ReaderPaul

Good chapter. Will we be given the name of the other driver? It is not a major detail if we do not learn that. It sounds like the younger kids will miss Joseph when he goes to another country.

Something I don't recall seeing in this chapter, or the previous one, is whether Joseph is going through puberty, has gone through an early puberty, or still has most of puberty ahead of him. The hormonal changes of puberty can cause emotions to range all over the proverbial map. Good signs so far in this chapter. Enjoying the story.

Wow, what a great group of authors and stories. I want to comment on the Super Hero segment -- @astone2292 and @Geron Kees certainly present differing takes on super heroes than one usually sees. Excellent stuff at angles I had not considered. In the Spy-Fi, @drsawzall and @Myr have excellent stories, and I can see I have to come up with more reading time to add @Xfighter1984 to my reading list. My main complaint with Myr is that he needs 3 or 4 times the number of hours in his day to write more stuff, and still get enough rest for his busy schedule. These Deep Dives help expand my reading lists. I wish my reading day could also expand.

If memory serves from a previous story -- Marty might have some contacts of his own -- and they might or might not be the same as the Major's contacts.

When I hear of financial theft such as this, it angers me. I hope for karma as well as a good home for young Joseph.

Bryce probably would have had more red tape to being admitted if his true age had been known. I started first grade at age five (kindergarten was not common in my rural area growing up), with the understanding if I was not doing okay by the time reports had to be turned in to the county at the end of November, all records of being in school would simply be erased. Now it would be almost impossible for me to do that if I were a five-year-old. (BTW, I did fine.) I agree with @Bill W and @akascrubber on the author guess and on the fact that the ancestors might keep "marrying in" to this line of humans. The most recent alien ancestor might be as recent as one or two centuries ago. I also suspect @quokka as the author -- For the reasons others implied, and the use of the names Bryce and Hamilton -- names often used in the stories of quokka.

Another excellent story, Geron. Love sometimes takes unexpected turns. Well done.

What Geron said in the intro page of this story. Sometimes custom can drive a wedge between two well-matched persons. How it was overcome in this case, at least partially, makes for an unusually good story. Very much recommend this story.

This is an excellent story well worth reading, in spite of suffering from very necessary -- "J R R Tolkien syndrome" -- meaning that the first two chapters, especially, seem to move a bit more slowly as the necessary-yet-fascinating world-building takes place. But in each following chapter, the story continues to build and grow as Jem, Nico, Nita, and the others learn more puzzling facts. I was reminded of the second Door tale by this story; in that one Difris told Mike that (paraphrasing) "Earth would probably now be invited to join the Empire. It might be surprising what the Empire tolerated in the way of bad manners." (End of paraphrasing.) Sometimes, what seems to be a bad or questionable thing is understandable when one has more facts to interpret. I would give this six stars out of five -- but the system will not let me. It is THAT good. Over the coming years, I look for sequels.

With authors such as @JamesSavik, @dkstories, @W_L, @AC Benus, @quokka, @Bill W and @Altimexis -- it's hard to go wrong. "In the Shadow of the Dragon" by James Savik is one of the best stories I have read on here.

All right! Another winner from @Geron Kees. This is almost as good as the Doors series, the adventures started in "The Case of the Short, Short Prince," and as good as the Charlie Boone series, and "The Sport of Kings," which I hope will arrive at GA soon. I hope to see Jem, Nico, Nita, Bzup, and Azim working together in a future adventure. And we still have the mystery of the siffle to solve. I might have more comments later, after pondering the story more. Very well done.

Bzup-kind thinks killing is wrong or a last resort. I am not so sure about Azim-kind. Really good chapter.

Currently, Geron's highest word count for one chapter is -- according to the GA listed word count -- "The House of Storms" -- with 56.882 words. Second highest word count -- 52,014 words in one chapter -- "The Charm of Being a Pig." So, a chapter of a mere 25,000 words or so would be nothing to our talented Geron. The longest single chapter of a story I've read was about 93,000 words -- and it was NOT on GA.

Adding questions to the list on my comment from the previous comment page -- L. Does Earth or Benteen technology allow surveillance of the Righoff lines in the same way Bzup-kind is showing in this chapter? M. How can Bzup-kind on the One Ship know humans are on the incoming ship? Have they been on other planets of humans or human colonists without the knowledge of humans? N. Is communication possible over the Righoff lines from one planet to another, or do ships have to convey the messages?

