VOIDBREAKER – NOW AVAILABLE

THE STORY

Cami Mitchell is thirteen years old when her entire family boards the Voidbreaker Karis. Her mother Victorine is the captain. Her father Liam is the chief engineer. Her twin sister Delia is her whole world.

But Cami can’t go. A heart murmur—minor, fixable, but not in time for launch—keeps her grounded. She’s sent to live with her grandparents in Granville, a small Earth town where humans and Canines live side by side.

Cami’s parents raised her to see Uplifts as the enemy. The Canine Confederation represents everything the Human First movement opposes: the domestication of humanity, the surrender of their potential, the acceptance of second-class status in their own solar system.

Then the Voidbreaker breaks.

Pressure seal habitat technology, tested to its limits on the journey to Mars, gives out completely at the moment of docking. Cascading system failures. Vacuum tears through the colony ship. In less than thirty seconds, everyone aboard is exposed to space.

And a Canine pup named Dawnsky finds Cami sobbing in a cornfield.

WHY THIS STORY MATTERS

Voidbreaker takes place during one of the darkest periods in Lumen Universe history—the Mars colonization crisis, when humanity was desperate, divided, and determined to prove they didn’t need help from anyone.

This is long before the Lumens transformed everything. Before FTL connected the galaxies. When the Human First movement was at its peak and cooperation with Uplifts was seen as betrayal.

It’s a story about:

The arbitrary cruelty of fate. Cami survives because of a heart condition. Her sister dies because their father couldn’t synthesize enough sealant gel. Sometimes there’s no meaning, only aftermath.

The danger of ideological extremism. The Human Continuity Council prioritized optics over safety. Captain Mitchell chose the mission over her daughter. Prejudice becomes policy, and people die.

Finding connection in unexpected places. Dawnsky doesn’t understand why humans hate his kind. He just knows someone needs a friend. Sometimes enemies aren’t who you’re told they are.

The moment grief breaks prejudice apart. When everything Cami knows is gone, it’s a Canine who sits with her in the dirt and howls. Not because of politics or ideology. Because she smells like loneliness.

THE ARTWORK

Lucas has delivered three stunning illustrations in early-2000s Disney animation style—the aesthetic that defined a generation of emotionally resonant storytelling.

The cornfield scenes are hauntingly beautiful. The character expressions carry the weight of the narrative. The color palettes—dramatic sunsets over dying crops, the warmth of connection against the cold of space—enhance every emotional beat.

This isn’t just a story with illustrations. It’s a visual experience that shows what the Lumen Universe looked like when humanity stood alone.

A HUMAN FIRST STORY (BUT NOT THE ONE YOU EXPECT)

If you’ve followed the Lumen Universe, you know the Human First movement as an obstacle—the faction that opposed cooperation, that fought against progress, that eventually faded into irrelevance as the Lumens proved cooperation was humanity’s greatest strength.

Voidbreaker shows them as people.

Desperate people. Afraid people. People who watched humanity struggle in its own solar system while Uplifted species thrived. People who believed—genuinely believed—that accepting help meant accepting defeat.

Captain Victorine Mitchell wasn’t a villain. She was a true believer who thought she was saving humanity. Cami wasn’t indoctrinated—she was raised with a worldview that made sense given everything she’d been taught.

This story doesn’t justify the Human First movement. But it shows how grief, fear, and pride can twist good intentions into tragedy.

And how sometimes it takes losing everything to see clearly.

FROM THE STORY

“I wasn’t spying,” the pup said indignantly. “I was just curious!”

Cami had never had kiwis before. “I don’t know if I like them or not.”
“Come try!”

The howl that went up a moment later was heartbreaking enough to be almost, almost, like the right sound for the worst thing ever.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Title: Voidbreaker
Author: Cath Lauria
Illustrator: Lucas
Series: Lumen Universe
Era: Pre-Lumen / Mars Colonization Crisis
Timeline: Approximately 5334 AD (3,000+ years before Lumen creation)
Word Count: [~6,000 words based on the PDF]
Illustrations: 3 full-color pieces
Format: Digital (PDF)
Price: Free with download on Gumroad

ABOUT THE CREATORS

Cath Lauria is a versatile writer specializing in character-driven narratives that explore the human cost of ideological extremism. Her work for the Lumen Universe captures pivotal moments in the setting’s vast timeline with emotional precision and unflinching honesty.

Lucas is an illustrator whose early-2000s Disney-inspired style brings warmth and emotional depth to science fiction storytelling. His work on the Lumen Universe combines technical world-building detail with expressive character work that makes every scene feel lived-in and real.

WHERE VOIDBREAKER FITS IN THE LUMEN UNIVERSE

The Lumen Universe spans 1.3+ million years across 18 major species and 9 galaxies. Stories are released in publication order, not chronological order, allowing each narrative to stand alone while building toward a comprehensive understanding of the setting’s themes and history.

Key Timeline Context:

• 7800 AD: Lumens are created (3,000+ years after Voidbreaker)
• 12,500 AD: Humanity achieves FTL capability

Previously Released Stories:

• Aristotle by Jacob Jay Berg (Uplifted Swine perspective, Uplift era, circa 4210s AD)
• Empire of Ash by Terry Mba (Great Gridlock, Pre-Cataclysm Earth, Circa 2700s AD)

Coming Soon: More stories exploring different eras, species, and perspectives across the Lumen Universe timeline.

READ VOIDBREAKER NOW

[DOWNLOAD PDF] 

FREE PDF download on Gumroad.

DISCUSSION & COMMUNITY

Join the conversation:

• Reddit: r/LumenUniverse
• Discord: [Join our community server]
• Twitter: @Fromhuman2lumen
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For creators and supporters:

• Patreon: Early access to all stories + behind-the-scenes content
• Newsletter: Story releases, worldbuilding deep-dives, timeline updates

THANK YOU

To everyone who followed along with the teasers, shared their excitement, and waited for this release—thank you. Stories like Voidbreaker exist because of your support and enthusiasm.

Cath and Lucas poured their hearts into this one. I hope it hits you the way it hit me the first time I read it.

The Voidbreaker Karis broke more than its hull that day. It broke a movement. A family. A girl who learned that sometimes survival means letting go of who you thought you had to be.

Read Voidbreaker. Let us know what you think.

— Kyle
Lumen Universe Creator

Next story coming soon. The Lumen Universe continues.

RELATED CONTENT

• Behind the Scenes: Creating Voidbreaker with Cath Lauria
• Lucas’s Illustration Process: From Sketch to Final Art
• The Mars Colonization Crisis: Historical Context
• Human First Movement: Ideology and Consequences
• Timeline: Where Does Voidbreaker Fit?
• Read More Lumen Universe Stories

Tags: #LumenUniverse #Voidbreaker #SciFi #ShortStory #MarsColonization #HumanFirst #CanineConfederation #TwinSisters #FreeStory #IndieAuthor #CathLauria #Lucas #NewRelease

Publication Date: 11/23/25
Last Updated: 11/23/25

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