Stardrifter: Recent Episodes
David Collins-Rivera
Hundreds of years from now, when vast supernations have arisen across the galaxy, a professional gunner wanders the stars, floating from job-to-job.
Ejoq Dosantos makes friends and enemies; he finds comfort and tragedy; and invariably, he uncovers more than his share of danger.
A galaxy in motion requires a man in motion, and Ejoq never stops moving!
Stardrifter is a space opera series by David Collins-Rivera, that encompasses novels, short stories, audiobooks, podcasts, and even a tabletop role-playing game!
Check out my website for Stardrifter and a whole lot more:
http://davidcollinsrivera.com/
Final chapter!
Ejoq and company, hurt by an attack, and fearing another, flee the highdock with all haste. Has the raider escaped? Does it know that its sworn enemies are near? If so, why hasn't it finished them off yet?
The thrilling first half of an epic tale of war and revenge concludes!
Look for All He Surveys: Volume 02, beginning in Summer 2024!
Ejoq and his bodyguards have been discovered sneaking around, but...by whom, exactly? Are these clean-cut, professional men really the bloodthirsty killers they've been looking for? And with the only escape route cut-off, is a safe exit now even possible?
Ejoq and his bodyguards sneak aboard an off-limits space station in search of the elusive raider ship. It all depends on timing and luck...two things that are suddenly in short supply!
While searching for the mysterious pirate ship, Ejoq and his squad hear news of some early engagements by Circle and Cadre forces, prompting a reassessment of their goals. But when a long-awaited clue finally surfaces, all doubts go out the airlock, and a dangerous plan is put into play!
Conducting raids on enemy bases, Ejoq's squadron is here, there, and everywhere. But when a final assault requires the personal touch, Ejoq finds himself in a tiny, essentially unarmed vessel, staring down the barrels of a whole lot of guns!
A Stardrifter Short-Short Story
Opal City Station is a medium size ring-shaped space colony in the Alliance. Though there's nothing all that special about it, OCS is home to hard workers, layabouts, dreamers, lowlifes, villains, and heroes. Just regular people, living a life in outer space.
Niku is a teenager boy with an eye for the ladies. When he finally sees one that makes his heart stop, he learns a quick lesson about what it means to really want something, and what it sometimes takes to be worthy of it.
Ejoq is recovering from the factory mission, but not everyone is happy about his success. Or maybe they are, and just wish he wasn't involved! Angry family. Angry friends. What's a wandering misanthrope to do?
Ejoq is recovering from the successful mission against the factory. But not everyone is happy about that. Or rather, they're mostly unhappy with him!
Glimpses of Opal City
A Stardrifter Short-Short Story
Opal City Station is a medium size ring-shaped space colony in the Alliance. Though there's nothing all that special about it, OCS is home to hard workers, layabouts, dreamers, lowlifes, villains, and heroes. Just regular people, living a life in outer space.
Sanderson Simm races space drones in a highly competitive amateur league. He's been an avid member of his community for years, but has yet to claim his place among the best. Today will be different. Today Sanderson Simm will do anything, including break the law, to gain First Place, and be recognized for who he is. Today is the day he wins!
A quick tale, told in be-bop prose poetry style.
Ejoq, being Ejoq, makes a new enemy who's supposed to be a friend! Military build-up is happening on both sides of the conflict, so the time for childish petulance is long past. But with Ejoq being Ejoq, is that even possible?
The escort has arrived! Or has it? Shady warships, blunt messages, and a strange sense of urgency makes the situation rather tense. A lot of bad things could happen now, and really only a single good one. To Ejoq and his allies, those are definitely not attractive odds!
Arriving in the middle of nowhere, things are quiet and safe. There's plenty of time right now to get to know each other. Plenty of time for Ejoq to make a bad impression!
Safe at last! Except that the most intimidating confrontation of all looms ahead: a meeting with the new Patriarch of family Vernes!
(This is a revised version of the chapter, fixing some audio issues. Sorry for that!)
