Eryx is part of a team of scientists charged with monitoring and protecting relocated animals on a privately owned planet. When sensors indicate poachers, Eryx leaves base to confront them, only to lose his way in a sudden snow. After trudging to a nearby observation station for shelter, he comes across an unexpected intruder.<br><br>Smuggler Leander flies an old, sometimes unreliable ship. When the engine starts to fail, he attempts to set down on the nearest planet where he’s stashed supplies, but his descent turns into a crash, and he’s forced to take shelter wherever he can.<br><br>The two can’t possibly trust each other, but storm projections show they’ll be stuck together for days. Worse, the poachers aren’t letting a little inclement weather stop them, and they’re armed and ready to kill. Can Leander and Eryx put aside their differences and save the animals -- and themselves -- before something disastrous happens?

Under Snow and Stars

“The weird thing is, I can imagine myself running around the galaxy indefinitely, just not until I’m old. I can’t picture it. Blank void there. But you—you can’t be planning on staying here for decades. You’d want to move up somewhere. Better research positions. You have options.”


Eryx frowned. The truth was, he often saw a void in the place of his future, too. He just never allowed himself to dwell on it too much. “Yeah, sure. Options.”


“You’re not staying here indefinitely. There must be someplace to advance your carrier.”


Chapter 18