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There were several muttered complaints and a couple of groans.

Hunter leaned forward and examined the information. It was Rowick, a colonized mining planet.

“I know, it’s not exactly a paradise, but that’s where the main battle is going on for the mining ore. Three new seams have been discovered, and the Gilab have staked a claim, but they’re not prepared to pay for it. It started out as a small-scale skirmish, but has gotten out of hand fast. We’re going in, along with another dozen units, to sort this out. Expect the Gilab to be ruthless. This ore is worth a fortune to them, and they’re running out of supplies on their own planet.”

“Why can’t they pay for it like others do?” a tall, scarred Apexian opposite Hunter said.

“Because they’re assholes,” another guy said.

“They can be as ruthless as they like, I’m still happy to tear their heads off,” one of the other Apexians said.

There were several chuckles of agreement.

Lieutenant Zabab stood tall. “This isn’t a peacekeeping mission. This is a battle. We take out the trouble makers and then run patrols to maintain order.”

Hunter had heard of Rowick. It was a desolate hellhole and only known for its rich seams of minerals. From what he could recall about the planet, there was barely any life on it.

As he half-listened to Lieutenant Zabab as he outline the situation they were going into, Hunter’s heart and head were back on the Apocalypse. He’d never felt a pain like this, not from a bullet or a blade.

“You need to be careful of the radiation levels on this planet,” Lieutenant Zabab said. “The Gilab have been setting off localized bombs, focusing on the mining communities. They want to make people sick so they’re unable to work.”

“If they can’t work, they can’t get to the minerals,” the Apexian next to Hunter said.

Lieutenant Zabab nodded. “Which makes it ripe for a takeover. You’ll all get radiation monitors. Wear them at all times. When it turns black, you get the hell out of there. I’ve had two guys get sick because they didn’t listen to that order. I don’t want anyone else to get ill. Watch those monitors and move your ass is the second you detect trouble. Has everyone got that?”

There was a chorus of agreements.

The Apexian next to Hunter nudged him. He was a huge, muscled guy, with a nose that looked like it had been broken more than once. “What the hell did you do to get on such a shit show of a mission?”

“The right thing.”

“It couldn’t have been that right. Did you hear about the last unit they sent in?”

Hunter shook his head.

“The Gilab polluted their water supply, then as an extra treat, they sent in a suicide bomber, and blew up the base. Not a single Apexian made it out.”

Hunter grimaced. “We need to be careful what we drink. And maybe don’t let sneaky bastards through the gates wearing a shit ton of explosives.”

He grinned. “No kidding. I’m Jafar.”

“Hunter.”

“It’s good to meet you, Hunter. Let’s see how many alien butts we can blow up.”

“I’m right with you.” He sank back in his seat, listening to Lieutenant Zabab as he laid out the rest of the mission details. He’d be lucky to last a month on this planet. If the aliens and bombs didn’t get him, the radiation would.

Hunter pulled back his shoulders and gave a slight shake of his head. No, he was determined to last the course, especially now he had a beautiful, dazzling reason to keep fighting for.

Cleo was his shining light in this shower of crud. And he’d fight to get back to her. No matter what it took.

***

“Where’s the shift rota, Hunter? Can you—” Cleo froze in her seat, and tears prickled in the corners of her eyes. Of course, her right-hand alien had gone.

She kept doing this. He’d left the Apocalypse four days ago, but she still wasn’t used to him not being around. She didn’t think she’d ever get used to it. The ache in her heart told her something precious had been taken, and she needed to get it back, or she’d never feel whole again.

“Would you like me to find the shift rota for you?” ELVIS said, a sad note in his artificial voice.