Dive into the electrifying saga of The Cerulean Ark, where the fate of the universe hangs in the balance. Follow the story of Bradley Adamsson, an ordinary individual who stumbles upon an extraordinary cosmic relic. This beacon of Utopian technology, originating from the distant Andromeda Galaxy, promises nothing short of miracle cures and the secret to eternal life. However, this celestial gift is a double-edged sword—it has the power not only to save but also to destroy, harboring capabilities for interstellar travel that defy imagination.
The discovery of the Ark ignites a global frenzy, as nations and hidden factions clash in a ruthless race for dominance. In the midst of this chaos, Bradley finds himself thrust from the shadows into the glaring spotlight, navigating a treacherous path filled with danger, conspiracy, and betrayal. As the world teeters on the edge of the abyss, Bradley is forced to make decisions that could either lead to groundbreaking revelations or usher in an era of unprecedented destruction.
Bound to the Ark, Bradley undergoes a transformation that intertwines his destiny with that of the universe. Haunted by the Ark’s cryptic messages and its unsettling claim that he is “suitable,” Bradley is driven to uncover the truth behind these enigmatic words. But the answers he seeks may bring him face to face with his greatest fears.
The Cerulean Ark is not just a story; it’s an adventure that spirals into the depths of love, courage, and the unknown. Embark on this thrilling journey with Bradley and discover what lies beyond the stars—where the quest for knowledge meets the heart’s deepest desires.
Reviews
“This book is perfect for anyone who likes adventure, mysteries, or a compelling story. I love that real scientific concepts were included throughout in an approachable way that added a very fascinating element to the story. Sci-fi fans and both young adult and adult readers will enjoy unraveling the mystery of The Cerulean Ark.”
Madison Y – Amazon Review
“I loved the story this took me on, and found the descriptions of space to be so beautiful. I also thought that Bacon did a wonderful job writing teenagers with depth and grace, and I found myself relating to them and genuinely worrying for them the whole book. I really enjoyed this book, and think that for sci fi lovers or newbies to the genre alike, this is a wonderful read and I am glad I picked it up.”
Shelby Harrison – Amazon Review
“In The Cerulean Ark, Terry Bacon takes readers on a whirlwind of an adventure. This novel will capture your attention from the first few sentences to the final pages. Terry paints such an interesting adventure for the high school trio, Bradley, Axel, and Evaline, as they solve a dangerous and enthralling mystery…”
Katlyn Sallai – Amazon Review
“Terry Bacon’s The Cerulean Ark launches you into an odyssey that intertwines the thrill of adventure with the complexities of personal growth. From the moment Bradley’s life takes a drastic turn, the narrative grips you with its magnetic pull. Set against the backdrop of a world thrust into chaos by the discovery of a celestial relic, Bacon crafts a tale where nations and clandestine organizations fight for control over otherworldly powers.”
KLG – Amazon Review
“In The Cerulean Ark, genres overlap to tell the story of a terminally ill teenage boy whose discovery threatens to alter the course of humanity. The author combines the challenges of young adulthood (bullying, longing for connection, nervous excitement about the future, self-esteem) with classic science fiction elements (UFOs, aliens, advanced technology).”
Susan – Amazon Review
“This is a great sci-fi adventure with memorable characters that you’ll root for. Even if you’re not typically a fan of sci-fi, I’d recommend giving this one a chance. The science is not too hard to follow and is explained really well, plus the elements of adventure and love provide a little something for everyone. It’s a page-turner that will have you on the edge of your seat till the very end!”
Shannon Johnson – Amazon Review
“This story had me at the edge of my seat until the very end, wondering how it would all wrap up.”
Amy Mahlke – Amazon Review
“This is such a fun, well-written read, with references to modern pop culture that readers of YA fiction will be sure to enjoy!”
Wilson W – Amazon Review
“The Cerulean Ark is a captivating read that will appeal to sci-fi enthusiasts and newcomers alike. With its blend of gripping adventure, heartfelt emotion, and thought-provoking themes, this book was one of my favorites in recent memory!”
