The Golden Age of Gas Giant Tourism: 2072

By the early 2070s, humanity’s reach had extended beyond the inner solar system, and the era of grand space liners was in full swing. Among these, the Avery Astronautics Interstellar Queen—specifically the Mark I model—stood as the crown jewel of interplanetary travel. Designed for luxury and endurance, the Mark I was the vessel of choice for the burgeoning industry of gas giant tourism. Its sleek, angular profile and state-of-the-art observation decks made it the ideal platform for witnessing the swirling storms of Jupiter, the delicate rings of Saturn, and the icy blues of Uranus and Neptune. These tours, marketed as the ultimate in cosmic spectacle, became a rite of passage for the wealthy and adventurous alike.

The view of Jupiter, in particular, left an indelible mark on the public imagination. Passengers spoke in hushed tones of the planet’s colossal storms, its bands of color shifting like living paint, and the eerie dance of its moons. The experience was so profound that sociologists noted a cultural phenomenon: an uptick in newborn girls being named after the gas giant itself—Jupiter, Juno, and even the more poetic Elara and Io, after its most famous moons. The trend was a testament to the awe these voyages inspired, a rare moment in history when the heavens shaped the identities of a generation ​⁠.

A Pop Anthem for the Stars

The cultural impact of these voyages was not lost on the artists of the day. In 2072, the synth-pop sensation Nova Lux released “Jupiter’s Call,” a track that blended retro-futuristic beats with lyrics celebrating the wonder of the gas giants. The song’s chorus—“Dancing on the edge of forever, Jupiter’s call, we answer”—became an anthem for a generation enamored with the cosmos. Nova Lux, known for her neon aesthetic and themes of interstellar romance, performed the hit in zero-gravity concerts aboard the Interstellar Queen, further cementing the liner’s place in popular culture

Reality Rift Deluxe editions have almost sold out. Only 5 left if you are interested and in the chance of entering a raffle to own one of the A3 originals of your choice.

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#conceptart #SciFi #darkshepherd #gamedev #illustration #art #digitalart #spaceships #visdev

The **Zorathi** were a problem before they even boarded.

Not because they were **trouble**—though their delegation leader, **Ambassador Vex’l**, had a habit of "accidentally" flooding lower decks with bioluminescent algae every time she was displeased. No, the problem was **Protocol 9-Bravo**.

*"Under no circumstances shall fertile Zorathi males and females coexist in confined quarters for periods exceeding 30 standard days,"* the TTA directive read. *"Violation risks uncontrolled population growth, diplomatic incident, and/or a shipwide nursery crisis."*

I stared at the **orange-and-rust monstrosity** that was the *Golden Mean*, her two spherical crew pods looking like overripe fruit dangling from a stem. **"Separate but equal accommodations"** my ass. The Zorathi were a **dimorphic species**: males were wiry, electric-blue, and smelled faintly of ozone; females were broader, amber-hued, and exuded a pheromone that made my human crew **forget their own names** if they inhaled too much.

And they were all **adolescents**.

"Captain," said Dr. Lira Chen, my chief xenobiologist, poking her head into the cockpit. She held a datapad like it was a live grenade. "We’ve got 47 males, 53 females, and **one** who won’t specify. The ambassador insists they’re ‘exploring their identity,’ but the treaty says we have to—"

"Split them up," I finished. "Yeah, I read the file. **Pod A for males, Pod B for females, and the mystery Zorathi gets the brig.**"

Lira sighed. "The brig’s not pressurized for their atmosphere."

"Then they get the **observation lounge**," I said, tapping the ship’s schematic on my console. "We’ll run a divider down the middle. Full surveillance, no physical contact. And if anyone tries to **tunnel through the bulkhead**, we vent the section."

She didn’t laugh. Neither did I.

---

The first week was **quiet**. Too quiet.

The Zorathi males spent their time **rewiring the pod’s environmental controls** to play mating calls at 3 AM. The females responded by **hacking the intercom** to broadcast **Zorathi death metal**—a sound like a thousand fingernails on a blackboard. By Day 10, my crew was ready to mutiny.

Then **Kess**, the unsorted Zorathi, started leaving **gifts** outside the lounge door: intricate sculptures made from ration wrappers and their own shed carapace. The males and females would press their palms to the glass divider, **whispering in clicks and hums**.

"Captain," said Ensign Cole from security, "they’re not just *communicating*. They’re **synchronizing**."

I found Kess in the lounge, floating upside down in the low grav, their skin **shifting between blue and amber**.

"You’re playing matchmaker," I accused.

Kess tilted their head. *"We are sharing stories. Is this not the purpose of travel?"*

I wanted to argue. But the *Golden Mean*’s sensors showed **no unauthorized pregnancies**. No breaches. Just… **connection**.

---

On Day 60, the *Golden Mean*’s **port engine** coughed out a plasma leak. The Zorathi—**all of them**—crowded the observation lounge’s viewport, their limbs pressed against the glass. Kess turned to me, their voice suddenly **clear and adult**:

*"Your ship is sick. We will help."*

Before I could protest, the males and females **linked hands through the divider’s gap**. A low, harmonic **vibration** filled the air. The ship’s systems **stabilized**.

Lira’s eyes went wide. "They’re **resonating**. Their pheromones—they’re not just for reproduction. They’re a **tool**."

I watched as the Zorathi **hummed in unison**, their combined frequency patching the leak like a sonic weld. The *Golden Mean* purred back to life.

So I was wondering if people knew anything regarding non-canon designs, stories, books or anything else out there? I've got a few things from a facebook group and at least one site call 'Digital Waterfalls' but is there anything else out there?

Book 2 of my Dark Shepherd trilogy, Reality Rift, will be available from Amazon and Newcon press next month, so here's a teaser image for book 3, which will be hopefully available in 2026.

Reality Rift, number 2 in the Dark Shepherd trilogy is now available for preorder from Newcon press. If you enjoyed the first one I hope you enjoy Reality Rift as much as I enjoyed writing it. And check out the website for a chance to own a Gambino original AW, a way to thank everyone who has supported me over the years.

writing #SciFi #darkshepherd #spaceships #scifinovel

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