Amendment
Alrighty. Yea, you've clicked on this link to read the latest chapter and you're disappointed that there isn't any. I feel your pain, and understand. It's been awhile since I last updated this fic. A lot of responsibilities have got in the way, and have left little time for purely recreational writing. However, the flag of defeat isn't being raised.
Truth is, Chapter V has existed for months now. In fact, five different drafts of it have been written. Each one was discarded half completed. From the battle of New Brandenburg, the still ailing Citadel, the top secret Onyx-Trevlyn Shield World, to even Illium. Each one, I'm trying, trying to tell the next chapter but failing to see it through. Truth is, they haven't been up to scratch. I'm trying to avoid both boring or likewise, cringe-worthy moments (if I had the chance, I'd rewrite all the Shepard sections over again. They are currently simply just awful...)
This doesn't mean Kin From The Stars is completely dead. Well... it's kinda currently dead like a fish, but I've put some recent effort in to a sixth draft of Chapter Six, incorporating a few new scenes here and there, plus using a lot of my previously drafted content, currently sitting at about five thousand words, so maybe an actual Chapter V is possible on the horizon. It's not like I don't know what to write. I have a clear path for this story, but life has left me with little opportunity to tell it.
So I'd just like to confirm the lack of activity for now. I've got things stacking up, so I'll be needing to finish them off before I can get back to this.
At best, I can guess Chapter V will be up by next Sunday, followed by a more steady stream of updates. So until then, just know that Kin From the Stars will be back, at some point in the future. Till then, bye.
UPDATE
Actually, to amend some ache on the fake update, here's an excerpt from the upcoming Chapter V. Just to make this a worthwhile read.
CHAPTER V PREVIEW
Traditionally our creators have been reluctant to take outsiders' advice; nation to nation, culture to culture. Their history is littered with empires, crumbling for want of simple openness to so-called 'foreign beliefs and innovations'. The question is: can this Assembly still function as adequate stewards to our creator's latest empire and remain aloof? The answer, we believe, is no. - Majority of the Assembly
There was a rare radiance of tranquility in this office suite, the majestic view giving a sweeping view of Sydney, a city that, while still scarred by Covenant orbital bombardments, has rebuilt and even prospered following the end of the Covenant War. Beyond the cluster of sky-scrapers that dominated the coast, further inland was only endless stretches of low-rises, suburbia and industrial estates.
Despite the environmental turmoil of the early twenty first century, and later, war scars, the capital of the United Earth Government remained the most pristine corner of the planet. The ocean still glittered a marvelous blue.
Of course, Osman doubted this view might even be real. Admiral Parangosky has the paranoia of legend, and it wouldn't be surprising if what were seen as windows were really high-def screens, or even a hologram. Inside the office of ONI's Director, Parangosky's aging fingers grasped an antique teacup, slowly drinking the coffee within. The way her withered hands shook as it grasped the cup was just another unpleasant reminder of the unstoppable march of age.
"You'd stop staring at my hands like that, Serin," Parangosky suddenly spoke up, surprising her guest. "Trust me, you'll no doubt be just as withered at my age," a smile played across the old Admiral's face. No matter how much physical decay the body showed, Parangsoky's mind was as sharp and alert as ever.
"Sorry, but it's... quite noticeable," Osman answered. This day and age, she wished Parangosky would simply resign her post. Despite an almost faltering of health just a few years ago, something kept her alive and going, as if something was incomplete. Maybe it was the stress and weight of the 'contact', that had kept Parangosky sticking around. It seemed, the UNSC and peace were two words never to be united.
"Physicality is something nobody should be worried about this day and age..." Parangosky muttered, placing down her cup. "Oldest man alive lived till two hundred! Damn if I'm going to be measured up for a coffin at only over a hundred..."
"The mandatory retirement age," Osman gave that little reminder. Parangosky only ignored it, turning slightly to gaze out to the view.
"Too many things to see finished," Parangosky simply told her. "It's not that I don't trust you to uphold what I've built, but... there are things I have yet to find answers for, that we must have answers for."
"The Contact threat," Osman simply stated.
"More than that. We still never happened what happened to the Chief, poor soul..." Parangosky noted. The Chief himself had been MIA since the New Phoenix incident in twenty five, fifty eight, last being seen on Ivanoff Station's surveillance, taking a Broadsword in pursuit of a Forerunner Cruiser with a warhead. The same warhead that was detonated inside the Cruiser as it unleashed its energy weapon on Earth. Neither the Chief nor the Forerunner he was reported to have been pursuing were ever seen again.
