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Back The Long Sunset Save as PDF
Chapters (51)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Acknowledgments
  4. Prologue
  5. 1.
  6. 2.
  7. 3.
  8. 4.
  9. 5.
  10. 6.
  11. 7.
  12. 8.
  13. 9.
  14. 10.
  15. 11.
  16. 12.
  17. 13.
  18. 14.
  19. 15.
  20. 16.
  21. 17.
  22. 18.
  23. 19.
  24. 20.
  25. 21.
  26. 22.
  27. 23.
  28. 24.
  29. 25.
  30. 26.
  31. 27.
  32. 28.
  33. 29.
  34. 30.
  35. 31.
  36. 32.
  37. 33.
  38. 34.
  39. 35.
  40. 36.
  41. 37.
  42. 38.
  43. 39.
  44. 40.
  45. 41.
  46. 42.
  47. 43.
  48. 44.
  49. Epilogue
  50. About the Author
  51. Copyright

ASTRONOMERS MAY HAVE FOUND THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE

Same Star Cluster Believed Sighted on Both

Sides of Sky

SCIENTIFIC GROUP DEMANDS CANCELLATION OF CALLIOPE MISSION

Unterkoefler Says Operation Invites Disaster

“Even if They Come Home Safely, We Are Setting a Precedent. Eventually, This Type of Operation Will Wake a Sleeping Dragon and Get Us All Killed.”

WSA COMMISSIONS LOCARNO UNITS FOR

THREE INTERSTELLARS

Eiferman Only Vehicle Currently Available That Can Reach Calliope

Move Intensifies Debate over Deep-Space Exploration

6.

The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.

—Thomas Jefferson, Letters, 1790

The Truman Building is located in Foggy Bottom, just north of the National Academy of Sciences in DC. For more than a century it had housed the State Department. Now, of course, it provides accommodations for the NAU branch of the World Space Authority. Hutch found an escort waiting. She was taken to the second floor and shown into an office, where a staff member asked her to be seated, and informed her that the director would be with her shortly. He arrived a few minutes later, accompanied by Derek.

The World Space Authority, during that difficult period, was being run by Zhang Chao. Zhang had a long background in government. He’d started as a prosecutor in the Chinese Department of Justice, served in President Kai’s administration as secretary of commercial affairs, and had been an advisor during Li Guying’s successful presidential campaign in 2251. Zhang gave her a brief smile and led the way into his office. He took his place behind the desk and waited while they seated themselves in two armchairs. The walls were covered with photos of interstellars, planetary rings, starship crews, and political leaders around the world. One depicted Emma Proctor and Zhang sharing a lectern in a crowded hall.

He was small, gray, with a receding hairline. Hutch’s first impression was that he could easily have been lost in a crowd, except that he was capable of projecting not only a substantial level of authority but also a sense that, whatever the issue might be, he had the correct perspective. “Priscilla,” he said, “I’m pleased to meet you.” His accent had a slightly British flavor. “I assume you know Derek.”

“Yes, Director Zhang, I do.”

“Excellent. Then let’s get to business.”

Derek delivered a slightly uncomfortable smile but said nothing.

Zhang glanced toward one of the two windows, momentarily distracted as something fluttered past. “I’ve been intrigued by your career, Priscilla. To be honest, I’ve wanted to meet you ever since I heard about your connection to the omega clouds. You’ve performed at a remarkable level. I could not have been happier when Derek informed me that you would be serving as the pilot for the Calliope mission.”

“Thank you, sir.”