2164 AD ૨૧૨૫ MA In a stateroom on the Starship Pygmalion, Forna Qorni went over last-minute plans. “Dicero,” she said, “there is some risk if you draw this line.” “I know, Madam Deputy Floor Leader,” Dicero Falut said, fidgeting in her chair. “But I don’t think my constituents will object to me taking this stand. …
Tag: Alesia Nonahsdottir
Liberated by D.X. Machina
Lessy knocked on the door of the small house, and found she was a bit more nervous than she’d expected. It was silly – but still, it had been a while, and she felt more than a bit self-conscious about that fact. It wasn’t that she’d been avoiding it – far from it, she’d very …
Epilogue: 14 July 2156 Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“The future depends on what you do today.” –Mahatma Gandhi “Titan Station, this is Avalon shuttlecraft Zeno’s Paradox, on final approach.” “Roger that, Captain Carey, this is Titan Control, we have you set for dock Gama-12, please follow the beacon in.” “Wilco, Titan Control. We’ll be wheels down in five.” It was a busy day …
Chapter Thirty-Four: Like Going Home Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time.” –T.S. Eliot, “Little Gidding” “Eight meters…six…four…mooring. Repeat, we have mooring.” “Asimov Station, this is Stanisław Lem actual. We show mooring, please confirm.” “Confirmed, Lem. We have mooring …
Chapter Thirty-Three: What’s Up There Beyond the Sky Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“All journeys eventually end in the same place – home.” –Chris Geiger “Okay, I think that’s the last of the big stuff,” Naskia said, looking over the suite that had briefly served as their headquarters at Titan Station. “Just personal effects, some small gear, and so forth. Pryvani, anything that shouldn’t be loaded on the …
Chapter Thirty-Two: Take My Hand, Come Along Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” –Mark Twain Depending on where you’d grown up and how you marked your calendar, either a week or eighteen days had passed since the Gyfjon had captured the Stanisław Lem. The Minatar had departed the station three Earth days before, the same day they’d moved the Lem …
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Hand in Hand Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“Let us all meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” –Blessed Teresa of Calcutta “Got’dang council. I was savin’ Atlantis back when half of ‘em were in diapers, and this is the thanks I get,” Darren muttered, sipping an Avalonian whiskey at a table in the restaurant, waiting …
Second Intermission Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“We do spend too much time on the telephone, and you know something? We love it.” –Dr. Michio Kaku Admiral James Harwell sat in mission control, Houston, not wanting to leave his workstation. It was very late in Texas. In just an hour or two, he would have to begin calling the loved ones of …
Chapter Twenty-Three: And Mortal Life Shall Cease Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“But we in it shall be remembered – We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother….” –William Shakespeare, “Henry V,” Act IV, Scene iii “Hit the ground!” Kir shouted, on instinct as much as anything. The three Titans dove low, as …
Chapter Twenty-One: The Trumpet That Shall Never Call Retreat Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“Battle is an orgy of disorder.” –Gen. George S. Patton, Jr. They say in battle, time slows down. Eyrn, Naskia, and Sorcha all wished what they said was true. Instead, the peacekeepers kept moving at a steady pace. Too steady, too fast. Almost. Almost…. A soft click and a whoosh came from the ceiling. It …