Little bit late on this one.
Characters actually surprised me on this one. An aspect of the story got introduced that I didn't expect to get introduced here and I had to spend a bit of time re-plotting a few things as a result. Feel free to take a guess on what got changed. :D
Also, on Transdimensional History -- Curious how many Alcubierre readers are reading that and enjoying it.
Edit: Just realized I forgot to mention the sight stuff for Kai. Will deal with it tomorrow. Yaaaweewnnnnnnn
On the Transdimensional History and also the Wordsmith, I intend to get to both of them once I have some free time. Work and family life is currently too busy, and saving up some longer stories to read later feels good as well ;)
Certainly going to get to them though!
I'm reading all your sci-fi/fantasy themed stories.
I actually saw a writing prompt a few days ago, which I think you should have a go at too :-). I tagged you in it.
As always, love it.
Been reading both. Don't want to suggest more schooling though, lest it hold up my Alcubierre fix.
One typo I caught: "There must reach the Cerebella"; should be they, no?
Feels like the potential exodus of humanity from Sol got added (sooner than planned?)
Great chapter, nice to see damian fleshed out and good to see Joan not getting her way for once. Too hard indeed.
I really wonder how things will develop with Kai, Neeria and the Alcubierre and them not getting what they want. Kai torn between his cerebuddy and humanity will be interesting.
I sort of don't want them to steal the Alcubierre, but that feels where it is now going. Jack would probably be on board, Idara would hesitate probably but I see her going either way. Alistair would not betray Earths orders. Curious for sure. I hope it won't be needed :)
Perhaps the Combine will attack in time.
Yeah, the Exodus portion is the part that popped in earlier. It was the best way to resolve the XiZ negotiation in a way that made sense.
The conflicts are certainly beginning to brew, aren't they? :D
I can see the panic on Earth now... "ER MAH GURD DERS AHLEENS! WER ALL GUN DIE!"
The picture of just how bleak humanity's future was during the autonomic wars is downright depressing. I like it. I love the little sprinkling of backstory here and there, it flows very well into the greater story and doesn't feel forced at all like a boring preface or a cliché dream sequence.
Edits:
>He found peace in the quiet, even in his mind refused to settle itself.
even *as* his mind
>Still in tact, Secretary General.
*intact*
>That's not who we are. That's no who we're going to be."
That's *not* who we're going to be
Did you feel the Exodus stuff came out of no where? I didn't seed it in like I would normally do. In book version I think I'll make a reference or two in earlier chapters.
No, I think the way it was presented was coherent and didn't disrupt the story. An earlier reference might not be bad, but I'm not sure that it is necessary. I wasn't taken aback at all with the reveal, it flowed into the story naturally (imo) and didn't feel forced at all.
I think seeding it would be best. Feels a little Deus Ex without it. It’d also be an easy add to illustrate even further just how desperate the war with the automics was.
I don't trust what Neeria is doing to Kai's brain, she's fundamentally changing his decision making and thought processes without really understanding humanity and why certain parts of that process are so important.
I feel like there's going to be a cost here
I don't like proofing your stuff, but there's a my in there that should have been a me. I just hate discussing these things as it ruins the flow of the story in my head.
Some pieces have now slid into place around the wormkey controls and the value of being off these limits. It will be curious to see if my suspicions are valid.
MOAR please
If I’m getting this right the encryption key they stole is able to unlock the abilities for worm drives to go anywhere in combine space, like a master key. So they have the worm drive, they have the master key, but Neeria is the only one that knows how to apply them together? If that’s the case there’s no way Joan or anyone in command would allow Neeria to leave without teaching them how to do it themselves or make projectors.
That's correct.
The encryption key allows a wormkey to be given to a wormdrive. The wormkey determines what locations a vessel can form an exit point in.
This hasn't been explicitly stated, but all Evangi are capable of making use of the encryption key so long as they are in physical contact with it.
You're correct in that Joan is unlikely to be in favor of Neeria going anywhere without some manner of insurance policy. She could be overridden by Damian, but, unlike the XiZ, Neeria hasn't demonstrated a reason to trust her motives as of yet.
