Page 10 of Stars on Fire

She turned away, quickly slipping into the new-minted military issue jumpsuit that had mysteriously appeared overnight on a hook close to her hammock.

Somewhat semi-functional, Selene emerged from the touring tent and into the moisture-laden atmosphere outside.

The storms of the past day had calmed somewhat. The clouds had lifted, and the rays from the planet’s twin suns were pushing through the atmosphere once. Selene glanced at the skies and breathed in the fresh, cool air.

She also quickly picked up some delectable smells, and her tummy groaned. She turned her head towards their source - a mess hall to her right.

Minutes later, she was striding through the tented dining space with a heaping tray and a ready appetite.

Soldiers saluted her as she passed, their expressions a mix of sympathy and camaraderie. She acknowledged them with a solemn nod, tamping down her emotions to focus on nourishing her body.

She slid her tray onto a large folding table and tucked hungrily into a big bowl of sun-ripened berries, oatmeal and Dunia’s famously sharp yoghurt, washing it all down with a mug of dark, rich, spicy kahawa.

Minutes later, her hunger satiated, and she sat back in the chair, observing her surroundings.

Located in a sheltered valley shadowed and screened from aerial view by a series of gigantic altiphytes, Enclave Zulu One, casually known as just ‘Zulu One’, was a garrison deep within the forests of Zaalalum. A fortified military base at the centre of Dunia’s massive Arumba continent. On a planet specially chosen centuries ago to harbour humans fleeing a climate-challenged existence.

Selene’s ancestors had been civil engineers who moonlighted as spiritual leaders in Zanzibar circa 5078. After their tiny island home went underwater due to Earth’s rising sea levels, they were sold on the benefits of a new life in a new galaxy. They’d had no problem signing on the dotted line, boarding a generation ship and stepping into life pods that ferried them across a universe.

On Dunia, Silas Munene had transitioned from cleric to civil leader, making a name for himself as a peaceful and caring first Prime.

Hundreds of years later, Selene’s father, Kei’Lano, had tried his best to live up to that legacy. He’d promoted peace and harmony throughout Dunia and publicly rejected calls to build expensive orbital planetary security systems, hoping the planet’s sentient over-protectiveness would be enough.

Yet he’d seen the writing on the wall and built-in fail-safes because humans were always going to be humans, greedy for resources such as Dunia’s xentium.

Thus enclaves like Zulu One. One of many Kei’Lano, despite his public pacifism, had hastily commissioned all around the planet in the last eighteen months. He’d heard The Technocracy was scouting the Pegasi galaxy for resources. Alarmed, he’d wanted Dunia to be prepared to protect its xentium ore and stores.

But, it had been merely a lick and a promise in light of recent events.

Regardless, Zulu One was now one of a few safe houses that those loyal to the True Prime had fled to. It was the closest military base to the fallen capital. It comprised mid-size barracks, a fuel depot, weapons stores, an orbital landing pad for small craft and a spacious airfield beside the valley for vertical take-off and landing for larger craft. It also featured long-distance sensors and a unique surface-to-orbital firing system.

Its weakness was its jungle location. Ground-based troops had to walk through the forests or be transported by air to and from the Enclave.

It was also days away from any supply depot. Thus the enclave was primarily self-sufficient, with its food banks, gardens and dairy herd.

Today, the base was alive, with squads of super-fit soldiers jogging past in formation, the rumble of moving equipment and the sounds of artillery training in the distance.

They were all getting ready, but for what?Selene thought. Their numbers were too small, and their weapons ineffective against The Technocracy’s might.

She had no ‘out’ to offer them, and she felt the guilt of helplessness wash over her.’

‘There she is! I thought you’d still be enjoying your beauty sleep.’

Selene looked up to see Rina slide into the chair across her table.

‘Beauty sleep, my ass. I was awake for days on end. Only so much my body could take before it shut down.’

‘True.’ Rina agreed. ‘Are you conscious enough to talk strategy?’

Selene glanced at her empty cup of kahawa. ‘One more, and I might be ready to go.’

Rina lifted a finger, and a young private stepped up smartly.

‘Please fill her Excellency’s cup. Black, dark, strong, no sweetener. Plus a second cup for me, please.’

He nodded and rushed away with the vessel in hand.

Rina turned back to Selene. ‘While you slept, I brought you out some new clothes.’

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