I placed my hand at the small of her back, unwilling to see her upset. “Not here, on Base 3. We are the operations center for the Colony. But on the other bases, yes. Some of the bases here are subterranean. The warriors live below ground so they can protect Fleet resources.”
Kristin closed her eyes and leaned back with a sigh. “It’s the reason we think the Hive are really here. If the Fleet loses this planet, and the natural resources here, the entire transport system would be crippled for weeks. Long enough for the Hive to—“
She didn’t finish the statement, and I was glad. We all knew what was at stake, how badly I’d failed my people by not catching Krael and the Hive in the tunnels beneath the planet.
Tyran, however, just couldn’t let it go. “Long enough for the Hive to take down the entire Fleet. If they take the Colony, they win the war.”
Caroline’s jaw tightened, and I saw a look I knew very, very well. Stubborn. Fierce. “I’m in. I’ll help. Just tell me where to go and what you need me to do.”
I pushed my mate toward the door, eager to have this discussion of Hive and my failures over. I would remedy my mistakes. I would go back into those tunnels. Krael would die. The Colony would once again be secure.
The door slid open and Kristin yelled farewell. “We’ll set it up!”
“Okay!” Caroline twisted around me and tried to yell over my shoulder as the door slid closed behind us. I was happy to see her focused on a goal. My mate was intelligent and dedicated. I knew the Colony would not waste her talents, and I knew she would need something here, something to make her feel useful and important, a part of the community. But that would come. Another day. Right now, she was mine.
“Come, mate. We have an appointment.”