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

Eryx glanced over his shoulder at Leander, obviously considering. After a moment, he decided he trusted Leander enough, because he nodded and backed off. Leander went to the wall panel and familiarized himself with the base’s systems, the general structure of the programs. Nothing too complex. He checked records from yesterday, compared them to the fresh startup reports.


“Communications, GPS, and etcetera are still down.” Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Eryx cross his arms. “I have a theory, wish I could contact Des. Hah, but if I’m right, it means I couldn’t anyway.”


“Just let me…yes, looks like it’s non-storm-related outside interference.” Leander pointed to the info he’d asked the system to spit back at him. “This is base four systems yesterday—somebody remote-activated everything so the temperature would be up to twenty-three Celsius when you got in.”


Chapter 20