READ AN EXCERPT

Excerpt from the science fiction short story, Cosmic Sculpture

"SIR, have you counted the planets this morning?"
The commander of the moon base looked up from his cluttered desk and focused hard on the junior officer standing at rigid attention before him. "Have I what?"
"Sir, the fifth planet is missing — sort of." The junior officer winced but did not retreat.
Commander Traya considered the officer's youthful leonine features and almond-shaped amber eyes. Twenty years ago that face could have been his, as well as the obvious fear of a superior officer. "Get to the point," Traya said in a calm but authoritative tone.
"Sir, the fifth planet is now an asteroid field. Here's the latest recon." The junior officer handed over a flat, palm-sized computer.
Traya sensed hesitation. "And?"
"Sir, we checked the logs on Shelay's private cruiser. It seems she has taken several unauthorized flights recently."
Activating the tiny computer, Traya perused the report. The more he saw, the angrier he became. Tapered claws drummed out rhythmic impatience on the smooth desktop. His feral fangs tingled, as a low-pitched growl rumbled up from his throat. Chewing on a colorful expletive, Traya bolted from his chair and gave a sharp wave of dismissal. "I'll take care of this myself."
"Yes, sir." The junior officer returned a crisp salute and exited the room.
With the small computer clutched in his huge hand, Traya walked across the octagonal chamber and gazed through a thick window. A blue cloud-covered planet revolved just off the shoulder of the ashen horizon and dragged its solitary moon along in a gentle dance.
When Traya had first accepted this outpost, he had borrowed a word from one of that blue planet's primitive tribes and called this assignment Project Terra. The last few months he and his officers had kept busy setting up research stations and gathering essential data. Only yesterday Traya had hoped for a little excitement within this primitive solar system. However, what he saw on that computer report flew light-years beyond excitement...

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