Deception — Aer-Ki Jyr

The colonization rush is in full swing, with millions of people now living on Mars and the edge of Star Force's dominion stretching all the way out to Jupiter. Nations vie for dominance, expanding their fleets and gathering up as much territory as they can, with Star Force being the nonpartisan arbiter.

Tensions are on the rise, however, as a series of mining incidents in the asteroid belt pit the Americans against the British in a growing conflict that could lead to the third war in the pair's history.

"Deception" is the 11th episode in the Origin Series.

Word Count: 24,000