In the Deep, page 1
part #2 of Escape Velocity Series
Praise for In the Deep
…as gritty and complex as the first novel-length adventure… // Strongly reminiscent of C.J Cherryh at her best.
— Gwyneth Jones, author of the Aleutian trilogy, winner of
the World Fantasy, Clarke, Dick, and Tiptree awards
In the Deep evoked for me // space opera at its best: C.J. Cherryh, Lois M Bujold, Arkady Martine, and Frank Herbert’s Dune. Jennings offers character development and worldbuilding in spades to make a fractally complicated universe that feels real and lived in.
— Paul Weimer, SFF book reviewer and Hugo finalist
Praise for Fault Lines
In this fun, intrigue-laden space opera, // Jennings gives an intriguing glimpse of a much larger setting. // Fans of found family will love the portrayal of Velocity and her crew of scrappy underdogs.
— Publishers Weekly
Kelly [Jennings] has been compared with C. J. Cherryh, and I think deservedly. Fault Lines isn't burdened with the awful angst of Cherryh's // Cyteen, but it has the same intensity and conviction.
— Gwyneth Jones, author of the Aleutian trilogy, winner of
the World Fantasy, Clarke, Dick, and Tiptree awards
More political intrigue and gamesmanship than a standard space-battle story... // Solid world building, likable characters...nifty plot twists...
— Craig Clark, Booklist
A sharp, character-rich space opera packed with angry, capable women and attractive, vulnerable men. Jennings builds a large, politically complex world // but expresses this through an intimate slice...
— Tansy Rayner Roberts, author of the Creature Court trilogy,
winner of multiple Ditmar and WSFA Small Press awards
Also by Kelly Jennings:
Broken Slate
Fault Lines (Escape Velocity 1)
Note: the crew of The Susan Calvin made its first appearance in “Velocity’s Ghost” in The Other Half of the Sky (Athena Andreadis editor, Kay Holt co-editor; Candlemark & Gleam 2013) which became the kernel story for Fault Lines.
In the Deep
Kelly Jennings
First edition published 2021
Copyright @ 2021 by Kelly Jennings
All rights reserved.
Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright act of 1976,
no part of this book may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted
in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system,
without the prior written permission of the editor and publisher.
Please respect authors’ rights: don’t pirate.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either
are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons,
living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
For information, address
Athena Andreadis
Candlemark & Gleam LLC,
38 Rice Street #2, Cambridge, MA 02140
eloi@candlemarkandgleam.com
Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
In Progress
ISBN: 978-1- 952456-03-9 (print), 978-1-952456-04-6 (digital)
Cover art by Melissa Capriglione
Editor: Athena Andreadis
Proofreader: Patti Exster
www.candlemarkandgleam.com
To my mother, Shelbylynn Jennings, my first reader, gone too soon.
Characters and Places
Adder Ikan16: Security cadet, dedicated Security Officer for Brontë Ikeda Verde. One of six Ikans born/created in Ikeda House from an egg harvested from Sabra Anador. A product of the Calypso project.
Alice Taveri Harada: Velocity’s twin sister, deceased.
Aimie Waifu: A labor agent at Opotiki Water Treatment Center.
Anja Ikeda Nowak: Register name Anja Adir Zhao Ikeda Nowak. Deceased. One of the primary conspirators to the hostile takeover/coup which killed most of the Ikeda House heirs. Married to Torres Ikeda Alonzo.
Atlas Society: an inter-House society dedicated to advancing and protecting the Combines and their role in the Republic.
Avril Drury: Chief clerk for the Minister of Trade on Durbin.
Brontë Ikeda Verde: Register name Elena Kora Hodaya Ikeda Verde. Born to Ikeda House, a product of the Calypso project, currently fourth in line to the Primary Seat on the Ikeda House Board. Velocity’s student and ward. Age about sixteen.
Calais Stuart: Contract labor worker in Pakuru; member of Iron Smoke.
Calypso Project: A eugenics program conceived of and implemented by the Atlas Society. The project uses genetic engineering both to widen the gene pool available to the Combines, and to “improve” that gene pool.
