Wulfsyarn

"Wilberfoss's only comment when he read my manuscript was that he was surprised how human I sounded. I think that it was intended as a compliment. It is not difficult to sound like a human. But being a human is not easy. I have watched the struggle, and I, Wulf, the autoscribe, do not envy any of you, not a one".

On its maiden voyage, the Nightingale, the most advanced craft in the entire fleet of Mercy ships belonging to the Gentle Order of St Francis, vanished into deep space with its life bays packed with refugees.

Almost a year to the day later, heralded by a distress signal, the Nightingale reappeared, damaged in ways that meant its very survival in space was a miracle. Only one survivor walked from that partly mineral, partly sentient craft—its Captain, Jon Wilberfoss.

This is his story, as told by Wulf, the autoscribe.