Pandora's Millions

A bustling interplanetary economy teeters on the edge of collapse, where endless supplies clash with dwindling credits. Keg Johnson, the sharp‑eyed chief executive of Interplanet Transport, has built his reputation on gut instinct and quick calculations, but even his seasoned judgment can’t stop the looming bankruptcy of his flagship carrier. The story opens in a courtroom hallway, where a seemingly innocuous gesture—a duplicated judge’s watch—sparks a heated exchange that reveals the fragile state of the galaxy’s trade routes.

Enter Don Channing, a rival with a bold, if reckless, vision: a matter‑transmitter capable of moving cargo across light‑years in an instant. He proposes a high‑stakes barter, demanding a unique, non‑replicable metal to serve as a new universal currency. As Keg grapples with the prospect of reshaping commerce while preserving his legacy, the narrative unfolds into a tense game of strategy, innovation, and the desperate search for a solution that can’t be copied.