Journey's End : An Asian Alternate-History Science Fiction Saga: First Contact, #2

By Azlan Tahir

In an alternate reality … set in the future …

Will there be War??!!
Will the crew of the Tigris survive!!

 

The Ganymede Incident was the spark that would ignite the flames of conflict between Earth and Mars, pitting the two civilizations of the Commonwealth against each other for supremacy, control, preservation of "way of life", or whatever deeper motives there were.

With the mysterious "Sentinel" discovered on Ganymede being retrieved for further analysis and investigation, Captain Olivia Chu and her crew of the Tigris, as well as Captain Hilmi Bakar and his team of Malayan Rangers – are immediately assigned to new missions, both being engulfed in secrecy and distrust, at a critical juncture of the growing conflict as both Earth and Mars make their first military moves. 

Meanwhile, the shady Dr. Rodrigues shifts his focus towards a young boy from Detroit. What is the relationship between this child, and the "Sentinel", if there even is one anyway? Is this boy, or others "similar to him", a missing piece of the bigger puzzle? If so, how?

Explore "Journey's End", which is Book Two of the First Contact Saga from the Unity Macroverse, picking up after where Book One, "Marooned" left off.

Loyalties are tested. 
Old rivals cross paths. 
Internal conflicts are exposed. 
Signs of invisible hands at play begin to surface.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Azlan Tahir
• Release date: Oct 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201660055

Book preview

UNITY MACROVERSE

First Contact Series: BOOK 2

Journey’s END

An Asian Alternate-History Science Fiction Saga

Azlan Tahir

Copyright © 2019 by AZLAN TAHIR

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. The moral rights of the author have been asserted.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Published by: Andaman Consortium Sdn. Bhd.

52200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Acknowledgments

We are a community of Malaysian Storytellers and Marooned forms the beginning of the First Contact Saga. The First Contact Saga is a part of the UNITY Macroverse story which takes the reader into an alternate universe story canvas.

Thanks to all the overwhelming support from members of the community that had faith in all our forays into making the UNITY Stories come to life.

Thank you to my community partner Adely Ariffin who himself wrote and contributed greatly to the Storyline.

The main core of our community: Akmal Izzat, Dave Liew, Nur Ruhizan, Saifol Shamlan, Paul Low, Anderson Ee, Adam John, and many-many others.

My family that has given me enormous support, encouragement, and patience: Casie and Adam.

My sister Linda and brothers Auzir and Imran.

Finally my buddies from the Samad Old Boys group, See, missing Mrs. Chye’s class wasn’t all that bad..

Special Mention to this Special group of people who gave inspiration for this Saga and the canvas :

Nadyne, Daniel, Amanda, Sophie, Ivy, Adli from the Autism Café Project, Sara from The Learning Center, and Peggy from Bridging Hope.

Foreword: Journey’s End

Journey’s End forms the second book in the First Contact Series. It begins after the Ganymede Search & Rescue mission undertaken by the UNES Tigris. It explores the many events taking off after Marooned.

We have also included a bonus story at the end of Book 2 by a member of our Community Anderson Ee with his Micro story called Paradise, a 1950’s alternate-history in the UNITY Macroverse story canvas. We hope enjoy our community offerings. If you want to know more your can visit us at: https://unitymacroverse.com/

Follow us on :

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unitymacroverse

Instagram :

https://www.instagram.com/unitymacroverse/

Youtube  :

Unity Macroverse

Table of Contents

1: Recent Past

2: Sentinel

3: Ganymede De-brief

4: War

5: Ulu Tiram

6: Pivot Canton

7: Canton Trade Hub

8: Lunar Labs

9: Tigris Underway

10: Contact

11: Battle is Joined

12: Breaking the News

13: Rangers

14: Tigris, Ceres & Beyond

15: Momentum

16: EPILOGUE

Bonus Material

More from the Author

Endnotes

1: Recent Past

Detroit, North America

Traffic will be heavy today, Traffic-drones report heavy congestion leading into I-94's onramp into West Edsel Freeway. Eight stacks high traffic sandwich. Air Traffic control has instructed commuters to avoid this highly congested area. Go public transport people, the hyperloop's working, again. Thank goodness for Chinese ingenuity. It's up again, so avoid clogging up what's already clogged.

Sylvia, it's messed up. I am going to be late, again!! It's a wonder anything gets done here. American know-how, my foot!!. Could you drop me off at Dearborn hyper station, like Five minutes ago?"

