Forces communications network from EASC to Messium.
Devon uses sidespace to intercept the Metigen surveillance mechanism and sends a request that they tell Alex and Caleb about what is happening in Aurora.
CONTENTS
PART I
M IRIAM’S W AR
PART II
T HE S PACE I N B ETWEEN
PART III
S PIRAL
PART IV
G RAVITATIONAL C OLLAPSE
PART V
D EWDROPS & F LOWER P ETALS
PART VI
C ONSONANCE
PART VII
N ATURAL S ELECTION
APPENDIX
ABYSM
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PART I :
MIRIAM ’ S WAR
“What is a rebel? A man who says no.”
— Albert Camus
1
MESSIS I
E ARTH A LLIANCE O RBITAL S TATION
M ESSIUM S TELLAR S YSTEM
----
“ T HIS IS NOT A MUTINY.
“This is not a military coup d’état.
“This is not an insurrection.
“This is a counterinsurgency. We are not the traitors—we are the defenders. We are the resistance.
“The Earth Alliance military exists to defend the people against threats from without and within. I swore an oath to defend you forty-seven years ago. It has been my greatest honor to do so ever since, and I do not intend to stop today.”
Miriam Solovy’s tone grew more measured; no need to be a firebrand, right? “The Biological and Neurological Integrity Assurance Act, or BANIA, is unconstitutional. More than this, it is inhumane. It violates our most fundamental precepts of justice, fairness and liberty. It demands the imprisonment of people not for what they’ve done, but for what they are.
“Yes, I said ‘people.’ Whatever the propaganda being pushed upon you may claim, Prevos are first and foremost people. Humans. Individuals. Enhancing ourselves with cybernetics and eVis over the last two centuries did not mean we ceased to be human, and neither does increasing one’s mental acuity with the quantum processing of an Artificial.”
She paused to smile to herself, hoping the act reached her voice. “Let me tell you a story. A story about the Metigen War.
“When all seemed lost and we were on the verge of being overrun, four individuals risked their lives to defeat the enemy and save us from annihilation. They risked their lives to become the first Prevos, fully aware the untested, unproven augmentation could kill them in any number of ways. Then they risked their lives to go out on the battlefield and fight alongside our military personnel. We won the war because of every infantryman, pilot and Marine, but we also won it because of these individuals.
“This information was classified until now, but perhaps it should not have been. Perhaps we should have awarded them medals in public ceremonies for all to see. They certainly deserved it. And you deserve to know they are not devils, but heroes.”
Miriam’s gaze darted to the left, triggered by a burst of activity near the entrance of the command center.
Three MPs blocked her view…until Alex stepped through the doorway. Behind her Caleb talked quietly with one of the officers.
Alive, yet again. Re-emerged from of the void, yet again.
Relief surged through her, strengthening her resolve as she resumed the broadcast. Her daughter was not only the greatest reason she fought to protect the Prevos but the greatest reason she believed it was right to do so.
“We gave these individuals full control and command of our militaries and our defenses. Do you know what happened? They used these tools in ways your leaders could never have accomplished to protect Earth. To protect Seneca. To protect Romane. They used them to crush the Metigen fleet into surrender.
“Then they relinquished control and went back to their lives, asking for nothing in return. Not power. Not medals, leadership roles or any other reward.
“Yet now we want to imprison those Prevos and others like them. We want to reward heroism and sacrifice with a cage. All because we are afraid.”
More movement on
Devon uses sidespace to intercept the Metigen surveillance mechanism and sends a request that they tell Alex and Caleb about what is happening in Aurora.
CONTENTS
PART I
M IRIAM’S W AR
PART II
T HE S PACE I N B ETWEEN
PART III
S PIRAL
PART IV
G RAVITATIONAL C OLLAPSE
PART V
D EWDROPS & F LOWER P ETALS
PART VI
C ONSONANCE
PART VII
N ATURAL S ELECTION
APPENDIX
ABYSM
SUBSCRIBE TO GSJENNSEN.COM
Receive updates on AURORA RHAPSOY, new book announcements and more
PART I :
MIRIAM ’ S WAR
“What is a rebel? A man who says no.”
— Albert Camus
1
MESSIS I
E ARTH A LLIANCE O RBITAL S TATION
M ESSIUM S TELLAR S YSTEM
----
“ T HIS IS NOT A MUTINY.
“This is not a military coup d’état.
“This is not an insurrection.
“This is a counterinsurgency. We are not the traitors—we are the defenders. We are the resistance.
“The Earth Alliance military exists to defend the people against threats from without and within. I swore an oath to defend you forty-seven years ago. It has been my greatest honor to do so ever since, and I do not intend to stop today.”
Miriam Solovy’s tone grew more measured; no need to be a firebrand, right? “The Biological and Neurological Integrity Assurance Act, or BANIA, is unconstitutional. More than this, it is inhumane. It violates our most fundamental precepts of justice, fairness and liberty. It demands the imprisonment of people not for what they’ve done, but for what they are.
“Yes, I said ‘people.’ Whatever the propaganda being pushed upon you may claim, Prevos are first and foremost people. Humans. Individuals. Enhancing ourselves with cybernetics and eVis over the last two centuries did not mean we ceased to be human, and neither does increasing one’s mental acuity with the quantum processing of an Artificial.”
She paused to smile to herself, hoping the act reached her voice. “Let me tell you a story. A story about the Metigen War.
“When all seemed lost and we were on the verge of being overrun, four individuals risked their lives to defeat the enemy and save us from annihilation. They risked their lives to become the first Prevos, fully aware the untested, unproven augmentation could kill them in any number of ways. Then they risked their lives to go out on the battlefield and fight alongside our military personnel. We won the war because of every infantryman, pilot and Marine, but we also won it because of these individuals.
“This information was classified until now, but perhaps it should not have been. Perhaps we should have awarded them medals in public ceremonies for all to see. They certainly deserved it. And you deserve to know they are not devils, but heroes.”
Miriam’s gaze darted to the left, triggered by a burst of activity near the entrance of the command center.
Three MPs blocked her view…until Alex stepped through the doorway. Behind her Caleb talked quietly with one of the officers.
Alive, yet again. Re-emerged from of the void, yet again.
Relief surged through her, strengthening her resolve as she resumed the broadcast. Her daughter was not only the greatest reason she fought to protect the Prevos but the greatest reason she believed it was right to do so.
“We gave these individuals full control and command of our militaries and our defenses. Do you know what happened? They used these tools in ways your leaders could never have accomplished to protect Earth. To protect Seneca. To protect Romane. They used them to crush the Metigen fleet into surrender.
“Then they relinquished control and went back to their lives, asking for nothing in return. Not power. Not medals, leadership roles or any other reward.
“Yet now we want to imprison those Prevos and others like them. We want to reward heroism and sacrifice with a cage. All because we are afraid.”
More movement on