I’m looking at doing another short story before tackling a novel. I just don’t think my skills are up yet to doing a decent novel. I blogged about a space trader adventure, and the basic jist of that idea is what I want to write:
A futuristic setting of spaceships and space cowboys where jump points are used to move solar system to solar system. This group of traders (that does some smuggling) is running from the officials, jumping rapidly from system to system. They break down in a distant system far from known space after throwing off a few small scout ships.
As they hang around and repair, they find a large, empty ship. It’s actually an experimental ship and a group of skeleton crew and researchers are on board. The ship was secretly being built by the government as a lethal attack ship that could appear and disappear and instill fear everywhere to quiet down unrest. The ship can jump without having to go through specific jump points, can cloak and uncloak, and carries a deadly arsenal.
When the scientists and crew realized what the ship’s purpose would be, they revolted against the government guards and began running away. They ask the traders for help but are refused. That’s when the government ships begin approaching the system. Before they can escape a firefight ensues and the trader ship is damaged, so they must get away on the new ship (and they test out some of the firepower in the getaway). At first they plan to just auction it off to the highest bidder but the scientists and crew convince them it’s too dangerous to fall into the wrong hands.
Not sure how it’ll wrap up. One thing they could do at the end is go rescue the scientist’s families who are being held hostage (in exchange for the ship), or it could just fade out on them being ‘on the run’ (and leave the door open for future adventures).
Need an interesting trader crew and some unique characters on the prototype ship, some interactions, romances, character growth, a twist (a spy left behind on the ship, or someone who is panicked and considering turning them over?) Details on the bizarre weapons. I want it to have a gritty feel of fast and dirty ships and space fights. A vivacious, temperamental short woman and a big, stolid older guy (who smokes cigars) are the traders. I may stick with the short-circuited cyborg I mentioned in the last post.
Hmmmm……