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T orrian Underground Rebel Base

The underground base was alive with movement. Even this deep beneath the scorched surface of Torrian, the air vibrated with the urgency of war. Josh Manson strode through the wide corridors, his boots striking against the compacted stone floor as he and Cassa de Rola made their way toward the war room.

The cavernous tunnels, carved from the red stone of the planet’s core, were reinforced with metal support beams and thick blast doors designed to withstand both orbital bombardments and surface attacks. Torches and glowing bioluminescent crystals embedded in the walls cast flickering light across engineers, technicians, and fighters hurrying through the network of connected bases.

This was the largest base—the one the rebellion had worked tirelessly to complete. The strategic heart of the movement. Supplies from the frozen moon base were still being transported through the narrow underground tunnels, moving from storage chambers to armories, medical bays, and ship hangars hidden beneath the surface.

Josh’s sharp blue eyes flicked over the fighters posted along the halls—Torrians, Tesla Terrans, five humans, and a host of other alien species united under one cause. Rebel fighters nodded in respect as he passed. Josh acknowledged them with a bow of his head, but his focus was on the meeting ahead.

Beside him, Cassa walked with measured precision. She was battle-worn but steady, her dark hair pulled back, her sharp expression unreadable. She was more than a skilled operative; she was a leader, one of the few people Josh trusted implicitly and loved completely.

As they reached the entrance to the war room, the massive doors slid open with a hiss, revealing a large, circular chamber carved into the stone. A long table sat at the center, surrounded by holo-projectors, tactical displays, and communication terminals.

Inside, General Hutu Gomerant, the towering leader of the Torrian rebellion, stood at the head of the table, his arms crossed over his broad chest. His red skin gleamed under the dim lights, the intricate tribal tattoos across his arms and neck shifting as he moved. His presence commanded respect.

To his right sat Kubo Gomerant, his blind, elderly father—a former Gallant Knight, now a legend among the rebellion. Though his milky-white eyes stared unseeing ahead, Josh had no doubt he perceived more than most in the room. He wore the ceremonial robes of the Gallant Knights, his silver Staff resting at his side.

General Natta Gomerant, Hutu’s younger sister, stood beside Kubo, her lean, muscular frame tense. The tribal tattoos adorning her red skin mirrored her brother’s, though hers were newer, still dark against her skin. She was young, fiery, and still eager to prove herself, which she had when she and her squadron engaged the Legion forces long enough to allow Josh, Cassa, Roan, and the others to escape after they blew up the space lab that would have destroyed Tesla Terra.

Josh and Cassa took their places as Hutu gestured toward the central holomap. The glowing blue projection of the sector flickered to life, showing Cryon II, its orbits marked with commercial trade movements.

The comm terminal to the left of the room crackled, and a deep, Russian-accented voice cut through the chamber.

“Josh. It looks like we have another problem.”

Josh exchanged a glance with Cassa before leaning forward and resting his elbows on the table. “Go ahead, Sergi.”

The holo-image flickered, and Sergi Lazaroff’s face appeared, his features grim. La’Rue stood slightly behind him, arms crossed, her usually cool expression tight with concern.

“Legion Battle Cruisers. A lot of them,” Sergi said. “Crock and the other freighter captains picked them up moving toward Cryon II. Guess who’s leading them?”

Josh’s fingers curled into fists against the table. “Andri Andronikos.”

Sergi nodded. “ Da. And he’s not just bringing a few ships—he’s bringing nearly the entire Legion armada.”

The room fell silent for half a heartbeat. Josh inhaled deeply, his eyes flicking toward the fleet trajectory on the map. He already knew what this meant.

La’Rue confirmed his worst fear. “Andri’s not just going after Dorane.” Her voice was cool, controlled. “He’s going after Ash, Julia, and Roan.”

Josh’s chest tightened and he curled his fingers to keep from hitting the table in frustration. He relaxed when Cassa casually reached over and laid her hand over his. She gave him a small, knowing smile before she pulled her hand back and focused on the screen.

Josh breathed out a calming breath. They needed to warn Ash and Roan, but they weren’t the only ones. “Mei’s there, too.”

