Chapter One - The Fall of Starfire

In the year 2274, Captain Catherine Knight crash-landed her UGS-17 Vulcan stealthcraft on the now infamous planet of Dominae, a name synonymous with sadistic cruelty and its misogynistic culture, forever altering the course of history. Her arrival exposed a world shrouded in mystery, its red sands stained with a legacy of a civilization built on subjugation. However, she was not the first Earthling to tread upon that desolate, crimson expanse. Over two hundred years earlier, in 2024, Dominae was an uninhabited desert planet, its existence unknown even to the most intrepid explorers of Earth’s sprawling space empire. That is, until one ill-fated mission set in motion the dark journey that would transform Dominae into the perverse society it is today. This is that story.

The year 2024 marked the zenith of Earth’s conquest of the cosmos, a triumph forged through decades of relentless ambition and ingenious innovation. It began modestly in 1980, when NASA’s Project Horizon planted a permanent outpost on the Moon’s shadowed south pole. By the late 1980s, the International Space Coalition united governments and corporations, pooling resources to push beyond Earth’s cradle.

A pivotal moment came in 1991, when AstroTech unveiled the Terraformin Matrix, a marvel that slowly reshaped barren worlds into habitable havens by converting natural resources into compounds that helped create an atmosphere. Mars fell first, its red dust tamed into fertile plains by 1993, with Ares City housing thousands under a breathable dome. By 1997, the dome was deactivated, and the newly christened Martians were able to explore the planet’s climate with support. Venus followed, its heated surface cooled down, allowing colonies such as Cloudhaven to settle and thrive.

Mercury’s subterranean lairs, Europa’s sub-ice habitats, and Titan’s methane mines joined the roster, each a testament to humanity’s reach. By 2024, Earth had colonized six planets and eight moons, with satellite outposts dotting the solar system like stars in a man-made constellation. This brought economic opportunities galore as rare elements were traded back and forth between the new settlements.

Yet, this golden age of expansion bred an underworld of criminal activity. Space piracy surged, raiding supply lines to distant outposts, and the United Global Spaceforce (UGS) emerged as Earth’s iron fist, tasked with securing the void. The upcoming Starfire mission was one such endeavor. The mission was for 120 high-risk prisoners—105 men and 15 women, convicted of heinous crimes ranging from murder to treason—to be transported securely to a brand new fortified prison outpost built near Neptune. On top of this, the cargo hold would be secured with a multitude of forbidden seized artifacts brimming with technology deemed too unsafe and cruel for human use. These items were seized from all corners of the explored galaxy, and would be stored in an ultra-secure containment center on the new prison satellite outpost.

At the helm of the mission stood Captain Kendra Shaw, a 30-year-old prodigy whose fiery red hair framed a pair of sharp green eyes that rarely missed a detail. Her mission, spanning three grueling years, was to deliver this volatile payload to the new outpost and return safely with her crew.

Inside the small briefing room inside the UGS headquarters in New York, Kendra strode to the center, her navy-blue UGS uniform hugging her athletic frame. The room buzzed with the low hum of anticipation as her crew—21 women and 4 men, each a specialist in their field—gathered for the briefing that would define the rest of their lives. Kendra’s piercing gaze softened as she watched her anxious team, her voice steady but warm.

“I understand that some of you have never traveled further than Mars before,” Kendra said, her words carrying an authoritative aura. “But you have all been specifically chosen for a real. We have been tasked with making the system a safer place by ridding the galaxy of these disgusting human beings and transporting them securely to their new home, where they would spend the rest of their miserable life shackled in solitude.”

She looked out at the majority female crew, a rare sight in this day and age, and smiled at the milestone. Eight years prior, the UGS pushed for more female participation, and the first campaign was a resounding success. Captain Shaw was one of those beneficiaries, and she had grown to become one of the more respected leaders on the force. This was the first mission she led where she was permitted to select her own crew, and she desired to give other women the same opportunity she had been fortunate to receive.

“Call your loved ones,” the redheaded captain told her team. “Say your farewells. Once we pass Europa, communication to Earth will be restricted until the return voyage.”

The crew dispersed with a quiet shuffle, their boots tapping softly against the polished floor of the briefing room. Some of the team stepped outside the room, finding private corners to call their family, while others huddled near the room’s edges.

Lieutenant Emily Ward moved to a quiet alcove just beyond the briefing room door, her blonde hair falling loosely over her shoulders, her UGS uniform tailored to her slim frame. She dialed her husband on her communicator, her blue eyes softening as his face appeared on the small screen. The family members had already been briefed on the extended mission, so the call wasn’t a surprise.

