Last Generation by E. Robert Dunn
Series: Echelon’s End (book 1)
Publisher: INKpendent Publishing
Cover Artist: William Green
Length: Novel / 77,266 Words / 220 Pages
Pairings: M/M
LGBTQ+ Identities: Gay, Lesbian
Genres: Science Fiction (with a romantic subplot)
Tropes: unrequited love between a brother and his sister’s love interest that develops in wonderful, unexpected ways between the two males
Keywords/Categories: dystopha, action/adventure, space opera, same-sex romance, science fiction, sci-fi, gay, lesbian, unrequited love, MM, new release, announcement
Series: Echelon’s End
Book 1: Last Generation
Book 2: Marooned
Book 3: Persisting On The Edge
Book 4: Sidereal Quest
Book 5: Chasing Infinity
Book 6: PlanetFall
Book 7: Enter The Fury
Book 8: Perils Of The Gulf
Book 9: The Hidden Enemy
Book 10: The Furthest Shore
Book 11: Hunted
Book 12: The Road Yet Traveled
Book 13: Eclipse
Book 14: Into the Abyss
Book Blurb
The year is 6752, A.T. and Earth is but a memory to its space faring descendents. The urbane beings of The System embark on a test-colonization mission to a far off solar group called Mira. The AST [Aidennia-System Transport] Saarien’s flight path is ended abruptly and the colonizing supership explodes under a hail from Tauron Starhounds; a century of peace with the Tauron Empire is fractured. Six Aidennian survivors jettison in a terra-forming conestoga Pioneer Pod.
Now, a young male echelon couple and their fellow crewmembers must deal with a reality in which their peaceful existence is shattered by war and prejudice. The only solace appears in the form of an unknown, arid planet in a ternary star group.
Upon the Pioneer Pod Four’s descent into the planet’s atmosphere, a defense planetary shield is activated and causes the Pod 4 to crash land in an ancient, dried-up seabed. This sets the Aidennians on a jarring adventure where survival is a game of chance with the life forces of the Universe.
Warnings: There are adult (sexual) references and interaction in several of the books.
Series Blurb
Just imagine worlds in which harmony between peoples has been established. Where families are cultured and treasured. Where species from different worlds commune in peace. Imagine further these worlds having resolved all misunderstandings between sexualities, a series of planets where same-gender Echelon relationships are the majority and opposite-gender Reproductionist couplings are seen as necessary only to propagate a species. Now, imagine this civilization on the verge of extending itself into unexplored space … sending out the cream of their generation to colonize this Utopian philosophy into the Unknown.
✨ Exclusive Excerpt ✨
Dara was cut off as another controller announcement echoed throughout the towering launch apparatus.
“This is Spacecorps Launch Control,” he said. “Complete close-out preparations. Check command-apse switch configurations. Complete inertial measurement unit preflight alignments. Transition onboard computers to launch configuration. Start fuel cell thermal conditioning. Close vent valves. Transition backup flight system to launch configuration.’
“Sounds busy up there,” Aspera mused, undeterred.
Dara nodded. “Never-ending.”
“Are you alone?”
“Yes.”
“Where are the others?”
“Capel’s attending a mission commanders final briefing. The children are completing their concluding physicals with the other Pod crews, so I am just…”
“Seeking some solace before the launch.”
“You know me too well.”
Aspera hesitated, wanting to be near her sister, to soothe, to remind, to strengthen familial bonds. Another female would, perhaps, have flushed a little, she did not. Her face grew urgent. Meeting her younger sibling’s eyes, she said, steadily, “Then I best let you get to it.” She paused, more from emotion than for dramatic effect; she fought back sudden tears. Finally, she added, “Always know you are loved.”
“Always.”
There was another hesitation. A non-verbal exchange. The secret language between siblings.
“Are you more at peace with your decision?” Aspera asked.
“About the children?”
Aspera simply nodded.
“Capel and I have lived a good part of our lives,” Dara waxed. “The children are just starting out. If someone should be apart of this colonization effort, it should be Capel and me…”
“Do you remember when you were discussing your plans for the space flight? You could not decide whether you had the right to bring Moela, Retho, and Lunon along.”
“Yes. I remember.”
“Do you regret your decision?”
“You want the truth?”
“The truth.”
“Well, not knowing how long we can last out there…” Dara stifled a sob. “They deserve something more than that.”
