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Saturday, December 22, 2018

#WeWriWa - MISSION TO NEW EARTH: Friendly Rivalry

Each weekend the Weekend Writing Warriors share an 8 - 10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other authors. You can find them here.

I'm sharing snippets from my science fiction romance, Mission to New Earth. Three teams are about to launch from Titan (Saturn's moon) beyond our solar system on Christmas Day. The mission: to colonize 3 new planets. The narrator, Sara Grenard, is one team's leader. 

Please excuse the creative punctuation, necessary to keep this within the guidelines. It's also edited some from the original.

         On the evening before our last Christmas in civilization, we celebrated with the other teams, a party that combined Earth’s December celebrations with decorations from Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Mawlid an-Nabī, Dhanu Sankranti, Bodhi Day, even Omisoka because none of us would be here for New Year’s Eve, and the secular symbols made sure those who didn’t follow a religion weren’t left out.
I watched my team, as well as the other two, eighteen of us who were to embark on an epic journey—the laughter was a little too loud, the gaiety forced, not aided by alcohol that we couldn’t have—we mingled, chatted about irrelevant topics, but none of us broached the crises on Earth, or our responsibility to save the people.
Yuri and Kaito cornered me near a viewport.
“What do you think, Sara-san?” Kaito’s black eyes twinkled, “Does your team have the Right Stuff?”
I chuckled, “You bet—and yours?”
“But of course.”
Yuri’s belly laugh made me smile, “Neither of you have as great a team as I. We will reach our new home first, even if Sara has a head start.”
“Whoa, my planet is farthest away.”
“Yours is closest, Yuri,” Kaito said, “It is only fair you go last.”
“That means we will get there first,” Yuri smirked.





Earth’s overpopulation and dwindling resources force the United Earth Space Agency to expedite exploration of new planets for a possible new home. When new crises ensue—a giant tsunami and the threat of nuclear winter—the timeline changes. Eight years of training crammed into four. Sara Grenard and her team prepare for launch, but are they ready for the one-way trip? Will the Goldilocks planet prove just right for Earth’s inhabitants? Before time runs out.

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Wishing you all a very happy Christmas and holiday season.





20 comments:

  1. Excellent snippet, love the way you describe how hard they're all trying to observe the (various) holiday spirits but with launch coming so soon, it's hard to do...

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    1. Thanks, Veronica. They have to be scared and excited.

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  2. A farewell party before a dangerous journey. It's often good to begin the story in a happy setting - the calm before the storm.
    Happy Christmas!

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  3. Good banter between the teams. Hope the friendly rivalry doesn't get out of hand!

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    1. Thanks, Ian. The teams have been together for at least four years, so they tease each other.

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  4. Fun snippet, and yet a scary adventure. I've been watching the 50 year anniversary stories of the Apollo mission to the moon and thinking how dangerous that was...and yet a great adventure. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

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    1. Thanks so much, Lucy. Merry Christmas to you & yours, too. It's hard to believe it's been 50 yrs. Those first astronauts sure were brave.

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  5. The celebration revelry before battle - this one for humankind. There'll be plenty of time for sober thoughts when stuff gets real.

    Happy Holidays to you and your extended brood, Di!!

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    1. I never thought of it being a battle, but you are so right. Thanks for the good wishes. Hard to believe it's gotten so big. I love it!

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  6. Yes, nice they get a chance to celebrate even though the fate of the world relies on the success of their missions. Great snippet!

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    1. Isn't that a scary thought--that the fate of humankind rests on their shoulders. Happy Christmas, Jess.

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  7. Hope it's a happy Christmas for them - I expect the next bit is going to be difficult.
    Tweeted.

    P.S. Happy Christmas - love the little tree.

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  8. Good banter that shows their friendly rivalry. As for getting there 'first' . . . that word might almost be meaningless given time lags and relativity.

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    1. LOL, Ed. You're right about who gets there first, since they're heading for 3 different planets. Happy Christmas, Ed.

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  9. An ominous feeling all around their camaraderie. I hope their missions succeed!

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    1. That's a good word, ominous. They're celebrating yet leaving the next day. Scary.

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  10. It would be scary to leave Earth forever. No wonder they're a bit subdued and apprehensive. Happy Holidays!

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    1. Thanks, Elaine. I'd be scared, too, if it were me going on that one-way flight. Have a great holiday celebration.

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