“I miss you already, Tom,” Emily said lovingly to her husband. “Three years feels like forever, but I’ll be back before you know it.”

Her husband’s smile flickered on the screen, his words gentle. “You’re the strongest person I know, Em. We knew this day would come, babe.”

Officer Sarah Blaze slipped into a shadowed corner near the briefing room’s exit, her black braid swaying against her uniform, its snug fit accentuating her lean, powerful frame. She activated the communicator on her arm, her hazel eyes brightening as her girlfriend’s face appeared, framed by a cascade of red curls. Sarah’s voice carried a playful edge, softened by affection.

“Hey, love,” Sarah said warmly. “This is it, don’t go falling for anyone else while I’m gone.”

Her girlfriend, Millie, laughed. “As if anyone could keep up with you, Sarah. Just promise you’ll come back in one piece. Besides, I have Colonel Wong to keep me company until you return.” She grinned, referring to the large 9-inch dildo Sarah bought her as a joke for her birthday.

Lieutenant Grace Harper found a secluded spot just outside the briefing room, her dark brown hair pulled into a tight bun. The Asian-American activated her communications device, her brown eyes softening as her long-term boyfriend’s face appeared, his familiar smile a steady anchor to support her anxiety. The weight of the three-year mission weighed on the woman, but her voice remained calm.

“I’m ready for this, David,” Grace said. “You know I’ve been wanting to work for Captain Shaw all my career, and now I get the opportunity. These three years will fly by.”

David’s voice crackled through the communicator, his words tender. “Just get back in one piece. I’ll be counting the days until you’re back, and I’ve got a special question to ask when you do.”

Grace smiled widely. “Well, don’t ruin the surprise,” she told him, although she knew he had been planning to propose to her for some time. “I can’t wait to see you again.”

In a quieter corner of the briefing room, Engineer Ethan Stone leaned against a wall, his muscular frame slightly slouched, his blue uniform taut across his broad shoulders. His short black hair framed brown eyes that flickered with a mix of anxiety and excitement. He had no wife or girlfriend to stay here for, and he longed for some excitement in his life. He felt his life and career had become stagnant, and he saw this as an opportunity to take on a new challenge. The man activated his communicator and saw his father’s weathered face staring back at him.

“Hey, Dad,” Ethan said with a reverent tone. “Just checking in before we head out. Three years, no contact after Europa.”

His father’s voice was gravelly as he responded. “You’ve got this, son. Show them what you’re made of. Your mother sends her best wishes.”

Ethan nodded, his eyes darting to Kendra, her red hair catching the light as she moved with effortless command. He had had a crush on the captain since he first laid eyes on her, and he’d hoped that three years in a confined space with limited options would soften her guardrails. “Yeah, I’ll be fine,” he grinned back at his father.

Kendra, unaware of Ethan’s gaze, finished her notes and addressed the crew again as they began to shuffle back into the small room.

“Time’s up, crew,” the captain said, her green eyes scanning the room, meeting each crew member’s gaze with unwavering resolve. “Finish your calls, and report to the Starfire takeoff zone in three hours. The civilians are counting on us to keep them safe; we’re doing this for the greater good.”

As the crew dispersed to prepare for launch, the briefing room emptied, leaving Kendra alone for a moment. She stood tall, her uniform feeling like a second skin, its navy hue in contrast to her fiery hair. She took a deep breath, her mind already on the vast distance ahead, unaware of the chaos awaiting her on the uncharted red planet that would soon define her fate.

❖

The containment wing of the United Global Spaceforce headquarters buzzed with restless energy, the air thick with the stifled shouts and curses of 120 prisoners locked in solitary cells. Total darkness cloaked the steel chambers, a deliberate tactic to disorient and subdue the high-risk inmates, each convicted of crimes that had shaken Earth and its surrounding colonies.

The prisoners knew nothing of their destination, only that they were to be transported to a new prison outpost, and the secrecy surrounding their journey fueled their agitation. Muffled bangs echoed as fists and boots struck the reinforced metal walls, voices rising in a chaotic chorus of fury and defiance, each prisoner grappling with the weight of their confinement and the uncertainty of what lay ahead.

Magnus Holt, a towering figure at 6’4”, filled his cell with a quiet commanding presence, his broad shoulders straining against the too-small orange jumpsuit that clung to his large, muscular frame. His bald head gleamed faintly despite the lack of light, as he stared out in the distance, assessing the chaos. Born in 1992 in New York, Magnus had risen from a rough neighborhood to lead the most notorious crime syndicate in the northeast, The Delgado Family. His organization controlled black-market tech and trafficking rings across Earth, Mars, and Venus. Convicted in 2020 for extortion and the order of multiple murders, his charisma and brutality made him a legend among criminals. He was a key reason the UGS decided to build a satellite further from home.