Sergi ran a hand down his face, muttered a low curse in Russian, and closed his eyes briefly as Josh’s quiet words sunk in, relief flooding his face and the tension visibly leaving his shoulders. He released a harsh chuckle and shook his head.

“Perhaps it is the Legion we should warn. She is well, yes?” Sergi breathed out as he bowed his head and gave Josh a small smile of thanks for the good news.

Josh had sensed the deep bond formed between them during their time on the Gliese, a connection forged in shared experiences and quiet understanding. He sensed no romantic spark between them; their interactions felt more like a playful rivalry, a competitive dance between siblings. He knew Sergi felt fiercely protective of Mei and his constant teasing had worked to break through Mei’s reserve.

“She’s good. According to Ash, she is fitting right in. Mei was on Cryon II when he arrived, though neither of them realized it.” He exhaled sharply. “Things could get very interesting. We have Dorane, three Ancient Knights, a Turbinta assassin intent on killing them, and a Legion armada arriving in the same place at the same time.”

Sergi snorted with a laugh and ran his hand down over his face. “ Da. What could go wrong?”

Josh forced himself to think, to push down the immediate fear tightening his ribs. He wouldn’t lose his crew—his friends—now, after everything they had been through. He looked over at Hutu when the Torrian exhaled through his nose, his deep voice resonating through the chamber.

“This isn’t just an attack. This is a kill order. That’s all Andri knows.”

Cassa crossed her arms. “If Andri succeeds, he’ll wipe out LeGaugh’s forces, kill three Ancient Knights, and cripple trade across the sector.” She glanced toward the Torrians, her voice quieter. “And if Zoak really is there too, Andri would want him dead as well if the rumors are true and Coleridge put a bounty on his own brother.”

Kubo, who had remained silent, finally spoke. Josh felt the shift in the room as it quieted whenever the old Torrian spoke. He could understand why Ash spoke of the man with a slightly reverent tone. Kubo’s presence projected power and wisdom.

“This will create a power vacuum.” His voice was smooth, unshaken. “If Dorane falls, the rebellion loses one of its most vital armies. If the Ancient Knights fall, the hope they have begun to inspire will shatter.”

Josh’s throat tightened.

Sergi’s voice cut in again. “Crock and the other freighter captains are moving to intercept, but they’re outnumbered and outpowered. We sent a warning to LeGaugh’s people, but even with their defenses, Cryon II is in danger. If it had been what we faced before, a few Legion Battle Cruisers and fighters, it would be different, but it is almost like Andronikos is doing ‘a Holy Mary’?”

“Hail Mary,” Josh corrected.

La’Rue’s expression was hard. “Sergi and I are heading to Cryon II.”

Josh exhaled sharply. “This is an opportunity that we may not get again. Andronikos is making a critical tactical error.”

All eyes turned to him. He glanced at Kobo, who nodded slightly, sensing his thoughts before he spoke them. Josh turned back to the map.

“Andri’s moving in with overwhelming force, expecting a quick and decisive victory. If we hit them hard enough, with a massive strategic strike using both our ships and the freighters, we can turn this into something else entirely.”

Cassa leaned forward. “You’re talking about cutting off the head of the snake.”

Josh met her gaze. “Exactly.”

Hutu considered for a long moment before frowning. “But are we not doing the same thing as Andronikos? If we arrive en mass, he could wipe out the Gallant forces, leaving us just as vulnerable as the Legion.”

“We would need to strike quickly. Andronikos must not be allowed to retreat, but we do it with a twist. We use a tactic popular in the American Revolution.”

A grin curved Sergi’s lips. “You wish to use Guerrilla warfare?”

Josh chuckled. “La’Rue, can you share the recipe for that paint you developed that makes your ship practically invisible?”

La’Rue released a low groan and shook her head. “I don’t want to give it out to just anyone,” she muttered, thrusting her hands into her pockets. “What’s the use of having a secret weapon if everyone knows about it?”

“Ah, moya malen’kaya díkaya voítyelnitsa , Josh and Hutu will keep your secrets,” Sergi murmured.

“I agree with La’Rue. This type of knowledge should be kept secret,” Hutu sighed.

“What about if it could be replicated using the sensors? This way, there can be a way to override it and only those in this room and one other would know about it,” Cassa suggested.

“What do you mean?” Josh asked.

