SYNOPSIS - APHELION by J.Garrett Miller

(Young Adult, Middle Grade)

The earth is in the pathway of a rogue planetary body from the outer recesses of our solar system. With no options to avoid this collision and certain annihilation of our species, the world unites its efforts in developing technologies that will be able to evacuate humanity, in search of a new home.

After more than 70 years navigating the cosmos at sub-light speeds, the armada of earth ships discover a binary solar system, with 14 planets capable of supporting life. Each lifeboat ship, primarily inhabited by country, chooses its new world and establishes its own, independent government.

The new demand on each planet’s people is different and forces the inhabitants to adapt. Evolution is given a jump start with genetic engineering and manipulations. New races begin to form and flourish on these planets, in some cases now very much different from their ancestors, HomoSapian Prime.

Hostilities and racial superiority prejudices cause conflict and the potential for inter-planetary war. A Galactic Council of Planets is formed to help arbitrate and govern the two solar systems. Tensions are ultimately relaxed by using a universal sport that evolved from early 20^th century mixed martial arts. It's a team game of combat, with dire consequences – called the Apastron Games (the point in the orbit of a binary star system that is furthest apart).

The protagonist is Kael Kingsley. He was a legendary field commander in the Apastron Games, who was unjustly exiled from the sport he was bred for. Disowned by his own planet and labeled an outcast and traitor, Kael purchases a ship and assembles a crew. His younger sister, Alex, is the first to join him. A Tivolian, named Bronn, is the next member. An arrogant, trash-talking A.I., named Rodney, rounds out this team. This new ship, named the Aphelion (point furthest from a system’s star), now lurks in the expanse between the two systems, as pirates.

The Prochnostan government (Russian for ‘Strength’) is the sole producer of the systems' most coveted resource, trillium. A discovery by Aarish scientists of a new vein of trillium, outside Prochnostan control, threatens to destabilize the Galactic Council. The Aphelion is caught in the middle of political espionage and murder, and now must choose between the chance for Kael to be redeemed or save lives and uncover corruption.

Cooperation between Kael and a galactic law enforcement commander, named Damon Prater, forges a new alliance and ultimately a new team that calls the Aphelion home. This new crew fight their way through a wave of obstacles from the mastermind of this whole web of corruption, a Krillan known as The Broker.

The Broker’s ultimate goal to destabilize the systems and seize control of the Galactic Council is nearly complete. Kael must now try to expose The Broker’s part in the conspiracies, a task he finds more difficult with each new twist.

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