Abhinav – Amazon Review
“With its richly drawn characters, pulse-pounding plot twists, and thought-provoking themes, this gripping tale will linger in the minds of readers long after the final page is turned. Terry has crafted a true masterpiece—a thrilling odyssey that dares to explore the depths of the cosmos and the depths of the human soul.”
Spartan – Amazon Review
“One of the most striking aspects of this novel is its easy-to-read style, with short, catchy chapters that keep you hooked from start to finish. Bacon’s storytelling effortlessly weaves together elements of science fiction, adventure, and suspense, creating a narrative that is both captivating and thought-provoking.”
Ligia Recinos – Amazon Review
“This book is an absolute thrill ride from start to finish! It combines the excitement of a science fiction epic with the relatable struggles of its main character, Bradley, making it impossible to put down. I was hooked from the opening scene, which masterfully sets up the mystery and adventure that follows.”
Holly – Amazon Review
Excerpt
Chapter 6
The meteorite struck in a rugged, remote area of the Angeles National Forest east of Pasadena, scaring the living hell out of ten million residents of Los Angeles County. Witnesses said it streaked straight down like lightning, causing an instant flash of fire from the cloudless blue to the dark green forest in the San Gabriel Mountains. A massive explosion followed—shredded trees, rocks, and dirt blown a quarter mile from the impact site. A roiling, brown cloud rose a thousand feet and mushroomed ominously while a thunderous, rolling boom, louder than a hundred jet engines, peeled open the sky and left it shuddering. Thank God it hadn’t struck a populated area, people cried. Thousands could have been killed. As it was, windows shattered as far as twelve miles away, the sonic boom rupturing the eardrums of people outdoors nearest the point of impact. The GPS system failed countywide during the event but recovered as the mushroom cloud rose.
Within six miles of the strike, products on supermarket and retail store shelves shimmied like drunken dancers onto the floor. Loose objects made of iron, nickel, or ferromagnetic alloys zipped toward the impact zone, lifting off desks, tables, and counters. Within two miles of the strike, they crashed through windows and zoomed toward the site only to drop seconds later as though they’d run out of gas. Vehicles on Interstates 210 and 15 careened into each other, freaked-out drivers terrified that an earthquake or nuclear attack had occurred. Los Angeles County deputies responded quickly, but Sheriff Federico Veracruz called for assistance from state troopers and local police to handle more than five hundred accidents on freeways and streets throughout the county. Few life-threatening injuries occurred in the multiple car pileups, but a dozen county residents suffered heart attacks, and area hospitals and urgent care facilities were overwhelmed with glass cuts, abrasions, broken bones, and thousands of rattled residents demanding Xanax as panic reigned.
Seismic sensors at the U.S. Geological Survey recorded an event of 6.2 on the Richter scale, which scientists initially believed was an earthquake near the junction of the San Andreas and San Jacinto faults, but an earthquake didn’t cause that streak of fire in the sky, create a mushroom cloud, or attract metal objects like a magnet. The first responders at the impact site were Angeles Forest rangers, followed quickly by LA County deputies, who found the impact crater still smoldering. It was more than three hundred feet wide and was, they guessed, at least two hundred feet deep. Nearly symmetrical, it looked like someone had removed a half-spherical section of earth with a giant ice cream scoop. Trees within two hundred yards of the perimeter were flattened, blown outward, limbs burned black, and, farther out, singed. Smoke billowed from dozens of small fires around the crater. Forest Supervisor Dennis Marchbanks ordered in fire crews, although recent rains and slight winds made a larger conflagration unlikely.
Two hours after the impact, scientists from nearby Jet Propulsion Laboratory were combing the scene for space rock fragments and other residue that could shed light on the composition of the meteorite. They were struck immediately by the unusual condition of the soil in and around the impact crater. Tiny black needles two inches long, barely one hundred microns thick, rimmed the crater and extended as far into the pit as they could see—hundreds of needles per square inch, pointing skyward, arrayed in parallel, like a dense cluster of rigid black bristles shot into the ground. They were like nothing the scientists had ever seen. Similar needles were found on the nearest tree trunks, shattered limbs, and blackened branches around the perimeter of the crater, the wood having been carved into sharp arrays of burnt needles pointing skyward. Radiation counters detected no unusual radioactivity, nothing beyond normal background radiation. Still, the scientists donned white hazmat suits and blue booties before taking soil samples and photographing those mysterious black needles. At 3:42 pm, helicopters swooped in from the Air Force Space Command’s Missile Systems Center in El Segundo and discharged Lt. Colonel Aubrey Randall and a dozen USAF Security police with assault rifles. Randall informed first responders that this was now a restricted military site and ordered it sealed until a thorough investigation could be conducted.