Victor Crane was a wiry and predatory figure, standing at 5’10” as he paced his cell. The man had dark, graying hair despite his relatively young age at 40, his cunning brown eyes darting across the vast darkness restlessly. Born in 1984 in Miami, Victor had built a successful smuggling empire, trafficking illegal tech and capturing and selling on women across the world. While his activities were restricted to Earth, the man’s cunning was deemed high-risk enough to transport him away from his homeland. Convicted of people smuggling and illegal trade, Victor’s sly charm and logistical genius had kept him elusive for years, until an undercover sting operation unraveled his years of work.

Jeremy Reed was a lean and charismatic tall man at 6 feet. He leaned against his cell wall, his own orange jumpsuit baggy on his slim frame, hiding his deceivingly wiry strength. His dark hair, nearly combed, framed cold hazel eyes that shimmered with a predatory glint in the dark. Born in 1992 in Los Angeles, Jeremy had killed 12 women across various states. He used his natural charm to lure vulnerable women into his domain, before securing them, toying with them, and eventually orchestrating their death. He was ultimately arrested in 2019 for serial murder and convicted a year later. The muzzle over his face demonstrated the man’s particular status as a dangerous criminal.

Then there was Riley Thorn, a fierce and defiant woman standing at a mere 5’3” as she banged her fists against her cell door. She didn’t deserve to be here like those monsters, she thought to herself. Her black mohawk, spiked high, stood in parallel with the tattoos across her arms and chest, each one detailing a stage of her life. Her green eyes blazed with fiery intensity, her tanned skin and angular face radiating untamed allure. Born in 2000 in Portland, Oregon, Riley had killed her abusive ex-boyfriend, a member of The Hellfire Club motorcycle gang, and burned down their clubhouse in 2022, killing three other gang members. After a biased trial, she was convicted of murder and arson and sentenced to life in jail. Mistakenly marked as high-risk on her wrap sheet, Riley found herself among the few women being transported to the faraway prison outpost.

Victor’s cell was directly beside Riley’s, and his voice slithered through the cell walls, his tone dripping with crude intent as he addressed the mohawked woman. “Keep banging, sweetheart,” he said with a perverted edge. “I’ll fuck that tight ass of yours into silence once we’re out of these cells.”

Riley’s fists paused, her eyes narrowing as she spat back sharply. “Fuck you, Victor,” she growled. “I wouldn’t touch you if you were the last miscreant in the galaxy, you slimy bastard.”

Victor didn’t respond, merely chuckling with a hearty,  gravelly laugh that cut through the woman’s core. How could she survive a lifetime of dealing with these bastards?

The commotion grew louder, shouts and bangs echoing, until light poured into the room when the heavy metal door opened, a corrections officer’s heavy boots thudding against the steel floor. He slammed his baton against the metal walls, the clang reverberating through the cells, silencing the prisoners for a moment.

“Shut your filthy mouths, all of you,” the officer bellowed commandingly. “One more sound, and I’ll bring out the shocker to quiet you down.”

The prisoners fell silent, their restlessness simmering beneath the threat. Many of the inmates had felt the effects of the shocker before, and they had no intention of reliving that experience. The officer’s voice dripped with disdain. “It’s time to transport you fuckers out of my sight.”

With a final, resounding slam, he shut the containment door, plunging the cells back into darkness, the silence heavy as the criminals prepared for the journey.

❖

Almost a year into the Starfire’s three-year transport and return mission, a minor alert flashed up on the security panel in the bridge’s dimly lit control room. Captain Kendra Shaw glanced at the blinking light, her fingers pausing over the navigation console. She nodded to her First Lieutenant, Emily, who stood nearby.

“Lieutenant Ward, check the containment unit,” Kendra said, her voice steady and authoritative. “Take Officer Blaze with you. There’s safety in numbers. Find out what triggered the alarm.”

Emily adjusted her uniform as she nodded to her leader. “On it, Captain,” she said sharply before turning around and patting Sarah on the shoulder, who was lost in conversation with a fellow officer. “Officer Blaze, we have a task.”

Sarah halted her conversation and rolled her eyes. She was getting restless on this mission, and she was missing her girlfriend. “Ugh, fine,” she said. “Lead the way.”