Sylvia-Chang Brown is a woman of many talents, but patience has its limits especially this morning. She doesn't need this. Not now. She grimaces as Leonard Brown continues his monologue. Doesn't he stop?! she thinks to herself, forgetting of course she is logged on to Po-poh[1] Brown, the name she gives the Home Jaring AI net. Sylvia? - a soft motherly voice whispers in her ear, your heartbeat and pulse are above normal, I sense anger?

Huh?.. I'm ok Po-poh, a lot of things on my mind at the moment.

Sylvia, don’t forget we have our dinner date with James and Rachel tonight.

Yes, Leonard, I'll drop you off as soon as Justin's done, and yes I know about the dinner. Leonard sighs and crumples dejectedly into the couch.

Justin!! Food's ready, come down and eat. We have to hurry, Dad needs a lift. Justin-Chang Brown, the eight-year-old child of the Browns, rushes down to the kitchen and into his breakfast.

Justin, forty-eight chews before you swallow please.

Yes, Po-poh...I will. Unlike his Dad, Justin with the insistence of his mom keeps his family name. I need him associated with China.

Don't we all, sarcasm was never Leonard's forte. It usually starts a firestorm of arguments from Sylvia.

Justin, like many others of his IS (Intelligence Spectrum), is in the midst of the ability-match period. Justin had been identified as having some Autistic ability. In Twenty-Second Century Earth, people with Autism are generally regarded as humans with special abilities that can and should be nurtured to reach full potential. Today is a special day for Justin, as somehow he knows the outcome.

It's all good, Po-poh.

Mom!! Drone pick-up's here, better tell them Dad's coming along.

The Browns rushed out of their home to the waiting Transport drone, which was on its scheduled charter. The cab was designed for two passengers as the booking or charter specified two persons for transport to the East Lansing Education Hub. The cab itself was designed to alter its configuration as it sees fit, another innovation from the wonders of integrated AI into public transportation.  However, due to the unplanned inclusion of Mister Brown, the Cab was unable to change its configuration in time to accommodate the additional passenger.

Dad, you’re squeezing me.

Leonard, could you move over and give us a bit of space, thank you. Leonard sighs and moves as much as he could to allow the other members of his family in.

Please buckle up, we are in ascent. We should be airborne shortly. The transport drone took the passengers above the gridlocked airspace as the occupants were barely able to comfortably adjust their seats.

We will be stopping at your station momentarily Mr. Brown.

Safety first Dad... The drone descended in a spiral fashion and in no time, latched on to an available landing slot.

Thank you for your company, Mister Brown, we hope to see you again.

Don’t forget about dinner, they are leaving for Canton tomorrow. Sylvia nodded and waved him goodbye.

East Lansing

The Cab effortlessly rose and continued its journey to East Lansing. The gleaming silver dome-like structures of the education hub majestically came into view. The view overhead from the Cab was breathtaking as the sprawling hub looked like multiple large mushroom-shaped domes connected and continued into the horizon. The cab made its landing approach autonomously as it descended into the many student drop-off pads.

Good morning Justin, Mrs. Brown. I hope the trip was pleasant for you, I heard traffic gridlock was horrendous this morning. We were concerned it would affect your arrival time. Thankfully you’re here and with ample time to spare.

Nervous energy would best describe Fatimah Suttirat, the assigned Learning Observer mentor from UNESCO[2]. This was one of her first assignments, after the year-long aptitude/character apprenticeship. The Education Guild favored the best. There are no exceptions as far as education and learning are concerned. More so today, perfection from its best will ensure the multiple sites at other education hubs globally will be coordinated to ensure the practice assessments will be undertaken smoothly. Sylvia had been preparing Justin for the practice session since he was a toddler. Focus, aptitude, and character strengthening were always incorporated into Justin’s daily routine. As an analyst herself, Sylvia understood the need for these continual assessments, she knew doing the assessments well will ensure Justin’s future and growth path will be well planned.

I know he’ll be alright, it’s these character and logical mapping spikes I have been detecting, I hope they’ll be able to help.

The three of them continued their walk down the long corridor, with a holo-ceiling amplifying the outside and created natural lighting within the corridors. The steel-like wall seemed to breathe as organo-membranes on the walls are meant to ensure a breathable indoor environment that made the walk pleasant. They arrived at the opening of one of the many domes linked by these corridors and are the focal point of most of the activities within the hub. As they stepped into the dome, the entire ceiling exploded and disappeared. They were outdoors but indoors, the entire space was awash with soft natural lighting. Justin, Sylvia, and Fatima felt breathless as the grandeur of the dome affected their senses.

I cannot get enough of this feeling, gushed Fatima,

Wonderful and alive, Sylvia and Justin nodded and smiled in agreement.

