“So enjoy the day, and the company.”
Cal grinned halfheartedly. “Of course. See you tomorrow.”
The governor saw himself out and made his way back to Civic Hall. After he prepared and consumed a light dinner in the kitchen, he took the bottle of whiskey and a small glass up to his office. Tom settled into his chair and poured a stiff drink. He read through his Unification Day speech. With a disgusted sneer, he crumpled it up and threw it away, retrieving a single, blank page from his stationery drawer. He downed the first glass of whiskey, and waited as the warmth spread throughout his body and his mind loosened up.
What are we?
The question had no simple answer. While most Concordians had immigrated on the original sleepers, waves of fresh refugees had infused new life and experiences over the years. Citizens of a dozen countries on Earth found their way across the void using Dr. Benedict’s illicit sleeper ship plans. The more recent additions had lived a nightmare on Earth, but their time on Concordia, with the exception of the survivors of the Mercy incident, had been peaceful and prosperous. The opposite was true for the original colonists; they left Earth before the worst atrocities occurred, but struggled during the early years on Demeter.
But we have all survived, against all odds. That is what we are, and that is what we do. No matter what is thrown at us, we survive and then we thrive.
He poured another drink, and set to work preparing his speech. Words flowed from pen to paper, shaped by movement of phrases and concepts. His vision of what Unity and Honor meant came to life before his eyes. As the ink dried, he finished the second glass of whiskey. In the morning, his fellow citizens would hear his words, and Concordia would be set for another year of history. It would put one foot in front of the other, galvanized against tragedy and misfortune, as it had always been.
Credits and Acknowledgements
17 August 2014
The real Earth, somewhere in Washington State
Thus marks the end of my work for the Project Columbus series. It has been a heck of a ride. The thrill of new releases has been tempered bynights of fitful sleep, thinking of passages I should have written that were lost to the ephemera. The series was over two years in the making, and I feel that it is quite fitting that the Omnibus sees its publication on the two year anniversary of Flight’s original release.
Over the past two plus years, I have had some fantastic people by my side, keeping me steady as I navigated the unknown.
My wife Megan and our three boys have not only put up with me throughout this process, but kept my spirits up and took my mind off of the often frustrating process when it was needed. I cannot express my eternal gratitude and love for them in mere words. It would not be enough.
The beta readers for Project Columbus helped me mold the series into what it is today, and given me great insight into what they felt the strengths and weaknesses of the story were as I was assembling it. Thanks to all of you: Karie, Rob, Sarah, Josh, and Jeff.
Navigating the waters of publishing alone is quite the daunting task. Thankfully, I did not have to go it alone. The advice and guidance of Matthew from Oakenbrand Publishing has been instrumental in the advancement of Project Columbus. Every cover that has graced the volumes in this series has been created by Bridgette from Oakenbrand. I am incredibly grateful to have such a talented artist working on the project with me.
Finally, I thank you, the reader. Without you, I’m nothing more than a guy writing down a bunch of words. Words that could easily be forgotten. Bringing those ideas and stories to life for you is what I strive for every time I sit down with the page before me. And I look forward to telling my stories for many years to come.
I am in the process of working on a new project. A new universe is taking shape in much the same way Project Columbus came together years ago. I will remember these days as I look to the future, and invite you to join me for the next adventure.
Please follow J. C. on Facebook or Twitter (@JCRainier), or check http://jcrainier.com periodically for blog updates on upcoming projects, as well as progress on The Sorcerers web comic, written by J.C. Rainier and illustrated by A. Kochetova.
Currently Available by J.C. Rainier:
Columbus: Flight
Columbus: Ashes
Columbus: Demeter
Columbus: Winter (Kindle and Paperback Only)
Columbus: Mercy
Project Columbus: Omnibus (Kindle Only)
Project Columbus: Omnibus Page 135