Astro Corps HQ
The Newsletter of the Galaxyverse
The Captain’s Mess
Shawn K. Blakeley
February 19, 2026
It has been a full month here at Endure Press as we prepare for the launch of ASC Galaxy: Those Who Endure on June 10, 2026. As co-founder of Endure Press and author of the ASC Galaxy series, I have been grateful to see steady progress across all fronts.
This month I completed the draft of ASC Galaxy: Shadow War, the second novel in the series. It has now gone out to our beta reader team. Shadow War is one of two novels I have rewritten from earlier versions, refining both the story and the structure to bring them up to the standard we want for this series.
Those Who Endure has been sent to our editor, Erica Ellis, and we are now in the professional editing phase. These final stages of production take time, but they are necessary. Our goal is to deliver a novel that reflects the discipline and care that the Galaxyverse deserves. In March we will be working through edits, and in April we will begin development of the cover art as we move closer to release.
I have also returned to the drafting desk and am eight chapters into ASC Galaxy: Soldiers of the Corps, the third novel in the series and the first Galaxy book I have written from scratch in eighteen years. It is a challenging story—one that explores the responsibilities of military leadership and government authority, the duty owed to those who are protected, and the cost of command. There will be battles and action, as expected in the Galaxyverse, but at its core this is a human story. Dr. Jennifer Lasiter will be tested as never before, and Captain Harrigan will face his most difficult trial in the command chair to date. I hope to have Soldiers of the Corps ready for beta reading by late spring.
For those interested in participating as a beta reader or receiving an Advanced Reader Copy of Those Who Endure in exchange for an honest review, please visit our contact page at www.endurepress.net and let us know of your interest. No prior beta experience is required.
Thank you for following the progress of the Galaxyverse and for your interest in Endure Press. We look forward to bringing these stories to you this summer.
See you around the galaxy,
Shawn K. Blakeley
February Character Interview
Commander Jennifer Lasiter
Chief Medical Officer ASC Galaxy
This month we speak with Commander Jennifer Lasiter, Chief Medical Officer aboard the star-cruiser ASC Galaxy.
Q: Dr. Lasiter, why do you serve in the Astro Corps when you could be one of the top doctors or medical scientists in the Alliance?
A: “I have always wanted to serve in the Corps. It is a family tradition. My brother Joshua chose music, and I chose military service. My father served for fifteen years on star-cruisers and now he is the head of Astro Corps Medical in Houston. I am just following family traditions."
Q: Dr. Lasiter, where are you from?
A: “I am from Earth, specifically the United States. I was born in Virginia, and my family lives along the James River. Our property has been in our family since the time of the American Revolution. We are an old family in the area, and I am proud of that heritage.”
Q: Why did the infirmary staff come aboard during the shakedown ahead of the regular crew?
A: “The easy answer is to set up the infirmary. The more detailed answer is that the day a crew comes aboard and the ship goes on active duty, we can be sent into combat. We can’t have med staff still setting up the infirmary when the crew needs us. So it is done during the shakedown. It allows me to get to know my staff and for us to get our layout and procedures in place when the crew comes aboard and we go to active duty.”
Q: What is the best thing about serving on ASC Galaxy?
A: “Galaxy is an impressive ship. The infirmary here is significantly larger than the one I served in aboard Aegis. I am serving under a Captain I respect deeply. My staff is one of the finest ever assembled. I look forward to many years serving aboard this magnificent ship with this wonderful crew.
Q: You smiled when you mentioned Captain Harrigan, is there some kind of spark between you two?
A: “Captain Harrigan and I work closely together, as any captain and CMO must. He's an exceptional leader and I'm fortunate to serve under his command. Any 'spark' you're seeing is mutual professional respect - though the crew does like to speculate. In deep space assignments rumors like these tend to give the crew something to entertain themselves with. I just laugh it off and keep doing my job.”
Q: How do you spend free time?
A: “Well, I like to play music on the piano. I have a small digital keyboard in my cabin, but the one on the recreation deck on Galaxy has better acoustics. I drink my tea and read. I do spend a lot of time by myself in the evenings. I think because a doctor has such a busy schedule.”
Q: What is the hardest thing about being on a military ship?
A: “The hardest thing is the protocols, and the hours. Protocols in Astro Corps can be very exacting, and sometimes I forget them. When the captain comes into my office I am supposed to rise and greet him. When I eat in the captain’s mess I am supposed to wait until he eats before I can eat. Saluting your superior is expected. The infirmary sometimes is isolated from the ship, but we do follow protocols too. I sometimes forget to return salutes when people salute me across the ship. Sometimes I forget my rank is Commander and not doctor.”
Q: Your ship could see battle, do you worry about being boarded?
A: “Honestly, no. In my mind I understand it is possible especially when we are fighting Zontaerians. You understand it is possible, but until it happens, you cannot dwell on it. Of course during combat my staff is fighting the battles to keep our crew alive. This is why I have Marine security in the infirmary though in case we are boarded. As you know Zontaerians do not respect the wounded and will kill them.”
We’d like to thank Dr. Jennifer Lasiter for this interview. We look forward to reading about her adventure this June 10 when ASC Galaxy: Those Who Endure premieres on Amazon Kindle Direct (KDP), Ingram/Spark, Lulu, Barnes and Noble.com.
Endure Press Happenings
At Endure Press we continue to strengthen our production process. We have brought formatting in-house using Atticus and added Scrivener to support drafting and organization. These tools help us maintain consistency and quality as the Galaxyverse expands.
We have also received questions about submissions. At this time, Endure Press is not accepting manuscripts. Our focus remains on launching the ASC Galaxy series well. As we grow, we hope to expand and support additional authors in the future.
Galaxyverse Tech/Lore Spotlight: Kelocite
What is kelocite?
Kelocite is a naturally occurring element found on Mars, within the Sol system’s asteroid belt, and in select regions across the galaxy. In the Galaxyverse, it plays a critical role in deep-space operations.
Kelocite functions as an energy catalyst. When introduced into a ship’s fusion system, it enhances and stabilizes the reaction inside the magnetic bottle, allowing the reactor to burn hotter and more efficiently. This increased efficiency reduces the amount of raw fuel required for sustained operations.
The practical result is simple: star-cruisers equipped with kelocite can travel farther and remain deployed longer without relying on massive fuel reserves. In a military fleet, that operational endurance can make the difference between holding a line and retreating from it.
With kelocite, a little truly does go a long way.