This might or might not come as a surprise to the regular readers of this most peculiar of sci-fi space operas, but given my incredibly mercurial posting schedule, the most ardent amongst you might have spotted this quite a distance away. This is goodbye -at least for a time-, but the "time" might be a long duration. I have too many obligations (and to be completely transparent, mental health issues) in my personal life to keep writing this story as of now. This is not something I do lightly. I kept writing through nerve-damage in one of my arms, kept writing through some of the worst mental health issues I've ever dealt with. But now, I need to pause this. As somewhat alluded to by forum posts, and assorted comments here and there, I am a PhD-candidate at a relatively prestigious and notable university in the UK, and I need to focus on completing my degree.

  I wish I could tell you all when I will return, but alas, I cannot. Just know that "How the Stars Turned Red" is in many ways my escapism that other, more traditional media cannot provide. It allows me to slip into my mind palace and cook up how a society given my quite specific social, moral, and indeed political proclivities, would look. And to all of you who've read my slightly rambling and slightly schizo writing, Ευχαριστ? πολ?, thank you so much. The feeling of waking up and seeing a new comment on my latest posted chapter is close to the best endorphin-injection ever.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  There will be no long "what could have been/what I had planned" list of events. Because I intend with every fibre of my being to return to this story. We leave on the verge of a major showdown in the Vistula System, with Artemisia hosting a party for the Conservative associates, Edward starting to experience changes he cannot entirely account for, Adea knowing she is going into the Royal Navy come the autumn, and with the Alliance and the Royal Union headed towards a major clash concerning the Corridor. I will leave you with the teaser of what the next few chapters were going to be called: We've had "Chapter 52: Preludium", the next is "Andante", the next "Allegro con Brio", and then "Battle of Vistula Order of Battle". If anyone have noted the "QW-Day" countdown in the last chapters, feel free to leave a comment.

  See you among the stars, sailor.

  Regards, Mithradates Dionysos Eupator, Epiphanes Soter