Category: Short Stories

Chapter Nine The Debate by D.X. Machina

2164 AD ૨૧૨૫ MA “Stand by to break orbit.” “Standing by, sir.” Ted paused. “Funny, isn’t it?” “What’s that, sir?” van der Graaf asked, as her fingers hovered over the controls. “A year or two ago, we’d be doing cartwheels over this planet. Microbial life, high saline seas, little cool, atmosphere’s thin, but still, it’s …

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Chapter Eight The Debate by D.X. Machina

2163 AD ૨૧૨૫ MA “Did you ever think we’d be here this soon, Admiral?” “Not a chance,” Xú Mùlán said, looking at the vessel wistfully. “Not after just eleven years. You know, it was designed for sixty. Could have made 100 with refit.” “Counter-Admiral Chandrasekhar’s fault,” Ted said, following his former Commanding Officer’s gaze. “No …

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Chapter Seven The Debate by D.X. Machina

2163 AD ૨૧૨૫ MA “This is it, Jimmy,” Elaine Ridgemont said, waving her arms for emphasis. “This is the fuck-up I’ve been waiting for.” Her husband nodded, as he sipped his coffee and read through sports scores. He was aware of the fallout from Lennox McClure’s story; it had landed like a lightning bolt in …

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Chapter Five The Debate by D.X. Machina

2163 AD ૨૧૨૫ MA Lennox McClure was wondering what the hell he had gotten himself into. He could have been a fiction writer. Stayed home, made up stories for a living. His dad had done that, and done very well for himself. But no, he had to go into journalism. He had to seek out …

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Chapter Four The Debate by D.X. Machina

2163 AD ૨૧૨૫ MA “And so, mister chair, I say it is high time that we petition the provincial and Imperial governments to recognize the human governments on Avalon and Earth as full territorial councils, and for Azatlia to recognize humans as Class One Sentient Beings, no matter what the Empire may say.” “Thank you, …

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Chapter Three The Debate by D.X. Machina

2161 AD ૨૧૨૪ MA “It could have been worse,” Zeramblin said, after leaving the stage. Oh, it could have been better – Empire-pledged candidates had lost a net of 20 seats, though he was hopeful he could claw a couple back; there were a couple independents who would be in line for committee leadership posts …

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