“Excellent men,” her father said as he sat back down across from her. “If only we had a hundred more like them.” The door hissed shut, and the car rose up and headed for the residential district of the station.
“You didn’t have to get that last promise from them,” Sara said, folding her arms. “That was a bit melodramatic.”
“Perhaps,” he said, “but they won’t soon forget it, will they?”
“I suppose not.”
The floor fell out below their car as it rose up the high ceiling of the station’s central dome. Sara recognized the familiar gardens and parks that were so characteristic of the upper class neighborhoods of the Colony. Young mothers pushed strollers past the carefully manicured hedges and picturesque streams. Leafy green trees shimmered in the sunlight that shone through the carefully tinted windows overhead. From high above, however, Sara could see that every house and hedge was virtually identical, and the streams all ran in endless circles, doubling back on themselves. It was a sheltered world apart from reality—an artificial imitation of the peace and prosperity that had once been common throughout the system. Though she’d grown up within that illusion, she had no desire to stay there.
“Do either of them have top-level clearances?” she asked.
“No,” said her father. “As far as they know, you’re just another delegate.”
Sara sighed. “That’s going to make things difficult, if I have to keep my mission a secret from them.”
“Be discreet. They’ll never notice a thing, if you do it right.”
If I do it right. That was the trick, wasn’t it?
“I’ll do my best.”
“That might not be good enough,” said her father. “The Colony may not survive if you fail.”
“I know,” said Sara. “I know.”
They sat in silence as the carefully manicured illusion of prosperity passed far below.
====================
Heart of the Nebula
They called him a lone wolf. Now, he must lead them across the stars.
To save his people from a brutal occupation, James McCoy must lead them on an exodus across the stars. But it will take a strong leader to get them to their new home, and the temptation to trade freedom for security has never been greater.
They called him a lone wolf. Now, he must lead them across the stars.
Five years have passed since the Hameji conquered James McCoy’s homeworld. The yoke of occupation has grown unbearable, and unless he can help his people throw it off, everything that he fought for will be destroyed.
Light-years away, in the heart of the Good Hope Nebula, there is a place where they can start over. But the dangers are many, and the way is unclear. Only a strong leader can take them there.
James once gave all that he had to save the ones he loved. To do so again, he must become the leader that his people need. But he’s never been more than a maverick, and even his friends fear he will trade their freedom for security and lose both.
In a galaxy full of pirates and wolves, how can James save his people without becoming a monster?
