The Colonists

On the storm‑soaked world of Serrengia, a band of Earth’s “finest” have spent eight years battling relentless wet seasons and the slow erosion of their equipment. Captain Louis Carnahan marks each day with scratches on a hut post, trying to keep track of the calendar that has merged with the planet itself, while his crew scrapes together water, food, and a homemade liquor that steadies their nerves. Amid the rain‑filled horizons, a lone biologist, Bolinger, clings to scientific curiosity, gathering specimens that may one day justify the colony’s sacrifice.

In the midst of this harsh frontier, the colonists watch the sky for the return of their transport ships, a reminder of the honor and expectations they were promised by General Winthrop. Carnahan’s growing bitterness and the dwindling morale highlight the psychological strain of isolation, raising the question of what qualities truly enable humans to settle new worlds. The story unfolds as the final wet season presses on, forcing each survivor to confront both the alien environment and the humanity they left behind.