2045  Incursion. Original Earth leadership sought to reclaim the Ujima / First World territory. Extremists want control, to return to war mode in time of crisis.

2046–2049  The Lunar Ukombozi War for control of the moon.
(includes HOVA operations: Bumba, Oblata, the Yemaya Campaign, Hellwalk, Ragnarok).

2047  The Bronzeville Rebellion occurs on Mars.

2050  Muungano established. At the end of the Lunar Ukombozi War, the lunar community ceded from Original Earth’s sovereignty.

2050–2100  Uponyaji, a period known as the time of isolation and healing, wherein the Muungano people began to establish the independent culture and traditions.

2052  Oyigiyigi mining outpost established.

2087  Titan community established. Construction of Muungano starships begins.

2120  Orun Gate discovered.

2121  Present.

Epigraph

The beauty in blackness is its ability to transform. Like energy we are neither created nor destroyed, though many try.

—West African proverb

01 AMACHI ADISA
Muungano, the Belts / the Dreaming City

Your name is Leah Adisa. For now.

Choosing a name for yourself is not something to be entered into lightly. It is a promise you make to the Universe. Or it to you. A name is the story of yourself you present to the world, a label to define you. That is the entire point of the Naming Ceremony: you are finally of age to interpret yourself and enter fully into the Muungano community as a full free member.

Because this is an Adisa renaming, the entire Ijo governing body travels in from all of the Muungano alliance. An excuse for the people to, as the Ugenini would say, show out. The full sovereign territory of Muungano centers around the lunar outpost and the facility that serves as its capital, the Dreaming City. Named after an old tale the Wise Ones whispered when it was time for bed. A place full of orisha and magic and the old ways. From Bronzeville on Mars, Titan, and even the distant Oyigiyigi mining outpost, members make the voyage. It’s only a couple of weeks’ travel at sublight, but many representatives wanted to make the pilgrimage. Even the fabled research ship, the Cypher, is due to dock anytime now. With its captain. Your heart twists, nearly dropping to your belly, with the weight of the complicated feelings that accompany thoughts of her.

You distract your mind from her and the ceremony—the gathering of the families, the ritual and production—by focusing on preparing yourself. You spread your clothes out on your bed. As a spiritual cleansing, you light three candles. Fearing that three undeclared open flames might set off the fire suppression system, you snuff one out. With one of the candles, you ignite a small bowl of herbs, just enough for the leaves to smolder and fill the room with their sweet, woody odor. Adding a few chiba leaves to quell your anxiety, you close your eyes. Not quite in prayer but to simply control your breath and settle your emi—your awareness—to concentrate on understanding the language of the soul, our sabhu.