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  • Subject: Yet Another Novel Being Made by a Floodian...
Subject: Yet Another Novel Being Made by a Floodian...

I'm sure you've seen this all before on here when someone tries to write a novel and shows y'all an idea of what they're writing and stuffs. Well, I've been working on this whole shebang for over a year and what I've got here is finished a rough description of the lore. Now I'd appreciate it if anyone can read it and offer me some criticism and note if you do or don't find it interesting. Thanks!

Prologue:

It had been almost sixty years since man first set foot on the moon, yet no mission in space had ever surpassed the Apollo program's achievement. Astronomists procured the idea of colonizing space for decades, but it never came about. The technology was there, but the money and demand were far from present. However, on December 10th, 2028, the controversial Frontier Act was ruled as constitutional by American Supreme Court justices.

As intended, the Frontier Act gave the private sector the incentive to expand into space by awarding tax breaks and grants to companies who progressed in space-related developments, as well as a lack of governmental regulation to sweeten the deal. But this alone was not enough. False reports released by unknown sources describing large quantities of valuable metals on objects beyond the Asteroid Belt became rather enticing for corporations around the globe. Needless to say, the pitch worked. Half-Gold Rush, half-Space Race, a handful of small-time American ventures grew into a trillion-dollar global industry overnight.

By 2040, the corporate-sponsored NASA mission of putting a man on Mars resulted in success. But in order to colonize planets, it was realized that a massive, fast, maneuverable, and reusable craft would be needed as a workhorse. United Space Alliance was the first to design such a craft which was powered by a fission reactor and propelled by strong electric thrusters with features such as vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), a cargo bay, and artificial gravity. The craft was known as "Nova" and first employed by Nasa on July 20th, 2049 to colonize the moon in commemoration the 80th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission.

The private sector immediately began to design similar craft in the wake of Nova's apparent usefulness, but saw the need of bigger dimensions, more powerful propulsion, lighter materials, streamlined production cost, fusion reactors, and reliable long-term oxygen supply in order to tackle greater feats. Technology companies scrambled to develop equipment for mapping the solar system, useful in state-of-the-art automated guidance systems that would later be used on spacecraft.

Only four years after Nova's debut, the first in-space mining operation began in the Asteroid Belt. The Japanese company, Kyoto Metals Inc., extracted several hundred tons of platinum as well as countless amounts of other valuable metals from 162385 using a transport craft not unlike the Nova. One month later, a joint-venture of dozens of American and European corporations began construction on an orbital platform above Mars and a colony on the surface in an attempt to mine and terraform the planet. The first military craft in space were launched by America and China soon after.

By 2060, the Solar System was teeming with human activity. Installations were being built and planned as far out as Saturn's moons. Earth's economy was booming and it seemed like a new Golden Age, but none of this was without disadvantage.

Corporations gained control of Western governments. The space industry seeked willing and expendable workers for dirty work, qualities popularly thought to exist in the poor. Workers suffered from mistreatment, unsafe working conditions, improper medical treatment for illnesses, as well as being months or even years without ever seeing Earth. Unions would urge the submissive employees to strike, corporations fired back with actions to replace workers or even hold them in captivity without pay. In 2065 alone, 790 workers were reported to have perished, many were victims of homicide. The dead were usually either dumped from airlocks or incinerated. Despite the negative public opinion on these realities, hardly any action was taken against any corporations involved as fiscal security and materialism continued to grow as top priorities for most.

Lesser known to the populace was the turmoil of extraterrestrial property disputes which grew into small wars between countries or private groups. These conflicts triggered the popularity of ship-based weapons such as pulse lasers, railguns, and "stealth" missiles carrying nuclear warheads in direct violation of the Outer Space Treaty of 1967. However, most battles were fought by boarding parties equipped with firearms. Soon, militaries began employing ships created solely for combat, armed with enough power to destroy or disable another ship in a matter of seconds. The ever-growing presence of militaries in the solar system brought about a stalemate in the mid-2070s.

New doctrine for spacecraft also emerged in the 2070s with the idea to replace obsolete multiple use designs with single purpose ones. Ship guidance systems became more advanced to further eliminate dependence on humans for precise travel. Helicopter-esque "hoppers", human transport shuttles, and enormous cargo ships soon became popular as cheap and efficient vehicles. The first emergency evacuation vehicles (EEVs), or escape pods, were equipped on any newer ship that was large enough to accommodate them.

