Red Witch of Mercury

In the blistering heat of Mercury’s newest frontier settlement, Jaro Moynahan, famed across the planets for his ruthless efficiency, has swapped his usual contracts for a gamble that could cost him his life. He finds himself drawn into a smoky garden where a striking red‑haired singer whispers a desperate plea. The venue hums with miners, pilots and restless colonists, while native Mercurians watch coolly from the shadows.

The singer, a performer of the popular ditty “The Lady from Mars,” reveals a secret rebellion stirring among the colonists. She offers Moynahan a hefty sum to eliminate Karfial Hodes, the charismatic leader of a planned uprising that could erupt during the Festival of the Rains. With the heat bearing down and tensions rising, the mercenary must decide whether to trust this fragile alliance or walk away.

As the night swells with the scent of Latonka wine and the distant thrum of engines, the stakes become clear: a fragile balance between Earth‑born settlers and the proud, enigmatic Mercurians. Moynahan’s next move could tip the colony toward chaos or a chance at uneasy peace.