Gold Star: Zach Hughes

Stationed on one of the least-frequented Blink routes of the known spaceways, Pete and Jan Jaynes never expected to find themselves closer than anyone else to the last known location of the U.P.S. Rimfire, the newest, sleekest, most expensive Explorer-class ship to prowl the star systems. As far as anyone knew, Rimfire has suddenly disappeared without trace while heading out on its maiden voyage. But Pete and Jan knew better, for they has stumbled across the one clue that could take them where no space-tug had ever been before - on a galaxy-spanning journey with a salvager's pot of gold - the Rimfire - hopefully waiting at the end. Yet getting there, it turned out, was only a small fraction of the battle. Before they could even think about rescuing the Explorer ship, they would have to overturn some laws of physics, out run or outgun some totally unexpected enemies - and conquer an entire planet. Cover art by David B. Mattingly.