The Descent Into Dakar  

"Home sweet home," grunted He'dtaalh, coming to stand just to the side of me. "It's nice to be home after all this time." The wistful note to his voice simply reinstated that this would be my world from now on.

For however long that might be.

The shuddering of the Retribution as it broke through the first layer of the planet's atmosphere caused me to grip the armrests of the captain's chair. The fiery glow of re-entry caused the entire bridge to be bathed in a bright red light.

It seemed like we were about to descend into the pits of hell, and after that dream I had, I wasn't so convinced that it wasn't. I knew, beyond doubt, that I was going to die on this planet. But at least I would have a place to call home before I did.

And maybe, just maybe, it would be.