Doran Kallen used to be someone. Born on Terra, raised by a father with too many medals and a mother with too much patience. Discipline ran in his blood. War followed close behind—before he even knew what peace was supposed to mean.

  The UEE Navy shaped him into an elite pilot—cold, precise, predictable. A man who could cause more damage with half a throttle than a full ptoon.

  “I was never a hero. I was efficient.”

  Then came Era. A biologist. Far too gentle for his life. Far too good. She showed him space was more than a tactical grid.

  And then she died.

  And Doran... just stopped. Only without stopping. Now he lives aboard the Ghost Rider, a MISC Freencer that’s more memory than home.

  He carries only what he needs. He speaks rarely. And when he smiles, you should duck.

  “I don’t fly because I want to. I fly because everything else is worse.”

  He owns three ships. The Freencer for everyday runs. The Kore for vanishing. The Hull A for surviving.

  He takes the jobs others reject. Eats dust. Drinks regret. Some call him Shade— Because of the way he lives in shadow— And how fast it gets dark when he enters the room.

  Type: Ex-soldier, freight pilot, broken leader Age: 58 Specialty: Surviving. Sinking. Getting back up. Status: Emotional catastrophe with a weapons license Alias: Shade Personality: Quiet. Sarcastic. Calcuting. When he speaks, it matters. Dream: Forgotten. Problem: She was everything. Now she’s nothing. And he’s still here. Threat: If you disappoint him, he won’t say a word. You’ll just suddenly be somewhere else.