Cassa smiled. “Let me talk to Bantu first. I have an idea and he will know if it is possible,” she said.

Kubo folded his hands. “The Gallant forces are prepared; they can intercept before the Legion reaches Cryon II.”

Natta finally spoke, her voice firm. “We can’t just defend. We will need to destroy them. If we are unsuccessful, think of the devastation they would inflict. We cannot leave the planets defenseless.”

Josh glanced at the fleet trajectory on the holomap, his mind racing. He wouldn’t leave any planet without defenses, but they had to strike first. Andri Andronikos was making a mistake. He was putting himself in the open, bringing the full weight of his forces to one location.

Josh’s gaze swept across the gathered leaders. They weren’t just talking about an ambush. This was the moment everything had led to. Hutu’s warriors. The Gallant forces. The freighter captains. Every fighter willing to bleed for this cause.

“We’re going to end him.”

They weren’t just going to fight Andri Andronikos, they were going to destroy him. There would be no turning back this time. Andronikos had shown he would stop at nothing, regardless of the costs, when he had deployed that space lab to destroy an entire planet and its population. This time, it wouldn’t end until Andri Andronikos was dead.

The Aetherial Arrow ’s engines vibrated through the floor as Dorane strode down the main corridor, the familiar weight of his holstered weapons grounding him. The ship was a masterpiece of Aetherial engineering—sleek, powerful, built for speed and survival. Many thought the Aetherialans were a primitive species because they enjoyed living in sparsely populated villages.

In reality, they were a learned people who continuously sought knowledge in all areas, including technology, research, and military. Dorane’s parents had both been soldiers for the Knights of the Gallant Order before he and his siblings were born. They sought a more peaceful life after the conflicts had settled, choosing to raise their children on Aetherial.

Yet, even their great skills could not save them, or my brother and sister.

He could feel Mei’s presence beside him, the soft whisper of her cloak brushing against her legs as she matched his pace. They moved in perfect sync, a silent bond between them. It was something he had never experienced before—this awareness of another, a connection so deep that he could anticipate her movements, sense the subtle shifts in her energy.

As they neared the bridge, the chime of an incoming message pinged in his earpiece, pulling him from his thoughts. He touched the comm embedded in his wrist bracer.

“Go.”

Asta’s voice was crisp through the secure line, sharp and urgent. “We’ve got a problem.”

Dorane exchanged a quick glance at Mei, and without a word, they altered their course, moving toward the nearest tactical planning room. The doors to the strategic command center slid open with a quiet hiss. The moment they entered the room, Dorane called out the access code to the ship’s internal systems, pulling up the encrypted connection on the display terminal.

The room was lined with high-resolution holo-displays, star charts glowing in soft blues and golds, and tactical readouts running streams of data. The central command table, shaped like an elongated hexagon, displayed a live scan of Cryon II, its orbiting defenses and fleet positioning rendered in intricate detail.

Dorane moved to the center of the room, pulling out a chair for Mei before pulling the one next to her and sitting down. A moment later, Asta’s sharp golden eyes filled the screen, her tail flicking in agitation.

“Talk to me,” Dorane calmly commanded.

Asta exhaled through her nose, her gaze flicking briefly to Mei before settling on Dorane. “Crock just sent word. It looks like the entire Legion fleet is heading straight for Cryon II.”

Dorane’s jaw tightened, his fingers curling against the edge of the table. Damn it. He had suspected Andronikos would make a move, but bringing this many Battle Cruisers… it wasn’t just an attack.

It truly was an extermination.

Despite Mei’s silence, her presence beside him was palpable, a steady, unwavering comfort. She watched intently, her eyes darting between the speakers, absorbing every nuance of their conversation: a subtle shift in tone, a barely perceptible change in expression. She placed her hand on his knee, and he gently covered it with his own, the pressure a soft comfort against the fabric of his trousers.

Asta continued, “One of the Ancient Knights—a man called Sergi—along with a Tesla Terran freighter pilot named La’Rue, met with Crock. La’Rue was there to convince him and the other captains to fight.”

Dorane arched a brow. “Crock agreed?”

Asta smirked, a dangerous glint in her eyes. “You know how he is. Stubborn as hell. But he’s listening. And if he’s in, the others will follow. If you talk to him, you know he will be.”