The two women exited the bridge, their boots echoing softly down the corridor as they headed toward the large containment unit at the ship’s core. The steel door hissed open, and overhead lights flickered on, casting a harsh glow over the rows of tiny, reinforced single-occupancy cells. Each of the 120 prisoners, clad in orange jumpsuits, sat bound in their individual cages. Their legs were cuffed together with a sturdy chain connecting them, and their arms were secured behind their backs with heavy-duty UGS-issued restraints. Various gags silenced their protests: ball gags, bit gags, ring gags, over-the-mouth muzzle gags, each designed to curb their disruptive behavior. It had taken only four months for the captain to grow tired of the constant bickering and damage being inflicted on the containment unit, and so she ordered the inmates bound and gagged at all times.

Sarah scanned the control panel at the unit’s entrance, her eyes narrowing as she pinpointed the alert’s source. “Cell 47,” she told the lieutenant, gesturing to a cell halfway down the row. “Looks like someone’s been naughty.”

Emily approached the cell, her scanner beeping as she examined the occupant, a short, skinny prisoner whose jumpsuit bore faint scorch marks. “This idiot tried to set his jumpsuit alight,” she said, her voice laced with amusement as she examined his cell. “I imagine he used friction from his fingers and a speck of light through the cell vent to attempt to create a flame. The fool didn’t know these suits were fireproof.”

Sarah chuckled, securing the panel. “These imbeciles are not the most intelligent,” she said mockingly. “That’s what set off the alarm. No damage, though.”

After securing the destructive inmate’s cuffs to the back of the cell, keeping him in place to prevent further damage, they closed his cell door and turned back. As they headed back down the row of cells, Sarah paused by Magnus Holt’s cell, his towering frame hunched in the cramped space as he stared forward. A large black ball gag stretched his jaw wide, but his cold blue eyes glared with calculated defiance. Sarah leaned closer, her lips forming a jovial smirk.

“Look at the big boss man,” she said playfully. “All tied up like your cronies. Not so tough now, are you?”

Emily rolled her eyes, knowing what the captain thought about taunting the prisoners. However, Magnus was an infamous figure in the United States, and she couldn’t help but join in. “I heard they’ve got some special activities planned for you at the outpost, Magnus,” she said teasingly. “A few things that’ll break your spirit.”

Sarah laughed, her braid swinging as she stepped back. “I can’t wait to hear about that,” she said menacingly.

The two women shared a grin, their laughter echoing as they exited the containment unit, the lights shutting off behind them, plunging the bound prisoner’s back into darkness. Magnus’s glare lingered in the shadows, his silence a testament to his self-control.

Back on the bridge, Kendra moved with control over the navigation panels, plotting the Starfire’s course as she planned out the next stage of the journey. The massive transport ship was the largest she had ever commanded, but it responded smoothly to her every touch. The tools at Kendra’s disposal were second-to-none, and the advanced navigation system practically designed the route for her. The redhead adjusted the trajectory settings to her liking as she focused intensely on the task at hand.

Ethan Stone approached, his boots tapping lightly on the bridge’s metal floor. He leaned casually against the console, his smile warm as he watched the captain work. It had been almost a week since his last attempt at wooing his crush, and he’d decided to take another stab at it. “You’re running this ship perfectly, Captain Shaw,” he said smoothly, his voice laced with faux admiration. “But it must get lonely up here, with no one to share the quiet moments. All that responsibility on your shoulders. You know, if you need someone to talk to, I am happy to listen.”

The engineer reached out, his hand gently brushing over the captain’s on the console, his touch lingering with a heavy hint of invitation. Kendra’s gaze flicked to the man’s hand, and she raised an eyebrow, her expression cool and distant. Without a word, she pulled her hand away and stepped back, her movements deliberate as she turned and walked towards the exit, leaving Ethan standing alone, his warm smile tightening into a scowl.

As Kendra moved down the corridor, Medical Lieutenant Grace Harper approached, clutching her medical tablet as she smiled at her boss with a calm focus. “Captain, I’ve completed the latest medical checks on the prisoners,” she said professionally. “All profiles are stable, no issues to report as of yet.”

Kendra nodded, her attention shifting to Grace. “Thank you, Lieutenant,” she said. “Anything else I should know?”

The Asian-American hesitated, her eyes thoughtful as she glanced at her tablet. “Well, yes. During the routine weekly checkups, I have noticed some of the crew members’ psychological profiles are showing signs of fatigue,” she told the redhead. “It’s at a stable level for now. However, if it goes unchecked, this could lead to growing tension, which will undoubtedly cause arguments or even significant errors that could be detrimental to the mission. It’s expected on a mission this long, but it could become a problem.”

