Working Title: Guard

Working Title: Guard

Universe: Fannec Records

Current Status: First Draft

Target Release: Mid-2025

Brief Hook:

In "Guard," Robert Fannec and his diverse team of renegades embark on a daring mission to expose the ruthless corruption of a powerful intergalactic minister. As they navigate a morally ambiguous galaxy fraught with danger and betrayal, each decision teeters on the edge of ethical boundaries, forcing them to confront the fine line between justice and vengeance. Will they rise as champions of a new order or succumb to the darkness they fight against?

Sample Scene:

The holo-display cast a cold, cerulean glow across Robert Fannec's face, etching sharp lines of light and shadow along his taut features. The schematics of the Confederation facility hovered before him in intricate detail, corridors and nodes of defense rendered in flickering three-dimensional precision. His fingers floated just above the console, the impulse to manipulate the map building with each passing second. He didn’t need to; he had already memorized the crucial points. Still, the act of studying it gave his restless mind something to anchor to.

The image of Minister Felda Shleak loomed above the schematics, his imposing frame rendered with unsettling clarity. Shleak’s meticulously groomed features were impossible to ignore, even as a projection. The minister’s penetrating purple eyes seemed to follow Robert, a silent reminder of the stakes. Robert exhaled through his nose, slow and deliberate, forcing his focus back to the plan. Shleak wasn’t here—just his shadow. But that shadow was enough to twist unease into the pit of Robert’s gut.

Behind him, the hum of life-support systems and the occasional sputter of salvaged tech filled the dimly lit room. The base wasn’t much—a labyrinth of corroded metal and neglected machinery carved into the asteroid—but it served its purpose. A faint chill clung to the recycled air, and the tang of ozone from overworked conduits lingered at the back of his throat. The holo-display flickered for a moment, before stabilizing again, as though the base itself shared in their collective tension.

“Are we going to stare at that thing until the Confederation crumbles on its own, or do we have a plan?” Wido's voice cut through the low hum of machinery, sharp and faintly amused. The ex-assassin leaned against the far wall, arms folded, his posture casual but his eyes anything but. He scanned the room the way a predator watches its surroundings—habitual, unrelenting.

Robert glanced over his shoulder, meeting Wido’s gaze for a beat before turning back to the display. “We don’t get second chances with this one,” he said, his tone clipped. “Every detail matters.”

Wido raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. From the corner of the room, Ace’s orb floated into view, its surface pulsing faintly with blue light. The AI’s voice was calm, measured, as always. “Probability of success increases by 13 percent if infiltration occurs during the facility’s shift rotation. However, the likelihood of detection also rises proportionately should any deviation in timing occur.”

“Helpful,” Robert muttered, his fingers finally brushing the console to zoom in on a key access point—a narrow maintenance shaft leading to the facility’s sub-levels. He didn’t need Ace to tell him the odds were slim. Slim was their baseline.

Ma’Tak, sat on an overturned storage crate near the back of the room, let out a low, thoughtful hum. The Indrilum engineer’s six-fingered hands moved in precise gestures as he examined a disassembled holo-emitter. “If we reroute power on entry, I can short their perimeter sensors for a window of… maybe two minutes. Anything longer, and they’ll know something’s wrong.”

“Two minutes is enough,” Robert said, more to himself than to Ma’Tak. He tapped the console again, highlighting the access shaft’s endpoint. “Ace, what’s the guard rotation on sub-level three?”

“Every 17.4 minutes. Standard configuration for high-priority sectors,” the AI replied. “However, anomalies in movement patterns suggest heightened security protocols have already been engaged.”

Robert’s jaw tightened. Of course they had. Shleak’s paranoia was legendary, and for good reason. “We’ll manage,” he said, though the weight of the words felt heavier than he’d intended. He turned back to the group, his gaze sweeping over each of them in turn. “This isn’t just another job. If we pull this off, we’re not just hitting the Confederation where it hurts—we’re showing them they’re not untouchable.”

Wido smirked faintly, though his eyes remained cold. “Bold speech. Let’s hope you’re as good at execution as you are at planning.”

Robert didn’t respond. He didn’t need to. Instead, he turned back to the holo-display, the image of Shleak’s face hovering just above the schematics.

Behind the Scenes: This being the third in the series, I wanted to get deeper in the weeds with the characters. In “Rogue” and “Outlaw” I was developing the world, figuring out the tone and voice of the characters. Now I think it’s best to put these characters to the test. Give them more life, give them something to fight for and with.