Castillo Mining Platform HLC116: A mining platform mining asteroids in the Drift.
Corvo Sungai: Siji Tactical officer. Born to the Sungai. In charge of the operation on Durbin.
Dagan: General term for Pirian teachers of Indaiya; generic name for Uri Calvin before his naming.
David Ikeda Ito: Register name David Raphael Navarro Ikeda Ito. Heir apparent to the Ikeda House Primary Seat. One of the few survivors of the hostile takeover that killed most Ikeda House heirs. Father of Justine Ikeda Ito, second in line to inherit the Primary Seat.
Durbin: A settlement planet in deep space.
Edu Sungai: Mainwatch Tactics first on the Sungai; Siji.
Eccles Plaza: The plaza on which Durbin’s Parliament House and attendant buildings are located.
Elian Scott: The name under which Maya Sungai was sold on Durbin.
Emilie Laiso: Labor agent for Rangel Mines at Pakuru.
Emma Wahid: Owner of a rebuild shop in Tauranga City.
(Te) Huna Sulavee: A Pirian convicted into contract labor on Durbin, leased to Opotiki Water Treatment Center.
Ian Ikan16: One of the six Ikan16s. Formerly a Security Cadet for Ikeda House, and one of Brontë’s dedicated Security team. Current whereabouts unknown.
Imre Theriot: Register name Imre Theriot Waiti Hayek Harada. Minister of Trade on Durbin. Born in Hayek House, one of the (distant) heirs to the Primary Seat.
Innis Sungai: Tactical officer on the Sungai; Mainwatch Tactical First.
Iron Mountains: A mountain range on Durbin. Pakuru is located here.
Iron Smoke: A possibly mythical insurgency organization on Durbin.
Isra Ikeda Lopaka: Register name Isra Te Ao Caitriona Ikeda Lopaka. Advisor to Theo, Chair of the Atlas Society, Head of the Calypso project. Brontë’s mother/creator.
Jack Ngata: A contract labor miner on Castillo Mining Platform HLC116.
Jusuf Peixoto: Siji Tactical officer; formerly contract labor on a sugar farm on the settlement planet of Papagao; adopted into the Pirian fleet in early adolescence.
Kai Murphy: Customs Officer on Castillo Mining Platform HLC116.
Kaia Sungai: Logistics officer on the Sungai.
Kaihe: Captain of the Combine courier ship Prince of Peace.
Lamont: Full name Hwa Lamont. Chandler on Castillo Mining Platform HLC116.
Lena Dilgry: A shuttle pilot on Durbin.
Lily Merrell: Captain in Durbin Security.
Loffler Taveri Lopaka: Velocity’s cousin, current holder of the Primary Seat on the Taveri House Board.
Maya Sungai: A Pirian sold into contract labor on Durbin under the name Elian Scott.
The Mdudu: A Pirian courier ship.
Mendoza Sungai: Tactical First for the Siji and Tactical Topwatch First for the Sungai.
Mosel McKay: A shuttle pilot on Durbin.
Nia Sungai: A cadet analyst on the Sungai; aspiring member of Siji.
Nur Che: Head of Station Security on CSS Webster-1, Durbin.
Odessa Lee: A clerk on CSS Webster-1.
Opotiki Water Treatment Center: A facility on the coast near Tauranga City.
Otene Sungai: A very old Siji officer.
Oz: A settlement planet in deep space.
Pakuru: A mining town on Durbin.
Para Evans: A contract labor worker in Pakuru; member of Iron Smoke.
Paris: A Hayek-Lopaka Security Lieutenant on Castillo Mining Platform HLC116.
Perth Okore: A deckhand on the Reynard, a cargo ship owned by Lopaka House.
The Prince of Peace: A Combine courier ship.
Rangel and Reed: A mining consortium on Durbin.
The Reynard: A cargo ship held by Lopaka Combine. Trades mostly in human cargo.
Ruçar Ikan16: One of the six Ikan16s. Formerly a Security Cadet for Ikeda House. Sold to Castillo Mining Platform HLC116.
Rida Tdemir: Pilot and navigator on the Susan Calvin. Born free labor on a Republic station, adopted at seven into Guo House and trained as a tech in Guo House on Tija Station, dismissed for an ethics violation at age fifteen. Hired on despite his lack of certification by Meier Company, which trained him further, renting him out on short-term contracts. Tai helped him jump one such contract at age seventeen.
The Ruka: The Susan Calvin’s runabout.
Sabra Anador: A combat-trained Combine Security Officer. Also the donor of the eggs used to produce both Brontë and the Ikan16s. Formerly Brontë’s dedicated Security officer, now Security for Theo Ikeda Verde.
Sasha: A customs house clerk on Durbin.
Sheng Murray: A contract labor miner on Durbin.
Siji: A division of the Pirian fleet. Crew and officers are taken from multiple ships in the fleet. “Siji ships” are regular Pirian ships which have a large number of Siji on them, and which dedicate at least some of their resources to missions for the Siji. The original and primary mission of the Siji was to locate and rescue Pirian crewmembers who had been sold into contract labor in Republic space. Over the past century, the Siji have become more radical, and most of them now see their mission as ending the contract labor system. The most radical believe their mission should be to end the Republic entirely.
Simei: A contract labor child at Opotiki Water Treatment Center.
The Sungai: A Pirian ship; member of Siji.
The Susan Calvin: A Free Trade ship, owner and captain Velocity Wrachant.
Tai Nahas: First on the Susan Calvin. Born into contract labor on the settlement planet Harvest. Delinquent on that contract. Rida’s lover, Velocity’s lover.
Tallis Sofia Watson Taveri Harada: Velocity’s register name.
Taniwha: AI on the Sungai.
Tauranga City: The main city on Durbin.
Te Ao Sungai: Mainwatch Captain on the Sungai.
Theo Ikeda Hayek: Register name Hiro Sayid Liao Ikeda Hayek. Current holder of the Primary Seat on the Ikeda House Board. Brontë’s cousin.
Torres Ikeda Alonzo: Register name Torres Umi Alicia Ikeda Alonzo, deceased. One of the two primary conspirators in the hostile takeover/coup which killed most of the Ikeda House heirs. Killed by Isra Ikeda Lopaka, Brontë’s mother. Wife to Anja Ikeda Nowak, deceased.
Tully Menemesha: An illegal child on Durbin, born to Wasp.
Uri Calvin: A mechanical, which is to say an artificial intelligence housed in a mechanical body. In Uri’s case, his intelligence was housed in the mechanical dagan which Velocity bought on a Drift station. As his intelligence developed, he ceased using the mechanical body, living now mostly in the ship itself and whatever nexus he has access to. Formerly known as the Dagan.
Velocity Wrachant: a.k.a. Tallis Taveri, a.k.a. Tallis Sofia Watson Taveri Harada. Former heir to Taveri-Bowers Combine; Currently Captain of the Susan Calvin. Born on Dresden Station.
The Wachao: A Free Trade merchant ship, affiliated with the station Hell in a Bucket. Heavily in debt to Weber-Harada Combine.
Wasp: A contract labor miner on Durbin, delinquent from her contract.
William Kadir Taveri: Velocity’s father, deceased.
Wolf Ikan16: One of the six Ikan16s. Formerly a Security Cadet for Ikeda House, and one of Brontë’s dedicated Security team. Now bonded labor on Durbin.
Yadav: Owner of an inn in Tauranga City.
Yao Garcia: Former contract labor worker on Durbin. Currently leader of Iron Smoke.
Zuanchan Lane: Main commercial street in Tauranga City.
Glossary
Republic Terms and Phrases
Ata ata: Calm down, just hold on.
Atlas Society: An inter-House society in the Combines, dedicated to advancing and protecting the Combines and their role in the Republic.
Bot: A rude term for contract labor workers.
Burga: A violent snowstorm.
Calypso: A person who has been genetically engineered to have a specific constellation of traits, including ruthlessness; aggression; a low tolerance for boredom; and a very low risk of anxiety, depression, or thalamic emotions. Created by the Atlas Society, as part of the Calypso Project.
Calypso Project: A eugenics program conceived of and implemented by the Atlas Society. The project uses genetic engineering both to widen the gene pool available to the Combines, and to “improve” that gene pool.
