i had a friend who was going to write a similar story a few years back, but he scrapped it. inspired me to write, however. in three years, i have parts of six chapters written, and about 25 pages written (12000 words). testament to my work ethic, i guess. and it is scifi

One thing. When you mentioned scientist near the end there, I think you meant someone else. Probably meant a medic or doctor or something, because, one scientist sounds wrong, and two, what the hell would they be doing on the ship? I guess to monitor the ships special systems, but sounds like engineers and that one guy could do that. Don't remember his name.  But typically, the type of scientist I envisioned when you went throught that part would not be on a ship that would presumably leave for battle very soon. I guess maybe for a last minute check, but then again engineers could probably check that. Sorry, just think you meant someone else. Scientist just didn't sound right acording to the context.

The scientist isn't on the ship, he's on the space station orbiting the asteroid Matsuda 1.

https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/366855 <--- another reason why new Sinners material has not come

thats really awesome, though i dont have time to read it right now

The next chapter continuing the introduction to the Advent (a new Chapter 2, part 3, working title: THE FAMILY) is coming soon. Not this weekend cause im going to be out, but this coming week. Just letting everyone know that i AM doing things

If you haven't yet, read the new chapter 2, part 2, Colonizable Planet Discovered. I believe it is on the first page of this thread, near the bottom.

why does it make them years ahead? they havent even discovered phase space, as far as he knows

edit: in case you didnt realize, that was from the revised chapter 2 part 2

so, i really liked the revised chapter. a few things, though. one, why are they only sending a colony ship to a hostile world? shouldnt it be escorted? part of a fleet? especially if the planet they are going to is so important. a fleet, led by an admiral would be much more likely. and the admiral would make first contact, of course. though this is 1000 years ago, they probably did not have protevs. other than that, it was very good

trader lore says war became only a thing found in legend and myth. im assuming the nonmember planets wouldn't capture a diplomatic vessel, too . And as for pirates, the ship was traveling in mostly Trader-controlled space. no pirates there.

Think of a third-world country city to a first-world country city. You can tell that one of them is years ahead of the other. sorta the same thing happening here.

EDIT: he's only talking in terms of the city too, not their aptitude in space. that was a little unclear tho.

sorry, i have to disagree. humans being what we are, i have to think that our natural arrogance would lead us to believe that we were light-years ahead of them, because they werent in space yet.

and as to the diplomatic mission, those are usually conducted with much fanfare. a single protev isnt showing that they care too much about that mission. perhaps a fleet of protevs (or similar diplomatic ship) would make more sense

Protevs can carry 500 people...certainly enough to show the nonmember planet that they are worth the Trade Order's time.

But I can't agree with you on the human arrogance thing. Here are the steps that led to meeting the Advent, or "Family."

1.) T.O. finds an unknown, heavily colonized planet. T.O. could still be superior.

2.) Psychic attack hits the ship. T.O. is disoriented and confused.

3.) Unknown entity hacks into secure T.O. radio transmissions and makes contact with the T.O. ship. T.O. are confused and wary.

4.) Unknown ships fly into space and escort the T.O. ship to the planet's surface. T.O. catches a glimpse of a HUGE metropolitan city, larger than any city in the T.O. The very style of the city and its buildings leads the T.O. to believe this unknown entity is years ahead of them (at least in planet infrastructure.)

5.) T.O. planet is lowered below the ground. T.O. is in slight shock.

6.) Unknown entity's ships fly back up the hole and go away. T.O. believes the unknown entity is superior in its ship design because they have constructed ships that can fly through a planet's atmospher and survive, but can also fly in deep space, as seen when the ships came to escort the T.O. ship.

7.) T.O. learns to call the unknown entity "The Family."

EDIT: i think about 50-100 of the Protev's crew serve as DPP's (Diplomatic Prestige Persons). maybe 150 at a stretch.

The new Chapter 2, part 3: The Family is completed. You can find it at the top of page 2 of this thread.

There has also been some slight changes to Chapter 2, part 2. There's no need to reread it, I'll just summarize the changes here. Instead of Portugal Lee Gibbings having glowing eyes (as the Advent do) when Harrison first meets him, his eyes are normal. The Advent, when they are not using PsiTech, have normal eyes. Their eyes glow pure white in varying degrees depending on the amount of PsiTech they are using. So in the story the characters do not know that the Family's eyes glow. This makes the last sentence in Chapter 2, part 3 more significant.

Also, the old Chapter 2, part 3 (Invasion) had to be deleted to make room for the new one. It is now Chapter 3, part 1, but I have not updated this thread's Chapter 3, part 1. I will update all the chapters once I am done adding in the Advent introduction chapters, so I don't have to redo every chapter after the Chapter 2 parts every time I add a new one. So Invasion is currently off the thread, and the next few will soon be as I add new Advent pieces. But they will return once the chapter numbers have stopped moving around.

Be sure to read the new Chapter 2, part 3!

For those of you still following....

there will be a new chapter appearing on November 11th. Veteran's Day, if you didn't know. It will highlight the Trader traditions on this day, known to them as Survival Day.

sounds cool