The captain’s brow furrowed, her mind racing through the implications. “What can we do to manage that in such a confined space?” she asked her medical expert.

Grace shook her head slightly, her expression sympathetic. “There’s no simple solution, Captain,” she said. “We’ve got two more years on board together. We’ll need to stay vigilant and find ways to keep morale steady.”

Kendra gave the woman a slight nod. “I appreciate your input, as always, Grace,” she said. “I’ll keep it in mind. Continue monitoring the crew closely.”

The medical lieutenant offered a faint smile. “Of course, Captain,” she said, turning to head back to the medical bay.

Kendra continued down the corridor, her steps purposeful as she reached her private quarters. The door automatically slid shut behind her, and she stood alone, her mind turning over Grace’s warning and the challenges of two years ahead. Her career would be in tatters if she didn’t safely navigate this ship back to Earth with a stable, energized crew.

The redhead sat on her bed and lay back, staring up at the ceiling. She had handled everything well thus far, and she still had the backing of her crew. Whatever adversities come their way, the team will fight the challenge together. Kendra wasn’t worried; she knew this mission would be a success.

❖

Three months later, Captain Shaw stood on the bridge, her fingers dancing across the navigation console as she plotted the final course to the Neptune prison outpost. She read the advice popping up on the screen and made adjustments accordingly, smiling widely as the automated system displayed the predicted time of arrival. The redhead glanced at her First Lieutenant, Emily, who stood beside her.

“We’re three days out from the outpost, Emily,” Kendra said with quiet confidence. “We’re almost there.”

Emily let out a long sigh, her hand absolutely running through her own blonde hair, her shoulders relaxing as she looked up from her tablet. “That’s great to hear, Captain,” she said, her tone warm but tired. “I’ll inform the crew and start preparing the arrival protocols.”

Kendra nodded, her focus returning to the console. “Good work, lieutenant,” she said. “Make it quick.”

The blonde first lieutenant moved towards the exit, her boots clicking softly on the metal floor. Kendra prepared to take her seat, but before she moved, a sudden jolt rocked the ship, nearly throwing the leader off balance. She steadied herself against the navigation panel, her pulse quickening as she scanned the controls. An alarm blared from the security panel, its red light flashing urgently. Kendra rushed over, her fingers flying across the screen as she attempted to assess the cause of the obstruction. She gasped sharply as the data on the console confirmed an impact.

“An asteroid?” she said questioningly, her voice tight with disbelief. “How the hell is that even possible? That’s what the early threat detection system is for. How did it not pick up an asteroid?”

Before the redhead could process the failure, another jolt shuddered through the Starfire, followed by a third, each impact rattling the bridge. Kendra checked the external cameras, her stomach sinking as the screens flickered with static, their connections severed by the collisions. Alarms wailed louder, filling the control room with a piercing cacophony and sending everyone into panic mode. Kendra turned to Ethan and Sarah, who had rushed to their stations.

“Ethan, Sarah, secure the prisoners in the containment unit,” Kendra ordered commandingly. “We need the cells to hold. We cannot have those monsters running around causing havoc.”

Ethan nodded, already moving toward the exit. “On it, Captain,” he said, his tone brisk as he grabbed a security tablet on his way out. Sarah Blaze reluctantly followed him, hating every moment she had to spend in that damn prison room.

As they left, Kendra slid into the captain’s chair, her hands gripping the manual controls as she disengaged the autopilot. The Starfire, a behemoth of a transport ship, groaned under her command as she steered through the asteroid field, dodging one jagged rock after another. Eventually, her evasion tactics on such a large ship faltered, and another asteroid slammed against the ship’s hull. The impact shook the bridge, and a new alert flashed on the screen: the landing gear was compromised. Kendra’s jaw tightened, her mind racing as she fought to keep the ship steady and her crew safe.

As she stared through the bridge’s viewport, a massive red planet loomed into view in the distance, its crimson surface undeniable against the black expanse of space. Kendra’s eyes narrowed, her mind scrambling for any record of such a planet near Neptune. She knew there was no such planet this far from Earth with such vivid coloring, and it was far too large to be considered an asteroid or moon.

Kendra tapped the console to activate the ship’s AI encyclopedia, hoping for answers. There was no way a planet like this could exist in our solar system without having been discovered. However, a robotic voice crackled over the speaker and gave her the news she didn’t want to hear.

“Encyclopedia offline,” it said, its tone flat and unhelpful. “System service required.”

The redheaded captain clenched her fists, her options shrinking with each passing second. She knew the ship had sustained extensive damage, and there was no chance of it making the three-day trip to the outpost in one piece in its current state. “We have no other choice,” she said out loud as her crew began to buckle themselves into their own seats behind her. “I’ve plotted a course for that planet. If we can find a flat surface, we’ll land the shuttle and repair the ship.”

