The Copper-Clad World

A spaceship pilot faces sabotage aboard a cargo vessel when a masked guard uses hypnotic pink gas and strange weapons to murder crewmates and seize control, forcing the ship toward Jupiter's second satellite. The vessel reaches a copper-clad moon valued for its rare k-metal, where the survivors confront armored native powers and a menacing ruling council. Stripped of normal agency, the pilot and his engineer must navigate alien technology, political intrigue, and betrayal while attempting to regain control of the ship, protect the cargo, and survive in an environment governed by unfamiliar laws and hostile forces.