Species Seventeen (Humanity's Leap, #1)

Book One of
Humanity’s Leap
.

An alien artifact is discovered by an artificial intelligence owned by a small, autonomous mining corporation operating in the asteroid belt. After extensive reverse engineering, Galactic Planetary Resources develops technology that propels humanity to expand rapidly beyond Earth over the next sixty years. These advancements ultimately lead to another astonishing a transit gate hidden in Earth’s solar system for thousands of years—and now, it can be used.

A cast of engaging, well-developed characters aboard the corporate starship Audacious discover more than they ever dreamed possible, including the revelation that this isn’t the first time humanity has ventured into the stars.

A team of United Earth Hegemony Marines, led by Staff Sergeant Dixon, is requisitioned to assist Captain Rohit Mishra, scientist Irina Orlova, and others as they push the boundaries of what humanity can achieve—while trying to convince Earth’s government to let them do it.

Narrated in first person by CAIPARR, the sentient artificial intelligence owned by GPR, the novel explores the ethics of artificial intelligence, humanity’s existential beliefs, and the age-old should we do something, simply because we can?