Page 20 of Stars At Dusk

‘Building a series of geothermal power stations alongside the Dunian Xentium Corp’s mining sites. Rerouting the vast energy stores underground into running the xentium mining ops and siphoning any excess into the grid. ‘Twas a project commissioned by Selene’s father, the former Prime.’

Harlow’s eyebrows rose. ‘No way? I’m a big fan of that DXC renewables project. So you’re an engineer and a soldier. More soldier though than an engineer,’ she mused.

‘What makes you say that?’ he teased.

‘Let me see. The neatly folded suit last night, the clean kitchen, the armour, the gunship, your foul mouth? Shall I go on?’

Kage grinned. ‘Nailed it. I’m retired, though. I just help out when it’s needed.’

‘Retired? You don’t look a day over forty standard.’

‘I’ve got a few extra on that. Andnaam, I am retired.’

‘From what?’

He paused for a beat as if assessing his next move. ‘I used to be a Kwavi warrior.’

‘Kwavi?’

‘The Kwavi are metahumans. My people are the residents of Eden City, a floating city above Planet Earth, located in the adjacent galaxy also known as the Backbone of Night.’

‘So, how did you find your way here?’

‘My battalion - led by Kainan, who now leads The Sable Group - left Eden City almost 24 standard years ago on a mission for the Eden Guards and Eden City’s government. We had a bit of trouble, but when it was said and done, we made our way here and established a Kwavi commerce base in the Pegasi system, which is why my home is called Eden II. It’s an offshoot of the original citadel.’

‘And now you sell your merc muscle to anyone who can afford it.’

‘Not just anyone, Harlow. We’re picky.’

‘I see. So you picked the Dunians to help? Why?’

‘We’ve got a vested interest. Plus, Selene asked nicely. She seemed overwhelmed with the coup, and we had the resources to help.’

Harlow tipped her head to the side in thought. ‘Speaking of the coup, what’s happening with it all? I barely get to see the news.’

‘You living under a rock?’

Harlow laughed. ‘No. I’m just shit at following current affairs. I don’t read the news, I’m on zero social networks, and I don’t watch the holo streams. Too busy in my lab, I guess.’

‘Do you really want to know?’

‘Guess I need an update if I’m being rushed to safety because of this coup.’

He jerked his chin in agreement. ‘Well, Axuma was one of the cities that managed to come out of this unscathed, but we’re closely monitoring the airspace above. Rambasa and the Neo Valley are also still secure. We have partial control of Paris Minor and the capital, New Malindi. The situation there has been crazy, though. The crats weaselled their way in real good, and flushing them out has been a nightmare. We’ve had to fight them street by street, and it’s been relentless. Zero kip.’

Which accounted for his exhaustion last night.

‘But we’re gaining ground,’ he continued. ‘Our mobile assaults and tactical flexibility mean we’re adapting quickly, especially to Dunia’s unique ecology. Our guns, too, are superior to the crats. As a result, we managed to pummel most of Makori’s militia and the invading crat army into oblivion.’

‘All of that for free or getting something in return, vested interest and all?’

‘Bit of both,’ he admitted. ‘We’re getting paid, and Kainan, our Sable Group head, hammered out a deal with Selene for our support. But we felt mostly duty-bound to the office of the Prime. We worked well with Selene’s father, and I guess we’re just as pissed off as Dunians at his murder. So we wanted to do our bit, especially for him.’

Harlow suddenly felt guilty for not being more up to speed with current events on Dunia. She was also incredibly touched by the effort the Edenites were investing in helping her planet get back on its feet.

‘Have you been on the ground?’

He nodded. ‘At times. But mostly on the ship here, watching out for bogeys from the air, providing heavy air support, flank protection and security alongside Dunia’s army that’s still loyal to Selene. The rest of my Sable brothers are either out on the streets or resupplying troops and equipment between our frigates and landers while still patrolling the planet from orbit.’

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