Kendra adjusted the controls, her fingers moving with tender precision, aiming the Starfire carefully toward the mysterious planet. The ship groaned under the strain, its hull battered by the relentless asteroid field. As the woman neared the planet’s orbit, another asteroid struck, its force shoving the transport ship into the planet’s atmospheric pull. The ship lurched violently, gravity seizing it like nothing Kendra had ever experienced, hurtling the crew toward the red surface.

“Brace for impact!” the captain shouted, her voice screaming above the blaring alarms, her hands wrestling with the controls as she attempted to stabilize the descent.

The crew tightened their harnesses, their faces tense as the planet filled the viewport, its surface rushing closer with terrifying speed. Kendra pulled every lever, her skills stretched to their limit, fighting to guide the massive vessel to a safe landing.

Despite the redhead’s efforts, the damage was too severe, and the ship plummeted uncontrollably. With a deafening crash, the Starfire slammed into the red surface, the impact smashing the ship in two. Kendra tried her best to stay alert, but the sudden impact rattled her brain. Before long, as the ship came to a shuddering halt, everything plunged into darkness.

❖

Kendra awoke with a piercing screech in her ears, her vision blurred as she blinked against the harsh red sky above. Flame crackled around her, licking at the twisted wreckage of the ship she had commanded, its hull shattered in several pieces across the crimson sand. She lay strapped in her captain’s chair, the bridge open to the elements, a strange warmth on her skin signaling oxygen in the atmosphere. Her mind raced—how could an oxygen-rich planet remain undiscovered? And how was the planet so warm despite its distance from the Sun?

As the captain’s eyes cleared, the chaos entered her focus; screams echoed around her, bodies lay strewn all over the place, most of them in orange jumpsuits, but some in the navy blue of her crew colors. The redhead unbuckled her seatbelt, rising to her feet to assess the damage. She was surprised to find that she had only sustained minor superficial injuries, her body miraculously unharmed.

As Kendra turned, a man in an orange prisoner suit charged toward her with psychotic malice, his eyes wild with intent. The redhead reacted swiftly, drawing her pistol from its holster and firing a single shot. The man collapsed as the bullet made contact with his forehead, blood pooling around him as the light drained from his eyes.

Cautiously, Kendra stepped through the wreckage, her boots crunching around the debris. A familiar scream caught the woman’s attention; she knew who had echoed it. Turning her head, Kendra found Office Sarah Blaze struggling on the ground as a large prisoner in a jumpsuit tightly gripped her long black hair and began dragging her across the sand. Sarah claws at his hand, her nails digging into his skin, but he yanked even harder, ignoring the crew member’s resistance.

“Stop!” Kendra shouted commandingly, raising her pistol. The man, however, didn’t flinch, his grip tightening on Sarah’s dark locks.

Kendra’s eyes narrowed. “I said stop, now!” she warned, her finger steady on the trigger. He continued, undeterred, and the leader fired, the shot echoing as it landed directly between his eyes. The man crumpled to the ground, his grip releasing Sarah’s hair. The redhead raced to Sarah, pulling the shaken officer up with a firm grip.

“Are you okay?” Kendra asked with urgent concern.

Sarah caught her breath, her hands trembling as she brushed the sand from her uniform. “I’m fine, Captain,” she said resolutely despite the fear in her eyes. “We need to find the others.”

Kendra nodded, scanning the wreckage for survivors. The pair moved carefully, their boots navigating around the twisted metal and lifeless bodies. Sarah’s gaze darted to a figure struggling nearby. The woman gasped and rushed forward, recognizing Emily, who was clutching her leg, struggling to stand as a deep gash appeared on her leg, her uniform torn to reveal the damage.

The captain knelt beside her subordinate and pulled out a medkit from her belt, carefully cleaning up the wound before she swiftly bandaged it to stifle the loss of any further blood. Once patched up, she tightened the bandage further, prompting Emily to gasp in pain.

“It’s alright, Emily,” Kendra said reassuringly. “We’ve got you.”

The first lieutenant winced. “Thanks, Captain,” she breathed heavily.

Sarah and Kendra helped Emily to her feet, supporting her weight as they searched for other crew members. They spotted a few women in navy uniforms, dazed but alive and standing, and guided them away from the wreckage. The captain glanced up, her heart sinking as she saw Magnus Holt in the distance. He wasn’t bound and gagged as he had been left in the single-occupancy cell; he was standing free, staring icily at the redheaded captain. A group of male prisoners surrounded the tall, bald man, one of them snapping a steel collar around a crew member’s neck and shoving her to the ground with a harsh laugh.

