A Great Day for the Irish

Bridget Kelly has spent years keeping Earth’s unwanted hitchhikers—bugs, pathogens, and the like—out of the solar system as a meticulous quarantine officer and entomologist. Now, for once, she’s not the one inspecting the cargo; she’s a passenger on a glittering launch bound for New Eden, the promised paradise where insects have been eradicated. The thrill of stepping onto a star‑bound vessel mixes with the familiar sting of bureaucracy, as she watches travelers and their contraband fumbles with a wry, seasoned eye.

The journey promises more than a change of scenery. New Eden’s pristine environment has attracted officials, entrepreneurs, and dreamers, each eager to protect or profit from a world free of stinging pests. Bridget’s expertise makes her both a valuable asset and a target for curiosity, as witty banter with fellow passengers reveals the uneasy balance between scientific caution and utopian ambition.

As the ship’s engines roar and the countdown ticks down, Bridget prepares for a new frontier where her knowledge may be the key to keeping the promised Eden truly bug‑free.