Help finally arrives, and Ejoq and the others are able to take a breath. New friends and new plans are made, but the greatest and scariest question of all still looms ahead: what will the Vernes say when they find out they're now at war?
Ejoq and his charges have made it aboard the freighter Josephina, and they're climbing out of the star system's gravity well. Nothing can stop them now...right?
Ejoq comes face-to-face with the enchanting and diabolical Lady Treisol! Compliments follow, as well as veiled threats; but a chase through the streets brings the most important question of all to the fore: how do you escape from someone who controls everything around you?
Ejoq makes a decision, and takes a bold step. Whatever happens next, there will be no going back!
(Sorry, folks! Got this one mixed up with Chapter 12. And since I inadvertently published 12 in this chapter's place the other day, I guess I may as well go ahead and publish 12 as well; this time where it's supposed to be.)
Ejoq confides in a local detective, hoping for insight and information. A shocking development, however, changes everything, and an old acquaintance reaches out from the past!
New star system, new cops, but the same old questions. Ejoq starts seeing a pattern, and it's not pretty!
The police have made their inquiries, and they're monstrous. Back on the ship, Ejoq finds that everyone thinks they know who he is, and what he's doing here. They're all wrong, of course, but...what if they're not?
The police are at the hatch now. They want answers, and they're going to get them...any way they see fit!
In the aftermath of violence, Ejoq finds he has much too much time to think about what happened and why. Others wonder about this, too, including what he really had to do with it all!
A violent attack leaves behind death, injury, and shock, as well as an unanswerable question: why?
The new Chef arrives, and everyone is on edge. What could it mean? And why does it matter so much to the mysterious Fouzels?
An accident and injury leave Ejoq wondering if this cruise could possibly get any worse?!
The industry is changing. Ejoq is after a fresh start, but he's finding the transition from wandering gunner to kitchen apprentice a bit of a challenge!
Fundamental to power generation, star travel, manufacturing, and so much more, artificial gravity is the cornerstone technology of Stardrifter. It underpins industry and recreation, and has prompted advancements in nearly every aspect of human endeavor. But not all uses of this tech have been necessarily positive, nor has every application been successful. Check out this latest episode of "Voice From The Void", and learn all about the technology that created the future!
A massive over-arching conglomeration of corporations, interstellar limited liability companies, businesses, and services, Corporatespace is all about the bottom line. But behind all the money hustle is a supernation of people, who live their lives, and pursue their dreams just like everyone else. How can a profit-obsessed region of space possibly work, and why would anyone want to live there?
Check out this episode of Voice From The Void, and find out!
Music: Wicked Ways Killabyte (feat. Danyka Nadeau) NoCopyrightSounds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCpQBB22Xwc http://ncs.io/WickedWaysID License not explicit, but free use is overtly stated as being allowed
A Stardrifter short story.
Zimon lives rough, near the outer hull of a space colony, and far from the general population. No real home, no real comfort; for him and his companions, hope, prospects, and dignity are rare and fleeting.
But a young stranger who enters their midst shatters the quiet desperation of Zimon's endless night, and very quickly, the pain and suffering of a lifetime rises to the surface, and a dark lesson is taught, in the Playground.
A Stardrifter short story.
Stuck in a rut, Lacey works on her family starship, ferrying cargo and passengers to long-familiar ports. A strange passenger offers her a bit of perspective, though, about her life, herself, and even her future. A quiet tale about finding satisfaction and comfort in the cold depths of space.
A Stardrifter short story.
A wealthy young man gets kidnapped, but is he truly the victim? What is real and what is presumption? And how will a harrowing night prove to be the key to a woman's freedom? A tale about hope, fear, and the politics of love.
For centuries, people have been moving into the black in search of fortune, freedom, and opportunity. What might be out there these days, waiting in the great unknown, far beyond the borders of the Big Four supernations?
In the future, there are substances that nearly defy imagination: invulnerable metals; liquid computer cores; biodegradable plastics that can stop bullets. Check out these materials, and others, in this latest episode!
