Once a brilliant propulsion engineer, Eric lost everything after refusing to alter safety reports to protect a corporation's profits. Blacklisted by the industry and abandoned by his family, he ended up living on the streets. Years later, a private launch company faced disaster when a critical engine—one Eric had originally designed—failed before a major mission. Executives wanted an expensive replacement, while a shady adviser insisted the machine was beyond repair. Eric arrived with no credentials anyone respected and offered a dangerous deal: give him forty-eight hours, or hold him responsible. In just three hours, using experience instead of advanced equipment, he traced the failure to a tampered cooling line and uncovered deliberate sabotage. The repaired engine outperformed its original specifications, and the rocket reached space. When offered a massive payout, Eric chose something bigger: an independent research team devoted to honest science over corporate pressure.
