The Viper captain's voice came through the comms, subdued. "We surrender. Look, we're just a small faction under the Stormbound Order. They expect a tax, and time's running short. We needed a way to meet the quota, so we aimed for a weaker ship."
Tahir's expression didn't change. "And you thought that was a good enough reason?"
After a pause, the captain said, "I'll take responsibility. Just… please, don't destroy us."
Tahir glanced back at his crew. "I'll take half of your beast crystals," he said, voice steady. "Then tell the Order you're short because a new faction has risen. Devil's Dune has claimed its share."
The comms went silent. Then, with a quiet acceptance, the Viper captain replied, "Understood. We'll spread the word."
Tahir's friends exchanged looks. Devil's Dune had just sent its first message to the world.
