Dog Star Night: A Novelette

On a tiny moon of Sirius-7, settlers struggle to brave the elements, work the land, and live in peace. Governor Calhool doesn't have the authority to raise a military beyond a handful of marshals and her budget doesn't have room to pay for policing services from a contractor. When an off-world criminal element - an outfit that calls themselves The Misters - increases activity on Poligart, Calhool has no choice but to accept their measly bribes and look the other way as they take free run of the capital city. The situation comes to a head when one of the marshals stuns a Mister who was attempting to kidnap a twelve-year-old girl. The stun is too much for a heart weakened by years of drug abuse and when it gives out a few days later, The Misters declare open-season on Calhool and her marshals. Matters only get worse when four members of a rival gang known as Space Waste drop by Poligart for some R&R and find the capital city on lockdown, heating up and ready to boil over.