The Destiny of our making

The world was in chaos, war and fighting was an everyday occurrence. The Alliances of the continent were built loose but binding and these nations depended on each other to strengthen internal defense against outside attacks. The Alliance of the Five nations was strong yet, a volatile treaty. Each nation offered its resources and protection for the sake of the continent. Then the Nations of the continent discovered a new threat that united their power into one. This threat was not only to the continent, but also to the world. A great military power could not detour the meteors, but it would be needed to protect the continent when they were weakened, after the strikes. The Leaders of the continent felt that protection against the elements were the immediate concern, along with outside attacks, so the Governments fully merged into one nation on the continent.
The Government of the new world was fervent to create and control the situation. They brought together the greatest minds of the nation, to create the perfect society. It would protect against outside attacks and each other, the society would divide into five parts. Each part would exist separately, and co-exist together with the assistance of one source. EDWARD (ELECTRONIC DATA WHEREWITHAL AND REPOSITORY DEVICE), this was the central intelligence that would merge all five into one.
EDWARD was an Artificial Intelligence that could and did continue to learn. To many people EDWARD adapted so well he even appeared to be human at times. His creator; the daughter of one of those chosen to create the perfect society, Sheryl Darans had created a personal system for protecting her own computer and thoughts, before the destruction was known; he had been submitted without her knowledge. EDWARD was accepted and improved by the Foundation of the new World.
Three Cities were created to ensure safety for all inhabitants; a Prime Minister, who was no more than a figurehead, led each, however military was the true control. The leader of each society was a Military General that had been determined over the two years before the Meteors. Many factors determined who they would be: it was said they had to be expert at several key points and highly skilled in all others.
All possible applicants were chosen through rigorous exercises and testing, then competed with each other to determine who would Command, this process continued until the final five were chosen, the final five would choose the highest position. After the elimination process was complete, the Five gathered at a location known only to them and returned five days later with all decisions complete.
The East and West Territories would control the Coastlines and Seas; they encircled the continent and protected the center. The Eastern City and Zone known to be the highest risk from outside attacks and required a strong Leader for protection, therefore General Carl Rizen was assigned the position. He had been a first choice candidate for the positions and proved himself even more competent in the trials. His expertise in Diplomacy and Tactics were unsurpassed.
The Western City and Zone was assigned to General Jeffery Mandrake, he also had been expected to be in the final five, and had proven himself equaled, and highly qualified in all areas. The West was protected by many meteor strikes and created obstacles that an outside force would not cross easily. It was still a coastline and outer protection for the Central zone, so needed the strength of expertise and control.
The Central Zone would be controlled by three who would divide the duties and control the inner workings of the world; this was the location of EDWARD and so requiring more security even with the Great Generals on both sides for protection. General Jason Brandon a first choice candidate with expertise in Decision and Reason would be in charge of the Central city and all aspects pertaining to it, it was the largest of the three cities.
The Second General Rachel Merric also had proven her qualifications were high and equal. She would control all the outlining work communities that were the resources for the entire continent. The last and only one that had not been expected to achieve this goal before the trials was General William Wilkes. He was to be in charge of the outside lands and training the new forces in the knowledge and thought, of the new leadership.
This force would withstand all threats and replace any that fell short of the ideal, in doing so forming a new Academy and a new Military. This was the public explanation, and most accepted as obediently as they were expected. Things do not always go as expected and this was no exception.
The Five Generals were chosen by the great leaders of the past but; the five themselves had chosen the Ranking among them in private. They were the Elite and they were the only ones who knew the ranking General, this was another precaution.
Therefore, it was written that in an Elite Force: Never was Rank to be present on the field, all were expected to accomplish the same goal and all were expected to achieve the same rank. Therefore, they would not have rank until they reached Commander and then they would train the soldiers to the new thinking and ways. The Elite were a new breed of soldier created because of and by the meteors; no one knew why except the Five.
The Continent did change, when the meteors came, they altered the land and the people. Most of the population of the continent was destroyed with the meteors attack. In addition, as if it was not satisfied with the damage, it brought a sickness that claimed even more lives.
This picture is from nasa.gov image gallery, wonderful pictures on that site.

Let me just tell you a little about my story and see if you can guess were it belongs, because I still get confused at times when my genre has few sub-genres.

My story is set in a location like earth, but not Earth, you know this by descriptions of land masses. Meeting people who overall are just like us, normal everyday people, who like to garden, cook, play sports, argue, you name it. But then you have a few, who have been enhanced with abilities. Not really superhuman ones, these are abilities, some people believe are normal, ability to read minds, anticipate movement or words, accelerated martial skills. Nothing really outrageous.
But then you have EDWARD the artificial Intelligence, granted what I used with EDWARD was not technical because I wanted him to be just another character, but these same people are technical enough to scan your DNA.