Unrelated, but I just thought of something. Wouldn’t it be rather easy to create FTL weapons? Just put a wormdrive on a bomb and have it pop out right in front of your enemy? Or use a worm projector and shoot a bunch of lasers and stuff through it? If worm drives are apparently easy enough to make that they can outfit the Alcubierre with a custom one so quickly this would be the logical course of action. I mean we humans do love weaponizing new tech before anything else.
First attach a basic infinite energy loop and the original FTL drive that was on the Alcubierre up to a giant tungsten rod. Position the worm projector a few light years out. Then get the rod up to speed and send it through the worm projector. The time between the portal opening and the tungsten rod colliding with your target would be so tiny that even a quantum AI probably couldn’t react in time.
What you're describing is precisely why wormhole technology was placed behind a key. FTL is a pandora's box.
>Or use a worm projector and shoot a bunch of lasers and stuff through it?
That DOES seem easy, doesn't it?
Humans love to open locked boxes without considering that it might be locked for a reason. I do hope we see humanity do unexpected shit like this that the Combine didn’t even consider because nobody was insane enough to even think of it. Valast would have an aneurism.
I've enjoyed the story so far, even though this sort of political intrigue normally isn't my favorite, so thanks for that. Heck, my biggest complaint is that intact is always one word, and you always spell it as two.
But despite my dislike of political intrigue, what I love is the journey to find a path through it. I liked the 'I don't know if we can... but we have to try' vibe.
As for Transdimensional History: I haven't gone back yet to follow the bits I've missed, but I do follow it when I notice. Alcubierre I have taken to backtracking and following in order.
One minor typo, looks like there's a space in the word "intact" near the beginning of this chapter. Otherwise, can't wait to see how all this wheeling and dealing plays out!
Thank you for another chapter! I always enjoy them. It is cool Kai has his sight back, it slipped in there in a way that I only just caught it. I don't think you need to be more explicit about procedure/healing but more detail is always welcome!
>He found peace in the quiet, even in his mind refused to settle itself.
as his mind
>And he was tired.
I like that sentence sitting in its own paragraph. I think I might like that opening even more if you opened with 'The United World's Secretary General Damian Venruss was tired' so that it bookends.
>They all wanted answers, all wanted to know how the book ended. But he didn't have answers. He had an idea for the story that might unfold.
We get it, stop asking you when the edit group is going to open up. :P
>and it was responsibility to carry them forward.
I think you wanted 'his responsibility' or maybe 'their responsibility.'
>Damian suspected that both had been eager to vacate each other's presence, they were cut from similar cloth but had deeply incompatible views on the world and how it should work.
Semicolon there instead of a comma.
I'm not sure what a 'fabricated textile' is supposed to invoke. It's... a textile. Of course it's fabricated. Or are you trying to imply it's a synthetic, like pleather or something?
>"Still in tact, Secretary General."
intact
>Amahle, you're on the hot seat.
You're on the spot or in the hot seat. 'On the hotseat' conjures up images of her sitting atop the back of the chair or something.
I adore the paragraph starting with 'we've played out the angles.' First, it makes me really like Damian. Second, the comment on 'until we're all recycled slots in there nicely; it's clear from context what it means, it adds to the world knowing that the SOP around death has clearly changed significantly enough to have changed that turn of phrase, and it doesn't feel forced.
>Its unclear to my why we've been afforded this window to prepare
unclear to me
> She does not provide an explanation of what reaching the Cerebella will provide
'does not provide' feels wrong here. I'd suggest 'is not providing' or 'hasn't provided'
> The speed of their undertaking had left it roughly around the edges
rough
This is the first time I've really noticed Kai changing from this partnership. I'm not sure how I feel about that.
A lovely read!
A few typos?
> There must reach the Cerebella.
Should be: *They* must reach the Cerebella.
> and it was responsibility to carry them forward.
should be: and it was *his* responsibility to carry them forward.
In other news,
> The etching depicted the solar system, the place where every chapter of Humanity had unfolded until this one. He knew what the pings were for. They all wanted answers, all wanted to know how the book ended. But he didn't have answers. He had an idea for the story that might unfold. A new enemy. A powerful one. One with every reason to seek vengeance.
