18
With the station well behind them and the next jump point some distance ahead Drake pulled together as many of the crew as possible into the mess hall, making sure the rest could hear his words.
“By now I’m sure all of you have heard of my visitor at the station,” he said. “Despite the Federation uniform she was from the Phoenix Conglomerate and linked with the Commander.”
That caused a ripple of angry murmuring. Drake waited for it to die down and spoke again.
“She was seeking the crystal, the same one the Crimson Dragon thought we had given him, but I don’t believe she would have been so easily fooled. From what she told me she is well aware of its powers and where she can source others like it.
“It’s time you knew there’s far more to those crystals than just power. They can
