Keep Your Shape

A disciplined Grom pilot and his two crew members descend toward a pristine, cloud‑shrouded world, the only candidate in the system for colonisation. Their mission is simple in theory: drop a powerful Displacer near an atomic source and pave the way for a massive invasion. Yet every step is governed by the ancient caste‑based code of “shape” that demands each member maintain a strict, prescribed form, lest they fall under the influence of the mysterious Shapeless One.

Tension ripples through the crew as low‑caste radiomen and detectors wrestle with the lure of flexibility, while their high‑caste leader battles unrest back on Grom—a mining strike, a burgeoning cult, and doubts about the very purpose of their expansion. As the ship glides closer to the alien surface, the characters must confront the cost of obedience and the thin line between duty and personal identity, setting the stage for a confrontation that could reshape more than just a planet.