Intercession

AD 3486Aeden was suffering.The Reapers had finally been destroyed, leaving the planet scarred and countless creatures lost.The process of recovery had begun, but it will take lifetimes to repair the damage inflicted upon the planet. Now is a time of recuperation, new growth, and family... and new hope in a future that had almost been lost. Balance must be restored for the planet to fulfil its purpose, even as Taylor finds new life blossoming within her.However, recent events have attracted unwanted attention. The Xathen are coming to investigate, and no act of intrusion goes unpunished.When the Xathen arrive, Taylor finds herself an invader on a world that is not her own, in command of forces she barely comprehends.With the Orion Spur once again on the brink of destruction, the only thing that stands between the Xathen and the unsuspecting Commonwealth is... Taylor Neeran. James Jacob (J J) Mathews grew up with his nose stuck in books. A voracious reader in his youth, he devoured all of the science fiction and fantasy books he could find at the local library. J.R.R. Tolkein, Isaac Asimov, Ben Bova, Larry Niven, Voltaire and Greg Bear were some of his early influences, with many other authors added to his bookshelf as time went on. Broadening out to read more genres as an adult, J J has always held a special place for fantasy and sci-fi.J J is married and lives in Hamilton, New Zealand with his wife and three boys, and writes in his spare time. A.D. 3485All Taylor wanted was to get to know her mother. Now, she may never get that chance.Taylor went along for the ride to help her mother survey a new planet, and the offer of a few extra course credits for doing field work certainly didn't hurt.A planet on the edge of disputed territory, sure, but the war with the Xathen had ended thirty years ago, and the Commonwealth had won. It didn't matter that the first survey ship failed to return, things like that happen during wartime.But this was just term break, with two whole months to work alongside her mother and get to know her better while she sharpened her Xenobiology skills in a verdant paradise.With any luck, she would graduate early.Then Taylor messed up, big-time.Now she was lost, alone and struggling to survive, stranded ten thousand light-years from home.