Solbidyum Wars Saga 7: Hunt for the Reduviids by Dale C. Musser

You looked terrible when you got home last night.”
    “Regeny called a meeting of the fleet admirals.  Stonbersa reported that several dozens of his patrol ships got wiped out in what was apparently a ruse to draw our forces into a situation where the Brotherhood could test a new technology.  It would seem they can now detect our cloaked ships.”
    “Oh no, Tib, that’s terrible,” Kala gasped.
    “I’ll grant you, it’s not pleasant news.  On the good news side, A’Lappe has developed a new design for a small but heavily armed fighter that might prove to be a huge benefit.  It even has a limited but effective RMFF shielding system.  They will be inexpensive to build and can be produced quickly.  I’m hoping we can soon launch a campaign to gather the necessary raw materials and begin fabrication on a massive scale, so we can at least get them deployed as back-up planetary defenses.”
    “What about things back on Megelleon?  Any promising news?”
    “No.  Sisopan appears to have fled the surface in a small craft.  It looks like she’s making a run for Epsirt and there is no way to stop her from getting there.  I do have an idea as to how we may be able to get a team onto the planet, but I’ll need to contact Chief Banker Arjuk Norcar on Weccies.”
    “Arjuk Norcar!  Why him?”
    “Because we need someone outside the Federation to pose as an interested buyer of Rinncal Haf-joab’s Epsirt estate,” I said, as I finally dragged myself to the side of the bed and sat up.
    “Wrinkles Half Job,” Kala snickered.  “You’re going to try to buy Wrinkle’s estate on Epsirt?”
    I gave Kala a frown and said, “Yes! I'm going to try to buy Rinncal ’s estate!  It’s the only way we can gain access to the planet without creating an incident.”
    “So you want Arjuk Norcar to broker the deal for you as an unknown buyer?  Don’t you think Rinncal will want to know who the actual buyer is?”
    “Oh I’m quite sure he will insist on knowing.  I want Arjuk Norcar to be the buyer.  I'll provide the money, so it won’t cost him anything.  As compensation for his help, he can keep the place or sell it, whatever he wishes.  All I want him to do is pose as the buyer, close on the sale as soon as possible, and facilitate whatever paperwork is needed to expedite visas for my men to respond to the estate as his representatives under the guise of preparing for his own arrival at a later date.  Once they’re mobilized to the surface, search teams can be organized to search for Sisopan and Professor Fass Hakwin.”
    “If you do find them, then what?” Kala asked.
    “Then we go in and get them,” I said.  “Hopefully Hakwin is still alive and not cooperating with them willingly – and hopefully he hasn’t become a whacked-out God Sweat addict.  It would be great if we could get him to help us solve this problem we have with the speed ceiling on our ships.  As for Sisopan, I would prefer that she die, to be honest; but if we can take her alive, we will.  I know there’s potential to extract a wealth of information from her about Brotherhood activities.”
    “Stop it, Reide!  Don’t tease him!”  I heard Lunnie’s voice shouting in the next room.
    “I’m a fubalo burger, eat me.”  Reidecor was apparently teaching Mimic some new and colorful language, as I could hear the fubalo burger phrase repeated while Reide laughed a deep belly-laugh.”
    “Stop it, Reide, it’s not funny!  Daddyyyy, make Reide stop making Mimic say I’m a fubalo burger, eat me !” Lunnie said, as she barged into our room with Mimic in her arms.
    “I’m a fubalo burger, eat me,” Mimic said, while looking directly into my eyes.
    “See Dad, see what he’s doing?!” Lunnie said crossly.
    “See Dad, see what he’s doing?!” Mimic repeated.
    “Reide, stop tormenting your sister and Mimic,” I said, while trying not to grin.
    Reide peeked around the corner to reveal one eye and half of a huge grin.