http://slow.writerscafe.org/complexmind51 The original writings of author Anthony Curtis en-us Copyright 2026 WritersCafe.org 1776076886 WritersCafe.org RSS Generator 15 Ted has a good Tuesday go bad when he runs into... DEATH http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/986563/ Tied down to a chair and paralyzed, Jade tried to relax, tried not to think about what could be coming. She was a pilot during the Liberation of Kilos. As a part of her training, she was what to do in the event that she’d been shot down over hostile territory and taken captive. There were rule.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/973993/ The Kilon Head Security Officer paced back and forth in the control center for the SPARK project. He was in charge of coordinating operations between the Kilon Expeditionary Force and on site security. It had been six months since he’d accepted the assignment, and so far it was a simple job. T.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/973992/ Alex brooded as he sat in the pilot's chair of the Bucephalus. He was still unsettled from the encounter with the Kilon Patrol Ship back at Miraxix Station. While they did escape, it was only a matter of time before the ship was discovered floating in space, and the truth of what happened reached th.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/973991/ As the shuttle made its way deeper into the cluster of ships and stations that was the SPARK project, Jade was left to ponder the ramifications of star igniting ship. John and Dr Uitleg started a lively, if not flirtatious conversation; the Kilon security team kept to themselves at the back of the s.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/963974/ Jade and John learn what, exactly, the SPARK is http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/960244/ A sensor began to blare, arousing Jade’s attention. She sighed and put down her Sudoku puzzle, but before she could stand up, John was on his feet and moving into the cockpit. She tossed aside her puzzle and quickly followed.“That would be the hyperspace alarm,” she said, moving to.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/956742/ Commander Darlon was listening to Alex drone on about shipping manifests when he felt a low rumble beneath his feet. “That is odd,” he thought, “it almost feels like a hyperdrive powering up.” Despite that thought, he was still caught by surprise when he felt the ship lurch f.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/956740/ The Kilon Patrol Ship moved in close to the supply depot. The controller acknowledged that he already relayed the message to Alex and the Bucephalus. Kwame and Michael finished the loading procedure. So far everything was happening according to standard operating procedures.Alex wasn't sure, but he .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/956737/ “This is Dock Control, Bucephalus, you are clear to begin loading cargo.”            “Roger that,” Alex said, leaning towards the com. He shut it off and flipped a switch on the control panel to open the ship’s.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/956736/ The Bucephalus pulled out of the Rock, heavy with silence. Missing John and Jade probably had much to do with that. So far as Michael could tell, those were the most social members of the crew. But beyond that, Kwame had been avoiding any conversation that wasn’t related to the task .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/956735/ Alex watched Jade pull the shuttle out of the docking bay and out into the Rock’s central cavern. For all of his admonitions to John about not bugging her their entire trip, he knew she could handle herself. Besides, Alex had bigger fish to fry.A scrapping of metal turned Alex’s attentio.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/956733/ Alex couldn’t help but admire the two-person shuttle he was fueling up. The shining chrome finish, the smooth, almost sensual lines. It was a good looking spacecraft, no doubts there. He turned around to look back at the Bucephalus, feeling slightly guilty for his admiration of this other.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/956731/ Michael was a man who was in a world that he was not of. When Brimstone Squadron landed in Byron’s garage, when Jade and Alex melted down over the development, Michael watched with cool detachment, taking in the bits of information that he could glean from the ensuing argument. When Byron deli.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/956730/ Admiral Siderénios sat at the desk in her office. Outside her window, the blackness of space was punctuated by streaking stars, but she wasn’t interested in watching the galaxy fly by. With the other lights turned low, she sat under a harsh desk lamp, poring over reports from Martian Fl.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/956729/ “Brimstone Squadron?!” Alex shouted. He looked back at the twelve ships settling into the garage. There were deep red stripes running across their wings and fuselages. Each one had a flame and sword insignia stamped on them. It was a logo that he knew too well.Jade stormed over to Byron,.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/956728/ Alex allowed himself a small glimmer of hope upon hearing what Jade just told him. “Free and clear.” That’s what Byron told her. One last job, then the Bucephalus and its crew would be an independent operation again.That glimmer of hope faded away as the reality of that p.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/956727/ Urbemavis. The capital of the Kilon Federation. Home to the Kilon Federation Legislature, the Q'ilarunidis, and Executive Council, the Cipitrumocula. More important, though, than even those bastions of democratic power, are the brokers.No broker in Urbemavis held more power than Mertomco. His apartm.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/956725/ There was an uneasy calm settling over the Rock. Kwame and John had taken the Bucephalus over to Byron’s garage to check it for damage. The docking bay was quiet. Alex didn’t like the quiet. He sat in his quarters, a small room attached to the docking bay’s office. He tri.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/956723/ Byron paced his office. The operation couldn’t have gone any worse. That was true. But it wasn’t entirely his fault. He didn’t like having all of the blame heaped on his shoulders. He collected himself and turned to face the shadowy figure on the screen.“Your intel was bad,&r.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/956722/ Alex finished his team’s final prep before the Bucephalus dropped out of hyperspace. Now it was just time to wait. The gravity mines had been set, creating a large gravity well where the Pillar of Hercules, and its mutonium shipment, was scheduled to make a navigation check. As .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/956721/ Alex sat propped against the wall of the Bucephalus’s cargo bay, his head resting on the assault rifle that stood between his legs. He closed his eyes and went over the mission in his head. He hated this part, the waiting, the anticipation.When he’d flown in the fleet, he loved prep.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/956720/ Alex was certain he hadn’t heard Byron quite right. “You mean you’re going to put this new Flyer team that Michael is a part of on the Bucephalus, right? You want my ship flying his team in.”Byron leaned back in his chair. “Well, I do want the Bucephalus .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/956718/ Among the people who called the Rock home, Byron answered to no one. While Drake considered him an equal, the truth was even she could not marshal the resources and power that Byron had at his disposal. He didn’t throw his weight around, and preferred to act discreetly, but Byron was easi.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/956716/ The crew of the freighter Montana prepared to drop the ship into real space. A ship can only travel in one direction in hyperspace, necessitating momentary drops in real space to change course. Plotting a continuous course through hyperspace would lead to smashing directly into a planet, s.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/956715/ Alex was not having a good week. So far, he’d had one business deal go bad, been shot at, been attacked by pirates while salvaging, discovered a crazy person alive in the salvage, threatened in his own docking bay, and had his ship and crew bought and sold with no input from him. Now, he had a.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/956714/ Alex was dumbfounded. He stared at the grinning man in the bed, a man who a few hours earlier looked dead. Not just dead, but dead a long time. Even a few minutes before, the guy was absolutely incoherent. Alex looked at John, who could only smile and shrug his shoulders.He was ready to ask this &ld.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/956712/ Alex quietly sipped his coffee. Jade twiddled with her hair. Together, they silently waited for John or Kwame to come give them some news. They managed to get the man in the capsule into the medical compartment. John did have some training back on Earth, and he would do what he could. For now, there.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/956707/ Kwame and Jon were already waiting at the airlock when Alex glided down the corridor. Jon was covered in coffee. There were spots all over the front of his pressure suit, and his helmet had brown smears where he had tried to wipe it away.  Kwame floated with an amused grin.“It is all of t.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/956702/ Getting to know Alex and his Pilot, Jade. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/956700/ Our first glimpse into the Galaxy shared by Humans, Kilons, and others. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/956699/ In the future, Humanity has spread to space. But Earth has been brought under the control of the Kilon Federation. Other human civilizations, including the Martian Confederacy, stand by, held back by http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/complexmind51/956695/