CASSIUS MAX,
by KT MorleyThe tinny voice of Rhisa, both his ship and AI, punctured John’s euphoric rest cycle. “Mission parameters: Following planetfall, assemble inspection team and recon local region in preparation for Corporate incursion. Special weapons issued: none. Special surveillance equipment: none. Special circumstance: if initial human contact unsuccessful, presume hostile. Special biological conditions: Floral: none, fauna: none, higher life forms: none. Humans: evidence of heightened immune response. Regenerative properties of the population reported superior to species norms.”
“Affirmative, Rhisa,” John confirmed, sloughing forward in his berth. “Standard mission parameters. Noted, regenerative properties of native humans. Query: contagion resistant?”
“Negative, Captain Sm