I think we have been assigned to Field D, Level Eight. I think this elevator will take us up.

The ride was smooth and the elevator made note of its occupant to ensure the correct speed and environmental sensors will be replicated on the way back after their short stay.

I hope the ride was pleasant for you. Have a good day Justin. Justin giggled as he tugged his mother’s sleeves. They continued their short walk into an enclosure like an open field with bright natural lighting. A smooth breeze welcomed them, it was an open field with sights and smells thrown in. In the distance, a lone figure can be seen sitting in a plush and comfortable-looking chair. He gets up and waves to the three of them to make their way to him. He waves to show where they should settle when they reached him. Curious enough, it was a blanket laid on the field and looked like the centuries-old practice of eating out in a ‘picnic’. The three of them made their way to the blanket and made themselves comfortable.

I am Sze, but you can call me Bob, he paused reached for his command pad, and continued,

shall we begin?

Evaluation

Please make yourselves comfortable. This won't take long. Help yourselves with the food and refreshments. Now then Sylvia, we have your output processed. Are you ready for your evaluation?

The Senior Evaluator Bob Sze was always known to be pleasant. He was one of the better evaluators who used his friendly manner to probe his ‘Evaluees’ without much discomfort. Sylvia was surprised she was the focus of attention instead of Justin. She took a while to compose herself.

Evaluation? I thought this session was for Justin. Bob Sze drew a long slow breath; he was reminded by his professors to contain his emotional response in the presence of his ‘Evaluees’. Unfortunately for Bob Sze, today had been a long day due to the numerous occasions where he had to respond to similar questions. Today it was five. He smiled and in a reassuring voice, he used chosen words designed to allay Evaluees’ anxiety, in this case, Sylvia's.

Of course it is, the session is meant for Justin, but to fully optimize the analysis, all environmental input must be reviewed, in this instance it would be you. Your wellbeing is fundamentally a prerequisite to a balanced outcome for Justin. Hence, my question. He began to smile. He had used this approach before, the third today,

Yes, it’s not about you, but it is. Bob Sze the perfect evaluator, never a step out of place anticipates the outcome even before the answers are given. Unfortunately for Mister Sze, today will not be what he anticipates.

Uncle, it’s not about me. It’s Mama, isn't it? I heard your soft voice. Bob's heart skipped a beat. He turned to face Justin, who was busy munching away at his food from the picnic basket.

Why do you lie, Uncle? he continued.

Shush... Justin, let Mister Sze continue. Bob Sze is dumbfounded,

Soft voice? he hears me, so the detection is correct. Bob tunes into his focussed mental state, which is a defensive discipline to defray queries into the subconscious. In his protective bubble, Bob can express his surprise at the raw ability which Justin had in abundance.

He can be trained, Sylvia on the other hand.

The momentary lapse of communication from Bob the Evaluer was a millisecond, but internally within his bubble, time was sufficient for him to arrive at a decision point on how the session should continue.

Very good Justin, you caught me using a ‘ruse’. He is anticipating and progressing well. I take it you provided him with ample opportunities to extend himself? His attention was once again focussed on Sylvia.

Extend? I suppose so, I do apologize for his outburst, he has this tendency to blurt out at the most inappropriate time. I have told him about it many times, but as you can see it isn't easy. He has these ‘peaks’ which occur sporadically. I am unable to accommodate. Sylvia is disconsolate, there was a sense of defeat from her. Bob Sze had seen this before, but not from someone as young as Justin. Before he could offer his response,

It's raining!! Mama!! Justin was delirious, he had not seen nor felt rain before. This was a new experience for him.

Right on time. Let see how Sylvia reacts, a bemused Bob Sze had sought the agreement from Climate and Admin Control to introduce a Light Drizzle for this session.

Sylvia looked up and her eyes began to roll up and into her head and only the whites of her eyes could be seen. Her body lost its taut posture and immediately crumpled on the picnic mat like a lifeless sack and became unconscious.

Mama!! Mama!!

Sylvia

Vital signs, stable. Elevated BP and pupils are dilated. She is in shock. Code Blue, get the tray in!! everybody clear!!

Stop!!! everybody stop. Thank you, Doctor, we’ll take over now. You and your trauma team can leave. Excellent work I might add.

What? She’s going into cardiac arrest, we need to ...

Yes, you do. She is in excellent hands Doctor, don’t worry, the chatter between the well-dressed gentlemen and the trauma specialist is replaced with silence as another team who are far from looking like medical personnel were carrying monitoring equipment