The Cosmic Computer

Conn Maxwell has been away from his homeworld for six years, soaring through the star‑strewn lanes that link distant colonies. As his ship glides toward the small farming hub of Litchfield, the familiar landscape rushes past, but the quiet town that awaits is anything but ordinary. He discovers that the once‑peaceful outpost now lives under the shadow of armed crews and rumors of pirate gangs that strike without warning.

Back on Earth, a whispered legend haunts the corridors of power: a massive strategic computer called Merlin, said to grant its possessor limitless influence. While governments scramble to locate the mythic machine, Maxwell—armed with his own secret knowledge of duplicated space installations—offers a daring challenge that could outwit even the most advanced technology. The stage is set for a clash of wits, danger, and the promise of untold power, all before the first decisive move is made.