Book excerpt: PROLOGUE TO THE CONTINUUM (The beginning of the Hykonian wars) The year is 6700 A.D. and a disarmed and disillusioned human race is lost in stagnation. Yet, there are a few humans in whom the primitive flame still burns. The ISMU miners sail the uncharted waters of their time. They are a rough crude lot governed only by the dictates of their union. The Diva is an ISMU superminer and her captain is Raef Maclear. Somewhere near the M31 galaxy, Raef Maclear will meet the Hykonians and find himself the last hope of the human race.