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Astral Prime #8
Multiversal Truth: Mission 8
The search for Truth meets the fight for dominance.
In the aftermath of the station's invasion, Hiroko tries to rally the survivors around a new religion: hers. Combining her knowledge of anthropology with her alien enlightenment, she hopes to bring the galaxy together in spiritual awakening. Meanwhile, Cedric delves into the origins of the stations attackers, seeking a deeper understanding of why they came in the first place.
And while both of them are occupied down on the planet's surface, Roland Kane is poised to seize control of Astral Prime—to a chorus of cheers from the inhabitants.
Multiversal Truth is the eighth book in the Black Ocean: Astral Prime series. It hearkens back to location-based space sci-fi classics like Babylon 5 and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Astral Prime builds on the rich Black Ocean universe, introducing a colorful cast of characters for new and returning readers alike. Come along for the ride as a minor outpost in the middle of nowhere becomes a key point of interstellar conflict.
In the aftermath of the station's invasion, Hiroko tries to rally the survivors around a new religion: hers. Combining her knowledge of anthropology with her alien enlightenment, she hopes to bring the galaxy together in spiritual awakening. Meanwhile, Cedric delves into the origins of the stations attackers, seeking a deeper understanding of why they came in the first place.
And while both of them are occupied down on the planet's surface, Roland Kane is poised to seize control of Astral Prime—to a chorus of cheers from the inhabitants.
Multiversal Truth is the eighth book in the Black Ocean: Astral Prime series. It hearkens back to location-based space sci-fi classics like Babylon 5 and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Astral Prime builds on the rich Black Ocean universe, introducing a colorful cast of characters for new and returning readers alike. Come along for the ride as a minor outpost in the middle of nowhere becomes a key point of interstellar conflict.
148 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 27, 2019
3 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
J.S. Morin
193 books612 followersI am a creator of worlds and a destroyer of words. As a fantasy writer, my works range from traditional epics to futuristic fantasy with starships. I have worked as an unpaid Little League pitcher, a cashier, a student library aide, a factory grunt, a cubicle drone, and an engineer--there is some overlap in the last two.
Through it all, though, I was always a storyteller. Eventually I started writing books based on the stray stories in my head, and people kept telling me to write more of them. Now, that's all I do for a living.
I enjoy strategy, worldbuilding, and the fantasy author's privilege to make up words. I am a gamer, a joker, and a thinker of sideways thoughts. But I don't dance, can't sing, and my best artistic efforts fall short of your average notebook doodle. When you read my books, you are seeing me at my best.
My ultimate goal is to be both clever and right at the same time. I have it on good authority that I have yet to achieve it.
Through it all, though, I was always a storyteller. Eventually I started writing books based on the stray stories in my head, and people kept telling me to write more of them. Now, that's all I do for a living.
I enjoy strategy, worldbuilding, and the fantasy author's privilege to make up words. I am a gamer, a joker, and a thinker of sideways thoughts. But I don't dance, can't sing, and my best artistic efforts fall short of your average notebook doodle. When you read my books, you are seeing me at my best.
My ultimate goal is to be both clever and right at the same time. I have it on good authority that I have yet to achieve it.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 3, 2020
Multiversal Truth is a fascinating episode of Astral Prime, continuing multiple storylines, that of Fujita, and her rise to the position of Prophet amongst the people on the station, Cedric and his continued search for understanding amongst the Vaieen tec, Kane’s nonstop attempts to take control of Astral Prime, with the help of his onboard visitors, and then there are the other semi-major characters, Kendra, trying to get her old Fujita back, and look after the station in the meantime, Myo Tam and her search for understanding of Humanity, as well as being a good diplomat, and most recently, a good Stuunji, taking the fight to others. There are also several other minor plots lurking around.
Several plotlines start to culminate in this episode, coming together to put all the pieces together for those that haven’t quite figured it out.
Fujita continues to try and create a new religion as a Prophet, after having been resurrected, but it is in this episode, that we finally get a real understanding of her motivations, and the reasons for this.