When Marchbanks was satisfied that his crews had mitigated the fire danger, he ordered them out of the cordoned area that county deputies and Air Force Security Forces had erected. Then he took a call from his headquarters in Arcadia. CNN was playing a video of the meteorite strike taken by a tourist with her cell phone. The amateur videographer was Dorothy Ware from Boise, Idaho. While visiting her sister in nearby Monrovia, she and her husband, Ron, were having brunch with friends in Pasadena, and Dorothy was shooting a video in their backyard when the meteorite struck. She caught the streak of light and explosion and kept shooting until the shock wave knocked her off her feet. Thinking they’d struck gold, Ron sold the video online for a quick thousand bucks. The video went viral and, within hours, had over fifty million views.
It took USAF Security Forces investigators an hour to locate the Wares and commandeer Dorothy Ware’s cell phone. By 8:25 that evening, her phone was in a lab at JPL where video technician Susanna Howard examined it while the rest of the impromptu JPL-USAF team discussed the event in a conference room nearby. Susanna knew what had happened, having seen the reports on local news channels, and was giddy that she’d been chosen to examine the original cell phone footage. She sat in the darkness of her lab, brushing long red hairs from her eyes as she transferred the digital video to her computer. She regretted that the resolution was only 1080p. Newer phones were 4K, which would have yielded a sharper image, but you work with what you have. When the video came up, she played it all the way through. After the impact and explosion, Dorothy Ware panned upward and filmed the trail of fire high into the atmosphere. Before playing it again, Susanna edited out the quaint family and friends barbecue footage to yield a clip 13.5 seconds long showing the meteorite strike and explosive impact. The explosion was so massive and startling that she almost missed the anomaly. It happened so quickly. But something isn’t right, Susanna realized. She played the clip again, slower. That can’t be, she thought. Is that an optical illusion?
She studied the footage again, this time in super slow motion. “Oh my God,” she muttered. “What in the holy hell?” She brought up a digital map of the area and measured the distance between Mrs. Ware’s barbecue and the impact crater. Then she measured the angle from the barbecue to the top of the stream of fire and, compensating for the differences in elevation between the barbecue and the impact crater, calculated the altitude of that stream of fire as well as the object’s velocity. Her hand began shaking as she studied the result. What she found was impossible, so she checked her math. She’d been at the lab seven years and four months and loved it there. She didn’t want to make a career-ending mistake. So she ran the calculations a third time and then a fourth, yielding the same result. Her mouth dry, she stood on rubber legs and wobbled next door—drunk on a hot cocktail of one part doubt and two parts astonishment.
“Guys,” she blurted to a mixed group of men and women, a common way to address colleagues. Then she saw the blue uniform and insignia of a three-star Air Force general in the room, a woman. She coughed into her hand and started again. “Ladies and gentlemen, this wasn’t a meteorite. Whatever it was did not fall from space. It flew up from the ground so fast it might’ve looked like a meteorite, but it wasn’t.”
For a moment, everyone in the room forgot to breathe. Then Lt. General Stephanie Vaughan scrunched her eyebrows. “It was launched from the ground?”
“Yes, ma’am. The digital image is blurry but unmistakable. This thing went up, not down. I triangulated from the photographer’s position to the impact site and up as far as the streak of light extended around a hundred thousand feet. This object, whatever it was, rose at more than thirty thousand miles an hour. Thirty-four thousand, to be exact.”
“That’s impossible,” General Vaughan said.
“I know,” Susanna said. “It’s forty-four times the speed of sound.”
“Mach forty-four? Nothing can fly that fast,” said Ross Lefaye, JPL’s Deputy Director.
“Something did,” Susanna replied.