Durango has given his word that he will protect the miners of Outpost Fisher Four against the increasingly destructive raids of the Draeus--part-human carnivores who go wild at even the thought of blood and who demand the miners’ children (to eat) in return for “peace.” Durango is a dalit, a disgraced regulator highly trained in warfare and duty. Traditionally a regulator commits suicide when his commander or leader dies, but Durango’s father, former head of the planetary (Mars) government, ordered his son to live and to claim his rightful place as ruler of the planet. Durango and his small band have become mercenaries--this time on a mission to fight a ruthless opponent in defense of a subterranean culture that has its own sinister secrets. At his side is the feisty and seemingly unattainable Vienne--who wields her armalite with deadly accuracy and who is sworn to protect and serve her chief, which doesn’t mean she has to respect or even like him. Durango also conducts constant and witty “thought-conversations” with Mimi, his symbiotic nano brain implant, who serves as a scout, advisor, and monitor of his armor's electronics.
The book is best characterized by its nonstop action--usually quite violent and bloody, as the regulators blast away with armalites, explosives and chain guns against an enemy that travels on power sleds and is armed with plasma projectiles and grenades. To be caught by a Drae means to be eaten alive. Mystery about what treasure the miners are hiding, hints of romance, and Durango’s sense of humor combined with crisp dialog add to the entertainment value of this tale set in a dystopian future on a environmentally traumatized planet.
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