When Cedric decides to allow visits to Shadow Planet again, and Fujita visits the planet, and decides to stay for a while, Kane and his onboard crew, decide to make their move, using the Nishta to take control of Astral Prime.
Fujita however, decides that she has to have Astral Prime as hers for a position of power for her Religion, or things will go badly.
Whilst on Shadow Planet, Fujita and Cedric have several interactions, and Cedric realises that there is actually a lot more to Fujita than he originally thought since she has been resurrected.
Multiversal Truth is the culmination of several storylines, as well as several lines of thought by the main characters, Cedric’s research into the Vaieen, Fujita’s rise as a Prophet, and Kane’s skulking around, trying to find the right time to seize control of the station, as well as several factions of Vaieen trying to take back Shadow Planet, as they know that there is a truly horrendous entity coming, something that has been awoken, that was seen in a previous episode, and is now on its way to this Universe, and nothing has the power to stop it. Considering the Vaieen are terrified of it, Humanity should be so scared there isn’t yet a word to describe that level of fear.
This is such a great series, it started out as a rather simple series, searching for a way to survive after ‘Crash Day’, then finding Shadow Planet, and now, they may be looking at the greatest threat the Universe has ever known.
The character work continues to grow, with each of the major characters becoming more and more fascinating with each episode, from Fujita as the Vaieen fueled Prophet, to the unmasking and learning of Jace Jarvis, and the growth of Myo Tam, each character is brilliant, even Kane is awesome in his lust for power.
Black Ocean continues to deliver one of the best Mil Sci-Fi series out there, with amazing stories and characters, and everybody should have this on their current or TBR lists.
Several plotlines start to culminate in this episode, coming together to put all the pieces together for those that haven’t quite figured it out.
Fujita continues to try and create a new religion as a Prophet, after having been resurrected, but it is in this episode, that we finally get a real understanding of her motivations, and the reasons for this.
When Cedric decides to allow visits to Shadow Planet again, and Fujita visits the planet, and decides to stay for a while, Kane and his onboard crew, decide to make their move, using the Nishta to take control of Astral Prime.
Fujita however, decides that she has to have Astral Prime as hers for a position of power for her Religion, or things will go badly.
Whilst on Shadow Planet, Fujita and Cedric have several interactions, and Cedric realises that there is actually a lot more to Fujita than he originally thought since she has been resurrected.
Multiversal Truth is the culmination of several storylines, as well as several lines of thought by the main characters, Cedric’s research into the Vaieen, Fujita’s rise as a Prophet, and Kane’s skulking around, trying to find the right time to seize control of the station, as well as several factions of Vaieen trying to take back Shadow Planet, as they know that there is a truly horrendous entity coming, something that has been awoken, that was seen in a previous episode, and is now on its way to this Universe, and nothing has the power to stop it. Considering the Vaieen are terrified of it, Humanity should be so scared there isn’t yet a word to describe that level of fear.
This is such a great series, it started out as a rather simple series, searching for a way to survive after ‘Crash Day’, then finding Shadow Planet, and now, they may be looking at the greatest threat the Universe has ever known.
The character work continues to grow, with each of the major characters becoming more and more fascinating with each episode, from Fujita as the Vaieen fueled Prophet, to the unmasking and learning of Jace Jarvis, and the growth of Myo Tam, each character is brilliant, even Kane is awesome in his lust for power.
Black Ocean continues to deliver one of the best Mil Sci-Fi series out there, with amazing stories and characters, and everybody should have this on their current or TBR lists.
June 4, 2022
All these ran together and I didn't update. But we find the reason there's multiple earths gotta fight extra-universal aliens and the ancients who created us. In the end sacrifice for the many saves the whole universe.
July 27, 2023
Great book love the story and the book narration can’t wait to listen to the next one I highly recommend it
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖😀👍
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖😀👍
June 17, 2024
Cedric and the director meet and Kane take advantage of her absence to enact a coupe. This is the best part of the series, so far.
