The fantastic short story “Independence” by Alasdair C. Shaw is set in the Two Democracies universe. A straggling ship becomes stuck in the vastness of space following a bloody conflict. The mystery that plagues the team is whether the mysterious battleship they were fighting still exists. If it comes back, will it haunt them? To save her crew and save her ship, Commander Johnson has to act quickly. This story is full of suspense, mystery, and intrigue.