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Michael Bershay
Michael is a life-long Portland, OR resident who delivers mail for the day job. He is also a long-time member of the Humanists of Greater Portland. His science fiction works are heavily informed by humanist philosophy as well as enthusiasm (if not expertise) in science and history.
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The people of planet Baas--an 8-limbed, all-female species--send a converted moon called the Mothership on a mission to terraform a distant planet for future colonization. Led by the feisty Senior High Councilor Cossaki, the Mothership crew leave during an era of world peace. But while they perform their groundbreaking work 150 years into the future, they learn from an accidentally-received signal from home that ancient conflicts between the two super powers, Guartaine and Gowtan, have resurfaced. Returning after another 150 years, they find Baas embroiled in a long-stalemated global war that extends throughout its solar system--and the Mothership is being sought by both sides as a decisive weapon!
Cossaki refuses to surrender the Mothership. But this leaves her crew without much-needed new supplies to continue the terraformation. Their only hope is to flee to a recently-discovered blue planet further out from New Baas that Toochla, their new head biologist, suggests may harbor the complex life their mission needs.
TERRAFORMING
NEW BAAS PREQUEL TO THE SLOW TIME TRILOGY |
Traumatized by the global war that killed their home planet, the surviving people of Baas--an 8-limbed, all-female species--adopt a prehistoric girl (Clover) while on Earth collecting plants for their new planet. Traveling in a dimension they call "Slow Time", the Baasians return to Earth every few centuries, adopting other outcast humans. But a major increase in human technology disrupts their latest visit and they struggle to stay hidden.
Stranded in Forest Park, Portland, OR, the desperate landing party must rely on their latest adoptee, homeless former science teacher Charlie Schwitters, to help them stay hidden and understand modern human society. As a staunch defender of evolutionary theory, Charlie is overjoyed to meet Clover--who quickly falls in love with him!
But the mission is undermined after the landing party's leader, Toochla, uses her plasma weapon on two punks who attacked Charlie. The punks' unusual wounds attract the attention of Homeland Security, and the agents who are sent to investigate have more than just national security on their agenda!
THE BAASIAN RESCUES
SLOW TIME - BOOK ONE |
After the chaotic events surrounding their latest visit to Earth (detailed in Book One, "Alien Adoptions"), the last survivors from the planet Baas demand justice. One of their scientists and three of their adopted humans had been kidnapped and mistreated, and the Baasians demand those responsible to be held publicly accountable. In front of two worlds, hired thug Ed Harper, Teller Munitions CEO Ronald Gold and the fanatical and powerful Rev. Allen Graves find themselves being questioned by their intended victims: Baasian biologist Drasher, homeless science teacher Charlie Schwitters, Yeshua (the historical Jesus) and, through her drawings, prehistoric woman Clover. At stake: future interplanetary trade and diplomacy. All depends on how the US government deals with the three suspects after the Inquiries are finished.
While all peoples of both Earth and the Baasian Mothership await the Inquiries, new and unexpected friendships form within the Reconnaissance Ship. Imam Ahmed al-Makhata and his daughter Jazari, originally accidental passengers, become friendlier with the unusual visitors. Gen. Terry Knepper, ordered by the President to evict the Baasians, instead befriends ship captain Mrovinta. Tough ancient Greek Iannis and Charlie's former college teacher, Rebecca Fineberg, fall in love. Jazari brushes Clover's hair and shares sushi with Yeshua. Charlie, Clover, Drasher and Iannis spend the night at the mountain cabin of jam band leader, Aaron Trigulia.
But extremism abhors accountability, and its political, religious and corporate adherents do whatever they can to sabotage Earth/Baasian relations. Rev. Graves manipulates his high-level cronies to wage war on the Reconnaissance Ship, several Islamic nations declare war on the Baasians, renegade US soldiers defy orders, and conservative shock jock Roger Owen claims that Drasher tried to bite him back at the Colorado Springs Airport.
The original intention of the three suspects was to interrogate Drasher about Baasian weapon technology. But they want nothing to do with an even more potent weapon that the Baasians use at their inquiries: their video technology!
Witnessing all of this conflict, Jazari at one point observes, "The fight for survival just keeps going and going. I must admit that's the main thing about evolution that worries me."
Staunch evolution defender Charlie Schwitters' reply: "Welcome to the club!"
THE BAASIAN INQUIRIES
SLOW TIME - BOOK TWO |
At first, it appears that diplomacy between humans and Baasians can finally get underway after the defeat of Rev. Graves at the Inquiries. But cancer soon defeats the Baasians' leader, Cossaki, leaving the less-trusting Fretta in charge. Drasher is also nominated to join the High Council, to her own dread.
Things get even worse when a Baasian guard is killed by a Taliban suicide bomber who charges into the Gate as Charlie Schwitters and Clover leave Spain after a short visit. Knowing that she is the target of the Taliban's hostility toward the Baasians, Taza helps the Baasians bring Farouk, the Taliban leader who sent the bomber, to justice.
The final blow to human/Baasian diplomacy occurs in the Nevada desert, where an explosion was caused by Baasian technology, caused not by the Baasians but by Teller Munitions! An outraged Captain Mrovinta hunts down Teller CEO Ronald Gold for tampering with the same type of weapon that killed her home planet, Baas.
Seeing that Earth leadership isn't changing its deceitful, destructive ways, Fretta cancels diplomatic relations. Charlie does what he can to patch things up between the two species, convincing Fretta to at least have cultural, if not political, diplomacy.
After the Baasians leave Earth indefinitely, their former human guests must face the challenges of getting re-introduced to their own planet.
THE MOTHERSHIP DEPARTS
SLOW TIME - BOOK THREE |