What use do slower-than-light vessels have in an age of faster-then-light space travel? What use does the galaxy have for cargo boats, personnel carriers, and large warboats? Check out this episode for the all the answers!
Even in the future, money makes the world go around. All the worlds, in fact! Empires thrive, and fleets of commercial vessels starjump between the stars, because of money. What form does it take by Ejoq's time? And how did that form come about?
How do you feed hundreds of billions of people scattered through the far reaches of outer space? What sort of infrastructure do you need to make sure food is grown and delivered to all your citizens? Check out this episode and find out!
The manipulation of the human genome has been raised to a fine art by Ejoq's time. Medicine has reached new heights, but not everything has changed for the better. Listen and learn about genetic engineering in the future!
What's Earth like these days? Is it a techno-wonderland, ecological mess, or something else entirely? Take a look at the future of our planet, and the special place it holds among the star-spanning nations of the galaxy!
A look at artificial environments in space. What kinds are there? How many people live in them? Are they safe? The future is full of people, and they all need somewhere to be; a lot of them are on space stations.
An in-depth examination of the future technology of starjump, including how it works, how it came about, and what the implications for human society have been.
A close look at the Alliance of Independent Nations: a complex, chaotic collection of independent states, held together by an elected body, an Executive branch, a huge bureaucracy, and a space-born military second to none.
An overview of the Stardrifter series, including the books and stories available right now; a feature about the future setting of the series, including speculations about time, and what the four major nations are.
Evany and her partner are the owners of Diamond Hard Security, specializing in High Risk and Return missions. Soldiers of fortune, their latest mission goes perfectly...for a while.
Stalked by a military hunter/killer pack in a remote Corporatespace star system, their tiny ship, A Daydream of Josephina, must find it's way back to the Alliance. A simple data grab would never warrant such a desperate response, but here it is anyway.
Something isn't right, and Evany has to figure it out before Corporate Team soldiers get them all in their sites!
That darned cargo boat is no closer, but it's only one problem the crew of Sheila have to contend with now.
Injuries! Unannounced schedule changes! Regulations so new no one has even heard of them! And an AI with a very big digital chip on his shoulder!
Artificial intelligence takes many forms in the future. Some AI's are friendly, some are hostile. Some are philosophical, some are pragmatic.
And some are just plain jerks.
A manufacturing error at a massive automated factory sends the crew of the small personnel boat, Sheila, rocketing out after a robotic cargo vessel, hoping to stop it before its load of faulty mechanical parts gets shipped out. The company will be on the hook if they can't catch it. It's a liability nightmare!
Oh, and if any people use those parts? They might, you know, die.
A Stardrifter short story. Cree "Oiler" Huunan, life-long spacer and liquid cargo handing specialist, is about to be sprung from jail, his mandatory forty-eight hours for public drunkenness being nearly up. But what awaits such a man, when he's lost everything...home, job, and the love of his life?
A short tale about having a place in the world, and knowing who and what that makes you.
There are changes afoot on the space station, and someone is paying a bit too much attention to Ejoq!
A disagreement about the course of the mission reveals the biggest secret in the galaxy!
Ejoq and the crew arrive in star system 216-11B aboard the advanced stealthship Shady Lady. Things are busy here, with a huge space station no one knew about, and dozens of vessels coming and going. And is that a Corporatespace warship guarding things?!
Ejoq is hired for a covert mission over the border. The money is nice, and everyone says it's a great opportunity. So what if it might be a little dangerous...?
Soul and Gaieny are faced with armed mercenaries unfolding a dangerous plan! Things just might fall apart for the superhauler Bellewind, unless these two young technicians can keep cool heads, and come up with a plan of their own!
It's starting to look like the trouble with Bellewind has a human and very treacherous cause. Soul and Gaieny have to decide if they can trust the one person they're able to talk with, because time is running short, and the ship is heading for disaster!
