower cells for six days. He used Orin’s access code to falsify the convoy report. Then he put Orin’s body in a maintenance lift and told you the man had abandoned his post."

Selena’s fingers flexed around the pistol.

"You’re making this up."

"Then check the lift records. Check the old medical archive. Search for a fractured wrist and a burn scar across the right shoulder. You’ll find him."

"Why would Victor do that?"

"Because Orin found the synchronization logs."

That made her pause.

The secret project sat three levels below them. The black aircraft. The machine no pilot had survived.