Ensign Year 3 (An Officer of the Union Space Fleet)

A colony votes to leave the Union and refuses to cooperate with efforts to prevent a catastrophic gravitational anomaly from making their planet uninhabitable, leading to a tense political standoff. Amidst this crisis, Officer Montgomery Hale is dispatched to the surface to help resolve the situation, all while confronting questions about his true identity and his role in a delicate mission. With time running out, he must navigate the complex mindset of the colonists and the laws of physics to find a solution. This story explores the challenges of diplomacy, identity, and survival in a universe without war.