A Question of Courage

A Question of Courage by Jesse F. Bone opens with a stark observation: something is terribly wrong aboard the starship Lachesis, though Lieutenant Thomas Marsden cannot immediately identify what troubles him. After five years in the Navy, his instincts are sharp enough to recognize that beneath the ship's gleaming exterior and perfectly maintained regulations lies a crew operating under suffocating tension—one stripped of the spirited camaraderie that defines military excellence. This gripping science fiction war story explores the invisible pressures that shape command decisions and the moral complexities inherent in military service. As Marsden navigates his new role as Executive Officer, he must confront a captain whose iron discipline has drained the humanity from his crew, forcing a reckoning between obedience and what true leadership demands. Bone's masterful prose captures the psychological warfare of institutional power and the courage required to challenge authority when lives hang in the balance. Written with the precision of authentic naval experience, this short story delivers profound insights into character, duty, and the costs of command that resonate far beyond the spacecraft's steel corridors. Ideal for listeners who appreciate military science fiction with psychological depth, classic speculative literature, or compelling explorations of human nature under pressure, A Question of Courage remains a timeless meditation on integrity and institutional loyalty.