How This Came Together
In Return, a military sci-fi short story set on Morven, an alien forest awakens and turns an expedition into survival. A trek back to camp after recovering the logs becomes a brutal revelation when Fenton and his squad discover that the devastated colony was not destroyed by accident. What begins as a cautious debrief over radio signals quickly escalates into a deadly confrontation inside a living forest that refuses to be claimed. This science fiction short story blends military tension, alien ecology, and first-contact horror as the expedition learns that the trees are not merely part of the landscape. They are organized, aware, and prepared to defend their world.
As Fenton struggles to maintain steady command, fragments from a fallen expedition leader’s logs begin to align with what his squad witnesses firsthand. The creatures are not retreating. They are coordinating. What seemed like an isolated encounter reveals itself as only the beginning. Return marks the moment when investigation becomes survival, and when a commander’s calm fractures just enough to signal the true scale of the threat.
Music Pairing
Creeping is the original blues track paired with this story. Its restrained opening mirrors Fenton’s measured leadership while subtle rhythmic tension builds beneath the surface, much like the forest itself. As the confrontation unfolds, the music intensifies, reinforcing the shift from analysis to urgency and underscoring the realization that the attack was not random. It was a warning.
Behind the Scenes
Return continues the Discovery arc, following Fenton’s team as they return from exploring the ruins of the failed colony. After three stories of unease, ruined structures, and fragmented warnings, I wanted this chapter to break that quiet tension in a single undeniable moment. Focusing on the team’s return to base camp allowed the warnings from the previous logs to surface in real time, marking the shift from cautious exploration to open hostility and raising the stakes for what comes next.
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Excerpt of Return
“Fenton, where are you all?”
“We are heading back to camp.” The squadron leader clamped a hand on his radio and signaled his team to stop. “Jarvis, unless you’re planning on diverting us to investigate another mystery, learn how to relax.”
“Don’t be snippy. Your report is the bedrock of our expedition.”
Fenton scanned his squad and motioned them forward. “We’re heading back from the ruins.”
“Why are you all dragging out this quick jaunt?”
Shandri grabbed Fenton’s shoulder, her fingernails digging into him. “Did he actually say that?”
With an explosive sigh, Fenton pushed Drew’s back, driving him forward.
Drew grumbled as he glared back at Fenton before continuing his march. After several heartbeats, Fenton took a few slow breaths and squeezed the radio. “Please tell me you saw what that woman considers brief.”
“I’m aware of the actual distance.”
“Then stop giving us grief for the delay,” Fenton’s gaze drifted to Shandri. “Do us a favor and educate Diana on the correct definition of a reasonable jaunt.”
“That’s already done. What do you have for me?”
Fenton’s head swayed as he resumed. “Can’t you wait until we’re back?”
“I need to know what happened to the previous colonists.”
Fenton groaned and wiped the sweat from his face with his forearm. “That’s not a straightforward question.”
“Were you able to discover any valuable information?”
“Something tore through the colony’s perimeter and leveled most of its buildings. You’ll have to wait for our return to get our detailed report.” Fenton kicked a stray stone into the forest as he released his weapon and pulled the storage device from his vest. The added logs made the device heavier. “I skimmed enough to know you wouldn’t have approved this jaunt to begin with. The ship had limited power. I copied what I could before leaving.”
“I didn’t realize you brought a storage device. How extensive are the logs? How much of the database were you able to retrieve with your portable unit?”
A shiver ran down Fenton’s back as a branch cracked deep in the forest, echoing Tarian’s warning. He examined the forest’s shadows. “Well, the first entry I found was from a man named Tarian, the expedition’s leader.”
“What did it say?”
Fenton’s head snapped to his right while shoving the device into his vest. He brought his rifle up and inspected the undulating shadows. Fenton stepped away from the trees, clearing his throat, “He spent most of that entry documenting the forest. Then he wrote about the ‘things,’ his word, that moved inside it. We haven’t reviewed enough of the tattered logs to understand what we’re dealing with.”
“Fenton, you’re more seasoned than that. What’s got you on edge?”
“You won’t get all the details over the radio. All I have is what I read and a gut feeling. We’ll return from our short walk soon, and then you’ll be able to read the logs and form your own opinion.” Fenton lowered his rifle, spun around, and scurried after his squadron. Fenton switched the channel on his radio, silencing Jarvis. “Everyone fall in on me on the double!”
Ignoring the confirmations, Fenton continued his march. When the last member of his team fell into step with him, Fenton stopped and leaned against a tree. “Has anyone seen anything interesting in the forest?”
“No,” several members replied.
Drew shouldered his rifle as he scrutinized the surrounding undergrowth. “What did you spot?”
“Nothing,” Fenton’s fingers crept along his gun, ejecting the power cell. His eyes flicked to the cartridge’s indicator, and he slammed it into place. “Probably just the wind.”
“Forget that.” Alec poked the bulge in Fenton’s vest. “Ever since you skimmed those logs, you’ve been different. What’s in there?”
Fenton brushed Alec’s arm aside and drew in a sharp breath. “I said I’m fine. Besides, we don’t have time to talk about this. Jarvis is getting punchy.”
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