Wandl the Invader

In the summer of 2070, humanity’s colonies on Earth, Mars and Venus are still reeling from the recent loss of the star‑liner Planetara. The narrator, a former navigating officer still haunted by that disaster, now finds his routine life interrupted by a baffling new object streaking across the inner solar system. Astronomers have measured it to be about one‑fifth the mass of the Moon, yet it behaves unlike any known planet or comet, constantly shifting its course as it sweeps past Jupiter toward Mars.

The news feeds are awash with speculation, but official channels keep the details under tight control, fearing panic across the three worlds. As the wanderer draws nearer, its unpredictable path threatens to tug at Earth’s orbit, tilt its axis, and stir the tides. Together with his spirited companions—Venza, Anita, and other members of the interplanetary community—he must confront a mystery that could reshape humanity’s place among the stars.