Prologue

"Man all those books they make us read for class are such a drag." The young man moans while walking down the busy street, a school bag slung lazily over his shoulder.

"Oh ya? It's not like you even bother doing most of the classwork for them, you just end up copying mine." The girl sighs as she walks alongside him - "Oh speaking of books - Have you heard about that one?" 

"Heard about which one?" 

"That new UnderCurrent book, what else was everyone talking about today with the pandemic is over?"

"Ha, who wants to read a book by choice, you're such a nerd Kris. I bet you loved being locked-down at home for all those months."

"What's that supposed to mean, and who says 'Nerd' anymore Dave" - Kris replied indignantly.
     She glanced away from her impassive friend, to look over at a massive billboard mounted to one of many tall concrete buildings, across the street from where the two youths walked;
     "Look over there, it's the poster for it!" Kris added, her excitement betraying any dissatisfaction she held for Dave's earlier comments.

Dave, a stout young man of 17, with a full head of scruffy black hair ending in a short dreadlock - Scrunched his tanned face as he skimmed over the large, imposing billboard. On about half of it was the cover of a novel with the words: "The UnderCurrent Experience"  - Although the other half was filled by the somewhat flamboyant, smiling expression of a slightly greying, smug-faced man - The type whose appearance seemed to embody the word 'aristocracy' in Dave's eyes.

He scoffed drawing his gaze away from the eyesore;
     "If it's some big historical book about 'aliens' or whatever, then what's that git's face doing plastered all over it?"

His conversing partner flushed at this comment, "That's Mr.Havelock he's famous. Even you must know that!"

Dave sighed ruefully, "Of course I know who he is, doesn't mean I like him. And anyway doesn't his name bein' on it prove it's all just a big media hoax? I mean the heck is the chances England of all places makes a machine, that 'NTME' thing, to let you see through the eyes of these 'alien-humans' - Who just so happen to be fighting some sort of Space-War, that is easily marketable for good book sales?
    Nah, I'll bet it's all just an ad-campaign for Netflix's next TV show."

Kris's expression gradually fell to one of a simmering rage, unsuited to her young face - Sweeping her long blond hair aside she lay into Dave's ignorance; "You are such a dolt David, not everything has to be some stupid conspiracy theory, the book was sanctioned by the King!      His Highness, how can that be fake? And for your information it isn't just a 'Space-War', it is a desperate, romantic struggle between two planets! A war of brave rebel forces, against the tyrannical ruling class, all from the eyes of a group of humble mech pilots. 
     It's all about fighting fate and romance and sacrifice, and, and --"

"Alright, alright enough with the lecture, all you're doin' is making it sound even more like a sales pitch! And by the way you should really tone back the nerdom, you are so into it." - The young man jeered, teasingly elbowing his companion lightly in the ribs.

Kris for her part blushed a bright crimson in response; "A-am not!"

"Are too. Or is it more 'Mr.Havelock, O-B-E'  that you like so much?"
     The young man said, grinning happily.

"Why are you always such an ass Dave!!" Kris shot back trying to hide her embarrassment.

The conversation continued on in much this manner for some time, as the two teenagers continued their carefree walk home from school - Down along the busy yet peaceful streets of old London town.
     Before long the talk of overzealous authors and fantastical books faded in favour of more important discussions of homework assignments due the next day, plans for the weekend and to the faint grilled-smell of a nearby chip-van, to be availed of on the duo's long walk home.

Of course the two, little more than children, had no way of knowing that just a half dozen blocks away, 'Thee UnderCurrent Project' continued, past even what the public was being informed of.
     No way of knowing that the novel Dave so dubiously discounted - Truly was an honest depiction of another human-like race's struggle in an interplanetary war - Of people little more than his own age fighting and dying - In a conflict on a scale unheard of in all Earth's entire history.

And indeed no way of knowing both the suffering of that people's world he so wilfully ignored, or the suffering that the UnderCurrent's discovery might yet bring to Earth if given enough time...