“Grunt Work” is a short story published in the collection Small Victories in 2020. St. Jude comes to assist a stricken ship in space.
Warning[]
“Grunt Work” contains toxic workplace conditions, poor leadership, victim blaming, militarism, vomiting, asphyxiation, spacecraft, mistrust, harsh words, peer pressure, and nausea.
Synopsis[]
St. Jude received an emergency call from Saguaro and responded. Tanner found himself having to do necessary grunt work for people who expect little of him, but gained a measure of respect.
Appearances[]
Characters[]
- Tanner Malone, crewman
- Lieutenant Stevens, CO
- Lieutenant Gagne, XO
- Reed, ops specialist
- Chief O’Malley, engineer
- BM1 Freeman, head bo’sun
- SK2 Flores, medic
- Heifer, crewman
- Stumpy, crewman
- GM3 Miller, gunner’s mate
- BM2 Morales, boatswain’s mate
- Wells, engineer
- Leone, engineer
Locations & organizations[]
- St. Jude
- Saguaro
Continuity[]
The story is set in May 2275, during Poor Man’s Fight.
Publication History[]
“Grunt Work” was first published on Elliott Kay’s Patreon in July 2019. It was re-published in Small Victories in July 2020.