Remember Kuwait

Author : Julian Miles, Staff Writer I've always come second. Not through lack of talent or effort, but because I sympathised. If someone wanted it more than me, I'd let them have it. It started at home before I knew the word compromise. By the end of college I knew it well, ...

Ainsanity

Author : Duncan Shields, Staff Writer The first case of ainsanity that we encountered was on the battlefield. There are those who would not be surprised at that fact. I wish we had figured it out sooner. It happened in the constructs that the military had built to be both ...

One Stone

Author : Thomas Desrochers “Are you sure this is what you want to do, captain?” First Mate Smith didn't sound like she thought it was the best course of action, and Ellie had to wonder if she wasn't right. “It's not what I want to do,” she said resignedly, shoulders slumping. ...

On the Rail

Author : Cheryl A. Warner I have two minutes to live. That’s a short time to sort out the sum of your life, but it will have to do. Up here, the only currency is air, and I’ve already run out. They start calling you a “short-termer” when you reach the two-week mark. Both the ...

Loss and Gain

Author : Andrew Bale Bezoragamaradat stared at the gleaming stacks before him, and again questioned the educational preparation of junior officers. “I do not understand, sir – something must have gone wrong!” Understatement. Even such a simple task as this… “Worajak – how ...

The Traveller

Author : Steve Smith, Staff Writer Rosa jumped, spilling her latte as the man dropped heavily into the seat across from her, long hair mussed, his face a shadow in the halo cast by the late afternoon sun at his back. "Lovely place this, yes?" His accent almost ...

No Further My Blood

Author : Julian Miles, Staff Writer The morning breeze is so refreshing here in the heights overlooking the Gordet Pass. We had to stop the Persimma getting through to the Femberul plainsland and this is the choke point. It was going to take old-fashioned grit to hold the ...

Fortune Teller

Author : Clint Wilson, Staff Writer Falkland brushed past the patrons in the smoky bar. He had not visited such a place as this in decades. But he heard that they were back, and he had to see for himself. Glancing around one last time he advanced on the booth. He looked down ...

Causality

Author : Duncan Shields, Staff Writer Infinite branching universes exist. What a drag. The first time I went back in time to change the story of my life, I was really happy. I knew that I’d be able to go back in time, tell my younger self to make better decisions, and then ...

King of the World Specialty Relocation Services

Author : Andrew Bale “Your three o-clock is here to see you, sir.” “Show him in, Reggie.” The door opened barely enough for the mousy little figure to slide through. Short, skinny, pale, and balding, his physical appearance only reinforced the image of a timid man afraid of ...

In the Corner

Author : Dan Whitley I am forced once again to stare at the tortured profile of my master as he slaves away under the glow of his bargain-bin computer monitor. The crags in his face cast long shadows as he works. He's trying to write again. He's so gaunt. He doesn't eat ...

Fresh Inventory

Author : Steve Smith, Staff Writer The walkway stretched along either side of the manufacturing line beneath it, expanded metal flooring paired with railings of aircraft cable under tension. Beneath them, nestled snug inside a transparent tube, a spherical rig trundled ...

The Vitruvian Vivisector

Author : Dan Whitley “Detective...” began the Chief as he shook a file folder choked with papers in front of himself. “I give you six months, and you hand me this?” The Detective swallowed hard. “Sir, I am well aware – perhaps more than anyone else on this case – that our ...

The Best of the USS Essex

Author : Patricia Stewart, Staff Writer “Sir, it’s either artificial, or a new form of celestial object,” reported the Essex’s science officer. “Explain,” probed the captain. “It has about one quarter of Earth’s mass, squeezed into one-sixteenth of its volume. Its average ...

Dark Watch

Author : Andrew Bale It’s the worst watch in the ship. Kitchen, reactor, sanitary – anything is better than staring out this damn window. It’s so bad you have to pass a psych check before they let you do it, and everyone keeps trying to fail. This job is worse than being ...

Analogue Vacation

Author : Duncan Shields, Staff Writer I blinked twice to fast-forward the counter-person to the ticket purchase but nothing happened. She still stood there behind the counter, asking me again if I had packed my bags myself. I blinked again. Nothing. I sighed. They were using ...

Floogbags and Rim-holes

Author : Brian McDermott “What's the market?” “68.23 bid for a hundred thousand.” Joh said. The price of Iridium was rising. And out here in the farthest sector, a place the whole galaxy said was populated by floogbags and rim-holes, my little collective was one of the only ...

The Proceeding

Author : Brian McDermott The hall was cavernous and dark. At one end, standing on a ledge, were the two high ranking Gondrian Council members. Doxenag, an elder, and young Watuu, newly appointed to his position. Doxenag called out. “Come forward.” A light flashed and an ...

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