A Swift Kick to the Thorax by Mara Lynn Johnstone

When space poachers release Earth animals on an alien world, threatening a fragile new alliance, they anger the wrong people. A veterinarian, an accountant, and a furious sign-language-fluent gorilla are coming for them. ~~~ Robin enjoys being one of the only humans around: an exotic outsider, strange and tall, with no shell and only two arms. Consulting for locals who want to keep Earth pets is a fine job. But when a swarm of rabbits invade town and humanity is blamed, everything unravels. If Robin wants to save the alliance between two planets — and keep from getting sent home in disgrace — she has to prove that a powerful crime ring is behind the crisis. Luckily for her, she makes friends who are eager to help: from planetside, from the nearby space station, and recently escaped from the poacher's ship. Those poachers may be bug aliens with an excellent range of vision, but they won't see this coming.

Adult • Science Fiction • Science Fiction/Comic and Light SF • Diversity Representation/LGBTQ+