STORM KIDS HYPERBREED (2020)

"Byrr, Fext and Cammo: Hyperbreed human-animal 'splices' who've been given a cushy assignment, board an ancient freighter, transport valuable Explosive Ore to a mining colony, and earn a large delivery bonus. But when they drop out of spacefold, Mak pirates--robot monsters wearing the body parts of vanquished enemies--attack. Fighting against cruel odds, with Mak Yik crystals infesting their ship, our heroes begin to suspect that their lucky break is really a setup for annihilation. "

"Byrr, Fext, and Cammo spacefold into an asteroid field, are nearly crushed by rapidly growing Yik crystals, flee their infected freighter and certain death in a tiny escape craft built for one, and find temporary refuge on Rotgut Station. There they stumble on one tiny ray of hope for survival, a peculiar little renegade 'splice' called Boomer, and learn that they never really left their true enemies behind. "

"Boomer leads Byrr, Fext and Cammo to a secret Mak pirate base in a quest for Yik Void, a solution that will clear their ship of its crystal infestation, but a series of robot encounters threaten to derail even the best-laid plans. On a positive note, they learn that, given the right circumstances, Explosive Ore really does explode spectacularly. "

"Things are starting to look up! Byrr, Fext, Cammo and Boomer reach their freighter. Yik Void begins to clear it of its crystal infestation. Then Mak pirates return, led by their monstrous captain, Eye-5. Did Boomer betray them to the Maks? Or is there more to the story? Dead splices tell no tales. "

"Countdown to destruction. Byrr, Fext, and Cammo risk all as they make a final mad attempt to escape the monstrous Maks, destroy Eye-5's pirate fleet, reveal the Corporation's treasonous activities to the Government of Earth, and save the Earth from a looming Mak invasion. To succeed, they'll need the resurrection of a dead hero and some help from Lady Luck. "