“Having them with you …Is that what you want?”
“Yes.” Dara regained her composure, adding, “I suppose so.”
“They are degreed and qualified.”
The two siblings gazed at each other. Dara closed her eyes to show how she felt. Their bodies yearned across the void to reach each other, but they remained motionless. Aspera clenched her teeth.
“Until we meet again.”
Dara drew in her breath. Her voice was cracked with emotion as she replied, “Until then.”
Aspera sighed as she and her smile disappeared.
As Orbiter 1 spun, its arc brought it directly over the planet’s Western Continent. Aidennia’s landmasses inhabited districts divided into territories governed as administrative population units. Seen from orbit, cities resembled toy villages in paperweights. Many of them had smaller domes all around their districts that had merged to become a kind of greater cityplex, covering almost one hundred and eighty degrees of a territory, with pistes interconnecting each vaulty bubble.
One cluster of development caught the physician’s eye. It was cosmopolis built entirely within a caldera, occupying the ground floor. A collection of forested parks, penthouse skyscrapers with arcuate balconies, glass elevators to rooftops with heliports, pistes, flying freeways …the entire crater covered in a city.
Dara could not help but to take one more look at her natal soil, Ashtangi Province. Stepping over to the observation window’s control panel, she tabbed in a few key commands.
Quickly a holographic-overlay eclipsed itself across the vast, blue and shining, spinning globe of Aidennia. In the center of the repatterned picture, tucked between two gentle folds in a caldera landscape, were three massive domes covering a breathtaking panorama of city buildings; all the metropolises on Aidennia were domed. Specifics on construction and design floated as accompanying specters for review if wanted.
The domes were needed because at twenty-seven kiloretems high the air was a tenth as thick as it was at the datum – or sea level. The metropolis was vast, massed glass towers rose almost to the transparent arcing roofs. The city sat just inside an outer ring of water, spread across an oblong plain.
Tour Excerpt
CHAPTER ONE:
SYSTEM STAR CYCLE: 6752.0719 A.T.
PLANETARY DATE: 171/195
LAUNCH TIME: TEE-MINUS 02:32:30
A tranquil sphere hung in Space under a white cloud.
“I don’t know why,” Medical Commander Dara Lidasiress muttered to herself out loud, “but I have a bad feeling about all of this.”
From a vantage point some four hundred kiloretems above, Dara was watching it beyond the thick syntheglass of an observation viewport; the sight was dizzying, fascinating. The cloud shrouded planet Aidennia. It seemed to lie almost in the trajectory of the Orbiter 1: Aidennia Station. The light of a strong, middle aged sun cataloged as Pintarus 19 fell on the cloud.
“Count now stands at minus zero two nodes and thirty-two, and counting,” the station controller announced over the station PA. “All networks are green and go.”
Dara smiled nervously, distracting herself by the vista beyond and beneath her view. “Calm yourself,” she said aloud. “Feeling anxious is normal and natural. It is part of the system that evolved to keep us safe and well.” She took a deep breath. Being the only one in the observation lounge, she felt somewhat silly being self-conscious about her anxiousness. “Come on. Give it a chance.”
There was still plenty of time before she would be called. Dara shifted her attention and the room seemed to slip away, walls became gossamer and ethereal.
She was suddenly thinking of other times, and other places…
The public address net hummed again, then the controller was back with another update. “Minus zero two nodes and fifteen and counting. Technicians, complete final checkouts.”
Dara’s attention refocused as her peripheral view caught a glimpse of her reflection coming off the window. A tall, powerful slender, fine-boned figure, with high cheekbones and penetrating chocolate eyes that gave a look of great delicacy founded in extraordinary resiliency framed by a neatly cropped mane told that she was no shallow youth, but a fully mature adult.
Saying good bye had not been easy, especially to her elder sibling, Aspera. A sadness that had kept a small place in her heart now pulsed as Dara viewed Aidennia below.
“Medical Commander,” an unexpected, disembodied page intoned over the still airwaves.
“Yes?”
“There’s a planet to orbit call coming through for you.”
“Fine. I will take it here.”
The stylized blue-and-white ovals of the Spacecorps logo flashed holographically off a communication set. A dark-haired female holograph, an avatar of the real person making the summons, coalesced into view. The similarities between the two females were undeniable. Broad smiling features caused Dara’s voice to fill with emotion, her features melting into sudden recognition.
“Aspera!” Dara gasped, excitedly.
“I know your life is anything but normal right now, but I just had to say one last farewell.”
Feelings of euphoria swept repeatedly over Dara as she spoke without turning her eyes from the miniaturized figure on the holo-emitter. “I welcome any communication from you.”
“How are you doing?”
“Nervous.”
The female holograph laughed warmly, flashing a set of perfectly formed white teeth. The sound fell on ears that were eager to hear such a resonance.
“You would not be you without being that.” Aspera smiled. “You have much responsibility on your shoulders being part of the vanguard for generations of clans to come. The first settlers on a new world where unlimited food and water will be the birthright for all…”
“You’re quoting incentive simulations.”
“Well, it is true. Regardless of the stature you have been elevated to by Spacecorps,” her smile broadened more. “You will always be my little sister.”
“A title I will always be proud to have…”
Dara was cut off as another controller announcement echoed throughout the towering launch apparatus.
“This is Spacecorps Launch Control,” he said. “Complete close-out preparations. Check command-apse switch configurations. Complete inertial measurement unit preflight alignments. Transition onboard computers to launch configuration. Start fuel cell thermal conditioning. Close vent valves. Transition backup flight system to launch configuration.’
“Sounds busy up there,” Aspera mused, undeterred.
Dara nodded. “Never-ending.”
“Are you alone?”
“Yes.”
“Where are the others?”
“Capel’s attending a mission commanders final briefing. The children are completing their concluding physicals with the other Pod crews, so I am just…”
“Seeking some solace before the launch.”
“You know me too well.”
Aspera hesitated, wanting to be near her sister, to soothe, to remind, to strengthen familial bonds. Another female would, perhaps, have flushed a little, she did not. Her face grew urgent. Meeting her younger sibling’s eyes, she said, steadily, “Then I best let you get to it.” She paused, more from emotion than for dramatic effect; she fought back sudden tears. Finally, she added, “Always know you are loved.”
“Always.”
There was another hesitation. A non-verbal exchange. The secret language between siblings.
“Are you more at peace with your decision?” Aspera asked.
“About the children?”
Aspera simply nodded.
“Capel and I have lived a good part of our lives,” Dara waxed. “The children are just starting out. If someone should be apart of this colonization effort, it should be Capel and me…”
“Do you remember when you were discussing your plans for the space flight? You could not decide whether you had the right to bring Moela, Retho, and Lunon along.”
“Yes. I remember.”
“Do you regret your decision?”
“You want the truth?”
“The truth.”
“Well, not knowing how long we can last out there…” Dara stifled a sob. “They deserve something more than that.”
“Having them with you …Is that what you want?”
“Yes.” Dara regained her composure, adding, “I suppose so.”
“They are degreed and qualified.”
The two siblings gazed at each other. Dara closed her eyes to show how she felt. Their bodies yearned across the void to reach each other, but they remained motionless. Aspera clenched her teeth.
“Until we meet again.”
Dara drew in her breath. Her voice was cracked with emotion as she replied, “Until then.”
Aspera sighed as she and her smile disappeared.
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Author Bio
Born in the Midwest, raised in the Northeast, E. Robert Dunn began writing at the age of 14 and continued through his higher education in the Southeast where he currently resides. In addition to penning the science fiction series “Echelon’s End”, E. Robert has also written two off-Broadway plays, “LipSync” and “A Dragged Out Haunting”, and solo-penned the short-play entitled “VOiCES”. Additional works include, “The World We Live In”, The Life Of Another”, and “Are You Happy?”.
E. Robert was a contributing writer to the online STAR TREK: Odyssey’s Season One Finale webisode [featured in STARLOG Magazine, January 2008, “Beyond Hidden Frontiers”, p.89]. E. Robert has become a regular at SuperCon events on panels and participating in book signings/readings.
Besides being a produced playwright and published author, E. Robert has had articles printed in local newspapers as well as medical newsletters. He has also graced many a stage by his given name: Eston Dunn. He is the founder of the nonprofit organization artsUnited, Inc. A recent project is founding another non-profit online webcasting charity to educate while entertain through programs that unite those that are separated by the walls of stereotyping, prejudice, and bigotry (www.watchoutweb.org).
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