Sarah’s fists clenched, her body tensing as she took a step forward, furious at the treatment of a fellow colleague. The raven-haired woman was ready to charge toward the collared crew member until Kendra grabbed her arm firmly.

“Don’t do anything stupid, Sarah,” she said urgently. “We need to retreat. It’s not safe here. We can’t take them on now.”

The officer’s eyes blazed with frustration, but she nodded reluctantly. “Fine, Captain,” she relented.

Kendra led the group—Emily, Sarah, and approximately a dozen female crew members—away from the crash site, their boots kicking up red dust as they moved toward a rocky outcrop in the distance. Behind them, Magnus commanded his new group.

“Catch as many as you can, Caleb,” he said to his newly crowned second-in-command. “Don’t stop until you have that bitch in charge under your control.”

Caleb Miles nodded, his stocky frame moving with purpose as he rallied a small team of prisoners. Caleb used to be a low-tier member of Magnus’s crime syndicate before his arrest. He looked up to the bald man and would do anything to impress him. “Let’s move,” the man said gruffly as he led the chase, the group’s footprints pounding after the retreating women.

Meanwhile, at the crash site, a rhythmic banging echoed from a shattered section of the Starfire’s containment unit. Riley Thorn, the badass rebel convicted of murdering her ex-boyfriend and burning down his motorcycle gang hangout, kicked relentlessly at her cell door, its steel frame wedged shut while the cells around her lay broken open. For some reason, her cell didn’t break, hadn’t forced itself open, leaving her trapped while the other inmates escaped. The mohawked woman’s wrists remained cuffed behind her back, the restraints uncomfortable as she struggled against them, her jumpsuit intact despite the crash. The woman’s green eyes burned with defiance as she slammed her boots against the door, each kick a desperate bid for freedom.

The banging faltered as a shadow fell over the cell’s small window. Riley froze, holding her breath as Victor Crane’s face appeared above her, his cunning eyes glinting with a chilling grin. He said nothing, his silence heavy with intent as he rubbed his hands together as though he was about to unpack a wrapped gift, savoring the moment. His fingers moved to the control panel, pressing a button with deliberate malice. The cell door hissed open, revealing Riley’s trapped body within, her cuffs rendering her useless.

Victor’s grin widened, his gaze sadistic as he stepped closer, towering over the rebel. Riley’s heart pounded as she stared fearfully up at him. She was trapped, and the worst man she had ever met was the hunter.

❖

After an hour of retreating across the mysterious crimson sand, Kendra and her group stumbled upon the jagged entrance to a cave, its shadowed mouth staring back ominously against the blazing red sky backdrop. The captain stepped forward, her pistol drawn, scanning the interior for threats. She slowly made her way inside, holding the others back as she checked the space for danger. The cool air inside brushed against her skin, a brief respite from the planet’s unnatural warmth. The redhead turned to the dozen women behind her and signaled for them to follow.

“Looks like the coast is clear,” Kendra said steadily. “Get inside, quickly.”

The group shuffled in, hiding themselves from the unshaded heat and the criminals hunting them down. First Lieutenant Emily Ward, her leg bandaged but still limping, sank onto the flat stone with a wince. One of the survivors, a young crew member with a medical patch on her uniform, knelt beside the blonde, removing the bandage to check on the wound.

Sarah paced near the entrance, her fists clenched, her eyes scanning the horizon. “Any word from Grace?” she asked, her voice sharp with urgency.

Kendra shook her head, her eyes darting to the floor. “Not yet,” she said, her tone heavy with concern.

The dark-haired officer groaned, her frustration boiling over. “We need to get back out there, Captain,” she told the leader fiercely. “There are more of our crew in that wreckage. We can’t just leave them to those bastards.”

The redheaded leader turned to a pile of salvaged supplies stacked against the cave wall. She knelt down and started sorting through them, her hands steady as she took stock of what they had. “It’s too dangerous, Sarah,” she replied as she sorted. “The prisoners outnumber us, and now they’re armed. We can’t take them on without a plan.”

The communications officer crossed her arms, her eyes blazing with fury as she stood restlessly. “So we just hide?” she asked, her tone defiant.

Kendra paused, turning to her subordinate to meet her gaze. “No. We lay low for now,” she said. “Let those bastards kill each other out there, thin their numbers.” The captain looked around. “This cave will keep us safe tonight, but Magnus is hunting us. We can’t stay in one place for too long.”

