Announcing A New Science Fiction Project

I'm excited to share that I've begun work on a new science fiction story that explores first contact, cultural collision, and the moral complexities of colonial expansion.

The story takes place on Thalasses IX, a lush jungle planet designated for resource extraction by an organization called the Expansion Bureau. The planet is home to an intelligent species called the Skæla, anthropomorphic wolves with their own language, culture, and tribal societies that exist somewhere between the Bronze Age and Medieval periods in terms of technological development.

The narrative follows a seven-person negotiation team sent to establish agreements with the local populations for harvesting the planet's natural resources. What begins as a standard diplomatic mission becomes something far more complicated when the team realizes the true intelligence and complexity of the species they're dealing with.

The story is told through three perspectives: Caleb Blackwood, the team's experienced leader who carries the weight of difficult decisions; Ethan Cross, a young and idealistic junior negotiator on his first major assignment; and a member of the Deeproot Tribe, one of the many Skæla tribes scattered across the planet's vast forests.

At its core, this is a story about loyalty, conscience, and what it means to do the right thing when the cost is everything you've ever known. It explores the gap between policy and morality, the complications of cross-cultural understanding, and the bonds that form when people from vastly different worlds find common ground.

The project blends science fiction with adventure elements and examines themes of colonialism, cooperation, and the value we place on intelligence and personhood. While there are no traditional fantasy elements like magic, the story incorporates the superstitions and spiritual beliefs of the Skæla culture.

I'm currently in the planning stages, developing the characters, world-building details, and narrative structure. I'm aiming for a tone that balances the serious ethical questions at the heart of the story with moments of humor, hope, and genuine connection between characters.

More details will come as the project develops. I'm looking forward to sharing this journey with you.