Audiobook Companion Moon Deeds Star Children Saga: Book One By Palmer Pickering Narrated by Nina Price Music by Shackled Fervor and Daniel Wright Published by Mythology Press This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, locations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. MOON DEEDS: BOOK ONE OF THE STAR CHILDREN SAGA Copyright © 2018 Barbara Palmer Pickering All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or por- tions thereof, in any form. “Moon Deeds,” “Star Children Saga,” “Gaia United,” and “Tegs” are trademarks of Barbara Palmer Pickering. ISBN 978-1-7325688-2-2 (Audiobook) FIC009000 FICTION / Fantasy / General FIC009100 FICTION / Fantasy / Action & Adventure FIC009010 FICTION / Fantasy / Contemporary FIC028000 FICTION / Science Fiction / General FIC028030 FICTION / Science Fiction / Space Opera FIC028010 FICTION / Science Fiction / Action & Adventure FIC028090 FICTION / Science Fiction / Alien Contact FIC028070 FICTION / Science Fiction / Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic FIC028050 FICTION / Science Fiction / Military Cover art and design by J Caleb at jcalebdesign.com Interior design and layout by Gretchen Dorris at www.inktobook.com Published by Mythology Press www.mythologypress.com Follow Palmer at www.palmerpickering.com 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 Table of Contents Table of contents preface I: Home preface II: The Cephean Invasion of Earth PArt one: Earth Map of California 1 Star Song 2 Miramar 3 Sweet Alyssum 4 Death Walking 5 The Inheritance 6 Lieutenant James 7 Family Bonds 8 Dana Point Map of Dana Point Marina 9 Treasures 10 Moon Star 11 Jacobsen’s 12 Waves 13 Lineage 14 Solidi 15 Crow’s Nest 16 Moffett Field 17 Golden Tendrils 18 Cargo Hold part two: The Moon Map of the Northwest Sector of the Near Side of the Moon Map of the North Pole of the Moon Map of Peary Crater (Peaks of Eternal Light) 19 Half-Breeds Three years ago: October, 2087 Two years ago: June, 2088 One week ago: July 8, 2090 20 Peary Dome 21 Refugee Camp 22 Brothers 23 Pine Flower 24 Berkeley 25 The Fen 26 Antler Kralj Crate 27 Land Claim 28 Jidna Gandi 29 Rune Belt 30 Test Flight 31 Flyover 32 The Promise 33 Embargo 34 The Water Wagon 35 The Scrids 36 The Gilded Cave glossary and characters Attributions coming in 2020: light fighters maps Earth PALMER PICKERING Map of California MOON DEEDS Map of Dana Point Marina Dana Point Luxury Craft Marina Oce Dock Central Channel Harbor Island Bridge Outer Channel PALMER PICKERING The Moon MOON DEEDS Map of the Northwest Sector of the Near Side of the Moon Peary Anaximenes H Carpenter G Timaeus Mare Frigoris Last Chance Plato PALMER PICKERING Map of the North Pole of the Moon MOON DEEDS Map of Peary Crater (Peaks of Eternal Light) Glossary and Characters 6 Creed – Short for 6mm Creedmoor. 6mm Creedmoor – A rifle cartridge. See Browning. Algol – A trinary star system in the constellation of Perseus in which two of the stars regularly eclipse one another. Also known as Head of the Ghoul, or Demon Star. Ali Gandoop – Brother of Ridge Gandoop. The family owns the Ridge Gandoop mine and spaceport. Alissa – Friend of Brianna and Caden. A Shasta Shaman. Anaximenes crater – (an-ax-IM-en-ees) A large crater in the northwest quadrant of the near side of the moon. Cassidy Dagda holds legal title to the land encompassing this crater. Forty-eight miles in diameter, one and one half miles deep. MOON DEEDS Anaximenes G crater – (an-ax-IM-en-ees) A large crater to the northeast of Anaximenes. Torr Dagda holds legal title to the land encompassing this crater. Thirty-three miles in diameter. Approximately one mile deep. Anaximenes H crater – (an-ax-IM-en-ees) A large crater to the north of Anaximenes. Torr Dagda holds legal title to the land encompassing this crater. Twenty-five miles in diameter. Approximately one mile deep. Antler Kralj – The royal ruling class of planet Delos. Of Ilian origin. Aunt Sophie – See Great-Aunt Sophie. Baikonur – A Russian spaceport in Kazakhstan. Balor – Friend of Brianna and Caden. A Shasta Shaman. Balthazar, General – A former two-star Teg general. An Earthlander-Ceph half-breed. Balty – See Balthazar, General. Bates – A squadmate of Torr’s at Miramar. Beersheba – A spaceport in Israel. Berkeley – A friend of Jasper’s; campmate at the Fen. A seamster. Has some magical skill. Boyfriend of Carmen. Bernie – A neighbor of the Dagdas who worked at Moffett Field. Beth – A friend of Cassidy’s on Earth. Black Guya ink – (goiə) Magical ink from the Black Guya tree that renders plant spirit medicine diagnosis PALMER PICKERING and treatment illegible until it is needed. Diagnosis and treatment, when it is revealed, varies based on the reader. Black Guya tree – (goiə) Tree in Africa whose sap is used to make Black Guya ink. Black Guya warrior – (goiə) The spiritual embodiment of the Black Guya tree. Black Mare – (Singular of Black Maria.) See Black Maria. Black Maria – (Plural of Black Mare.) The vast basalt plains on the moon formed by pooled lava. See Maria. Blessed Fire – Star orbited by Thunder Walker and Tree Nut; primary star of the Gamma Cephei binary star system. Aka Errai. Blue and gold book – A book of prophecies written in Ilian. Brought back from Delos by Great-Aunt Sophie. In Cassidy’s possession. Bobby – A squadmate of Torr’s at Miramar. Bone spinner woman – The spiritual embodiment of the Sweet Alyssum plant. Boyer – Surname of family in Peary Dome; friends of Cassidy’s and Torr’s. Durham is the father, and Raleigh, Roanoke, and Hawk are his sons. Boyers – (Plural of Boyer.) See Boyer. Brent – Teg officer at Moffett Field Spaceport. Brianna Cethlejan Dagda – Mother of Cassidy and MOON DEEDS Torr. A shaman in her own right. A plant spirit medicine woman. Former member of the Shasta Shamans. Browning – Long-range rifle Torr used for compet- itive shooting. Also referred to by its cartridge: 6mm Creedmoor (6 Creed). Brujo – A Spanish word meaning a male sorcerer or witch doctor. Caden Dagda – Father of Cassidy and Torr. A trader in fresh produce and other goods. An animal whisperer. Calico Jack – Freighter that takes Cassidy and Torr to the moon. Carmen – Ramzy’s daughter. Berkeley’s girlfriend. Carnarvon – A spaceport in Western Australia. Carpenter crater – A large crater southwest of Anaximenes. Cassidy (Cassandra/Cassie) Cethlejan Dagda – Female Star Child. Torr’s twin. A clairsentient. A clairvoyant whose sight is blocked. An apprentice plant spirit med- icine woman. A history student. Daughter of Brianna and Caden. Center Ring – A circular yard with a diameter of 300 yards, at the center of Peary Dome. The PCA and the gravity bar stand at the center of Center Ring. Ceph – Natives of two planets in the Gamma Cephei star system (Thunder Walker and Tree Nut). Alien humanoid race very similar to people on Earth. Descendants of the PALMER PICKERING Star People. An aggressive race that has invaded Earth and is intent on turning it into a Cephean colony. Cephean – (Noun) Language of the Cephs. (Adjective) Of the Cephs. Cephean Federation – A federation of planets including Thunder Walker, Tree Nut, and several colonized planets in neighboring star systems. The Cephs are trying to expand their empire to other planets, including Earth. Cephei – See Gamma Cephei. Cethlejan – Brianna’s maiden name. Clark – Teg officer at Moffett Field Spaceport. Concha Scrolls – Sacred texts on Turya. Copper bit – See Global credit. Cyclops – A Cephean terrestrial and airborne craft/weapon with a large laser dish that looks like a single eye; com- monly used to raze buildings, leaving behind bare dirt. Dagda – The family name of Cassidy and Torr. Daleelah – Gabira’s youngest daughter. A sorceress. Dana Point – A small city on the California coast north of San Diego, known for its large marina. Dana Point Marina – The marina where Moon Star was berthed. Danny – (Danielita) Madam of a brothel in Peary Dome. Ridge Gandoop’s lover. MOON DEEDS Dashiel – Torr’s Gaia United bolt-action sniper rifle. Effective range of one mile, but capable of hitting a target at up to two miles in the proper conditions. Delos – Planet populated by humanoids very similar to those on Earth, also descendants of the Star People. Closest populated planet friendly to Earthlanders. Primary planet visited by Earth diplomats, scholars, Star Seekers, and wealthy tourists. Source of much of the knowledge of the Turyan diaspora and Star People legends and prophecies. Long ago it was a vacation spot for Ilians; Ilians fled to Delos to escape the Cephean invasion, and now control the government and economy of Delos. Delosian – (Noun) Citizen of Delos; language of Delos. (Adjective) Of Delos. Diaspora – The population of Turyan descendants who have settled on various planets across the Milky Way galaxy. All humanoids are part of this diaspora. Diego – A Peary Dome ration guard. Pablo’s brother. Donald – A squadmate of Torr’s at Miramar. Douleia – A plant spirit. Dreamcatcher – A hoop with a web of plant fiber, horsehair, or sinew, and decorated with beads and feath- ers. Believed to ward off bad dreams, letting only good dreams through, when hung over the bed. Dreamwalking – An advanced form of lucid dreaming in which a dreamer enters the dream or conscious reality of another person and observes or interacts with them, or visits a remote physical location for exploration. PALMER PICKERING Skilled dreamwalkers can enter these alternate realities at will. Druid’s Mist – A magical cloud barrier protecting the Great Isles from the Tegs. See Great Isles. Durham Boyer – Father of the Boyer family. A veteran who lost his leg in the Early Wars.