Page 31 of Koha'vek
“In short,” Gavarn added, “we won’t touch this. Not officially.”
I felt my jaw tighten, but I didn’t speak. Not yet.
Lin-Har leaned forward slightly. “However, Cyborg Command will continue its independent patrols of the affected region. No action will be taken against the Mesaarkan colony as long as it remains peaceful and out of sight.”
A legal shrug.
Cowardice, wrapped in protocol.
Councilor Rios cleared his throat. “Unofficially, weunderstand there may be a need for discretion. For coordination. That falls under your command’s internal affairs.”
There it was—my assignment.
I stood straighter.
“So, you're asking me to contain the situation?”
“We’re trusting you,” Na’shuri said, “to ensure that nothing escalates.”
In other words: clean it up, keep it quiet, and don’t make us look bad.
I took a slow breath. “Very well. I’ll maintain oversight through my team. But understand this—if they are harmed without provocation, I will make noise you can’t ignore.”
Lin-Har’s eyes narrowed, but she gave a short nod.
“See that you don’t make it harder than it already is, General. This peaceful coexistence is still new.”
“I know exactly how fragile peace is,” I said. “That’s why I’m holding onto it with both hands.”
The Council went silent.
Then the hologram cut.
I stood in the quiet of my command center, fists clenched behind my back, watching the glow fade from the transmission crystal.
They’d decided by refusing to make one.
And that meant the real responsibility landed squarely on us.
On me.
Raven
The secure transmission came through just after nightfall.
I was alone in my office, the lights low, a half-empty cup of coffee cold on my desk. When General Dark’s hologram flickered to life in front of me, I didn’t need to hear the words to know the answer.
Still, I waited for him to say it.
“It’s a no,” he said flatly. “Not officially.”
I exhaled. “But?”
“They don’t want another war with the Mesaarkan Empire, and granting asylum to a group of deserters—especially those bonded to human citizens—could give the emperor grounds to claim we’re sheltering traitors.”
I leaned back in my chair. “So, they’re washing their hands.”
“Pretty much,” Dark said. “But you’re not.”