However, the single largest mistake in human history was made on January 27th, 2076, when the United Nations agreed to create a military fleet with the original order to stop improper treatment of workers and prevent armed conflicts in space. As the largest military entity in space by 2089, the United Nations Expeditionary Peacekeeping Fleet (UNEPF) eventually fell away from its intended duty and into a police force as the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space saw a need for law and regulation. The unwritten "finder's keepers" rule of colonization and mining was scrapped in place of the requirement of UNEPF's approval for nearly any private venture.

UNEPF's campaign of regulation became out-of-hand while broken promises of order and liberty were forfeit in lieu of total control of space. When United Nations officials figured out in 2092 that UNEPF was profitable, they heavily taxed anyone utilizing or traveling through UN-occupied areas of space. Civilians in space were living in constant fear of corrupt elements of UNEPF who would perform shake-downs and raids anywhere possible. Firearms were subsequently banned in UN space when fatally used against UNEPF forces in a rebellion on a station orbiting Mars.

The United Nations soon shifted their focus on China's rapid military expansion. As an excuse to ban the presence of any Chinese government or private operation in space that would threaten its position, the UN pinned it on the country's supposed lack of human rights and environmental conscientiousness that were deemed "unhealthy for the preservation of liberty and freedom in a safe and orderly solar system". China was officially excluded from UN space on April 7th, 2101 and all craft were grounded.

It was thought that China was so economically dependent on Western countries that it could not retaliate to such actions with military force. The popular belief was proven wrong on July 22nd when Chinese commandos infiltrated the UN headquarters in New York City, killing 11 and wounding 36. NATO declared war on China the next day and deployed their navies to the South China Sea where they would reside until July 27th, when it happened.

Nobody knows what exactly caused the following incident, or who was to blame, but a nuclear exchange between UN-aligned countries and China began on an otherwise calm California afternoon. Bombs began dropping all over the world, but many thousands of us "vagabonds" managed to escape the destruction by boarding spacecraft and leaving Earth only to find anarchy and despair.

My name is Adam Cardan. I was the engineer of a skeleton crew aboard the freighter Alexa Maersk when disaster struck. This is the story of our struggle and of our legacy in the darkest and final hour of humanity following the destruction of Earth.

  • 12.24.2012 3:30 AM PDT
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Posted by: Qbix89
Talking about Sweden is an ultrabannable offense.

Posted by: Achronos
Too bad being completely and utterly wrong isn't a bannable offense.

I want to read this book. Now.

  • 12.24.2012 3:52 AM PDT

"Moooooooo"
-Ghost cow

10/10

  • 12.24.2012 3:57 AM PDT
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Posted by: Garshne
I want to read this book. Now.


This.

I'm writing something vaguely similar, where a nuclear exchange between the Confederate States of American (allied with Russia and the UK) and the EU provides the impetus for mankind to abandon the Earth, as does a mutated smallpox virus that wipes out most of Asia and the Middle East. Eventually, the descendants of several nations colonize around two dozen star systems. It's set in the 2150s, and is focused on being hard sci-fi, with a post-apocalyptic setting.

Tagline: The world ended a hundred thirty years ago. It just hasn't realized it yet.

  • 12.25.2012 8:08 AM PDT

Make Book. Nao.

  • 12.25.2012 8:21 AM PDT

Posted by: ElementalRunner

Posted by: Commander Stroll
Still using a pump-action shotgun over 500 years in the future I see.

omg not realistic stop game production plz


Posted by: RedneckHamster

Posted by: Garshne
I want to read this book. Now.


This.

I'm writing something vaguely similar, where a nuclear exchange between the Confederate States of American (allied with Russia and the UK) and the EU provides the impetus for mankind to abandon the Earth, as does a mutated smallpox virus that wipes out most of Asia and the Middle East. Eventually, the descendants of several nations colonize around two dozen star systems. It's set in the 2150s, and is focused on being hard sci-fi, with a post-apocalyptic setting.

Tagline: The world ended a hundred thirty years ago. It just hasn't realized it yet.

