Tag: Pryvani Tarsuss

Chapter Sixteen The Debate by D.X. Machina

2173 AD ૨૧૨૭ MA Forna Qorni returned to her office at just short of a sprint. This was a delicate operation she was running, and she didn’t really trust Dases Brid to run the show. One screw-up and this would all come tumbling down. She had been stalling, using every trick in the book. Motions …

Read more

Chapter Fifteen The Debate by D.X. Machina

2171 AD ૨૧૨૬ MA The Committee on the Status of Humans in the Empire (Sen. Pryvani Tarsuss, chair) had concluded its fact-finding. Two weeks ago, over the strenuous objection of the Interior Minister, who claimed such a vote was not allowed, the committee had voted 11-4 on a non-binding resolution supporting the idea that humans …

Read more

Chapter Fourteen The Debate by D.X. Machina

2164 AD ૨૧૨૫ MA “So, Forna, how was Avalon?” Qorni glared at the Floor Leader. “You’ve seen the news.” “Yeah, I have,” Rodrec Zeramblin said. “Couldn’t have been more of a disaster than if you’d gone and tried to attack the city at full-size. But smart, you having Kigler make a move on you.” Qorni …

Read more

Chapter Thirteen The Debate by D.X. Machina

2164 AD ૨૧૨૫ MA The sun was setting over Atlantis, and the first day of meetings was wrapping up. Of course, the Titans were happy to continue on; unfortunately, the humans were running out of energy. This was not their fault; a day from now, when Titans were sleeping through the day, the humans would …

Read more

Chapter Twelve The Debate by D.X. Machina

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. …

Read more

Chapter Eleven The Debate by D.X. Machina

2164 AD ૨૧૨૫ MA Pryvani was rather pleased with herself; even by her own standards, she had managed this about as well as possible. The committee would be arriving on Avalon in three days, and when they did, they would have the opportunity not just to meet with Avalonians, but Terrans as well. The Alcubierre …

Read more

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 …

Read more

Chapter Thirty-Eight: And I’ve Seen the Promised Land Titan: Contact by D.X. Machina

“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or …

Read more

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 …

Read more

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 …

Read more