The future isn't here yet. But don't worry. It will be. Welcome to Orion's Arm, a scenario set thousands of years in the future when civilization spans the stars. Godlike ascended intelligences rule vast interstellar empires, and lesser factions seek to carve out their own dominions through intrigue and conquest. And out beyond the edge of civilized space and the human friendly worlds, adventure awaits those prepared to risk all. Collected here for your consideration are twelve stories exploring the Orion's Arm universe, spanning years and light-years to examine a complex and diverse future from its beginnings in the colonized Solar System to its continuing advance toward an uncertain destiny. About the Orion's Arm Universe Project Orion's Arm is a work in progress, a space opera setting like no other. It spans the next ten thousand years of galactic history, from the near future interplanetary colonization to distant eras when humanity's descendants have split into millions of different species ruled by superhuman machines. It incorporates hard science, and the "soft" or social sciences to create a rich and complex vision of a world that might someday be. The Orion's Arm Universe Project is continually growing and evolving as more contributions are added, and will therefore never be complete. We invite you to join us on this journey of imagination; after all it looks like we've barely gotten started, and there are still many worlds left to explore.