Where did mankind really come from? Why are we here?
We can’t understand the past until we embrace the future.
Emergence (#1)
Where did mankind really come from? Why are we here?
We can’t understand the past until we embrace the future.
These critical mysteries take center stage as Earth emerges into a Galactic Society that is far more perilous than anyone could have imagined. Our history is far more complicated than we could have known. Can a few brilliant minds find a way out for Earth?
One saving grace is that there are those that believe ancient clues foretell that Earth has a destiny, and if we can survive our present difficulties we might just find out what that destiny is…
Dr. Mark Spencer was a young and up and coming history and anthropology professor who was all too familiar with what happens to less advanced civilizations when suddenly exposed to others of considerably higher technology. There’s only one survivor and the culture witnessing magic isn’t it.
When modern day Earth suddenly finds itself on the losing end of that proposition a team of the world’s best scientists is put together to find a solution.
Of course the advanced society being friendly, Earth’s citizens uniting, and the world’s politicians working together for the common good would help tremendously, but… what if none of that were true?
EXCERPT
Operation:
Broken Star
MISSION
BRIEF
Classification: Ultra-Secret Black Diamond
Authorization Status: Approved
Operational Priority: Level 1
Authorization Status: Approved
Operational Priority: Level 1
Background:
(Excerpt
from the report of the lead investigation team for the US Government):
What
precipitated the Crazies was the most significant, shocking, bizarre, and
tragic event in
human
history…
By 2014, the U.S. government had
finally authorized the privatization of boosting cargoes into low earth orbit
(LEO). Over the next decade as costs came down and commercial demands for low
gravity, perfect vacuum manufacturing environments rose, several multi-national
corporations cooperated in replacing the International Space Station with the
world’s first truly permanent space station,
Laze Fair One. Home to almost 300 people,
the huge construction was mankind’s greatest achievement and source of pride – until
it disappeared.
It didn’t break up. It didn’t crash
or burn-up in reentry. It just… disappeared. Telemetry monitoring stations
sounded ‘lost signal’
alarms designed to warn bored technicians to pay better attention and re-align their
dishes… all to no avail. The station was simply gone.
It was almost two full days later
that weak communications signals started coming in to radio receivers all over
the planet. On open circuits with the whole world listening, station personnel
reported an incredible story that was only believed because of the accompanying
video, telemetry, and the 54 minute
12 second delay
in two-way communications; the station was now
in orbit around Neptune.
The station was designed to be as
self-sufficient as possible, but at 30 AU from the sun and with solar panels
designed to operate at only one AU (note: one AU = the distance from the Earth
to the Sun), battery charge that was critical for heating, carbon dioxide
scrubbers, and other life-support dwindled quickly. Top
priority was given to reporting how an alien spacecraft had appeared next to
the station, somehow ‘bubbled’ it and then proceeded to tow it (at incredible
speed, invisibly, and with no change in inertia), and then abandon it at
Neptune.
There was no possibility of rescue.
Once all the data, subjective observations, and informed speculation had been transmitted from the station, the remaining few hours were spent with 279 people each taking
time to tell the rest of us goodbye. It is this
investigator’s recommendation that when the world gets around to erecting a
memorial, this should be a looped video memoriam.
Additional
Data:
(Highly Classified – Unknown to the
public)
Major David Johansen, second in
command of the station, managed to transmit a short burst of encrypted data
using a cipher that was only known to a close friend back on Earth. In this
burst, Commander Imbibe and Major Johansen
forwarded a video
communication that was received by the station immediately before the
alien ship left them at Neptune. This transmission was received over the
Commander’s supposedly secure emergency channel. Fortunately, no other station
personnel were aware of the message or its contents. It was only 23 seconds
long, but what was interesting was that the background contained voices of what
was unmistakably a heated disagreement. Everything in that background was
unintelligible and definitely of an unknown language. The foreground was
dominated by the head and shoulders of an apparent female human being that
mouthed one word before signing off. It was Commander Imbibe’s opinion (which
has subsequently been verified to 87% accuracy
by linguistic experts)
that the one word mouthed by the alien was, “sorry.”
Subsequent
Events:
(Highly Classified – Unknown to the
public)
The leadership of six different
countries (see addendum III) have been contacted by representatives of the same race that abducted our space station.
Citing another faction
of their race as the culprits
of the abduction, this faction offers peace and friendship.
Mission
Stipulation:
Despite appearances, this race is
deemed alien with unknown intentions.
Mission Mandate:
A
multi-national team is to be assembled under the mission name: Broken Star. It
is the mandate of this team to travel to the homeworlds of the aliens and
evaluate:
- The
scope and sincerity of the offer.
- How
advanced (in technology years) this civilization is.
- Identify
and prioritize desirable technologies.
- The
cost and limits (if any) on technology transfers.
- Identify
what we have (if anything) that they want?
The Galaxy is Filled with Humans… They Know More about Our Past than We Do…
Some will Fight for Us; Some will try to Destroy Us… Earthers are Special; But do we Really Want our Destiny?
Mark and Julie are brilliant scientists and Major Reagan has kept them and others alive to this point, but the most dangerous confrontations will not be with the Noridians, it will be with the Lower Houses of The Accord.
Destiny is a thought-provoking journey that will cause you to inspect your basic values. From what it really means to be human to wondering if there’s room in the universe for God.
It’s also a fun read.
EXCERPT
“What I still don’t quite understand is the relationship between the lower houses and the dynasties,” I said. “For example, how and why are you so much more advanced?”
“My but you ask interesting questions,” she responded. “We of the lower houses have been around much longer than the dynasties. We surpassed their level of understanding millions of years ago.”
“Yet you still acknowledge their existence and occasionally give them guidance or aid, if I understand the situation correctly. If your people have moved so far beyond them why still bother to have anything to do with them? Why are they important to you?”