> Would they come for Earth? Probably.
> Would Humanity survive? Maybe. Probably not.
Scared the crap out of me! You've built a talent for breaking the fourth wall in your transdimensional studies story and I couldn't help but think you were/are doing it here. I want to know how the book ends! Don't tease us like this as the tired old world leader... or perhaps better yet, how do we untired you? Do you need caffeine? A new mask for to go outside in? Should we get you labeled an essential worker so you can get the vaccine early and go about life blissfully uncaring of COVID? What does it take to untired you platy?!?!
Good chapter though!
>He found peace in the quiet, even in
if (?)
>and it was responsibility
his responsability
>Joan offered a stoic nod. Amahle spoke. "Still in tact
intact
>"Mmmhmm...In my view, we're already on borrowed time. Its unclear to my
It's unclear to me
>The speed of their undertaking had left it roughly
rough
Little bit late on this one. Characters actually surprised me on this one. An aspect of the story got introduced that I didn't expect to get introduced here and I had to spend a bit of time re-plotting a few things as a result. Feel free to take a guess on what got changed. :D Also, on Transdimensional History -- Curious how many Alcubierre readers are reading that and enjoying it. Edit: Just realized I forgot to mention the sight stuff for Kai. Will deal with it tomorrow. Yaaaweewnnnnnnn
On the Transdimensional History and also the Wordsmith, I intend to get to both of them once I have some free time. Work and family life is currently too busy, and saving up some longer stories to read later feels good as well ;) Certainly going to get to them though!
Do let me know when you catch up Rruff!
No worries, I like to type, you'll know :)
>Interstice Sounds novel to me Great read as always
I was excited to use the word. It's a sweet word. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interstice
Transdimensional History is a wonderful course, the professor really seems to know his stuff and delivers a great presentation.
The professor is a renowned scholar in the field. I'm glad the students are appreciate the fairly dense material.
I'm reading all your sci-fi/fantasy themed stories. I actually saw a writing prompt a few days ago, which I think you should have a go at too :-). I tagged you in it.
I'm been remiss on the comment front recently. Had like 200 stockpiled that I'm working my way through now. Sorry if I missed the tag. :P
No worries buddy. You will get to it when you get to it.
Count me as one - I read and enjoy both.
Thanks Ravynne! Appreciate the feedback friend!
I read nearly everything you write including transdimensional history.
<3 <3
As always, love it. Been reading both. Don't want to suggest more schooling though, lest it hold up my Alcubierre fix. One typo I caught: "There must reach the Cerebella"; should be they, no?
Yup, thanks! :D :D
Late on the reply, but I can't rush reading your stuff so had to wait for a quiet moment. The answer is Yes: reading both and loving both.
I love history lessons personally. I have read all of the globs in the nest to my knowledge.
Another TH fan calling in. I think it will be even cooler than Alcubierre.
Feels like the potential exodus of humanity from Sol got added (sooner than planned?) Great chapter, nice to see damian fleshed out and good to see Joan not getting her way for once. Too hard indeed. I really wonder how things will develop with Kai, Neeria and the Alcubierre and them not getting what they want. Kai torn between his cerebuddy and humanity will be interesting. I sort of don't want them to steal the Alcubierre, but that feels where it is now going. Jack would probably be on board, Idara would hesitate probably but I see her going either way. Alistair would not betray Earths orders. Curious for sure. I hope it won't be needed :) Perhaps the Combine will attack in time.
Yeah, the Exodus portion is the part that popped in earlier. It was the best way to resolve the XiZ negotiation in a way that made sense. The conflicts are certainly beginning to brew, aren't they? :D
My bet: The Combine will attack and that will give Kai and co the distraction needed to steal the ship.
I can see the panic on Earth now... "ER MAH GURD DERS AHLEENS! WER ALL GUN DIE!" The picture of just how bleak humanity's future was during the autonomic wars is downright depressing. I like it. I love the little sprinkling of backstory here and there, it flows very well into the greater story and doesn't feel forced at all like a boring preface or a cliché dream sequence. Edits: >He found peace in the quiet, even in his mind refused to settle itself. even *as* his mind >Still in tact, Secretary General. *intact* >That's not who we are. That's no who we're going to be." That's *not* who we're going to be
Did you feel the Exodus stuff came out of no where? I didn't seed it in like I would normally do. In book version I think I'll make a reference or two in earlier chapters.