The redhead scanned the group, noting their weary faces. “Get some rest,” she said. “We move first thing in the morning.”

The women nodded, settling onto the dusty cave floor, their exhaustion visible as they prepared for a tense night.

Meanwhile, at the crash site, Magnus Holt stood amidst the smoldering wreckage, his orange jumpsuit torn and streaked with red dust. A group of male prisoners gathered around him, their eyes gleaming with newfound freedom. At the crime boss’s feet knelt a brunette crew member, stripped entirely naked, her wrists cuffed behind her back and chained to ankle cuffs, forcing her to remain on her knees. Her eyes burned with resistance as she glared up at the bald man.

“You won’t get away with this, you filthy asshole,” she said, her voice defiant despite her vulnerable position.

Magnus’s lips curled into a cold grin. “Shut that bitch up, will you,” he said, spitting on the ground beside her.

One of his men, an African-American with a cold smirk, stepped forward, unbuckling his pants. He seized the woman’s hair and shoved his enormous cock into her mouth, silencing her protests as he pumped her head back and forth, her muffled squeals eliciting cruel laughter from the group.

Magnus chuckled, watching the crew member being used for her mouth. “Sorry, what were you saying, doll?” he responded sarcastically. The bald man looked up and found the group he had sent out heading back toward him.

Caleb approached his boss, his stocky frame moving with lethargic purpose. He stopped before Magnus, his expression tight with frustration.

“We lost track of the women, boss,” the man said, his voice gruff and edged with bitter disappointment. “They slipped away in the dust. There are too many rocky crevices out there; they could be in any one of them.”

Magnus laughed, a deep, mocking sound that echoed across the wreckage. “You mean to tell me you let those whores outsmart you, Caleb?” he asked, his tone laced with amusement. “Don’t worry, those bitches can’t run forever. Keep searching. They’re out there, and it’s only a matter of time before we find them.”

The bald man’s second-in-command nodded resolutely. “Understood, boss,” he said, turning to rally his team of former prisoners. “Let’s move out,” he barked, leading them back into the crimson desert as they resumed their hunt.

Magnus grinned and turned his gaze to the horizon, the red sky stretching endlessly before him, its fiery hue mirroring the exhilaration pulsing through his veins. For the first time in years, Magnus was free. Not only was he free, but he had an uncharted world at his beck and call, and he intended to make the most of it. The bald man stood tall, his presence commanding, savoring the power he now wielded over this empty, desolate planet.

Far from the wreckage, Victor Crane led a small group of prisoners across the red sand, the shattered Starfire fading into the distance behind them.

Riley Thorn stumbled behind him, her body completely nude under the blazing sky after Victor had ripped her jumpsuit away, her C-cup breasts swaying with each forced step. Coarse rope bound her wrists and elbows tightly behind her back, biting into her skin, while a large red ball gag wedged between her teeth, forcing her mouth uncomfortably wide as it muffled her defiant grunts. A steel collar encircled the mohawked woman’s neck, its attached leash gripped firmly in Victor’s hand. He tugged it sharply, forcing Riley to quicken her pace.

The convicted people smuggler glanced back, his cunning grin sending a shudder through the woman’s body as he savored her vulnerability. “Keep up, sweetheart,” he said, his voice dripping with sadistic amusement. “We’ve got a long way to go.”

Riley’s muffled protests vibrated through the gag, her body straining uselessly against the ropes as she stumbled forward. The group pressed on, their silhouettes stretched across the red dust, moving deeper into the unforgiving desert as they started to explore, leaving the vanishing wreckage behind them, the future as uncertain as the endless expanse ahead.

End of Chapter One

——————

Status Report

Captain Kendra Shaw - Alive, uninjured, leading a dozen female survivors into a cage hideout; armed.

Lieutenant Emily Ward - Alive, leg gashed and bandaged, limping but conscious inside the cave.

Officer Sarah Blaze - Alive, uninjured, restless, and armed inside the cave.

Lieutenant Grace Harper - Status unknown; missing since the crash.

Engineer Ethan Stone - Status unknown; missing since the crash.

Magnus Holt - Alive, free, commanding dozens of male prisoners at the wreck; overseeing capture of female crew.

Caleb Miles - Alive, free, leading hunting parties for Magnus; currently searching the desert.

Victor Crane: Alive, free, leading a small splinter group, has Riley leashed and marching into the desert.

Jeremy Reed: Alive, free, loose among the prisoners at the wreck; actions unreported.

Riley Thorn: Alive, captive, stripped naked, wrists and elbows rope-bound, ball-gagged, collared, leashed to Victor; being marched into the desert.