“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who …
Tag: Eyrn Bass
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 …
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Till Earth and Heaven Ring Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” –Semisonic, “Closing Time” “Will the Representative yield to a query?” “Will the Representative yield?” the chair asked Loona, for what felt like the five millionth time in the past three hours. “Yes,” she replied evenly. “The Representative from Telemaki Three Rivers may proceed.” “Thank you, Madam …
Chapter Twenty-Four: Lay Down My Burden Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“To be, or not to be, that is the question: Whether ’tis Nobler in the mind to suffer The Slings and Arrows of outrageous Fortune, Or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles, And by opposing end them.” –William Shakespeare, “Hamlet,” Act III, Scene i “Sally Ride, this is Captain Lauryna Gwenn of the …
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 …
Chapter Twenty: Let Us Die to Make Men Free Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“Think not that your word and yours alone must be right.” –Sophocles, Antigone “All right,” Darren said, as they came to a ventilation grate. “We’re here. At least, we’re as close as we can get through the shaft. It’s sealed going forward.” “Very well,” Tatenda said, looking into the mass of men and women in …
Chapter Nineteen: Soul Goes Marching Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“I feel small when I am next to you I feel big when I forget you.” –Luscious Jackson, “Deep Shag” “Boss!” Ammer and Inna both called, as Inna ran at a full sprint after Loona and Pryvani, carrying Ammer in her breast pocket. “This needs to be quick, we’re meeting with the floor leader in….” …
Chapter Seventeen: Finite Disappointment Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“A mistake is always forgivable, rarely excusable and always unacceptable.” –Robert Fripp Darren looked at his pad, trying his best to get a lock on someone, anyone, who was a friendly. This was necessarily going to be a human; the one salient part of being registered as someone’s pet is that you end up with …
Chapter Sixteen: Whom Ventured All to Save Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina
“Do not swallow bait offered by the enemy.” –Sun Tzu, “The Art of War” Decanus Aigine Orgin had been a peacekeeper on four different stations, and had eleven years of experience dealing with criminals and thugs. He had once broken up a fight at Norvsekal Station that had involved six Insectoids, four Titans, and a …