This is a podcast extra from Nature. Every week, nature publishes a science fiction story in its

futures slot. At the end of every month, we read you our favourite. This month's story is

Interdimensional Trade Benefits, written by Brian Trent, published on August the 25th and read by Kerry

Smith. It was a missile, she explained.

The admirals of the Bright World Imperium blinked from where they sat around the crisis room.

What do you mean, one of them said at last?

A missile?

From where?

From whom?

Dr. Hachardy Hennig stood at the centre of the rounded chamber, feeling less like a scientist giving a presentation and more like a condemned

prisoner. She raised her holo gloves, conjuring an image of ERIS station, orbiting Neptune's

serene planet scape. This is a recording from an approaching shuttle, Henning said. The

Neptunean station was a grey wheel against the void. The time index ticked away until, at the 1843 mark, a greenish light split the blackness.

It seemed as though a massive Venetian blind was opening, an emerald sky materialising against cold space.

A colossal spire-like shape appeared.

Then the light blinked out, the odd shape disappearing with it.

The shuttle cam trembled in aftershock.

The orbital station was gone, one of the admirals snapped,

in the impatient tone used for all plebeians of the empire.

Yes, Dr. Henning, we know this.

Tell us what the devil happened to Erest Station. She bowed obediently. Of course, Dr. Henning, we know this. "'Tell us what the devil happened to Erest Station.'

She bowed obediently.

...