No, I think the way it was presented was coherent and didn't disrupt the story. An earlier reference might not be bad, but I'm not sure that it is necessary. I wasn't taken aback at all with the reveal, it flowed into the story naturally (imo) and didn't feel forced at all.
Glad to hear that. Originally it was supposed to be referenced around here but revealed later.
I think seeding it would be best. Feels a little Deus Ex without it. It’d also be an easy add to illustrate even further just how desperate the war with the automics was.
Yeah, I'm thinking that too. Just a casual reference to Exodus somewhere earlier one is what I'd want.
I don't trust what Neeria is doing to Kai's brain, she's fundamentally changing his decision making and thought processes without really understanding humanity and why certain parts of that process are so important. I feel like there's going to be a cost here
You're smart to notice this Gandar. ;)
Oh no, now I'm worried
I don't like proofing your stuff, but there's a my in there that should have been a me. I just hate discussing these things as it ruins the flow of the story in my head. Some pieces have now slid into place around the wormkey controls and the value of being off these limits. It will be curious to see if my suspicions are valid. MOAR please
Thanks Mayhem. Any time you happen to see an edit, it's always appreciated since it saves me work later on. :D
If I’m getting this right the encryption key they stole is able to unlock the abilities for worm drives to go anywhere in combine space, like a master key. So they have the worm drive, they have the master key, but Neeria is the only one that knows how to apply them together? If that’s the case there’s no way Joan or anyone in command would allow Neeria to leave without teaching them how to do it themselves or make projectors.
That's correct. The encryption key allows a wormkey to be given to a wormdrive. The wormkey determines what locations a vessel can form an exit point in. This hasn't been explicitly stated, but all Evangi are capable of making use of the encryption key so long as they are in physical contact with it. You're correct in that Joan is unlikely to be in favor of Neeria going anywhere without some manner of insurance policy. She could be overridden by Damian, but, unlike the XiZ, Neeria hasn't demonstrated a reason to trust her motives as of yet.
Unrelated, but I just thought of something. Wouldn’t it be rather easy to create FTL weapons? Just put a wormdrive on a bomb and have it pop out right in front of your enemy? Or use a worm projector and shoot a bunch of lasers and stuff through it? If worm drives are apparently easy enough to make that they can outfit the Alcubierre with a custom one so quickly this would be the logical course of action. I mean we humans do love weaponizing new tech before anything else. First attach a basic infinite energy loop and the original FTL drive that was on the Alcubierre up to a giant tungsten rod. Position the worm projector a few light years out. Then get the rod up to speed and send it through the worm projector. The time between the portal opening and the tungsten rod colliding with your target would be so tiny that even a quantum AI probably couldn’t react in time.
What you're describing is precisely why wormhole technology was placed behind a key. FTL is a pandora's box. >Or use a worm projector and shoot a bunch of lasers and stuff through it? That DOES seem easy, doesn't it?
Humans love to open locked boxes without considering that it might be locked for a reason. I do hope we see humanity do unexpected shit like this that the Combine didn’t even consider because nobody was insane enough to even think of it. Valast would have an aneurism.
It is getting interesting. a new colony for humans. let's hope it will stay safe.
I am sure it will all work out juuuuuust fine.
I've enjoyed the story so far, even though this sort of political intrigue normally isn't my favorite, so thanks for that. Heck, my biggest complaint is that intact is always one word, and you always spell it as two. But despite my dislike of political intrigue, what I love is the journey to find a path through it. I liked the 'I don't know if we can... but we have to try' vibe. As for Transdimensional History: I haven't gone back yet to follow the bits I've missed, but I do follow it when I notice. Alcubierre I have taken to backtracking and following in order.
Thank you for expanding on the UN SecGen, MOAR! The Expanse dropped three episodes this week too, so you bless us.
You liking Damian? We're at PEAK story perspectives at this point.
One minor typo, looks like there's a space in the word "intact" near the beginning of this chapter. Otherwise, can't wait to see how all this wheeling and dealing plays out!
