First Step

In a world where technology advances quickly, Dr. James Kentley makes a discovery that could alter the course of human history. A brilliant scientist specialising in miniaturisation and logic, James has always preferred the company of his work to people. His mistrust of corporate motivations has led him to work independently, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in high-performance electronics.

James improves on his logic processor while working for AI4U, a cutting-edge artificial intelligence company. The company's CEO, Harper Caldwell, is committed to improving their system's performance for an upcoming pitch to Martyn Analytics. But beneath the surface, Harper's involvement with WestProtect, a conservative think tank dedicated to protecting the Western way of life, adds a sinister undertone to the project.

James's world turns upside down when he stumbles upon an inexplicable anomaly - a gap in a particle trail within a cloud chamber. His curiosity piqued, James begins to investigate, only to find himself abruptly fired from AI4U by his supervisor. Determined to unravel the mystery, James turns to a university friend, Harry Barnes, founder of SplitQC, a quantum computing R&D firm.

With the help of Harry's brilliant team - Imogen Matthews, a gifted materials scientist, and Jerry Bos, an innovative AI designer and programmer - James delves deeper into the anomaly. What they uncover is beyond their wildest dreams: a technology with the potential to reshape the world for better or worse, depending on who controls it.

As awareness of their research is uncovered, James and his team find themselves in a high-stakes race against time. WestProtect, on their own and with help from the highest levels, will stop at nothing to acquire the technology, forcing James to confront his deep-seated trust issues and step into a leadership role he never imagined for himself.

The stakes escalate when Imogen is kidnapped, forcing James to acknowledge their growing bond. With renewed determination, he accelerates their research, driven by a daring plan to find a habitable planet on which they can continue their work beyond the reach of those who would misuse it.

As the team fends off increasingly aggressive attacks on their laboratory, they receive word of an impending assault by WestProtect's mercenaries. With only weeks to spare, they must locate a suitable planet, ensure its safety, and prepare for an unprecedented journey.

In a thrilling climax, James and his team, bolstered by unlikely allies and a crack unit from Australia's SAS Regiment, make their daring escape to Karma, a new world full of promise and peril. They activate their revolutionary stepping technology mere seconds before WestProtect's forces breach their facility, leaving behind nothing but a spinning metal lid as a testament to their incredible journey.