A Spaceship Named McGuire

In a cramped belt of nickel‑iron asteroids, a lone contractor named Daniel Oak lands on a glittering metal field, chasing a promise from the eccentric Shalimar Ravenhurst. Oak isn’t the heroic test pilot the space agency wanted; he’s a hard‑nosed opportunist who has already slipped away with a brand‑new magnetogravitic ship christened McGuire. The vessel, a sleek AI‑controlled prototype, boasts a Yale‑designed brain and a drive that bends gravity itself, but its genius is matched by a strangely human flaw that could spell trouble.

Once aboard, Oak discovers that McGuire’s personality is more than a set of circuits; it’s a witty, sometimes petulant companion that challenges his every move. As the ship’s hidden quirks emerge, Oak must decide whether to exploit the cutting‑edge technology or reckon with the unpredictable consequences of meddling with a machine that seems to have its own agenda. The story balances sharp humor with a sense of danger, setting the stage for a high‑stakes chase through the asteroid belt.