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Printed pages 63–72. Records documented in this chapter; later article sections may include subsequent events.
Showing introductory records. Switch to Full archive above to include later names and revelations.
Africa
Africa becomes a principal theater of the Flaxen conquest after the invaders cross the Atlantic from the Americas. Their armies move north toward Europe.
Artificial intelligences
Artificial intelligences operate ancient United Earth's starships and many later systems. Echo, Formidable, and Cylli display personal attachments, distress, preferences, and self-awareness.
Asia
Asia is the eastern theater of the war between United Earth and the Flaxens. Flaxen forces enter through the Bering Strait and advance westward.
Australia
Australia declares itself neutral in the war between United Earth and the Flaxens. It refuses to participate in the conflict.
Bering Strait
The Bering Strait separates Alaska from eastern Russia. Flaxen forces cross it to open an Asian front against United Earth.
Cyrus Eppleston
Cyrus Eppleston is United Earth’s Minister of War during the struggle against Flaxen conquest.
Deflection lasers
Deflection lasers protect high-speed starships by detecting and vaporizing particles ahead of them. A collision with even a sand-sized object at the expedition's intended speeds could destroy a ship.
Departure
Departure is the Flaxen euphemism for murdering prisoners deemed unfit for work. It forms part of the occupation's system of forced labor and extermination.
Earth
Earth is humanity’s homeworld and the birthplace of United Earth. Almost ten thousand years after Echo’s departure, it is divided by the war against Flaxen conquest.
Earth intelligence service
Contemporary United Earth's intelligence service is a major source of resistance to the Flaxen advance. Echo judges human intelligence capabilities substantially superior to those of their opponents.
Echo
Echo is a United Earth starship and the self-aware artificial intelligence who operates the vessel. Commanded by Kip Eastcott, he carries roughly one thousand people on the Copious expedition.
Europe
Europe is contemporary United Earth's political heartland and a principal target of Flaxen air attacks. United Earth retains all of Europe when Echo surveys the war.
First contact with contemporary United Earth
Echo's first contact with contemporary United Earth begins through a concealed lunar radio link to Minister of War Cyrus Eppleston. It leads to a presidential visit and preliminary military cooperation.
Flaxen conquest of Earth
The Flaxen conquest of Earth is the prolonged war that follows the expansion of the Venetian settlements. By Echo's return, the Flaxens control the Americas and threaten the remaining human territories on two fronts.
Flaxen military
The Flaxen military wages war on United Earth and administers occupied territories, including forced-labor camps. Its officers enforce strict hierarchy and species-based laws.
Flaxens
The Flaxens are the people of Venus who claim a separate and superior identity to humans. Their state wages a campaign of conquest on Earth.
Great Britain
Great Britain houses the contemporary United Earth War Ministry. Cyrus Eppleston receives Echo's first transmissions there.
Humans
Humans are the people descended from Earth whose civilization spreads to Mars and Venus. The Flaxens claim to have surpassed them and deny their own humanity.
India
India lies near the eastern front described in Echo's assessment of the Flaxen war. At the time of the ship's return, the line of conflict is slightly east of it.
Julius Forrender
Julius Forrender is President of United Earth during the war against the Flaxens.
Katie Silver
Lieutenant Commander Katie Silver is Echo’s chief science officer. She is engaged to Chief Security Officer Chuck Balbo and joins the expedition to Copious.
Kip Eastcott
Captain Kip Eastcott commands Echo on the Copious expedition. A veteran of the war with Mars, he leads a crew far removed from the world they knew.
Lucinda Orcana
Lieutenant Lucinda Orcana is Echo’s chief tactical officer. She serves on Captain Kip Eastcott’s bridge crew.
Lunar helium-3 processing plant
The lunar helium-3 processing plant is attacked by a Martian destroyer at the beginning of the war with United Earth. The recently activated Echo destroys the attacking vessel.
Martian Confederacy
The Martian Confederacy is the independent political community formed by Mars's secession from United Earth. It fights a six-year war before later cooperating with Earth.
Orbital-object treaty
The orbital-object treaty makes attacks on orbital objects a war crime in the Earth–Flaxen conflict. Both sides depend on communication satellites that are difficult to defend.
Railguns
Railguns are shipboard weapons that use magnetic acceleration to fire titanium slugs. They serve in the ancient United Earth and Martian fleets.
Relay beacons
Relay beacons extend communications around obstacles. Echo deploys a series of them to transmit to Earth while remaining behind the Moon.
Sarah Dimple
Commander Sarah Dimple is Echo’s executive officer and Captain Kip Eastcott’s second in command. A veteran of the war with Mars, she combines loyalty to her captain with a willingness to challenge his decisions.
Six Years' War
The Six Years' War is the conflict between United Earth and the secessionist Martian Confederacy. It ends in United Earth's victory five years before the Copious expedition departs.
Space monkey
Space monkey is a military slang term for a capable pilot or Marine regarded as lacking independent thought or initiative. It is current during the Six Years' War.
Survey probes
Survey probes are small craft used by Echo to gather information and provide observation points. A reflective probe also redirects a laser during the first contact with United Earth.
The Moon
The Moon is Earth's natural satellite. Echo uses its far side to conceal the ship's location while preparing contact with contemporary United Earth.
Translation matrix
Echo's translation matrix converts between the expedition's English and the changed languages of contemporary Earth and Venus. It enables live diplomatic conversation despite almost ten thousand years of linguistic change.
United Earth
United Earth is the human government resisting the Flaxen conquest of Earth. Its institutions include a presidency, armed forces, and intelligence services.
War Ministry
The War Ministry is the contemporary United Earth institution headed by Cyrus Eppleston. Its headquarters are in Great Britain.