Kian released, stood, and addressed the assembled crowd.
"Ha!!"
He proceeded through a formal bodybuilding pose sequence — front double bicep, front lat spread, side chest, rear bicep, rear lat spread, side tricep, and concluded with the crab most muscular.
The audience looked at his physique. Then at the 81st's commander on the ground. Expressions varied — so alard, so respectful, at least one appearing to envy the deceased for having been defeated by sothing so impressive.
The Provost Major began applauding.
"Magnificent, my lord Baron! Truly magnificent!"
The surrounding soldiers joined in. The general atmosphere beca oddly festive.
Kian acknowledged the reception with a wave.
"I owe my achievents primarily to my parents, for bringing into the world. I also wish to thank the God-Emperor, without whom humanity itself would not exist. And finally, I thank all of you for your continued support."
More applause. Then the Major collected the 81st's commander — who had suffered an unfortunate accident during a lawfully witnessed duel — along with the two Provost soldiers who had sustained injuries from an earlier slip, and the detachnt departed with considerable speed.
Kian watched them go and felt the weight of the situation underneath the cody.
Still no real base. Still no territory I fully control. Without that, everything I've built here can be picked up and taken.
The farm operation had grown large enough to attract regintal-level attention. That ant it was approaching the threshold where higher authorities would start noticing. Develop much further and soone senior enough to take it would be watching.
But he needed scale — enormous scale — to fulfil the ship captain's contract. Four hundred million guana-beasts required agricultural output far beyond what a contested road corridor could provide.
I need sowhere else. Sowhere no one is fighting over.
He went to his tent and spread the planetary map.
The world had one primary continent and several large islands. His finger traced the options. The location needed to be far enough from the Hive that its military reach didn't extend there, and far enough from the main rebel territories that they wouldn't either.
That left the islands.
He settled on one — Garden Isle, eighteen hundred kilotres southwest of the continent across open water. Sixty thousand square kilotres. A central volcano, which ant mineral-rich soil and low fertiliser requirents. Centuries of volcanic erosion had produced extensive alluvial plains around the coast. Before the rebellion, it had been a noble resort destination. When the fighting started, the nobles had left for the Hive. The rebels had limited naval capacity and hadn't populated it significantly.
The island was, effectively, unclaid.
He left Egghead in command of the road position and headed for the Hive.
The Red Lady's bar had beco the ship captain's permanent address. He was in his corner, drinking steadily, when Kian sat down across from him.
The Captain poured a second glass without being asked.
"Comrade — I woke this morning feeling that fortune had kissed . Good news, yes?"
Kian downed the asure and spread a map on the table.
"Garden Isle. I'm going to occupy it and build a guana-beast operation from the ground up."
He laid out the plan. Establish control of the island, land equipnt, begin cultivation and livestock operations. The bottleneck was initial transport — getting people and materiel to an island eighteen hundred kilotres offshore required vessels or aircraft.
The Captain had Aquila shuttles in his hold.
The Captain frowned at the map.
"You're asking to invest in you. I don't know you well enough for that kind of risk."
"Captain — look at the situation on this world. The PDF pushed hard for months and they're running out of energy. The rebels aren't breaking. Neither the Governor nor the rebel leadership is going to resolve this quickly. Waiting for soone else to fill your hold could take decades.
I'm the only viable option in front of you. Lend your shuttle capacity for the initial deploynt. After that you do nothing — you just wait for the cans."
A long silence. The Captain finished his bottle.
"I'll provide transport support. Nothing military — I'm not a combatant in your planet's civil war. Show you have the capability to make this work."
"Co with . I'll show you my food processing facility."
They were heading for the door when Kian stopped.
The traffic light trio — Bylar, the red-hair, and the green-hair — were clustered at the bar muttering among themselves.
"Hold on. I know those people."
He walked over and put an arm around all three simultaneously.
"What are you three doing here?"
They turned. Recognition, various degrees of dramatic flair.
"The fated rival appears~"
"A chance encounter. Destiny at work."
"The universe arranges these things."
Kian pulled up a stool.
"Who is it this ti?"
All three answered simultaneously.
"The Red Lady."
"She's nearly seventy," Kian said.
Three matching expressions of superior wisdom.
"You don't understand."
"A woman is like wine."
"Age only improves her~"
Kian made a dismissive sound — then they pointed at the dance floor.
A woman in a floor-length red dress had walked to the centre of it. The dress fit precisely. She had the kind of face that accumulated rather than lost — lived-in, confident, carrying decades of experience visibly and without apology. Red lips, heavy-lidded eyes, a microphone, and she was beginning an old song.
Kian looked at her for a mont.
"I take it back," he said. "Your taste is impeccable."
The three n raised their chins in collective pride.
[End of Chapter 246]
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