Illuminae

Kaufman, Amie and Jay Kristoff. Illuminae. Book 1 of the Illuminae Files. 2015. 599p. ISBN  978-0-553-49911-7. Available at FIC KAU on the library shelves.

The world ends today. Literally. Kady is breaking up with Ezra over their plans post graduation. She wants to leave this rock of a planet on the far corner of the galaxy, and he wishes to stay here. He’s got his reasons, but he won’t tell her what those are. But as if breaking up wasn’t hard enough, the planet is invaded by Beitech troops ready to kill the illegal settlers of this mining colony. Beitech fighters roar overhead and drop bombs while ground soldiers fire on civilians. Ezra and Kady manage to escape the planet and are brought about a United Terrean Alliance fleet, consisting of a battle cruiser, the Alexander, a science vessel, the Hypatia,  and a cargo ship, the Copernicus. Several thousands colonists are rescued. Unfortunately, the colony was bombed with a prototype biogenetic weapon, and many of the colonists are infected.

The evacuation of Kerenza proceeded while the Alexander was busy defending the fleet from four Beitech warships. The Alexander suffered significant damage, and its artificial intelligence, Aidan, is damaged and is making erratic decisions. With the ship unable to jump in hyperspace, the entire fleet must travel to Heimdall space station where a permanent jumpgate awaits. Unfortunately, one of the Beitech warships, the Lincoln, survived and is in pursuit.

At the end of the day, two people who did not want to talk to each other are now together on a spaceship being chased. With the death of military personnel in the battle colonists are conscripted in the military, and Ezra is sent to the Alexander to become a pilot. Though a great computer hacker, Kady is judged to be too volatile and remains on the Hypatia. But as the plague spreads throughout the fleet, as the Lincoln slowly catches up, and as Aidan’s health and processing deteriorates, the prognostic for survival is low. Kady hacks into the computer grid and realizes that the fleet’s chances to successfully reach Heimdall are dwindling, and that military command is not being honest with the troops. With the situation worsening and Aidan making autonomous deadly decisions, Kady has no choice but to reconnect with Ezra in an attempt to salvage what’s left of the Kerenza colonists. Can she forget Ezra long enough to help save the fleet?

The story continues in Gemina.