Xin had run this patrol even more times than he’d wished something would happen during one of them. Still, something about the Dark Forest and what he knew lay on the other side of it kept him alert, even now. The expanse of ancient, dense trees cut a leafy scar through settlement territory, with its [...]

Grace checked the ribbon-glass console around her forearm for the access codes to AIC. If the sum she’d paid for them - that made her grimace just thinking about - turned out not to be good, she’d have to concoct a ‘DisGrace Special’ for her less than honest contact at the AI corp. She slyly [...]