Dorane nodded slowly, his mind working through the implications. He and Crock had fed the rumors over the years of Crock and the others being a part of Dorane’s vast personal army. In reality, they did have a vast army—as long as they worked together. It worked well for both men to build the illusion. It helped lessen the threat against each of their established business endeavors.

Crock had influence. If he was willing to fight, that meant dozens—if not hundreds—of freighters could be mobilized. The Legion might have overwhelming firepower, but an ambush of fast-moving, heavily modified freighters could turn the tide. Modifications Dorane had financed and Crock had overseen on Cryon I, the original base built before Cryon II.

He felt Mei’s fingers brush against his arm.

“Sergi?” she murmured.

Dorane’s pulse kicked up, irrational and sharp. He had no idea who this man was—only that he had once been part of Mei’s crew, part of her world. And this was the second time he had felt that unexpected stab of jealousy.

“Where are Sergi and La’Rue? Are they still with Crock?” he asked, pushing away the stab of emotion and refocusing on Asta again.

“According to Crock, they are on their way here. I guess hearing there was an Ancient Knight or two on Cryon II put a fire under this Sergi’s ass,” Asta said.

Dorane frowned. “How much time before Andronikos arrives?”

Asta’s expression darkened. “Three, maybe four, days. Lucky for us, that many ships don’t move as fast as one, and word has it, they were deep in Legion controlled regions before they made the decision to head this way. We’ve begun mobilizing the defensive systems. Jammer and our security teams found Zoak’s explosives near the core. They’re working to neutralize them. We need to make sure they found all of them before all hell breaks loose. The last thing we need is Cryon II exploding from within while the Legion is blasting us from outside.”

Dorane inhaled slowly. At least that was one threat handled. Zoak might still be pursuing them, but Cryon II wouldn’t be destroyed from within.

Jammer’s gruff voice cut through the transmission in the background, growling in frustration. “That bastard got deeper into mechanical than anyone should’ve been able to. We’re going to have to tear this place apart and rebuild the security systems from the ground up.”

Dorane exhaled sharply. Zoak was too damn good. And if Jammer hadn’t found those explosives when he did—none of this would have mattered.

Asta crossed her arms. “We’ll do what we can to hold off the Legion, but we’re going to need more firepower.”

Dorane didn’t hesitate.

“I’ll contact Crock.” His tone was absolute. “Deploy the full defense grid and move all non-combatants into fortified sectors. We don’t run—we hold. Make sure every single ship is armed and ready.”

Asta’s sharp-toothed grin spread. “It’s a shame that you are going to miss all the fun.”

Dorane’s lips quirked in amusement. “Who says I’ll miss the fun? We’ll be there before the fireworks start.”

Asta’s golden eyes gleamed. “Just take care of that Turbinta for me. I’m really pissed that he screwed up Jammer’s security system.” Her tail flicked behind her.

Dorane ended the transmission, the holographic screen flickering back to the tactical display.

Silence settled.

Dorane sighed and turned to look at Mei. Without thinking, he leaned forward and pressed his forehead against hers. In the forefront of his mind was a sharp, aching memory—the screams coming from his village, the shake of the ground from the explosions, and the stench of burning flesh. The horror of being powerless as he watched his family die.

His fingers curled gently around the back of Mei’s neck, his breath uneven, his heart hammering. He swallowed past the lump in his throat, his voice low, rough with emotion.

“I will never let that happen again.”

Mei’s dark eyes softened, her fingers brushing against his cheek. She said nothing at first—just studied him, as if memorizing every line of his face. Then, finally, she murmured, “You are no longer a defenseless boy, Dorane. You are a fierce and powerful warrior.” Her voice was soft but unshaken. “And most of all—you are not alone.”

Dorane exhaled, the tension in his chest easing as he held onto her words.

Not alone.

He had fought for years, carving his own path, shouldering the burdens of his past alone. But now… he wasn’t just fighting for vengeance. He was fighting for his people. For his found family.

For Mei.

Dorane pulled back slightly, his eyes locking onto hers. Resolve settled into his bones, deep and unshakable.

Andri Andronikos had made a grave mistake. The Legion director was coming to eradicate them.

But Dorane had no intention of dying.