Sand Doom

Bordman, a seasoned Colonial Survey officer, is on a seemingly routine cargo run to the newly‑developed desert world Xosa II. The cramped passenger lounge of the aging liner Warlock shudders as emergency rockets fire for no clear reason, and the ship abruptly drops into orbit around an uncharted planet. Joined by Aletha Redfeather, a charismatic member of the Amerind Historical Society, the two must confront a situation that defies the bureaucratic calm of the settled colonies.

Their banter over old‑world adventure tales quickly turns serious as the ship’s systems report an unexpected landing requirement, hinting at hidden hazards beneath the planet’s shimmering dunes. As Bordman’s methodical training clashes with Aletha’s instinctive curiosity, the listeners are drawn into a tense exploration of a frontier that may be far more treacherous than any survey report anticipated. The first act sets a vivid stage for a story where technology, tradition, and the unknown collide.