Kings, generals, commanders, an envoy, a princess, weapons smugglers, a beautiful banded housekeeper, an underage girl,
Burros, blasters, satellites, blazing hot deserts, a stone cold prison cell,
Love, hate, jealousy, revenge,
War, peace, politics, and toilets that don't flush ...
All in a day's work for a Star Service trooper.
A Note from the Author:
This volume is a continuation (parts 2 and 3) of Bargain Princess, A Space Operetta. You'll enjoy the story more if you've already read Part 1, which is available from leading e-book merchants. See the author's web site for more information.
Advisory: Due to coarse language and sexual content, this book is recommended for ages 18 and above.
A snippet from the first chapter:
We flew from Tashara to Aldebaran II, a beautiful oasis planet, for a little R&R. Our leave was short, though just enough time for Commander Phillips to scope out a mission on Aldebaran III, a rocky little mining planet. My job would be to pull out an informant who'd had to run for the hills. Smugglers were hot on his tail, and there was likely to be some shooting.
When it comes to a firefight, there's no one I'd rather have guarding my flank than Chi. I asked Phillips if I could take her with me, and he said she'd already volunteered.
Yeah, there was shooting, all right. ...
Another excerpt:
And then the morning came. I walked out to the landing field to meet the shuttle. As the dust settled, porters ran to begin unloading, the sally door opened, and the ramp lowered to the ground. Chi was the first person off. I have never seen so beautiful a sight as Chi, in combat dress and backpack, walking toward me in the morning sunlight, toting her duffel in one hand and a Mark IV blaster in the other. And the smile she gave me well, I had never seen her smile so bright in all the years I'd known her.
I'd like to say I was a gentleman and rushed to carry her gear, but no, I took my time to walk up to her because I couldn't get enough of the sight of her walking toward me.
"Can I help you with that?"
She kept walking. "Nah, I got it. I'm balanced."
I fell in beside her. "Flight okay?"
"Kinda slow. Good to get some fresh air."
"Got a place for you to stay."
Still walking, she looked up at me and raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"