Welcome to the Four Horsemen Universe 2.0
A New Era Begins
The Four Horsemen Universe is entering a bold new chapter, and you’re invited!
Sixty years have passed since the end of the SI War. The Galactic Union is gone. The old Guilds have fallen. Entire civilizations have vanished, while others fought desperately to survive. For decades, the galaxy focused on one thing: staying alive.
Now, that era is ending, and the Age of Reclamation is upon us.
Trade routes are reopening. Lost worlds are being rediscovered. New colonies are being founded. Mercenary companies are rising once more. Explorers are pushing beyond known space. Reconstruction efforts are transforming frontier worlds. Across the galaxy, a new generation is inheriting the future built by those who survived the collapse.
This is the Four Horsemen Universe 2.0.
The stories of the original generation remain legendary, but this era belongs to those coming next. Humans and aliens alike, veterans and newcomers, settlers and mercenaries, explorers and protectors, all have a role to play in shaping what civilization becomes.
Whether your story focuses on rebuilding a colony, defending a frontier world, discovering a lost civilization, delivering justice in a lawless system, or confronting the dangers waiting beyond the known stars, there has never been a better time to tell stories in the Four Horsemen Universe.
Available Resources
To help authors build stories within this era, we have provided the following materials for download:
- The 4HU 2.0 Setting Bible
- The 4HU 2.0 Armored Systems Sourcebook
- Individual Anthology Promotional Materials
- Timeline and era references
- Additional worldbuilding resources
**Please review these materials before submitting.**
Anthology #1: Generation Next
Submission Deadline: November 30, 2026
The SI War was won by heroes. Now comes the harder part – rebuilding and reclamation.
Generation Next focuses on the new era of rebuilding, expansion, and opportunity. The galaxy is opening again after decades of recovery, and a younger generation is stepping into positions once held by legends.
These stories can feature:
- New mercenary companies
- Colonial development efforts
- Reconstruction missions
- Political intrigue
- Frontier operations
- New discoveries
- Legacy characters mentoring successors
- Human and alien protagonists alike
The core question of Generation Next is simple: What kind of galaxy will the next generation build? Please see the Generation Next Promo file for more info.
Anthology #2: Frontier Justice
Submission Deadline: December 31, 2026
The Peacemakers are gone, but the need for justice remains.
Across hundreds of worlds, governments are weak, communication is slow, and help may be months away. Sheriffs, marshals, bounty hunters, civic defenders, contract security forces, and ordinary citizens are often the only thing standing between order and chaos.
Frontier Justice blends classic western themes with military science fiction.
Stories may include:
- Sheriffs and marshals
- Bounty hunters
- Frontier settlements
- Contract security
- Isolated colonies
- Small-town mysteries
- Mercenary intervention for protection
- Hard choices where the law is uncertain
In the frontier, justice is rarely clean and never easy. Please see the Frontier Justice Promo file for more info.
Anthology #3: Echoes of the Frontier
Submission Deadline: January 31, 2027
The galaxy is larger than anyone remembers. Entire colonies disappeared during the collapse. Trade routes vanished. Civilizations were cut off. Some worlds survived. Others changed beyond recognition. Still others were forgotten completely.
Now explorers, adventurers, mercenaries, and merchants are venturing outward once more. What will they find?
Echoes of the Frontier is about discovery.
Stories may include:
- Lost colonies
- New races
- Rediscovered civilizations
- Exploration missions
- Survey expeditions
- Ancient mysteries
- First contact
- Survival on the edge of known space
Every new jump may uncover a forgotten chapter of galactic history. Or create an entirely new one.
Please see the Echoes of the Frontier Promo file for more info.
Submission Guidelines
Please read this section carefully before submitting. All submissions should be made to chris.kennedy12@gmail.com.
Story Length
- 7,000 to 10,000 words
- Complete story (i.e., it has an “ending.” There may be more to tell, but it needs to be a “story,” not a prologue.)
- No excerpts from larger works
- No unfinished narratives
Format
- Microsoft Word (.docx)
- Standard manuscript format
- 12-point readable font
- Double-spaced
- Include author name and contact information
Setting Requirements
Stories must be set within the Four Horsemen Universe 2.0 era.
Authors must review the provided setting materials before writing. Stories not following the established rules and history presented in these files are very likely to be rejected immediately.
Stories should focus on the Age of Reclamation and the opportunities and challenges of the new era and not dwell or reflect on the previous generation, nor the sixty years in between. This is a fresh start, so we’re looking forward, not back.
Tone
We are looking for:
- Adventure
- Military science fiction
- Exploration
- Frontier stories
- Character-driven narratives
- Hopeful but realistic storytelling
The setting is not grimdark. Civilization survived. The future remains uncertain, but it is worth fighting for.
What We’re Looking For
We want stories that expand the universe.
Show us:
- New worlds
- New people
- New challenges
- New opportunities
- New perspectives
Human and alien protagonists are equally welcome. Veterans of the universe and first-time contributors are encouraged to submit. All that’s important is to tell us a great story.
As is the tradition in the 4HU—and for CKP in general—each anthology has five slots that are open for submission, with no publication history required. Over 30 authors had their first paid release in the 4HU 1.0. Experience doesn’t matter. Story does.
One final note. Standalones and one-offs are welcome, but these anthologies will also be used to recruit additional authors for the universe for those who are interested. Leaving readers salivating for more in the storyline—while telling a complete story—is outstanding.
The frontier is open once again. Come help us build the future of the Four Horsemen Universe.
— Chris Kennedy and Kevin Ikenberry, 4HU 2.0 Executive Advisors