Chip: A rude term for contract labor workers, derived from the chip implanted in their shoulder blades.
Cot: A rude term for contract labor workers.
Crack off: Cut work.
Dildos: A rude name for Durbin Security officers.
Dob, dob out: To betray, especially to betray to some authority.
Hiraka: The local term on Durbin for those affiliated with the Combines. An insult.
Iarmao: Steady lover, person you are in a committed relationship with.
Kanji: The name of a small fish who eats the leavings of bigger fish. An insult.
Kite out: Run away.
Netbots: Pirian manufactured organic uplinks. These are temporary communication devices, installed via bots in the human body. They require the assistance of an AI and last just over one hundred hours.
Pesa: A word for money in general and the metal coins used on some Republic stations and planets in particular.
Slates: Slang for sanitary facilities.
Stonk: A loser, a jerk; someone who thinks they know everything who actually knows nothing.
Pirian Terms and Phrases
Ador: A pain medication.
Atcha: Enough, stop it, be quiet.
Adaiya: Unbalanced, unhealthy, excessive, not sensible. The opposite to daiya.
Cousins: This is a translation of itoko, the general term for shipmate, crew member, or ally who we trust completely. It is also in some circumstances means the Siji. Usually, in the latter case, it has a definite article attached—“What are the cousins doing now?”—as opposed to “Why are our cousins late?”
Dagan: An Indaiya teacher/leader. Dagans usually give ethical and life advice as well. They’re like therapists who make you work out for three hours a day.
Daiya: In balance, acceptable, healthy.
Dore: A person in Indaiya who is attacking.
Foutu: Messed up (literally, fucked).
Gadro: Pirate. A major insult among the Pirians.
Harab: A Pirian game, like tag.
Hodi, Hodi: Literally, knock-knock—a greeting Pirians use when they enter your room, cabin, or personal space.
Indaiya: The Pirian self-defense/philosophical training.
Itachi: Allies of the Pirians who are not shipmates/cousins. They are used and compensated, but not entirely trusted.
Itoko: Cousin, shipmate. Also the slang term for the Siji.
Kaista: A vulgar idiot. Literally, shitstain.
Karaki: Literally, skull. A Pirian obscenity.
Kirop: Literally, little circle. Used to mean a temporary work crew, or a crew assigned to a job outside the ship.
Kitoko: Little cousin. Used with younger siblings and cousins as well as for those new to the ship.
Kusho ketawa: Do it tomorrow/later/never. Cf Mañana, mañana.
Mafi: Idiot, shithead.
Mainwatch: One of the four watches on a Pirian ship. The others are Topwatch, Afterwatch, and Midwatch.
Mdogo: Another word for shipmate or cousin. Plural is wadogo.
Mec: Buddy, pal; usually used for non-shipmates. “Hey, mec, where’s the Customs office?”
Mende: Harmful or unwanted insects, vermin. Also an insult.
Mercredi: Literally, Wednesday; but used as the polite way to say merde, or shit.
Mzala: Shipmate, friend. Same as itoko, in some dialects.
Oaw: A mild exclamation. “No one cares about that, oaw?”
Pelos: A kind of mildly narcotic skin-like bandage. Plural is wape.
Pinzhino: Coward. A vulgar insult. Literally, ‘little dick’. Sometimes abbreviated as zhino.
Shinda Hapo: A rude and negative response to a request. More or less like “When pigs fly!”
Shogi: Another Pirian game, this one played on a board with magnetic pieces.
Tarai: A drink made from a fermented honey, mixed with a mild sedative.
Tia, Tio: Aunt, uncle. Terms of affection used for actual aunts and uncles as well as any older crewmate a person is fond of.
Tisco: Little treat, tasty bite. Used as a pet name.
Tokalu: Run away, get out of the way. One of the first lessons taught in Indaiya—get out of the way if you can—and a central tenet of the Pirian worldview
Tote Tote: Literally, very salty; but used for the Pirian idea that wisdom comes with age. The full phrase is something like “She has eaten much salt,” which is to say “She’s very old.”
