by M. D. Cooper
“If you would be interested.”
His eyes lit up. Erin noted that his concern over the prospect of her becoming governor had been pushed to one side.
“The plan for Athens’ wildlife is mostly prehistoric, right?” he asked.
“I believe so,” said Tanis.
“What an opportunity,” said Isa. “You should accept, Martin. I’m sure you’ll love it.”
“I don’t know,” he said. “I’m not sure that Athens is the kind of place I’d like to raise a family.”
“We wouldn’t have to live near the resorts,” said Erin. “We could find a quiet place out of town, like your beach house. But not in the Badlands. We definitely won’t live there.”
“I could open a gallery in Attica,” said Isa. “The tourists would love a change from the usual hot springs, surfing, and cocktails.”
“Okay, let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” said Martin, raising his hands. “One step at a time. But I’ll definitely think about it.”
Erin could see that, despite his cautious words, her husband was already contemplating the prospect of seeding Athens. Always driven to nurture and protect, he would find the project right up his alley. The terrestrial life of an entire planet might be sufficient to satiate his drive.
And, inspired by Athens’ astounding landscapes, Isa would open the most incredible interactive art gallery in New Canaan. Athens’ tourism trade would boom when the planet had something more to offer than its usual hedonistic activities.
Erin wondered how the next few years would pan out for herself, too. She could not imagine herself as governor of four planets, though Tanis’s faith in her was flattering. All she wanted to do at that moment was meet the three little girls she had created with Martin and Isa. After things had settled down from that momentous event, she would speak to Murry about a new AI partner. She felt she would be ready soon, though she would never forget Walter. Then maybe she could think more about the long-term future.
It was like Martin had said: one step at a time.
EPILOGUE
A man stands on a shoreline, watching three toddlers playing in the sand. The sun is setting, and waves are encroaching on an elaborate sandcastle that must have taken hours to construct. Turrets and tall spires rise from within the wide castle walls. Narrow streets wind between tiny houses, their roofs made of seashells. A single flag, made from a thin piece of driftwood and a scrap of cloth, stands at the center of the defensive fortress. Seaweed represents gardens within central atriums. Small sticks, that may or may not be the castle’s inhabitants, lie discarded, their story perhaps come to an end.
With each successive wave, a little more of the sandcastle is destroyed. The swell arrives, lapping a little higher than previously, and when it retreats, the grasping water drags down a house, or a wall, or erases a street. Slowly, the construction is being eaten and returned to the sea.
Eventually, nothing but flat sand will remain, and it will be as if the beautiful, complex sandcastle, lovingly made, never existed.
The three little girls have already forgotten the hours they spent building it with their father. They are happily jumping in the shallows. Perhaps there will be tears when they see the sandcastle is no more, but their tears will be quickly forgotten as they move on to their next game.
A short distance away from the man and farther out to sea, a young boy is balancing on a surfboard. He is several years older than his sisters and more independent. The boy paddles the board out beyond the breaking waves, and rides them in again, trying to stand on his board. He fails more often than he succeeds, and splashes into the water, but he is undeterred. He tries again and again.
Two women appear beyond him, swimming toward the shore. One of the women has short hair, the other has her long, black hair tied in a ponytail. They reach the shallow water, stand, and wade to the beach.
The toddlers see the women approach and squeal with excitement.
“Mommy, Mommy, Mommy,” they shout and run to the women.
The man and the boy also move toward them, though more slowly. Together, the family walks over the sand to a small house they built. It’s a simple place, but enough for their needs.
The man and the women, and others like them, have helped to build entire worlds, piece by piece, like the sandcastle. They’ve constructed buildings, laid roads, and built maglevs. They’ve made thriving, happy places where everyone can realize their dreams, and they called the system of worlds New Canaan.
But somewhere at the backs of the builders’ minds, they know their peace and contentment is a fragile, fleeting illusion. Enemies known and unknown are approaching, intent on stealing the riches of their system.
The family on the beach may only have a short time left.
War is coming.
THE END
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Follow the tale of the New Canaan colonists in the Orion War series, starting with Destiny Lost, and then New Canaan.
THE BOOKS OF AEON 14
This list is in near-chronological order. However, for the full chronological reading order, check out the master spreadsheet.
