Sunday Snippet: Shaken Alliances (a Technorati novella)

Happy springholidays for those who celebrate. We're having a nice, quiet weekend with excellentweather for once.

Long work week butI got a lot accomplished. Should have one of my projects finished up this weekand another ready to move on to the next phase. The third is in a holdingpattern for now and we'll pick that one back up in about two weeks.

Had an okay week ofwatching television. I've also been working on the great clean out projectagain and that limited some of my viewing time.

I started out with StrangestThings. This show always entertains me with the wild and weird stuff theyfeature. The psychograph shed some light on at least one X-Filesstoryline for me.

Continued myrewatch of Battlestar Galactica with "Flesh and Bone." The reintroductionof the Leoben character is an excellent watch, even if I completely dislikethat particular model of cylon. The acting is terrific in this episode.

Caught anotherepisode of The Mandalorian. Nice to see the big bad from last season isstill a big bad. Always great to see Carl Weathers. Loved Grogu's antics inthis one. Can't wait to watch the next episode.

Watched another episodeof Only Murders in the Building. Loved seeing the fan crew again. Notsure how I feel about bringing Jan back into the story but I'm thoroughlyenjoying the new wrinkle with Oliver and Teddy. I'm looking forward to the nextepisode.

And that's prettymuch it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from ShakenAlliances, the opening book in the Technorati series.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Janna Allgood, a corporal in the Alliance, is the best atwhat she does, bringing Technorati deceivers to justice. But when she'sassigned the task of tracking down the notorious leader of the roguetechnomancers, she discovers a new calling, one that puts her life in dangerbecause it may bring down the Alliance she works for.

And a preview snippet…

The chancellor of the Alliance steppedup to the podium. "On this defining day, let it be known that the Guild ofTechnomancers will forthwith be in league with the Alliance, acting asmediators and part of the executive branch." He paused and looked out atthe crowd below then directly toward the hololens filming his speech andsending it out among the coalition of planets. "Welcome to the golden ageof the Alliance!"

The crowd roared and the chancellormelted back into the shadows before entering his chambers. Satisfaction infusedhim and he nodded to Rennick, the junior delegate from the guild. Rennicklifted his chin and gave the chancellor a long, level look before turning to exitfor his journey back to wherever technomancers gathered.

And so it went. A very powerful,but peaceful group signed on the dotted line and sold themselves out. Thetechnomancers let the Alliance dictate how they'd use their talents, let thegalactic force put restrictions on their abilities. The thought behind it waspure. If they could provide assistance and help forge peace where there noneexisted, how could that be bad?

After all, the chief tenet of theguild, learned as soon as the ability manifested, hadn't changed in eons. Bringharm to none.

But the concept of brokering peace alteredover the years to protecting the Alliance and making things run smoothly for thegalactic entity at all costs.

The guild's goodwill became atravesty and had to be stopped. A rift formed and an underground movement startedwith the formation of the Technorati. The Alliance made moves to halt theprogress, tightened up their hold on the guild and forbade them from practicingoutside the influence of their keepers.

Some fell in and towed the line.But a few others walked away and chose their own path. They refused to be heldto someone else's standard. They went out and honed their craft, experimented,tested boundaries, and completely broke free.

The small group of Technorati becamethe hunted. Tracked down at any cost and offered a choice. Come back into thefold or suffer the consequences. Most chose to stay as they were. Some dodgedthe bullet by escaping or going deeper into hiding. Those on the inside thatwanted to be free got assistance from the rogue group. They were smuggled out andprovided for until they got on their feet.

More and more of the technomancers startedto escape and the Alliance formed a new division. One created to put a stop to theexodus.

Being hunted by their own peoplemade breaking the bonds of servitude more difficult...

But not impossible.

I'm excited by the waythis story is coming together. I think I figured out how I want to leave thingsbefore I start book two.

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye