Publisher's Synopsis
Extinction Rebellion - a recognition, whether conscious or otherwise publicly, planet Earth is on the brink of major catastrophe. The signs keep building, as relayed in OutTack, justifiably with calls mounting for action over Climate Change and Wildlife Conservation. Except, is that all we're up against? Is there time? And is Planet B an option after all? ~~~ An international team of researchers is assigned to live and work in the newly built Near Earth Territories, comprising a squadron of Giga-vessels (2.6 BCM) anchored in orbit. The spaces within, bathed in real sunlight, exemplify the best of nature with rural areas equivalent in every respect to the greenest counties on Earth. Least qualified among the scientists is Sashia, a paraplegic who surprisingly becomes a rock on which they all depend. Doctors Mei Sai Ling and Steven Nord form the scientific team's backbone, headed by Professor Mark Madison and assisted by FayWell, the enigmatic Artificial Intelligence to the squadron. They research natural disasters that began to grow at the turn of the millennium, with studying events in the Cretaceous Mass Extinction for any similarities there. New discoveries (posited by the author) reveal how Climate change was just the beginning in the demise of dinosaurs. Meanwhile news coverage becomes increasingly grim as refugees fleeing disasters swell mass migrations. Civil strife grips the globe; new styled warlords escalate a battle with United Nation Security Council forces in space. The Territories squadron, escorted by the biggest and best US Navy battle-carrier, becomes a primary target. Our species has outgrown planet Earth, where populations are capped with childbirth licensing. The Territories squadron is predominantly manned by designer-babies now in young adulthood. Made to reside permanently in space, they are the beginning of a new branch in the human species - extraterrestrial. It's not too late? Time to let nature revive and evolve on its own, on Earth?