The Sentience Wars: Origins (Age of the Sentience Wars – w/James S. Aaron)
- Books 1-3 Omnibus: Lyssa’s Rise
- Books 4-5 Omnibus (incl. Vesta Burning): Lyssa’s Fire
- Book 0 Prequel: The Proteus Bridge (Full length novel)
- Book 1: Lyssa’s Dream
- Book 2: Lyssa’s Run
- Book 3: Lyssa’s Flight
- Book 4: Lyssa’s Call
- Book 5: Lyssa’s Flame
The Sentience Wars: Solar War 1 (Age of the Sentience Wars – w/James S. Aaron)
- Book 0 Prequel: Vesta Burning (Full length novel)
- Book 1: Eve of Destruction
- Book 2: The Spreading Fire
- Book 3: A Fire Upon the Worlds
- Book 4: Shattered Sol (2021)
- Book 5: Psion Reckoning (2021)
The Sentience Wars: Solar War 2 (Age of the Sentience Wars – w/James S. Aaron)
- Book 1: Embers in the Dark (2022)
Enfield Genesis (Age of the Sentience Wars – w/Lisa Richman)
- Book 1: Alpha Centauri
- Book 2: Proxima Centauri
- Book 3: Tau Ceti
- Book 4: Epsilon Eridani
- Book 5: Sirius
Origins of Destiny (The Age of Terra)
- Prequel: Storming the Norse Wind
- Prequel: Angel’s Rise: The Huntress (available on Patreon)
- Book 1: Tanis Richards: Shore Leave
- Book 2: Tanis Richards: Masquerade
- Book 3: Tanis Richards: Blackest Night
- Book 4: Tanis Richards: Kill Shot
The Intrepid Saga (The Age of Terra)
- Book 1: Outsystem
- Book 2: A Path in the Darkness
- Book 3: Building Victoria
- The Intrepid Saga Omnibus – Also contains Destiny Lost, book 1 of the Orion War series
- Destiny Rising – Special Author’s Extended Edition comprised of both Outsystem and A Path in the Darkness with over 100 pages of new content.
The Sol Dissolution (The Age of Terra)
- Book 1: Venusian Uprising
- Book 2: Assault on Sedna
- Book 3: Hyperion War
- Book 4: Fall of Terra (2021)
Outlaws of Aquilia (Age of the FTL Wars)
- Book 1: The Daedalus Job
- Book 2: Maelstrom Reach
- Book 3: Marauder’s Compass
Althea’s Raiders (Age of the FTL Wars)
- Book 1: The Fall of Rome (2021)
- Book 2: The Terran Empire (2021)
The Warlord (Before the Age of the Orion War)
- Books 1-3 Omnibus: The Warlord of Midditerra
- Book 1: The Woman Without a World
- Book 2: The Woman Who Seized an Empire
- Book 3: The Woman Who Lost Everything
Legacy of t
he Lost (The FTL Wars Era w/Chris J. Pike)
- Book 1: Fire in the Night Sky
- Book 2: A Blight Upon the Stars
- Book 3: A Specter and an Invasion (2021)
The Orion War
- Book 1-3 Omnibus: Battle for New Canaan (includes Set the Galaxy on Fire anthology)
- Book 4-6 Omnibus: The Greatest War (includes Ignite the Stars anthology)
- Book 7-10 Omnibus: Assault on Orion
- Book 11-13 Omnibus: Hegemony of Humanity (includes Return to Kapteyn’s Star)
- Book 0 Prequel: To Fly Sabrina
- Book 1: Destiny Lost
- Book 2: New Canaan
- Book 3: Orion Rising
- Book 4: The Scipio Alliance
- Book 5: Attack on Thebes
- Book 6: War on a Thousand Fronts
- Book 7: Precipice of Darkness
- Book 8: Airtha Ascendancy
- Book 9: The Orion Front
- Book 10: Starfire
- Book 10.5: Return to Kapteyn’s Star
- Book 11: Race Across Spacetime
- Book 12: Return to Sol: Attack at Dawn
- Book 13: Return to Sol: Star Rise
Non-Aeon 14 volumes containing Tanis stories
- Bob’s Bar Volume 1
- Quantum Legends 3: Aberrant Ascension (2021)
Building New Canaan (Age of the Orion War – w/J.J. Green)
- Book 1: Carthage
- Book 2: Tyre
- Book 3: Troy
- Book 4: Athens
Tales of the Orion War
- Book 1: Set the Galaxy on Fire
- Book 2: Ignite the Stars
Multi-Author Collections
- Volume 1: Repercussions
Perilous Alliance (Age of the Orion War – w/Chris J. Pike)
- Book 1-3 Omnibus: Crisis in Silstrand
- Book 3.5-6 Omnibus: War in the Fringe
- Book 0 Prequel: Escape Velocity
- Book 1: Close Proximity
- Book 2: Strike Vector
- Book 3: Collision Course
- Book 3.5: Decisive Action
- Book 4: Impact Imminent
- Book 5: Critical Inertia
- Book 6: Impulse Shock
- Book 7: Terminal Velocity
The Delta Team (Age of the Orion War)
- Book 1: The Eden Job
- Book 2: The Disknee World
- Book 3: Rogue Planets
Serenity (Age of the Orion War – w/A. K. DuBoff)
- Book 1: Return to the Ordus
- Book 2: War of the Rosette
Rika’s Marauders (Age of the Orion War)
- Book 1-3 Omnibus: Rika Activated
- Book 1-7 Full series omnibus: Rika’s Marauders
- Prequel: Rika Mechanized
- Book 1: Rika Outcast
- Book 2: Rika Redeemed
- Book 3: Rika Triumphant
