The McMurdo Rift by Bradley Lejeune

SPSFC 2024

One ex-wife. Her missing husband. A mysterious alien race. In the not-so-distant future, Earth stood tall with its sprawling empire, ruling with an iron fist. But the subjugated colonies had other ideas and rose up in rebellion. The war that ensued should have been a simple victory for Earth, but the tide turned when an alien race, the Koru, unexpectedly joined forces with the breakaway factions. The planet’s fate hung in the balance as a colossal Koru battleship nearly annihilated the homeworld, until the valiant efforts of Mark Franklin saved the day. But the cost of victory was too steep, leaving him a broken man. Fast forward ten years, and Franklin has left behind his past life, seeking solace in running a bar aboard a creaky starliner that drifts in the far reaches of space. But when his ex-wife appears, pleading for his help in finding her missing husband, Franklin’s fragile peace is shattered. As he sets off on a treacherous journey to unravel the mystery, Franklin realizes that the Koru have returned, and they have set their sights on something hidden deep within The McMurdo Rift. The fate of the galaxy hangs in the balance, and Franklin is the only one who can save it. Will he risk everything to defeat the Koru and save the galaxy once again?

Adult • Science Fiction/Colonization • Science Fiction/Space Opera