Soul Kawarri is an Artificial Gravity/Inertial Dampener Technician aboard the massive cargo superhauler Bellewind, and he's about to have an interesting day! Teaming up with a wild-haired electronics expert, he's only got a few minutes to confront bizarre system-wide glitches, a raving lunatic on the radio, and mysterious footsteps echoing in the darkness!
Max and the gang do their best to get the 4TH STREET DINER ready for a big inspection, but nothing they do may make any difference at all! Chili with crackers, enemies with ambition, and nanobots with a twist! Get yourself a coffee and danish while you can still can!
CARBORNARI'S ups the ante, with vandalism and outright sabotage! Add to that, a comprehensive and mandatory inspection of the DINER, and Max is feeling the heat! Is it time for him to get out of the kitchen?
After a bit of a tussle with the owners and employees of CARBORNARI'S RISORANTE ITALIANO across the street, Max learns that the fix is in! He and his crew of 4TH STREET DINER misfits have to come up with a plan to win the licensing slot fast, or lose everything!
The 4TH STREET DINER, on Souza Station, finds itself in a food war with an Italian eatery across the street, and tempers are flaring! With a diabolical power couple making their move, and a hired thug pushing people around, Max Bru'llo finds himself battling for the very survival of his restaurant!
10-year old Trapper has gotten separated from his kindly neighbor during a crisis, and might just miss the last shuttle out. But when he meets someone who needs more help than he does, he finds himself at the center of a whole lot of action! A very short dramatized tale (with sound effects and such), about gaining a little perspective when you need it the most.
The story concludes.
Ejoq tries to put his life back together -- but between mysterious visitors, damaged friendships, and disturbing memories, can he even survive survival?
Ejoq isn't recovering well. There are complications, and his problems are getting in the way. But no worries, Fleet has just the solution...and he'll never be the same again!
Ejoq wakes up in a strange place. What's happened? Where is everyone? And why do they keep asking about somebody named Alan Small...?
Time's up, and Grizzelda has a choice to make: deal with the treacherous Alan Small, or trust in the justice of two enemy nation states. A dark secret from the past will determine everything, and a deadly machine will strike!
The crew of Grizzelda come up with a bold plan, but time is short -- and the traffic is a killer!
Hemmed in on both sides, the crew of Grizzelda make frantic plans. The situation couldn't possibly get worse. Or could it?
Back in space, a clean escape for the crew of Grizzelda is within reach at last...until an enemy makes a bold move, and the entire game turns on its head!
With just one desperate chance to escape from Barlow, Ejoq and friends navigate across the planet's face. But between cold revenge and secret military strikes, they may not live long enough to travel anywhere!
Ejoq and his friends reach the end of the line, but a new battle is just beginning, and uneasy allies have become bitter enemies!
Ejoq and his companions have made it to their destination at last, but their final few steps may prove to be exactly that!
Ejoq and his companions are in the mountains of Barlow, where the peace and quiet have taken on a decidedly sinister aspect!
Ejoq and company are on the trail of a mystery, but getting out of Finery could prove to be difficult. In fact, it might be downright deadly!
Ejoq meets up with Alan Small, and together, they hatch a bold plan of rescue...but is the price for his help too high?
The city of Finery is celebrating, because the Revolution is over! (Or is it?) Ejoq finds himself among thousands of revelers, and waits for the elusive Alan Small!
The Revolution has won (mostly), and Ejoq wanders the city of Finery. Hoping to find some clues and assemble plans for escape, he reaches out to a dangerous man...and proposes a very desperate bargain!
Ejoq makes a new friend, and new plans. With the world falling apart, what could possibly be the right move?
Ejoq is injured, and needs somewhere to rest. A quiet, empty factory seems like just the place...unless, of course, he's not really alone in there!
Ejoq witnesses some Revolutionary justice, and barely makes it away himself. The new order is looking for change...and they don't care who stands in their way!
Ejoq makes it back to the city of Finery, but there's nothing fine about it now that the Revolution is in full swing!
