The Oort Perimeter

Title:	The Oort Perimeter
Cover Artist:	Don Semora
Genre:	Military, Sci-Fi
Series:	The Earthfleet Saga
Publication Date:	August 2009
Media Types:	Ebook
ISBN:	978-1476416465
Followed By:	Destiny's Mission

The Oort Perimeter is the first in the four part series The Earthfleet Saga and introduces the universe of Earthfleet, and all of the political turmoil that both exists around Sol Space, and across the universe at large.

Back Cover Blurb

Born of a need to protect their homeworld, Earthfleet, the military arm of the Society, struggles continuously to insure the safety of Earth and all who live on it. But a dark force moves within the galaxy, one who wishes to use Earth as a pawn in its quest for power. In a struggle for survival, the Society, Earthfleet and their allies must race against time to uncover the identity of this dark force, before it can destroy Earth, and the nine races. Failure means extinction of the human race.

Summary

The story begins in a Yib monastery on the Yib homeworld around prayer time. In one of the primary towers of the monastery, the Order of 9 gathers to pray, chant, and then eventually hear a prophecy given by a Varnok prophet within their ranks. He tells the others that the Chappagi are becoming a major threat to the galaxy, and especially The Nine Ancient Races, and should be exterminated. However, a Gayik'Von monk within their midst confronts the Varnok prophet and refutes his prophecy. This then leads to a disagreement and a quarrel between the monks, eventually resulting in a nearly equal division of the Order of 9, with four of the members standing with the Gayik'Von monk, and three of them with the Varnok prophet. This creates a type of foreshadowing for events to come.

The story then shifts to Sol Space and begins to look at the daily lives and struggles of the Society's most important people, including Chancellor Nordham, Grand Admiral Mike Clayton, the crew of the Sergenious, as well as several other organizations. This strange series of events, played out from two viewpoints (civilian and military) gives a good introduction to what it's like being the little guy in a galaxy of giants, and all of the careful political maneuverings required just to survive. It also provides a good introduction to life within the Society, as well as Earthfleet. The capabilities of the fleet, and most especially the Sergenious and her crew, are well demonstrated in this introductory plot arc, the details of which will play an important roll later on. The crew of the Sergenious even pay a visit to the famous, and sometimes infamous Pluto Station, and provide the reader an introduction to this unique home away from home for many races.

There's even a brief introduction to the shadier, darker, covert side of Earthfleet and the Society through the introduction of the highly skilled spy and intelligence operative Lars Nordic. Not long after the events of the introduction wrap up, Lars is called in by his boss and sent out, along with three other spies, on a reconnaissance mission to investigate some strange goings on in the galaxy near their home system. Elsewhere, the Varnok prophet, who was seen in the introduction, meets with his boss to give a report and receive new instructions, revealing the true reasons for why he gave his prophecy to the others in the Order of 9. Meanwhile, out on Sebius, Earth's own Ambassador Phyland is seen being busy about his daily political duties as ambassador for Earth amidst the dirty politics and rampant corruption that is common to the UGW homeworld. While going about his work, he runs across his friend, and fellow ambassador, a G'Fondo'Nah (or just "Fondo" for short) named Finch as he is returning from a diplomatic meeting of his own. The two talk for a time, showing the depths of their friendship, despite their distinctly different species, before going on about their ways.

(this summary is a work in progress, so please be patient)