Enkelados

When a mysterious alien artifact is uncovered on Saturn's moon Enceladus, its promise of an eons-old library tantalizes the Solar Federation. Officials like na-Otienu Sunwn and his posthuman adviser Delfafer are ready for the encounter. Yet the artifact has one demand that makes even them hesitate: it wants someone to join with it cybernetically.

The brilliant Imogen Alyanye is willing to be their link. A geophysicist in love with Enceladus itself, she dreams about learning the knowledge within it. Counseled by Sunwn and Delfafer, Imogen develops a rapport with the alien device. But as her behavior becomes erratic and the artifact reveals strange abilities, tensions rise around her. And when the artifact and Imogen meld into a power unlike any witnessed before, Sunwn must summon his courage to understand what's happening.

Their one hope appears shattered: that only a benevolent civilization could prosper long enough to develop such incredible technology. And behind it all lurks Fermi's Riddle: if the alien builders were so powerful, where are they now?

Enkelados is a hard science fiction novella. It is sold without Digital Rights Management (DRM) encryption.