- Book 4: Rika Commander
- Book 5: Rika Infiltrator
- Book 6: Rika Unleashed
- Book 7: Rika Conqueror
Non-Aeon 14 Anthologies containing Rika stories
- Bob’s Bar Volume 2
The Genevian Queen (Age of the Orion War)
- Book 1: Rika Rising
- Book 2: Rika Coronated
- Book 3: Rika Destroyer
Perseus Gate (Age of the Orion War)
Season 1: Orion Space
- Episode 1: The Gate at the Grey Wolf Star
- Episode 2: The World at the Edge of Space
- Episode 3: The Dance on the Moons of Serenity
- Episode 4: The Last Bastion of Star City
- Episode 5: The Toll Road Between the Stars
- Episode 6: The Final Stroll on Perseus’s Arm
- Eps 1-3 Omnibus: The Trail Through the Stars
- Eps 4-6 Omnibus: The Path Amongst the Clouds
Season 2: Inner Stars
- Episode 1: A Meeting of Bodies and Minds
- Episode 2: A Deception and a Promise Kept
- Episode 3: A Surreptitious Rescue of Friends and Foes
- Episode 3.5: Anomaly on Cerka (w/Andrew Dobell)
- Episode 4: A Victory and a Crushing Defeat
- Episode 5: A Trial and the Tribulations
- Episode 6: A Bargain and a True Story Told (2021)
- Episode 7: A New Empire and An Old Ally (2021)
- Eps 1-3 Omnibus: A Siege and a Salvation from Enemies
Hand’s Assassin (Age of the Orion War – w/T.G. Ayer)
- Book 1: Death Dealer
- Book 2: Death Mark (2021)
Machete System Bounty Hunter (Age of the Orion War – w/Zen DiPietro)
- Book 1: Hired Gun
- Book 2: Gunning for Trouble
- Book 3: With Guns Blazing
Fennington Station Murder Mysteries (Age of the Orion War)
- Book 1: Whole Latte Death (w/Chris J. Pike)
- Book 2: Cocoa Crush (w/Chris J. Pike)
The Empire (Age of the Orion War)
- Book 1: The Empress and the Ambassador
- Book 2: Consort of the Scorpion Empress
- Book 3: By the Empress’s Command
The Mech Corps (Age of the Ascension War)
- Book 1: Heather’s Marauders
Bitchalante (Age of the Ascension War)
- Book 1: Bitchalante (2021)
Althea’s Raiders (Age of the Ascension War)
- Book 1: The Fall of Rome (2021)
The Ascension War (Age of the Ascension War)
- Book 1: Scions of Humanity
- Book 2: Galactic Front (2021)
- Book 3: Sagittarius Breach (2021)
OTHER BOOKS BY M. D. COOPER
Destiny’s Sword- Book 1: Lucidium Run
OTHER BOOKS BY J.J. GREEN
Shadows of the Void
- Book 1: Generation
- Book 2: Stranded
- Book 3: Dawn
- Book 4: Shadowrise
- Book 5: Underworld
- Book 6: Burned
- Book 7: Trapped
- Book 8: Mars Born
- Book 9: Shadow Battle
- Book 10: Shadow War
Star Mage Saga
- Book 1: Daughter of Discord
- Book 2: Dark Mage Rises
- Book 3: Wildfire and Steel (Winter 2018)
Space Colony One
- Book 1: The Concordia Deception
- Book 2: The Fila Epiphany
- Book 3: The Scythian Crisis
Carrie Hatchett, Space Adventurer
- Book 1: Mission Improbable
- Book 2: Passage to Paradise
- Book 3: Transgalactic Antics
- Book 4: Wrong Side of Time
- Book 5: Carrie’s Calamity
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
J.J. Green was born in London's East End within range of the sound of the church bells of St. Mary Le Bow, Cheapside, which makes her a bona fide Cockney. She first left the U.K. as a young adult and has lived in Australia and Laos. She currently lives in Taipei, Taiwan, with her family and a black cat called Black Cat. When she isn’t writing, she entertains the locals with her efforts to learn Mandarin.
Find out about her latest shenanigans at her website: www.jjgreenauthor.com
* * * * *
Malorie Cooper likes to think of herself as a dreamer and a wanderer, yet her feet are firmly grounded in reality.
A ‘maker’ from an early age, Malorie loves to craft things, from furniture, to cosplay costumes, to a well-spun tale, she can’t help but to create new things every day.
A rare extrovert writer, she loves to hang out with readers and people in general. If you meet her at a convention, she just might be rocking a catsuit, cosplaying one of her own characters, or maybe her latest favorite from Overwatch!
She shares her home with a brilliant young girl, her wonderful wife (who also writes), a cat that chirps at birds, a never-ending list of things she would lik
e to build, and ideas…
Find out what’s coming next at www.aeon14.com.
Follow her on Instagram at www.instagram.com/m.d.cooper.
Hang out with the fans on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/aeon14fans.
