Author: David Barber Transmissions from the Heaven Probe sizzled with white noise. In a moment of high drama, a shadowy figure had approached the lens, speaking in tones both measured and incomprehensible. Dr Helen Forster smiled for the media. "Here is that first image ...

Author: Jackson Lanzer Screens illuminate my face as the names of the damned dance to a symphony of crimson letters atop a digital stage. I will give each name justice. It is what they deserve. My forearms are strong. It takes strength to push a button that snuffs out ...

Author: Bryan Pastor The summons had arrived three weeks ago. “Jury duty, ugh.” Andy moaned. The summons was simple upper case bold text. “YOU HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO SERVE AS A JUROR. IT IS YOUR DUTY AS A CITIZEN TO COMPLY, ALL WHO ARE CHOSEN MUST ARRIVE AT THEIR ...

Author: Caleb Coy Lieutenant Elizabeth Rodriquez gazed at the lunar surface, her heart thrumming. Floodlights lit up the expanse of the moon’s far side, a barren ocean floor. Her crew-mates, Commander Harrington and Dr. Crowe, shared the silence, emptiness, and a simple ...

Author: Majoki It is said my dying words were “Rosebot. Rosebot.” 'Dying' isn’t an entirely accurate term these days, but I go back a long, long way before Ascendancy, before even the early days of servitors like Rosebot. Maybe that’s why Rosebot was on my mind as my ...

Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer It was a lovely evening. We’d seen a band, gone for a meal, had a fine THC vape, and were wandering home, giant mocha lattes in hand. “Hey, isn’t that a Spot?” I look where Tam’s pointing. There’s a robodog coming down the sidewalk ...

Author: David C. Nutt I’ve been stationed on earth for some 15 cycles- that’s 150 years earth time. Oh, I’m not the only one. There are others. Naturalists, sociologists, cultural studies, and resource assessment. There are exactly 21,532 Citizens of the Confederation ...

Author: Samuel Stapleton “Good evening. My name is Dr. Theodore Novinski, I am the Director of Project Evidence Originate. As explained earlier there will be no questions after my statement.” Dr. Novinski began in earnest. “I am here to address the events of April ...

Author: Alastair Millar I studied the holo and sighed. At least he hadn’t turned up in person, like they sometimes did. “I’m sorry, Phil,” I said, “my hands are tied. The Taxation Service reviewed your case very carefully, and there’s no doubt about it.” “But they can’t ...

Author: Brian C. Mahon Fleeting fleeing from the pursuing swarm, my viewscreen’s gone red, a thousand alarms blaring constant warnings, “HOSTILE UNITS EXCEED DESIGN PARAMETERS. TARGETING SYSTEM SATURATED… GOOD LUCK.” Swarmers: one-meter silvered cylinders with complete ...

Author: David C. Nutt The Steampunk world Donny created was exquisite. As his genius played out in the programming, fantastic brass edged contraptions filled the scenery. Soaring edifices dotted the cityscape with a few doubling as docking stations for monstrous airships ...

Author: Majoki 498.72 meters down in Olkiluoto, off the southwest coast of Finland, the digging stopped abruptly. That’s when they called me. Why officials at the Onkalo Repository intended to deep-store spent nuclear reactor rods would call me was, at first, more ...

Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer I watch Nona and Paul walk away, then drop back down. Nothing to do for a while. My next workday is Thursday, so I’m free for the next five days. I wonder if Wanda… No, she’s off with Eber doing resistance stuff. I couldn’t do that. ...

Author: Hillary Lyon Moony stepped back to eye his handiwork. He called to his assistant. “Get over here and tell me what you think.” Rollo rolled up beside him. “It’s sublime! The coloration, the fine detail. Especially the eyes—they’re so life-life! It’s sure to fool ...

Author: James A Brown III Seismic activity had gotten stronger over the last couple of weeks, along with random power drops. It all started when a hole was punched through the center of the moon to take samples for mining. Dex was taking a breather, looking out a window ...

Author: Steve Smith, Staff Writer I'd never dreamed before, at least not that I could remember. Sure, a lifetime in that chair, I'd hoped for things, but that's different. Sleep was always empty, vacant. Dreamless. Ever since I've become a retread, the visions have ...

Author: Paul Cesarini Den leaned back in his chair, wishing he were someplace else. The sole lightbulb in his “office” flickered defiantly, daring him to try to fix it. He looked up at the bulb but didn’t budge. He’d much rather be home with his wife and his son. Their dog. ...

Author: Majoki That frozen day, the father glowered at his son hunched over the laptop in the kitchen. “This is no way to earn a living.” The teenager leaned further into his screen dancing with code. “You’re not even dressed. How is this right?” The keyboard ...