Here is a sample of some of the material I've been working on . . this snippet is a from a pre-holocaust story taking place on the planet Canceria and is a forerunner for a series in progress generally titled Flight Instructor. I'm interested to know what you think of the idea. I've always wanted to write some BSG stories occuring in the periphery . . . Feedback welcome, Kerry Tan-tul-lah Lilith and Tyro cleared the table of utensils and dinnerware after the evening repast and loaded the autowash. Then Tyro and his brother Rellon went to the parlor, sat in comfortable chairs and lit fumarellos while their cousin Nephus and Lilith began their usual bantering conversation. It was more of a debate than a discussion or conversation. "What do you know of my people other than that we are witches from Mount Lupus who must be feared and avoided?" Lilith baited the young cadet, only a few yahren older than herself. "I know of The Great Pyramid of Tantulla," he countered. "What do you know of it or of the Great City?" "Tan-tul-lah." The name smoothly rolled off of Tyro's tongue. Lilith flashed the young flight instructor a warm smile, then turned back to Nephus. "And what do you know of Tan-tul-lah?" "I know that the city and the Great Pyramid were built by the Lords of Kobol when they arrived here after the Great Exodus." "A tale spun by those of Kobollian descent." "No-!" "The city and the pyramid were built my people- the Tan-tul- lah long before the Lords of Kobol came here." "No, Rella-" The youth attempted to protest. "My name is Lilith!" She hissed her reminder and her deep green eyes penetrated and pierced his soul. He averted his gaze. "It was built by the Lords of Kobol!" Nephus shot back. His voice excited, angry and shrill. "Is Tan-tul-lah a Kobollian word?" Lilith shot back sharply. "Is it a Cancerian word?" "No- I-" Tyro exhaled a large cloud of grey smoke. "It is a Cancerian word," he said softly pointing his fumarello at the two youths. "It is Native Cancerian." "How would you know that, Cousin?" Nephus challenged, his face reddening. "Did she tell you that?" "No." Tyro rose from his chair and crossed the room to a small bookcase in the corner. He slipped a golden, metallic- bound book from the stacks on the top shelf. Embossed on the front cover was a large, four-sided pyramid and a star cupped in a cresent moon. Tyro reverently traced the outline of the pyramid with his right index finger, then turned toward Lilith and Nephus. "It's all here, Nephus," Tyro said softly and handed the tome to his cousin. "The Tan-tul-lah did arrive on Canceria long before the Lords." "No, that- that's not the Book of the Word!" "Listen, Cousin," Tyro said firmly in his best flight instructor tone. "You must realize that the universe is very old and vast, and in comparison, Kobollians and Cancerians are really newcomers in the cosmic scheme. "The Lords were not the first to traverse the starlanes and found civilizations on the habitable worlds they discovered in space. We Cancerians, the Tan-tul-lah, and the Lords are part of a bigger family- that of humankind. What we do is ride the stars and walk the light,* explore, spread our seed and build civilizations- everywhere!- no matter which branch of the tree of humankind we grow out from. No matter if we be Tan-tul-lah, Kobollian, or cancerian, that's what we do. That is our purpose. And we would be doing that now if the Cylons were not the chains which have restrained us in a thousand yahren of warfare." "Nephus nodded mutely." "May I see the book?" Lilith asked softly. Nephus passed the tome to the young woman's outstretched hands; she reverently cradled the book to her breast and looked up at Tyro with her intense, questioning and magnetic, green eyes." "How did you come in possession of this tome, Silver Boy**?" Tyro shrugged. "Is it important, Lilith?" "Yes. To me it is." "During my convalescence following my capture by the Cylons a woman came to Canceria Capital City. She gave me this book in exchange for work and shelter. She told me that she would give the book only to a person whom she knew had an open mind and could be trusted. She also told me that this person had to be able to comprehend and grow beyond national or planetary origins . . . that it was important to recognise, accept, and embrace the fact that all life is of one source and springs from the same single source. Her name was Petra." "Petra was my aunt, Tyro." The girl whispered reverently. "I remember seeing this book when I was a child. Please tell me more . . . " To be continued . . . * Thanks to Paul Kantner * Nickname Lilith gave to Tyro, pilot and flight instructor. Also thanks to Paul Kantner.