Forging Rome: The Prequel to Rome's Revolution (The Rome's Revolution Series)

Before she could change humanity, she had to awaken to herself.

Rome was born a half blood in a futuristic telepathic society that rejects anything imperfect. She grows up under a quiet bigotry that teaches her to stay small and unseen. Gifted with a sixth sense that lets her see future possibilities, Rome becomes a threat to a culture built on conformity. Her expulsion from the Data Synthesist Academy proves what she has always feared: excellence is dangerous and brilliance is unwelcome. It is one of many moments that begin to forge the woman she will one day become.

When her father disappears at sea, the Overmind tries to smother her grief. Rome’s humanity breaks through. Her psychic scream tears open the emotional veil, bringing back color, sensation, and the full weight of her pain. It is the moment she stops being controlled.

Commander Ursay discovers her abilities and takes her along on the deep space mission to Tabit to learn why a star named Winfall disappeared. Rome boards the starship Algol carrying the weight of her past into the unknown. However, the star never disappears, so the mission is deemed a failure. The crew at Dara Base, a small outpost on a moon in the Tabit system, are packing up to return home when everything changes. The ancient Ark II comes barreling into the system and turns the quiet outpost upside down.

The arrival of the Ark II sets in motion the events that will soon bring Rome face to face with Rei, the catalyst who will ignite her rise as the mother of a new civilization.