The Cosmic Derelict

The story follows the Starways freighter Lucifer and its young captain as an onboard incident with a stowaway and the bo'sun's unexpected behavior leaves the ship delayed and imperils delivery of a precious cargo of powdered platinum. Company orders and a looming financial penalty heighten stress among the crew, while calculations and complaints reveal fault-lines of authority. As the Lucifer pushes into a Sargasso of space, a gaunt, skeletal derelict—the Flying Dutchman of the stars—appears to menace and mock the ship, forcing the crew into a tense confrontation that exposes loyalties, strange motives, and the risks of deep-space navigation.