Months later, the Infinity returned to Requiem and found no resistance, just an empty Shield World. There weren't even Engineers like on Onyx. Requiem was just an empty shell. It was presumed that the Covenant fanatics simply dissolved back into Sangheili space following the defeat of their deity, their leader Jul 'Mdama disappearing. The Prometheans disappeared, never to be encountered again anywhere in the galaxy, giving credence to the theory that they had all perished in the destruction of their capital ship.
Osman remembered Parangosky's own concerns that the threat had never really ended, that ONI still suspected that the Forerunners were still out there, somewhere, biding their time, waiting... for something. Perhaps that was the ghost that still haunted her. As for the Chief himself... he'd been through so much and faced down so many impossible odds, that nobody would ever be convinced that he was dead until they saw a body.
"We still have so much to find in this galaxy, and so many threats to quash," Parangosky noted, almost sighing. "I doubt I'll ever see Humanity safe."
Osman remained silent, uncomfortably. It was certainly true, that they would never see true peace anywhere in their life times, especially while they were simply stalling for time in the face of the coming storm. They needed an answer. A permanent answer to the Contact threat that would end the tension that had been boiling ONI from the inside for over a year now.
"Humanity. That's a tricky word to apply, knowing what we know," Parangosky finally continued. "As much common ground we have with our... relatives, I doubt we'll ever really embrace each other."
"It's not just them we're facing trouble from," Osman reminded her. Not just Insurrectionists now, but the traitors within their very organization.
"I've heard mummers of... discontent," Osman stated. Of course, it was extremely difficult for her to pick up such information. Being Parangosky's protege, she was possibly the person that any conspirator within ONI would least likely involve. Hearing it only passed on through various Officers, it was only indescribable whispers of rebellion against ONI's current director.
"I know," Parangosky simply answered. "I'm not surprised that its spread so far and wide. We're lucky we have as little leaks as we've encountered thus far."
"New Brandenburg?" Osman questioned. "I heard that you put forward plans-"
"To crush this Insurrection with a finality," Parangosky cut her off. "We'll remove all UNSC personnel and as many civilians as possible, but I can not take the slightest of chances that one rebel could escape. Not with the security of the entire UNSC on the line. Not with the information they have."
"And, I heard, what you plan as the solution to the Three problem," Osman then added, hesitantly. There was a time when she thought Parangosky's secrets stretched no higher than the UNSC Infinity's construction. Everything, even information as sensitive as the Contact Threat had been shared. That Parangosky would address the issue with the Spartan Three program without a murmur, was disconcerting, especially to her.
Parangosky returned a glance that could break glass. Apparently, that was one topic that was untouchable between them.
"God forbid, that a day could come where I would hand off some of the best soldiers we've ever seen to make the budget stretch..." Parangosky commented, confirming Osman's worse fears. She honestly hoped, that it was inaccurate information. But then, Parangosky continued."When that day comes, I'll know I've gone mad. Maybe I already have. But, today, even to you Osman, the solution to the issue is something I can't discuss. Not yet, until the operation is concluded."
That vague statement was puzzling and troubling. Parangosky didn't deal in vague terms, but this time, it was something that would be kept under key until the smoke cleared.
"On the topic of Spartans," Parangosky continued to speak, undaunted by what had just been said, "I know you also paid a visit to our dear old Doctor."
"I simply wish I'd known about it much sooner. Especially with the history between us all and Doctor Cathrine Halsey," Osman replied. "Years ago, you were content to lock her up and throw the key into a black hole."
"Times change," Parangosky shrugged. "I've honestly come to a better understanding now than I ever did. We'll never be free of our crimes, and desperate times seem in abundance these days."
Osman had little choice but to agree. She didn't like Halsey, not a single bit, but... there was a point to what they had unleashed her for. With how events were rapidly transpiring these days, Osman wondered if Halsey would even have the chance to deploy her new Spartan V's before Contact happened.
"I've come to that understanding too. We are getting particularly desperate."
"If I could wind back the cloak, I'd do it again," Parangosky said, but added, "without the mistakes. Too much unnecessary blood was shed along the way, like the Charnara Incident... but, we're only only step closer to the answer."
"And you think Halsey's new Spartans are that answer?"
Parangosky thought on that one, before speaking. "They are apart of the answer. I wouldn't be surprised if we reached the point of war, but even if we avoid that, there will be much strife on the road ahead.