I wouldn't make that the tagline, sounds better as a final line from your focal character at the end of a prologue chapter.

  • 12.25.2012 8:33 AM PDT

GAAAAYYY

Hey your from the air-soft forums.

  • 12.25.2012 8:40 AM PDT

You fool, now I'm Going to steal your Idea! MWUHAHAHAHAHAH!

  • 12.25.2012 9:07 AM PDT
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Posted by: Qbix89
Talking about Sweden is an ultrabannable offense.

Posted by: Achronos
Too bad being completely and utterly wrong isn't a bannable offense.

Posted by: elsnben
You fool, now I'm Going to steal your Idea! MWUHAHAHAHAHAH!
You fool, it's not a story, it's a setting! Derpderpderpderpderp!

  • 12.25.2012 9:30 AM PDT
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Why So Serious?

"I'm gonna go America all over everybody's asses!"
-Charlie, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Yeah, I was about to say...that's solid writing and all, but posting your content on a public forum where anyone can steal your idea is really not smart. You should play this close to the chest. Only show people you trust.

  • 12.25.2012 9:31 AM PDT

"Halo! Its divine wind will rush through the stars, propelling all who are worthy along the path to salvation."

It is not wise to post thy writings in this place, mortal.

[Edited on 12.25.2012 9:33 AM PST]

  • 12.25.2012 9:32 AM PDT
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You're a genius for posting something on the Flood where anyone can just steal it.

  • 12.25.2012 9:36 AM PDT


Posted by: Garshne
I want to read this book. Now.

  • 12.25.2012 9:48 AM PDT

I am Brosidon, King of the Brocean

I am still awaiting petitminou's zombie novel.

  • 12.25.2012 9:51 AM PDT

This is really good. Please direct me to other pieces of your writings so I may also read them.

  • 12.25.2012 9:53 AM PDT


Posted by: Garshne
Posted by: elsnben
You fool, now I'm Going to steal your Idea! MWUHAHAHAHAHAH!
You fool, it's not a story, it's a setting! Derpderpderpderpderp!

You fool, a setting can still be stolen!

  • 12.25.2012 10:32 AM PDT

Nahman Jayden, Eff bee eye. I herd that you're the origammy killah...

10/10 will buy

  • 12.25.2012 10:41 AM PDT

Nahman Jayden, Eff bee eye. I herd that you're the origammy killah...


Posted by: Divine Silence
Funny how when I wrote my romance fantasy novel, I was called a troll.
You were, Rose? What was it about?

  • 12.25.2012 10:46 AM PDT

Nahman Jayden, Eff bee eye. I herd that you're the origammy killah...


Posted by: Divine Silence

Posted by: VitalHalofreak

Posted by: Divine Silence
Funny how when I wrote my romance fantasy novel, I was called a troll.
You were, Rose? What was it about?

Demon who has orders to kill some chick but falls in love with her, and then angels interfere and there's an angel who actually wants both of them dead. Like an oxymoron of affiliation.
Hmm. Sounds interesting, imo.

  • 12.25.2012 10:49 AM PDT

Great minds discuss ideas

Average minds discuss events

Small minds discuss people

Seems like you really took the time to flesh out the universe so far, and it's pretty good. Keep it up!

  • 12.25.2012 10:50 AM PDT

so you want a source?


try this

true story


Posted by: VitalHalofreak

Posted by: Divine Silence

Posted by: VitalHalofreak

Posted by: Divine Silence
Funny how when I wrote my romance fantasy novel, I was called a troll.
You were, Rose? What was it about?

Demon who has orders to kill some chick but falls in love with her, and then angels interfere and there's an angel who actually wants both of them dead. Like an oxymoron of affiliation.
Hmm. Sounds interesting, imo.
nope. sounds like Prophecy 1 and 2.

OP's also sounds vaguely familiar.

  • 12.25.2012 11:04 AM PDT
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Pretty neat hook at the end. The whole time I was thinking "Cool story, but where's the story?", but that little last bit really pulled me in.

Also, I find the lack of Tl;Dr ITT pleasantly surprising.

[Edited on 12.25.2012 11:15 AM PST]

  • 12.25.2012 11:12 AM PDT