Mysteries still to be solved -- A. Why the siffle are acting together more often. B. Why Jem was singled out by Bzup. C. Why Azim feels so strongly that Azim-kind and Bzup-kind must leave Benteen if more humans are coming. D. Are there more kinds than just Bzup-kind and Azim-kind on the One Ship. E. Is the ship on the way from Earth or one of the other colony planets? (Yes, I am aware the text says "Earth" -- ) F. Are the Righoff lines the same ones that originally led from Earth to Benteen, or have different ones formed? G. Are Jem and the others wrongly assuming that the ship is from Earth, or is Geron playing with us using the ass-u-me method? H. Even though the text said a ship is coming from Earth -- is it the Benteen universe Earth originally which colonized Benteen, or do the Righoff lines sometimes go to a parallel universe/alternate universe when they shift? I. When the Righoff lines shifted away from the previous Earth-Benteen route, were there NO Righoff lines still connected to Benteen, but just ending in space without leading to a desirable destination? J. Has Earth discovered an alternate type of Righoff line not originally known? K. Have other orx-hunting ships started to use the double-mounting system now operational on Master Terpin's ship? Will @Geron Kees answer some or all of these questions in the remaining chapter or will he have to write a lengthy epilog -- or sequel -- to answer these and more?

Considering how much we still want to know, I hope the next chapter is about twenty-five thousand words!

This story is a sensitive reminder that not all outcomes are positive. @Mancunian has managed the difficult task of being caring without being "sappy." The story is short but meaningful. Very worth reading.

The attackers might not have really known that Mitch was gay. Often those of dubious intent throw insults with the intention to hurt, not from certain knowledge. The story is very realistic. And, it underscores that not all outcomes are good ones.

Regarding Mars --- Quote: Joel was right. There were hundreds of messages, postings and news to sift through. He was almost startled to see Mars! Necessity had caused them to expand the domed cities. They grew crops in the Martian soil. There were three major cities below the surface of Mars in huge complexes.... In our solar system, Mars will take a lot of work. Since Mars has almost no magnetic field, according to the various probes, the protective particle fields similar to Earth's would be missing. Also, without a significant atmosphere and near Earth pressure, there is no ozone layer to protect from much of the radiation which would otherwise hit Earth and does hit our Mars. Thus the need for mostly underground living. Over a period of time, an atmosphere could be built up and ozone eventually produced. Also, carbon dioxide would need to be included in the Martian atmosphere, probably at a higher percentage than in in the atmosphere of Earth, to help act as a heat trap. Good story, @R. Eric.

I will be interested in seeing what the temperature is inside the One Ship. Bzup and Azim and their kind are obviously more adaptable in temperature than humans. Also, will others of Master Gwinn Portland's crew be as adaptable as he seems to be?

I wish! I am also hoping for the next Road story, and the third Thrift Shop story --

@centexhairysub, I agree with you. I tend to be cautious of the motives of Mikulsa. I am also wondering why Hans Kim was not mentioned in this chapter. Is he staying aboard the craft he pilots? Or did he just stay silent at breakfast? How long is the Benteen day, compared to a day on Earth? Has he had further opportunity to observe Bzup? Has anyone asked Hans his thoughts on what is going on? Is Hans a spy for some at Colonial Administration? And, @Geron Kees -- when are you writing the sequel to this story? Hopefully as quick as next year, after you write a fourth Door story, a second story featuring Jamie and friends from The Case of the Short, Short Prince, and two or more new Charlie Boone stories, and a story featuring the younger sister and even younger brother of Ricky Travers plus Kiernan Willman plus Jeremiah Hawkins? (That would take a bit of setting up!) But for now, looking forward to finishing this tale. As always, Geron, you are freely encouraged to use any ideas triggered or suggested by my musings free of charge. My reward would be an enjoyable story.

Wow, with authors such as @Geron Kees, @Myr, @Thorn Wilde (sorry, Thorn-- when I've read your stories I was not doing hardly any commenting), @dkstories, @W_L, @JamesSavik, @astone2292, @Mikiesboy, and @Mawgrim on this list -- great stuff.

I still think Jem needs to ask Ana about the siffle, and see if his father's report (and possibly the report of other hungers) has made it to her attention. Sometimes lower level admin persons take it upon themselves to act as the flappers did in Lemuel Gulliver's third Voyage, to the flying island of Laputa. If you have not read the third Voyage of Gulliver, the high level officials of Laputa had "flappers" to fan them and also decide which things should be heard by the officials. Jem's father's report might not have made it up the "chain of command." I still am not completely trusting Mikulsa on his motives.

I had trouble with reading Philip K Dick. I had better luck with Delany, but have not read much of either. Both showed much talent, but when I read stories by Dick it was not a style I was into at that time