"Daggers of Darkness" - Prologue
#6 of Daggers of Darkness, Book 1, Into the Black
Here's the (revised) Prologue for the first book of my sci-fi adventure series, "Daggers of Darkness, Book 1, Into the Black". This story is set 500 years into the future with some of the descendants of the characters in my novel, "Family Tails". The Cast of Characters is up next after this part.
The posting of this story on here may not be a fully polished product -- that will come later when I have the story fully edited and published. However, I will try to keep the typos, etc., to a minimum. The main things I would like from those reading this are comments, questions, and suggestions. I only ask that you please keep criticisms constructive and polite.
Story, characters, and related art © 2013-2017 Ronald J. Lebeck (that's me).
Prologue
It is the year 2513 on Terra, the third planet in the Sol star system, and the center of the Sol Federation of Worlds. It has been five hundred years since "Kapik's Gift" was given and the Great Lesson began. Both G.E.L.F.s (Genetically Engineered Life Forms) and humans are now the Greater Humanity, and together they have reached the stars. It has been, at times, a difficult journey as old, outdated beliefs and prejudices have slowly--and sometimes violently--given way to newer ways.
The two hundredth anniversary of the marriage of Ron and Lupina Daugherty, the first such union between a human and G.E.L.F., was marred by the violent, three year global conflict known as the "Purity Uprising of 2213", waged by religious and human supremacist groups in a violent effort to rid Terra's population of G.E.L.F.s and G.E.L.F./human hybrids. The "Purists" committed acts of terrorism and genocide--many humans fought alongside the G.E.L.F.s, and together they won a hard won victory over the Purists. It was a bittersweet victory, however, as it had cost the lives of so many--hundreds of thousands, if not well over a million on each side, with many "missing". It did bring many positive changes, though, and the G.E.L.F.s finally stood as equals among the humans the world over.
G.E.L.F. and human scientists created the first artificial intelligence, or A.I., computer systems, which were found to be necessary on interstellar spacecraft. Traveling in fourth dimensional space--so called "hyperspace"--is disorientating to biological beings, so it is the job of a ship's A.I. system to make sure the ship and its crew make the transit safely. Ship A.I.s are loyal to their crews, and will do whatever is necessary to protect them. Each A.I. computer system is given an android "avatar" to assist the crew in various tasks, and the avatars are designed quite lifelike, and might be of any species of G.E.L.F. or even human in appearance.
The brand new long-range scout ship, the S.F.S. Nightwing, SLG-78, with its state of the art A.I. known as Moira, and her attractive, ultra-realistic avatar, begins her journey with a few of the descendants of the first mixed G.E.L.F./human family, and the rest of her crew. Together they will uncover remnants of the Purists, face hostile aliens, learn something about themselves and each other, and above all, enjoy themselves and their fellow crewmates whenever and wherever possible!
Cast of Major Characters: https://www.sofurry.com/view/619792