January 17, 2025
2.5 stars
March 18, 2020
I'm eager to see how the series resolves.
September 12, 2019
This episode opens on a tense multilateral stand-off. Kain is back on Astral Prime, but he obviously wants more than his old maintenance job back, and he's got a troop of alien wizards at his beck and call. What will he do? What is he waiting for?
Hiroko is gathering adherents faster than a pope on a plague ship. Will she challenge Kain? Will she declare herself the official religion of the galaxy?
Cedric may now be the only person in the system who can still stand up to Hiroko, plus he feels a bit responsible for what she has become. Will he... CONTAIN her while he still can?
The Vaieen have suffered a defeat, but SOMETHING is obviously still "out there." What is it, and how long do our heroes have?
Add to that: Kendra is heartbroken but effectively in charge of the station. The 333 mercenary company are now without contract, and are like a loaded weapon that someone has left lying around. And Myo Tam just wants to be helpful.
I can't say more without giving too much away, but with starting conditions like that, you know it's going to be explosive. This series keeps getting better and better. Now I'm going to stop writing because I can't wait to start the next book!
Recommended for fans of the very best episodes of Deep Space 9.
Hiroko is gathering adherents faster than a pope on a plague ship. Will she challenge Kain? Will she declare herself the official religion of the galaxy?
Cedric may now be the only person in the system who can still stand up to Hiroko, plus he feels a bit responsible for what she has become. Will he... CONTAIN her while he still can?
The Vaieen have suffered a defeat, but SOMETHING is obviously still "out there." What is it, and how long do our heroes have?
Add to that: Kendra is heartbroken but effectively in charge of the station. The 333 mercenary company are now without contract, and are like a loaded weapon that someone has left lying around. And Myo Tam just wants to be helpful.
I can't say more without giving too much away, but with starting conditions like that, you know it's going to be explosive. This series keeps getting better and better. Now I'm going to stop writing because I can't wait to start the next book!
Recommended for fans of the very best episodes of Deep Space 9.
October 30, 2019
Another great entry in the ASTRAL PRIME series set within the BLACK OCEAN.
The station has survived yet another attack, but resources are getting thin and tempers are flaring. Guardian has caught the attention of creatures and beings of power and destruction and is trying everything within his growing abilities to stop the potential end of...everything. Meanwhile, the "Prophet" Hiroko has plans to join every race and civilization in the galaxy together to create a new era of peace while preparing for the arrival of the enemy. In other words... just another day in the Black Ocean.
Jeff Morin and Matt Larkin continue to drive the story of the ASTRAL PRIME forward building upon the last story and increasing the tension and terror that they have been putting the players in their universe through. While this is the second collaborative effort between Larkin and Morin, it is their first set in the BLACK OCEAN. The proposed 12 books in this series joins the 16 from the original and the proposed 12 from the MERCY FOR HIRE spinoff series to entertain readers in their expanding universe.
The station has survived yet another attack, but resources are getting thin and tempers are flaring. Guardian has caught the attention of creatures and beings of power and destruction and is trying everything within his growing abilities to stop the potential end of...everything. Meanwhile, the "Prophet" Hiroko has plans to join every race and civilization in the galaxy together to create a new era of peace while preparing for the arrival of the enemy. In other words... just another day in the Black Ocean.
Jeff Morin and Matt Larkin continue to drive the story of the ASTRAL PRIME forward building upon the last story and increasing the tension and terror that they have been putting the players in their universe through. While this is the second collaborative effort between Larkin and Morin, it is their first set in the BLACK OCEAN. The proposed 12 books in this series joins the 16 from the original and the proposed 12 from the MERCY FOR HIRE spinoff series to entertain readers in their expanding universe.
August 27, 2019
There is a conference taking place on Shadow Planet where delegates from Astral Prime are in attendance and Hiroko is the keynote speaker, as the prophet. Her words will leave a great impact. Some will take her words to heart in a good way, some in a fearful way.
