Book One - Teaser

Taking place in the not too distant future on Mars in a Human/Katzen colony built by CAW (Collation of Aligned Worlds). This story is about two students, one human, one Katzen who find themselves mixed up in something bigger than either ever imagined.

It begins in the mixed human/extraterrestrial Mars colony. This story is about two students, one human, and one extraterrestrial who find themselves making friends before they get mixed up in something bigger than either ever imagined.

The colony contains a place where young humans are taught about technology, space travel, as well as the economics and politics of the CAW. Most of the instructors are Katzens, there are a few other member species as well. There are also a few human instructors, mostly teaching Human culture to the members of CAW.

University to the Stars, as it was named about a decade ago, was created so that humans could be a part of CAW, as part of the arrangement, in exchange for knowledge, humans will give their support to CAW in manpower, as well as a sharing of sought after parts of culture. It was agreed it was better to have it off world, as Terran politics and religion did not mix well with pretty much anything. Many on Earth are not happy with this arrangement, but since they won't leave Terra, there's not much they can do about it. Those that are admitted into the program for labor or schooling are carefully screened, and agree to limited contact to those they leave behind. About eighty percent make it through screening. The Katzen have agreed to help those accepted get to Mars unmolested. There are families of CAW species that live on Mars as well, mostly Katzen. Mars does not have any political connection to Terra other than what was already mentioned. CAW does not get involved with internal conflicts on Terra except for humanitarian aid. In trade for aid, they must offer candidates for the help with construction, maintenance or their young for the university. Those candidates are also screened with about only ten percent that make it to Mars. Children as young as twelve are eligible for schooling. If a human family lives on Mars, they have basic schooling starting at age four available that is shared with the rest of the species living their.