Time is running out for Ejoq's genteel friends, and maybe for himself! But what's the next move, and where on Barlow can anyone possibly find safety?
Ejoq has a private meeting with the most powerful men on Barlow. Plans, schemes, and wheels within wheels...but what, exactly, is going on with the mysterious Alan Small?
Ejoq enters the lion's den -- a formal dinner with members of Barlow's Elite class! Caught between fancy desserts and tremendous honors, he finds gratitude and secrets in abundance...and a powerful man with an agenda all his own!
Ejoq is the guest of House Vernes. All seems safe and quiet, but hidden loyalties abound, and not everyone is happy to be there. In fact, some of them seem downright furious!
With some kids in tow, Ejoq must escape the city of Finery before combat in the streets catches up with them. But where can they possibly go...?
Having escaped one conflict, Ejoq finds himself in curious company. The city of Finery is burning, and the Revolution is on the rise!
Ejoq finds himself wandering in an alien city at night. Between new, young allies, and frenzied rioters, there's no clear path, and plenty of danger!
Ejoq finds a warm, quiet place to rest, which is just the thing he needs -- until he finds out exactly why it's so quiet!
Ejoq is on the ground, while the planet is in revolt! Without allies, resources, or any idea where to go, how can he rescue his shipmates? How can he even rescue himself?!
Ejoq and his companions have barely escaped from the highdock, and a difficult spacewalk back to the ship is yet ahead. But with crew mates still missing, and answers unknown, would it really be such a bad idea to have another look around...?
Ejoq and a shipmate sneak aboard the Barlow highdock, looking for their missing companions. But between terrified new friends, and some deadly new enemies, they may not survive long enough to find anything!
Ejoq dons his spacesuit to do a little recon. Can he find Grizzelda's missing people without getting shot? Can he even make it to the station without getting lost?!
There's trouble aboard ship, and trouble on-station -- while some of Grizzelda's own go missing! With blood on the deck, and hatred in the air, Ejoq makes a dangerous decision!
A moment of levity aboard ship does little to help Ejoq's sense of isolation. Everyone is happy, and everyone loves everyone. Right?
Life aboard the ship is growing complicated, while the planet Barlow looks like a powder keg with a burning fuse. Is even the orbiting highdock safe?
The planet Barlow looms, and things are looking sketchy there -- but is the real danger outside the ship...or inside?
Ejoq is making progress with Gunnery, but not everyone seems pleased...while the ship reveals itself to have a very expensive problem!
Ejoq works hard to pull Gunnery online -- but maybe he should work harder making friends!
Ejoq meets the passengers and crew, and learns a few surprising details about Grizzelda's past!
Ejoq has an interview, and gets hired aboard the tramp freighter, Grizzelda, as a replacement gunner. It's just a milk-run to the planet Barlow...so why is everyone so upset?
A funny man has a stark reminder of his serious past, and is forced to examine the choices he made.
An emergency wake-up from cryogenic sleep drops Ejoq in the middle of trouble. With a wicked freeze-tube hangover, a boat packed to the bulkheads with passengers (yet strangely empty), and a shady crew that knows far more than they're telling, he has to hit the deck running -- or, at least, shuffling -- before a trio of armed vessels, waiting in ambush, cuts them all to pieces!
A Stardrifter short story.
A sixteen year old girl, living on a space station with her aunt and uncle, finds herself at the crossroads of her life. A coming-of-age tale, set among the stars.
PART THREE: INCOMING
The story concludes with friends who might be enemies, and enemies who are definitely enemies. Everything is what it looks like, which means nothing is what it seems!
PART TWO: INCURSION
The crew faces unknown odds, and the middle of nowhere is starting to get crowded. They have just one chance to save a strangely quiet merchant ship...and only half-a-chance to save themselves!
PART ONE: BREAKDOWN
A crew of oddballs assigned to picket duty in a remote star system find their junker of a gunboat falling apart at the seams. Between bad pay, an idiot captain, and some rapidly-failing equipment, things couldn't possibly get worse. Right?