Islands Alone  Boulders and canyons. Huge boulders and deep, red
canyons as far as the eye could see in all directions. And a
misshapen moon hanging in the hot afternoon sky. The shadows
were already growing longer and in a few short hours the stars,
the troubled, faded stars would slowly appear in the night.
"From spires to dirt, Captain."  "Yes, sir. Not where I'd like
to be." First class guardsman, Captain Farrer threw a handful of
that dirt to the ground and looked at the broken moon.  "I know
you would rather be fighting. Even knowing it's futile."  "My
place is here, sir." He straightened his back a little. "But
yes, sir, I'm a soldier of the Empire."  "And a fine one,
Captain."  "It's an honor to serve, sir." And he meant it, even
if his voice hinted otherwise.  "It's hard for me too. It cuts
to the bone."  "All the people on all the worlds are with you
sir."  And then silence.  This lifeless world of vast red,
unmoving sands and blue-green skies was named, by those who
first landed here, Firespring.