Page 264 of Reaper Said Mine

The Combine cutter near Ash-Maw escapes, but the shelter convoy survives.

A raider captain taunts one of my patrol wings with a recording of Reaper children screaming, and I order the wing to hold formation until the captain crosses into the civilian envelope, at which point Vakka cuts his engines and leaves him drifting for public capture instead of private slaughter. Three of my warriors argue that prisoners deserve airlocks more than trials. I tell them trials have better teeth when Ursa is watching. They do not understand. They obey.

Coalition commanders ask permission to strike a refueling node used by hostile cutters. I deny it after Krell confirms the node also supplies a neutral mining colony’s thermal grid. Theryki argues for seven minutes. I let her. When she finishes, I ask whether she wants to explain to the colony’s children that cold deaths are tactically efficient. She closes the channel without answering, then reroutes fighters to blockade instead of bombard.

Alliance white icons slide closer.

Combine gray icons scatter and regroup.

Coalition blue settles deeper into the lanes I once ruled by fear.

Reaper red contracts around civilians.

I watch the colors change and understand what I am doing.

I am trading territory for lives.

I am trading vengeance for time.

I am trading the terrifying legend of Gnash for something less useful in songs and more useful in shelters.

It feels like tearing bone from my own body.

It also feels correct.

Near the end of the second attack cycle, Theryki opens a visual channel without ceremony. Her face appears above the table, green scales dulled by fleet light, golden eyes sharper than fatigue should allow.

“Lord Gnash,” she says. “Alliance intervention fleet elements are moving toward the Trask Fold. They have issued notice of protective presence.”

Skahar snorts. “Protective of what? Their own appetites?”

Theryki continues as if he has not spoken. “If they cross the fold, they can threaten both Guyver Station and the civilian corridors. We should reposition First Shield Fleet to block them.”

“No.”

Her eyes narrow. “You have not heard the proposed formation.”

“I heard enough when you said block.”

“Their movement is an escalation.”

“Yes.”

“Failure to counter may invite deeper incursion.”

“Countering with capital ships across their bow may give them the war image they want.”

She leans closer to the projection. “Then what do you propose?”

I expand the map and mark the civilian corridors in green. “Move your fleet above the evacuation lanes. Defensive angle. Shields outward. Weapons cold unless fired upon.”

“That gives Alliance vessels room to enter the outer dispute zone.”

“It also makes them choose between firing on shielded civilians or admitting they are not here to protect them.”

Theryki studies the map.

Skahar makes a soft sound beside me, half surprise, half approval.