There was something in Malatina’s demeanor that made me think I was on the right track. After a short moment she responded…
“You come from a primitive society, Mark. I hope you don’t take offense, but you have said yourself that you live in a very competitive society. It must be very difficult for you to believe that a people would act out of the goodness of their hearts, yet we spare valuable time for the dynasties. Is it so hard to believe that we have simplistic motives?”
Yes, I do come from a competitive society, but if anything it’s taught me to question everything. I still wasn’t getting anything close to the whole story here.
“Malatina, I’m not belittling your motives but you are far from a simplistic people. I think there’s more to it than that and I’d like to know what it is.”
“Very well, you are correct that there is more than one reason for what we do with the dynasties; this is true for everything in life. We occasionally help, in the limited ways we can, because they deserve the help and it makes us feel good to do so, but you are right that there are other reasons. It is also directed by The Accord that we oversee humanity in this galaxy and beyond.”
“The Accord. That’s another thing that I don’t totally understand. Exactly who is The Accord and why does it control everyone?”
After sitting silent for quite some time she said, “I suspect that it will take your people many generations to have even a basic understanding of The Accord. The simplistic answer is that The Accord is everything; it is the known universe from its creation until its end.”
“I know that is less than the answer you are looking for,” she continued. “But for now it will have to suffice.
There is something else I must discuss with you and time grows short.”
Although there was nothing in her demeanor to suggest a sense of urgency, her words instantly put us on guard.
“Tonight after dinner, you will have audience with DanDreken of Erkandel Del Gabloriel,” she continued.
“DanDreken, he is your father, yes?” asked Anzio.
“Yes, and there are several things you need to know about him. First, understand this; he is not your friend.” After a pause she continued, “He is also not your enemy. He simply wishes to perform the function required of him and then be done with you.”
“And what function might that be?” I inquired?
“The Accord requires many different things from us. Among others, Lower House Gabloriel has many times been given the responsibility of harbinger or messenger. I suspect that might be why your Coridian friends brought you here, in hopes we might spread word of your plight.”
“We also, however, carry the burden of vetting the truth of our messages. DanDreken will have questions for you and you must answer him honestly and to the best of your ability. He will sense any falsehoods.”
“So if we pass his test,” I say, “he will help us against the Noridians?”
“No. DanDreken will not help you in any material way. However, if you satisfy his criteria he will pass you on to someone that could possibly help you.”
“So why are you telling us these things? It seems like a warning yet this would seem to be good news…?” “Perhaps,” she replied. “But that remains to be seen. If you have any hope of impressing my father with your worthiness you must not appear cowed – and my father can be… intimidating.” “Ah,” said Anzio. “Then this is something like a warning. We thank you for that.” “I would not thank me just yet…”
The Long-Awaited Conclusion to the HERE COMES EARTH Series...
Earth's Diaspora is well underway and the colonies are flourishing. There are Dynasties of The Accord, however, that resent Earth's expansion. Charli Morgan and Lucca Spelini each lead their respective teams from colony to colony, preventing interference and keeping the peace.
Standing up to the Dynasties is one thing, but what happens when Lower Houses of The Accord start butting in?
Dr. Mark Spencer hasn't been heard from in years until he suddenly shows up one day. The news he brings... isn't good.
EXCERPT
In a deserted star system with only three planets, a single ship orbited the outermost. The single passenger was only slightly startled when the figure appeared before her.
“Well Dipchet, this is a surprise,” said Cylaris of the Kristorian Dynasty.
“Actually, I have been using the name Samuel lately and I have grown rather fond of it.”
“I don’t care what you call yourself. I travelled three days out of my way to come to this backwater star system because I thought I was going to be able to trade for the data on bioware hacking – I should have known it was too good to be true.”
“And you feel cheated,” Samuel said. “Well, I am truly sorry to put you out but I thought you might appreciate keeping this meeting circumspect.”
“Everything you do is circumspect,” said Cylaris.
“Now, now… haven’t all our interactions been profitable for you? Hmm? You really should show a little more respect for your betters, Cylaris.”
“Samuel, you may be from a Lower House and you may be able to do things that are beyond me and my dynasty, but I am really starting to doubt whether you are better. As a matter of fact, the way I hear it most of the other Lower Houses have turned on you.”
“That is a vicious rumor! Many of the Lower Houses stand with me; and you would be well advised to do the same.”
“Me! I do not want any part of a dispute between Erkandel. It has nothing to do with me and I want to keep it that way.”
“Even if doing nothing means the destruction of your entire dynasty?” Samuel said smoothly.
Cylaris stared at Samuel for a long moment and then said, “Samuel, I do not trust you whatsoever, but there has always been at least a grain of truth in all your machinations. Explain your statement!”
Samuel idly picked lint off of his black shirtsleeve and said, “You have heard of the Earthers?”
“Of course. They are the short-lived half-breeds that claim to be Chosen, or special, or something like that.
Word is they are what you Erkandel are fighting over.”
“But do you know why we are fighting, my dear Cylaris?”
When she didn’t say anything Samuel went on, “Because when they die they have the ability to Transcend.” “Transcendence? You mean that is real?”
“It is very real… and very deadly for the rest of us.”
About the author:
William Lee Gordon is the author of six Best Selling sci fi novels. He also writes political non-fiction under the pen name of StressFreeBill. With the realism of hard science, he loves writing action-filled adventures that keep readers turning the pages.
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20 comments:
Sounds like a great book. I like the cover.
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Very pretty and appropriate cover
Sounds good.
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Sounds like an awesome book!
The covers draw you in
Amber S
Looks sort of alien / foreign to me.
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I really like the cover! Great job!
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I love the color scheme!
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