The Bombinating Engine

Storyfeather

The crew of a prospecting freighter on the edge of known space makes an unexpected discovery about their outdated and recently replaced engine.

Genre: Science Fiction

Excerpt: Cruising along at the edges of known space, the Vesta was among the last ships to receive the engine upgrade. But it wasn’t just distance that caused the delay. The t-drives were expensive. And unlike large organizations who could absorb the cost, individual contractors like Ryan and his crew had to weigh their options, even when their safety was concerned.

The nosebleeds, the headaches, the nausea, and even that one paralysis scare had not been enough to convince Ryan to take the risk. Not alone. But he couldn’t bear to wait until something worse hap-pened, until someone lost a limb, or worse, their life.

What’s the Word (that inspired the story)?Bombinate: to make a humming or buzzing noise (source: dicitionary.com)

FREE FICTION WRITING WORKSHOPI’m holding my first free writing workshop over Zoom to teach my method of writing short stories (an abbreviated version). Date & Time: November 8, 2023 at 11am PT If you’re interested, but can’t make it, you can sign up anyway. I’ll send out a replay link to those who are registered. Register here: NILA'S WRITING WORKSHOP

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CREDITSStory: “The Bombinating Engine” Copyright © 2019 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: “Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background” by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by TRG BANKS “Through the gravitational field” “Keith in 1987” “Insideoutworld” “Non-stop to Insideoutworld” “Smooth jacket” “Cigar”

Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)* “Learning punch” “Neon city” “Particle voyager”

*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Nicholas Jeudy is licensed from GameDev Market Music by TRG Banks is licensed under CC0 1.0 Universal LicenseSound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.netFind more music by Nicholas Jeudy at gamedevmarket.netFind more music by TRG Banks at bandcamp.comFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. View from the inside of a rectangular spaceship engine compartment to the opening at which four crew members stand looking into the compartment. Two of them have mouths open and brows raised. Three are wearing the same uniform. The fourth wears clothing of a different color and a cap. The wall at right is hung with a plaque labeled “Junction 43” at top. At bottom right corner is printed “Primary: 329.029” and below that, “Secondary:” At right lying on the bottom surface is some capsule with a tapered end that points toward the compartment’s opening. At left is a cylindrical component held in place by a clawed arm at bottom left. The component is hollow and the back is open showing smaller cylindrical tubes set inside and two large cylinders glowing with energy. Along the visible side is a panel. At bottom center is another opening. Sparks of light are rising out of that bottom opening and are scattered through the compartment.