The Vanished Birds

Starship captain Nia Imani returns home to one of the great trade Stations with an unexpected passenger who will change the course of history…

Umbai’s Ark departed from the Colombian Elevator two years later, in early June. It was the third to leave Earth, followed by 12 more, from the Singaporean Elevator, and the Kenyan, on their way to other stations, which belonged to rival companies. The stations were still in active construction, but the trip would be long enough that they would be habitable once the people arrived. It was the leaving that was unpleasant. There were revolts, battles over rights to board the ships, all of which were lost by the rebels under the salute of gunfire, and the vague promises on the Feed that one day the Arks would return for a second pickup.