by A J Marshall
After my mother had sent me to university on Earth – in her home town of Oxford in the Dual Kingdom, England and Wales, and against my wishes, I might add – I found forgetting my mother’s ever-lasting grief much easier. Upon reflection, it was just because other types of grief took the place of my missing father. I’ll come to the story of Stefanie in a moment. But for now, at the age of twenty-one, and as I recount my life to this point, I can honestly say that I understand what my mother went through when my Dad died.
CHAPTER 1
First Among Equals
To my dying day, I will never know if calamitous things happen for a reason. If events, particularly tragic ones, are dictated by a ‘higher power’ – like some kind of divine interference in our lives – or if an invisible fate line of universal proportions that links the innumerable solar systems and galaxies, directs these occurrences. I mean, why it was that she . . .
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Author’s Note
My background is aviation, both helicopters and aeroplanes. I fixed them for a few years, but have flown them for many more – over thirty, in fact. At altitudes in excess of forty-five thousand feet, a favourite place of mine, the curvature of our planet is plainly visible – awesome is an understatement. I have always liked science, machines, technology and Mother Earth, although – and quite rightly – not in that particular order.
Speaking of science, some in this book is fact; most, however, is imaginary. If only it were that simple. There is also a good deal of historical detail in the Kalahari Series; some being rather more accurate than you might think. Indeed, from my research, what we know and understand about this planet's ancient civilisations appears to be roughly equal to what we know and do not. As for this literary work in general, a hugely enjoyable undertaking, it really is all fiction.
Finally, may I kindly ask you to keep a lookout for "Evolution" – the opening novel in my new "First Colony Series". Released early next year, it's shaping up nicely. As a fan of futuristic thrillers and science fiction, I've a feeling that you are going to like it.
Until the next time . . .
Rogue Command
Prologue
Chapter 1: Operation Saviour
Chapter 2: Recall
Chapter 3: The Context of Time
Chapter 4: Yesterday's World
Chapter 5: Ominous Direction
Chapter 6: Incoming
Chapter 7: Beginning of the End
Chapter 8: Nowhere is too Far
Chapter 9: Red Sky in the Morning
Chapter 10: For the Love of Carbon
Chapter 11: One more than Five
Chapter 12: Thinking Time
Chapter 13: Ancient Conscript
Chapter 14: The Science Synergy
Chapter 15: Incomplete Tapestry
Chapter 16: A Secret Secret
Chapter 17: Worlds Apart
Chapter 18: Rockets and Relatives
Chapter 19: Full Circle
Chapter 20: True Colours
Chapter 21: Twice Over
Chapter 22: Closer to Home
Chapter 23: Voices from the Past
Chapter 24: Windfall
Chapter 25: World Wars
Chapter 26: The Battle of Putredinis
Chapter 27: The Parallel Planet
Chapter 28: Taking Stock
Chapter 29: Automated Evil
Chapter 30: Previous Pandemic
Chapter 31: Powerless
Chapter 32: Time for Turning
Chapter 33: Memories of a Tropical Paradise
Glossary
FIRST COLONY - EVOLUTION
Prologue
Chapter 1: First Among Equals
Author's Note