That is pretty much what was included in my story, except there was a romantic twist, not enough to send it to the romance category, but it was an underlying part of the plot.

Now for the problem. As I was looking through these lists for a genre, Science Fiction came easy enough. It is such a broad category, I can't imagine writing anything else. But the problem with that is when you say Science Fiction, people think of a Space odyssey type of book. Not necessarily so.
I really believe Science Fiction is where they put a story that can't fit anywhere else, except maybe Fantasy, but then again they are generally lumped together.
Science Fiction genres range from stories with high technical science terminology or descriptions to superhuman, or alternate realities.
After reading the descriptions over and over, I found another problem with genre, sometimes people do not give you as many options in choosing your reality. My reality in this first book could have been an alternate reality, but it contained people with a little enhancements so super humans were considered, But I never could really pinpoint where my story actually fell.
I did eventually settle on Science fiction, superhuman type if I had to narrow it down, but still prefer not to lump it together if I don't have too.

If you are an expert or even have a suggestion, please don't hesitate to drop it in the box.

Picture is Star birth Eagle nebula from nasa.gov images

The people in this first book, have not changed much in the thirty years I thought about this book. Now other stories I have created to go with this novel have changed many times.
First, I suppose I must mention the Elite. These are the enhanced characters I spoke about above. There is actually twenty Elite in the group but very few do you really get to meet or interact with, but that changes with later stories.
The Elite each received an enhancement when a meteor shower ravaged the Continent. These enhancements were, mind probing; tracking or trailing someone's essence; anticipating, response, movement, general short term foreknowledge; investigation knowing how to read a scene or event, and Healing.

Now I am not going to bore you with all details of each but each of the following people have been moving around in my thinking for many years, so I do feel they deserve to be mentioned.

William Wilkes, General of the Continent and Commander of the Elite.
Billy as he likes to be called is the main male character in this part of the saga. He has taken on the responsibility of re-educating the whole military of the Continent into a new more accepting viewpoint concerning civilians.
Since the meteors destroyed most of the civilians leaders, this is a very huge undertaking, knowing not only are the civilians suspicious of the new military, but so the military as a whole.

Sheryl James Darans, is the creator of EDWARD the artificial intelligence which joins the continent into one. Sheryl, also known as Jamie finds herself suspicious of the new military and what the new leaders intend to do with EDWARD.

Shane Conners-Full circle Elite, which means he is even in most of his Elite abilities, but with Shane it is more, because he had natural strength that increased with the meteors.

Brent Merric-Son of General Rachel Merric, Mind probe Elite, and assistant to Billy.

Lily Brandon-Wife of General Jason Brandon, sisterly type to Billy and friend to Jamie.

Most everyone else changed over the thirty years it took to begin.

OK don't laugh over the picture, but sometimes I needed a bit of inspiration, especially when I needed that alone feeling. One day I went out an took several pictures and this is one which really brought that feeling alive. So here it is, does it make you feel lonely, because it worked for me.

My world is a planet much like Earth in the technical specs, consisting of the same percentage of water, land mass, one sun, one moon, but very different in other aspects.

The people of the Continent are separated into five territories, named very generally East, West, North, South, and Central. The New Continent which is the only other Continent on my world is divided up into four territories, Chardon, Bard, Cajol, and Strator. Then you have the small islands which scatter around the seas.

Each continent has been fighting externally and internally for eons. As the meteors approach the Continent finds a compromise, which will insure attacks from Territories of the New Continent will not benefit from their weakened condition after the meteors strike.

The Planet, Orbis uses the sun for energy, whether it be lights, heat, or propelling a vehicle, land or air. Nature is respected by creating items which are organic, even people do not litter the ground. Of course, Orbis has other reasons for using funeral fires other than burials.

Technology is an important advancement on the Continent, unlike the New Continent which utilizes some of the advancement but completely ignores others. Advancement and modernization is explored and expanded in every aspect, but only if it can coexist with nature.

One other main difference on Orbis is the creatures of the water. Dangerous creatures inhabit the waters of the planet. The Seas contain the largest and strongest, capable of eating a man whole, but they are also the slowest. Small rivers, and lakes contain a smaller creature capable of chewing your fingers or toes off. While deep lakes and large rivers contain the most dangerous, those that will group together for an attack, and are capable of coming up on the land after you, not far but far enough most people on the planet stay clear.

This picture was obtained from: http://www.publicdomainpictures.net
taken by: Petr Kratochvil
A wonderful site of Public domain pictures.