This is the second novella in the collection, but it is set before The Retreat in terms of the timeline.
Before the world of The Retreat became possible the systematic destruction and robbery of the poorer parts of the world had to stop.
So the armies of the well-armed rapacious multinational companies, otherwise known as the Western nation states, had to change what they were doing.
Meet the small band of people, and the nascent AI, Sally, who began this process. Watch Sally become conscious and develop a conscience. Meet her friends M’aq and Penweather on the blasted edge of the hungry desert.
It’s available here.
Read an excerpt.