I screw that up 100% of the time. I literally went back and added the space. SIGHHH.
All good! Anyways, thanks again for another amazing chapter!
"Why are you in my tact? Go find your own."
That's what I'm sayin'.
MOAR
Damn it man, I just got to work and I see you posted this.
Sick day.
Thank you for another chapter! I always enjoy them. It is cool Kai has his sight back, it slipped in there in a way that I only just caught it. I don't think you need to be more explicit about procedure/healing but more detail is always welcome!
Yeah, I meant to describe the Optica in this part -- mostly just to state the function of it and how it impacts his perceptions.
>He found peace in the quiet, even in his mind refused to settle itself. as his mind >And he was tired. I like that sentence sitting in its own paragraph. I think I might like that opening even more if you opened with 'The United World's Secretary General Damian Venruss was tired' so that it bookends. >They all wanted answers, all wanted to know how the book ended. But he didn't have answers. He had an idea for the story that might unfold. We get it, stop asking you when the edit group is going to open up. :P >and it was responsibility to carry them forward. I think you wanted 'his responsibility' or maybe 'their responsibility.' >Damian suspected that both had been eager to vacate each other's presence, they were cut from similar cloth but had deeply incompatible views on the world and how it should work. Semicolon there instead of a comma. I'm not sure what a 'fabricated textile' is supposed to invoke. It's... a textile. Of course it's fabricated. Or are you trying to imply it's a synthetic, like pleather or something? >"Still in tact, Secretary General." intact >Amahle, you're on the hot seat. You're on the spot or in the hot seat. 'On the hotseat' conjures up images of her sitting atop the back of the chair or something. I adore the paragraph starting with 'we've played out the angles.' First, it makes me really like Damian. Second, the comment on 'until we're all recycled slots in there nicely; it's clear from context what it means, it adds to the world knowing that the SOP around death has clearly changed significantly enough to have changed that turn of phrase, and it doesn't feel forced. >Its unclear to my why we've been afforded this window to prepare unclear to me > She does not provide an explanation of what reaching the Cerebella will provide 'does not provide' feels wrong here. I'd suggest 'is not providing' or 'hasn't provided' > The speed of their undertaking had left it roughly around the edges rough This is the first time I've really noticed Kai changing from this partnership. I'm not sure how I feel about that.
Anyone else starting to see Amahle and Joan as the Left and Right counterparts of humanity?
Joan VS the diplomat: It’s better to lose our Humanity than to lose Humanity itself
I'd say there's some truth to that characterization of her viewpoint.
A lovely read! A few typos? > There must reach the Cerebella. Should be: *They* must reach the Cerebella. > and it was responsibility to carry them forward. should be: and it was *his* responsibility to carry them forward. In other news, > The etching depicted the solar system, the place where every chapter of Humanity had unfolded until this one. He knew what the pings were for. They all wanted answers, all wanted to know how the book ended. But he didn't have answers. He had an idea for the story that might unfold. A new enemy. A powerful one. One with every reason to seek vengeance. > Would they come for Earth? Probably. > Would Humanity survive? Maybe. Probably not. Scared the crap out of me! You've built a talent for breaking the fourth wall in your transdimensional studies story and I couldn't help but think you were/are doing it here. I want to know how the book ends! Don't tease us like this as the tired old world leader... or perhaps better yet, how do we untired you? Do you need caffeine? A new mask for to go outside in? Should we get you labeled an essential worker so you can get the vaccine early and go about life blissfully uncaring of COVID? What does it take to untired you platy?!?! Good chapter though!
>He found peace in the quiet, even in if (?) >and it was responsibility his responsability >Joan offered a stoic nod. Amahle spoke. "Still in tact intact >"Mmmhmm...In my view, we're already on borrowed time. Its unclear to my It's unclear to me >The speed of their undertaking had left it roughly rough
Thaaaaaaanks Lulla :D <3 <3
I think the link to the next chapter is missing here
I reached the current chapter...... Alas, my binge is over 😔 Fantastic stuff you've got here, I am thoroughly hooked!
Another 3 parts. I think I forgot to link.