Baker's Dozens

A top‑ranked xenologist is summoned by the Director of Extraterrestrial Investigations to untangle the web of rumors surrounding Baker, a notorious figure dubbed a “Robin Hood” of the stars. Official reports claim he’s died countless times on different worlds, yet none can provide solid proof. The agency hopes the specialist’s keen eye will separate fact from legend before the public’s growing fascination spirals out of control.

Meanwhile, Baker prowls the decks of a cargo liner bound for Ignatz XI, intent on more than a simple theft. He plans to replace the planet’s indoctrinating children’s books with altered texts that could free the swinoid youth from Earth‑imposed propaganda. With a small, unarmed corvette and a band of local allies, he walks a thin line between outlaw and savior, risking both his reputation and his life for a cause that could reshape an entire culture.