Meanwhile, on the station, Kane is making nice with the civilians when he realizes "Princess Nepotism" doesn't return on the shuttle. He decides this is the perfect time to pull off his coup to take over the station.
While Hiroko's conference arc moves along a bit slowly, the addition of the action of Kane's takeover arc makes up for all the sacrosanct language of the Prophet.
After that the book moves along at a very nice clip. Showcasing characters such as Jace, Zoti, Kendra and Myo Tam.
Knowing how this mission ends and not wanting to give anything away, I look forward to further episodes to see how things end up for Astral Prime, Shadow Planet and the Black Ocean.
Meanwhile, on the station, Kane is making nice with the civilians when he realizes "Princess Nepotism" doesn't return on the shuttle. He decides this is the perfect time to pull off his coup to take over the station.
While Hiroko's conference arc moves along a bit slowly, the addition of the action of Kane's takeover arc makes up for all the sacrosanct language of the Prophet.
After that the book moves along at a very nice clip. Showcasing characters such as Jace, Zoti, Kendra and Myo Tam.
Knowing how this mission ends and not wanting to give anything away, I look forward to further episodes to see how things end up for Astral Prime, Shadow Planet and the Black Ocean.
August 29, 2019
Glory be, J.S. Morin and M.A. Larkin are back with a new Black Ocean: Astral Prime “mission”, Multiversal Truth: Mission 8. And that means another wildly fun ride of an action packed superbly written story full of great characters, from Horoko, Cedric and Roland on down. Now, I was a huge fan of both Babylon 5 and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (yes, I’m old enough to have watched both on original airing - and then repeatedly on the Internet), so I feel I have the expertise to confirm that the publisher’s blurb is right comparing this series to them. Astral Prime really does have the “feel” of those shows. From me that is a high complement. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises. The book definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the book is most definitely one to read, and it is easy to highly recommend. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.
August 27, 2019
Everyone has an agenda. It is a cynical fact of life. The same is true of the heroes and villains aboard and around Astral Prime. Whether that agenda relates to personal power and growth and ambition, or to a personal enlightenment is really up to the person and their character. However this installment in the ongoing Astral Prime saga lays bare the ambition and intention of many of the beloved and intrepid residents. Machinations and plots are reveled as players make their moves. While this book does not hold the action quotient of the previous volume, it makes up for it by allowing us to see inside the personal motivations of so many of the cast, and to finally get a glimpse of what they are working toward, or away from. This definitely sets the stage for the next installment, and the action that is yet to come.
August 29, 2019
Many of the characters continue to evolve in ways that would have surprised them at the beginning of the series, while some (such as our power-hungry and somewhat oblivious Kane) haven't found change to their benefit. Things grow more violent, and circumstances more dire as the threat of annihilation looms ever closer; a threat potentially slowed or even shielded against if people simply shared information rather than assume others weren't ready for or capable of handling their Truths. That lack of trust and belief might spell the end of life in the Black Ocean.
August 27, 2019
Well, shoot
You know it's a bad sign when the vaieen are no longer the scariest things out there. This was definitely an interesting close to this set of missions, if clearly not the end of the story. There was, as always, a lot of clever dialog that I enjoyed, and it's always fun to see the stakes go up. It did feel to some extent like a smaller part of a bigger story instead of it's own arc, but it was enjoyable. I look forward to the next mission pack when it comes out.
You know it's a bad sign when the vaieen are no longer the scariest things out there. This was definitely an interesting close to this set of missions, if clearly not the end of the story. There was, as always, a lot of clever dialog that I enjoyed, and it's always fun to see the stakes go up. It did feel to some extent like a smaller part of a bigger story instead of it's own arc, but it was enjoyable. I look forward to the next mission pack when it comes out.
August 27, 2019
What a way to wrap up missing pack 2. The various things that have been set in motion are coming to their fruition. That turns out to not be a good thing.
Lots of page turning action to usher in the end of the universe.
Lots of page turning action to usher in the end of the universe.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews