Beasts of the Frontier — Doug Dandridge

The Ca'cadasans are not the only threat in the Empire during wartime Nature itself, run away science, environmental hazards, all take their toll. Six tales of the threats on the frontiers of the Empire, whether at the edge of civilization or the edge of science, and the brave people who face them. The Mountains: Two explorers look in one of the most inhospitable places in known space, the mountains of Everest, for the find that will set them for life. But is a find like that worth their lives? The Hunted: When a young man betrays the mob, only the deadly swamplands of his planet offer a place to hide. The mob is relentless, but they haven't faced anything like the continent spanning swamp. What's Eating You: Just because something can be done, doesn't mean it won't kill you. Lucille Yu discovers that when looking into other Universes, sometimes they look back. With hunger. A New Life: Cornelius Walborski only wanted to have the good things in life for he and his family. But a mistake made on a hunting expedition costs him everything. Goliath: When a twenty-five million ton warship comes calling, with the intent of killing all human life in the system, what's a frigate captain to do? The Deep: Sometimes new life is not life as we know it. And sometimes the threat to a planet is even more. The second Tales of the Empire volume fills in the tapestry of the Empire, while telling stories of courage and daring in the ongoing struggle to survive.