Getting close to the end of the first draft of Agetor, and our team of intrepid operators is adpating to a rapidly changing Galaxy.  I want to give kudos to the talented Tom Edwards, who has nearly completed the cover art! 

I expect to release the book in April, more details to come as I get a feel for how editing is going to go.

Now, how about a planetary spotlight, to get the juices flowing?

PLEXUS ENTRY: Teegarden II (Umbra)

Teegarden System | M-class stellar primary | Tidally locked | Classification: Marginal-Habitable (Restricted Surface Operations)

Teegarden II, colloquially known as Umbra, is the second planet orbiting Teegarden's Star, a red dwarf located approximately 12.5 light-years from Sol. The planet is tidally locked, resulting in a permanent daylight hemisphere, a frozen dark side, and a narrow habitable twilight band characterized by dim, unchanging illumination and persistent seismic activity.

Climate & Geology

Umbra's terminator zone experiences extreme volcanism driven by tidal flexing. The Selene Rift, a geothermal fissure system extending several hundred kilometers along the southern twilight band, remains the planet's most prominent geological feature—and its most hazardous.

 Atmospheric composition is breathable with supplemental filtration, though sulfur dioxide concentrations spike unpredictably near active vents. Surface operations require thermal-rated equipment and real-time seismic monitoring.

Indigenous Biology

Umbra hosts limited endemic life, most notably the chimeric organism classified as Pyrocorallium umbrae (common name: Ash-coral). This unique lifeform exhibits fungal, coral, and lichen characteristics, forming dense colonies along rift walls. Its graphite-colored fronds are known to produce faint audible resonance in ionized atmospheric conditions. Research into its metabolic processes remains ongoing, though funding has declined since the system's reclassification.

Settlement & Infrastructure

Eos Station (CCRA Outpost E-9) was established during the first wave of extrasolar colonization as a forward research base. Initial projections anticipated significant expansion; however, the advent of second-generation Quantum Fabric Drive technology rendered Umbra's strategic value negligible. The system was reclassified from Priority Development to Administrative Maintenance in 2257.

Present-day Eos Station supports a rotating skeleton crew of traffic control and emergency medical personnel, supplemented by transient academic researchers, independent prospectors, and occasional corporate survey teams. Infrastructure reflects the colony's fitful development: original modular habitats sit alongside geopolymer bunkers and improvised corrugated outbuildings of varied provenance. Visitors are advised to confirm berthing availability in advance; amenities are limited.

Travel Advisory

Surface excursions require registered guides and current seismic clearance. Emergency extraction services are available but response times vary. Travelers with respiratory sensitivities should consult medical professionals before arrival.

— Plexus Interstellar Reference Database, 7th Edition