All organisms go through stages of life, from survival of the fittest, to wars wiping out large amount of populations. The Game of Life as I like to call it. Nevertheless, something has to maintain the peace of Earth, or in this context, warriors. My grandmother, as I grew up, told me stories of the Praepositus tribe, where she grew and prospered from.
One day, as the tale went, Ignis the warrior of fire, gave my grandmother the Adstrum stone. Just my age, were the only two warriors given the task of keeping the stone from a rogue warrior, Nequissimus. Nequissimus, the warrior of the constellations rebelled against the Praepositus. Each warrior possess' their own stones, for each element they possess. Nequissimus, wanted the eternal authority over all the stones. Grandmother never finished the tale, as she would doze off during the oral folktale recital. Although, I learned, The Game of Life never stops for you.
A young archeologist is launched on the adventure of her life when she joins a mixed crew of humans and aliens on a mission to atone for the failings of Earth.
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The Terra Prospect Mission offered humanity a chance at space travel, technological advancement, and enlightenment courtesy of its alien benefactors who made first contact thirty years ago. Daran Chree brought that mission to a fiery end when he crashed the Terra Prospect spaceship into Gate Delta Eleven. Now, it's humanity's second and final chance to prove they're ready to journey into the stars. Nineteen-year-old studying archeologist Sofeta Prenares finds herself not only drawn to the mission, but on a collision course with the fate of the galaxy.
2019 Watty Awards Winner For Sci-Fi!
Content warning: This story contains reference to self harm and intense combat scenes.