Extinction Event: Genesis

Forward

Throughout time, humankind has always looked to the sky and wondered what lay among the stars. As of 17 Jun 18, 561 people have traveled the skies and entered into the great beyond to see the spaces between the stars. To see what this select few have seen with the naked eye. They have journeyed to expand our knowledge of science, life and ourselves.

NASA Astronaut Group 3

Theodore Freeman

Gemini 9

Elliot See

Charles Bassett

Apollo 1

Virgil "Gus" Grissom

Ed White

Roger B Chaffee

Apollo

Clifton C. Williams

Manned Orbiting Laboratory

Robert Henry Lawrence Jr.

VSS Enterprise PF04

Challenger (OV-99) Crew STS-51-L

Frances R. Scobee, Commander

Micheal J. Smith, Pilot

Ronald McNait, Mission Specialist

Elison Onizuka, Mission Specialist

Judith Resnik, Mission Specialist

Gregory Jarvis, Payload Specialist

Christa McAuliffe, Payload Specialist, Teacher

Columbia (OV-102) Crew STS-107

Rick Husband, Commander

Willie McCool, Pilot

Michael Anderson, Payload Commander

Kalpana Chawla, Mission Specialist

David Brown, Mission Specialist

Laurel Clark, Mission Specialist

Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon, Mission Specialist

Michael Alsbury, Test Pilot of VSS Enterprise

To the men and women of our military. You are the unseen wall that shields and protects us. You volunteer for service, knowing that deployments lay ahead and that danger awaits you. Yet you step forward and raise your hand, ready to leave your family, friends and cherished loved ones. Ready to commit yourselves to battle, no matter the cost. This work I dedicate to you all, in remembrance of those who helped to inspire it.

Casualties of Operation Anaconda, Afghanistan 1Mar02 - 18Mar02

Air Force Senior Airman Jason Cunningham

Army Cpl. Matthew Commons

Army Spc. Marc Anderson

Army Sgt. Phillip Svitak

Army Sgt. Bradley Crose

Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Neil Roberts

Air Force Tech. Sgt. John Chapman

This work of fiction is based in part on actual events, though details and names have been changed to fit the narrative of this work. This in no way diminishes the events and sacrifices that actually took place.

Chapter One

"When war does come, my advice is to draw the sword and throw away the scabbard." - General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson