The Reluctant: Chapters 1-6 (Act I)

Legacy of the Orb

Published on July 28, 2006 By Draginol In GalCiv Journals

As I've mentioned previously, the universe that Galactic Civilizations exists in has been swishing around for a very long time. Back before I could even program, I always hoped to write it. I never thought that the way that the story and characters would manifest themselves would be in a computer game. But that is how it has gone so far.

Galactic Civilizations I barely touched on it other than through random events. The expansion pack, Altarian Prophecy, touched on it a bit more. And GalCiv II: Dread Lords borrows heavily from the existing universe.

A number of users asked that more of the back story be written. I don't want to give away too much of what will be in future versions of the game other than to say that any future GalCiv III (and we're talking YEARS from now) would have "heroes" (characters) in them and one such character is DL Bradley. I think he is mentioned in the Dread Lords campaign actually and (spoiler warning) at the end of GalCiv II: Dread Lords he is in a pocket dimension.

One series of short stories I had outlined long ago was entitled "Legacy of the Orb" which deals with what happens to many of the characters long after the events of the main series of stories. One of those stories deals with DL Bradley and is called "The Reluctant". In my spare time, I've been tweaking the original and putting it up.

If you're interested in reading them, the first 6 chapters are now available:

Chapter 1: https://www.galciv2.com/Journals.aspx?AID=124063

Chapter 2: https://www.galciv2.com/Journals.aspx?AID=124513

Chapter 3: https://www.galciv2.com/Journals.aspx?AID=124598

Chapter 4: https://www.galciv2.com/Journals.aspx?AID=124749

Chapter 5: https://www.galciv2.com/Journals.aspx?AID=124830

Chapter 6: https://www.galciv2.com/Journals.aspx?AID=124919

Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar, will start to unravel some of the origins of the Dread Lords and Arnor for those interested in the back story.

The main enemy of humanity and by humanity I don't mean mankind but rather compassion and the stuff that makes us connect with each other -- what makes us "human" -- is time. Make a man live forever and you will eventually strip him of his humanity. Make a thing that can sense the passing of time live long enough and eventually it'll become totally alien to us and its actions seemingly evil and cruel -- to us.

Edit: Chapter 7 and Chapter 8.

Comments (Page 2)

Frogboy

on Jul 26, 2006

Here is Chapter 6:

https://forums.galciv2.com/?forumid=162&aid=124921

Peace Phoenix

on Jul 27, 2006

Peace Phoenix, there is no inconsistency.
The Intruders have been on Earth over 60 years. Only the government knows the exact date.

Noted

Since it won't really come up in this story, I can tell you that the US didn't use a nuclear weapon for nearly a decade after they arrived (mid 50s).

Then the poor french I am have problem to correctly understood this sentence: mid 50s refers to the arrival time or the time when the US did use a nuclear weapon?
If it is the first case, then Frank Miller who have served in WWII and Korea has near 100 years. I am wondering how old he was when his daughter Amanda was born and how old was Amanda when she meet DL Bradley and give birth to Ethan (from what I understand , 2-3 years after meeting DL Bradley). BTW, when asked, DL Bradley told that he is 45 years old.

But even if I have some problems with the background timeline, nice novel

Disciple777

on Jul 27, 2006

Beautiful chapter 6, now where is seven????

Dr Guy

on Jul 29, 2006

You got me! It is on my Christmas list. (But you have a typo - you State the First 5 chapters, and then list 6).

No wonder Stardock is on our pillage list!

Merak43

on Jul 31, 2006

great update looking forward to ch 7

Mascrinthus

on Jul 31, 2006

Then the poor French I am have problem to correctly understood this sentence: mid 50s refers to the arrival time or the time when the US did use a nuclear weapon?

The Intruders arrived around the end of WWII but did not do much until after the Korean War. In this alternate history the Americans kill one of the Intruders with a 50 Megaton Nuclear bomb, in the mid 1950s, and the Vietnam War never happens.

ignuss

on Aug 03, 2006

Nice, I like it.
Looking forward to more.

Ricree

on Aug 10, 2006

So, is chapter seven going to be up anytime soon?

Draginol

on Aug 12, 2006

Just put out chapter 7. Had to take a brief pause due to the birth of my daughter.

The original outline of this story from the notes during the creation of the GalCiv universe but I still have to write out the concept into an actual readable form.

Draginol

on Aug 12, 2006

http://draginol.joeuser.com/articlecomments.asp?AID=126631&s=1

Galacticus

on Aug 13, 2006

That was great. I understand now. At first the plot seemed to not jive with the rest of the galciv universe, but now that I undrstand how it is different it all makes sense. Good job Draginol!

legitfront

on Dec 30, 2008

Any more of this story?

Or other GalCiv stories?

Draginol

on Dec 30, 2008

There is more to it, I just haven't had time to put it to paper yet.

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