Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 88,89 (click to see context) from:
** Series/TheATeam: [[spoiler: I just love it when a plan comes together!]]
** Literature/HarryPotter, Franchise/StarTrek, StarWars, many many tropes by name... and TV Tropes itself.
** Literature/HarryPotter, Franchise/StarTrek, StarWars, many many tropes by name... and TV Tropes itself.
to:
** Series/TheATeam: ''Series/TheATeam'': [[spoiler: I just love it when a plan comes together!]]
**Literature/HarryPotter, Franchise/StarTrek, StarWars, ''Literature/HarryPotter'', ''Franchise/StarTrek'', ''Franchise/StarWars'', many many tropes by name... and TV Tropes itself.
**
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Changed line(s) 9,10 (click to see context) from:
Lacuna is a science fiction story series set [[TwentyMinutesInTheFuture Twenty Minutes In The Future]] by David Adams, with the first being [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006RZNR3Y/ "Demons of the Void"]]. The plot of the first novel centers around aliens arriving and blowing up three cities on Earth, so Humanity builds three starships to go out into space with the aim of finding out why, and preventing it from happening again. Primarily told through the eyes of Captain Melissa Liao and her ship, the ''TFR Beijing''. The series is one of harder science fiction stories, scoring a 4/4.5 on MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness.
to:
Lacuna is a hard science fiction story series set [[TwentyMinutesInTheFuture Twenty Minutes In The Future]] by David Adams, with the first being [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006RZNR3Y/ "Demons of the Void"]]. The plot of the first novel centers around aliens arriving and blowing up three cities on Earth, so Humanity builds three starships to go out into space with the aim of finding out why, and preventing it from happening again. Primarily told through the eyes of Captain Melissa Liao and her ship, the ''TFR Beijing''. The series is one of harder science fiction stories, scoring a 4/4.5 on MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness.
Beijing''.
Deleted line(s) 67 (click to see context) :
* MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness: WordOfGod says he was aiming for 4/4.5.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
commented out zces
%% Administrivia/ZeroContextExample entries are not allowed on wiki pages. All such entries have been commented out. Add context to the entries before uncommenting them.
Changed line(s) 14,15 (click to see context) from:
* AcePilot: Alex "Jazz" Aharoni, at least in his own mind.
* AliensAreBastards: [[spoiler:At least until Saara comes along.]]
* AliensAreBastards: [[spoiler:At least until Saara comes along.]]
to:
Changed line(s) 18 (click to see context) from:
* TheAlliance: The Toralii have one. They're pricks.
to:
Changed line(s) 24,25 (click to see context) from:
* TheBattlestar: The ''TFR Beijing''.
* BoardingParty: [[spoiler: The final chapter, sans epilogue]].
* BoardingParty: [[spoiler: The final chapter, sans epilogue]].
to:
Changed line(s) 32 (click to see context) from:
* CoolStarship: The ''TFR Beijing''.
to:
Changed line(s) 41 (click to see context) from:
* FirstContact: [[spoiler: And then it got worse]].
to:
Changed line(s) 46 (click to see context) from:
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: James]].
to:
Changed line(s) 80,81 (click to see context) from:
* RedAlert: Called 'General Quarters'.
* ScaryDogmaticAliens: Most Toralii.
* ScaryDogmaticAliens: Most Toralii.
to:
Changed line(s) 83 (click to see context) from:
* [[ScrewYouElves Screw You, Toralii!]]: The Toralii instruct Humanity not to build jump drive. Humanity builds jump drive.
to:
* [[ScrewYouElves Screw You, Toralii!]]: ScrewYouElves: The Toralii instruct Humanity not to build jump drive. Humanity builds jump drive.
Changed line(s) 90,93 (click to see context) from:
* SpaceBase: The Toralii have one. [[spoiler: It goes boom]].
* SpaceBattle: Several times.
* SpaceElves: The Toralii have shades of this.
* SpaceFighter: [[spoiler: The Toralii use these. Later, so do the Humans.]]
* SpaceBattle: Several times.
* SpaceElves: The Toralii have shades of this.
* SpaceFighter: [[spoiler: The Toralii use these. Later, so do the Humans.]]
to:
Changed line(s) 101 (click to see context) from:
* TokenHeroicOrc: [[spoiler: Saara. Also TokenNonhuman.]]
to:
Changed line(s) 105,107 (click to see context) from:
* WeWillWearArmorInTheFuture: [[spoiler: At least, the Toralii will]].
* TheWorldIsNotReady: [[spoiler: Part of the reason the Toralii attack]].
* TheWorldIsNotReady: [[spoiler: Part of the reason the Toralii attack]].
to:
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 7,8 (click to see context) from:
Lacuna is science fiction story series [[TwentyMinutesInTheFuture Twenty Minutes In The Future]] by David Adams, with the first being [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006RZNR3Y/ "Demons of the Void"]]. The plot of the first novel centres around aliens coming and blowing up three cities on Earth, so Humans build three starships to go out into space with the aims of finding out why and preventing it from happening again. Primarily told through the eyes of Captain Melissa Liao and her ship, the ''TFR Beijing''. The series is one of harder science fiction stories, scoring a 4/4.5 on MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness.
to:
Lacuna is a science fiction story series set [[TwentyMinutesInTheFuture Twenty Minutes In The Future]] by David Adams, with the first being [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006RZNR3Y/ "Demons of the Void"]]. The plot of the first novel centres centers around aliens coming arriving and blowing up three cities on Earth, so Humans build Humanity builds three starships to go out into space with the aims aim of finding out why why, and preventing it from happening again. Primarily told through the eyes of Captain Melissa Liao and her ship, the ''TFR Beijing''. The series is one of harder science fiction stories, scoring a 4/4.5 on MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
One Of Us is now Just For Fun per this TRS thread
. Removed wicks due to misuse and because potholes aren't allowed in page quotes.
. Removed wicks due to misuse and because potholes aren't allowed in page quotes.Changed line(s) 4 (click to see context) from:
->''This story is less a love note to TV Tropes and more a [[OneOfUs proposal of marriage]].''
to:
->''This story is less a love note to TV Tropes and more a [[OneOfUs proposal of marriage]].marriage.''
Changed line(s) 88 (click to see context) from:
** Literature/HarryPotter, Franchise/StarTrek, StarWars, many many tropes by name... and [[OneOfUs TV Tropes itself]].
to:
** Literature/HarryPotter, Franchise/StarTrek, StarWars, many many tropes by name... and [[OneOfUs TV Tropes itself]].itself.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Sentence to lead into scoring
Changed line(s) 7,8 (click to see context) from:
Lacuna is science fiction story series [[TwentyMinutesInTheFuture Twenty Minutes In The Future]] by David Adams, with the first being [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006RZNR3Y/ "Demons of the Void"]]. The plot of the first novel centres around aliens coming and blowing up three cities on Earth, so Humans build three starships to go out into space with the aims of finding out why and preventing it from happening again. Primarily told through the eyes of Captain Melissa Liao and her ship, the ''TFR Beijing''. A 4/4.5 on MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness.
to:
Lacuna is science fiction story series [[TwentyMinutesInTheFuture Twenty Minutes In The Future]] by David Adams, with the first being [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006RZNR3Y/ "Demons of the Void"]]. The plot of the first novel centres around aliens coming and blowing up three cities on Earth, so Humans build three starships to go out into space with the aims of finding out why and preventing it from happening again. Primarily told through the eyes of Captain Melissa Liao and her ship, the ''TFR Beijing''. A The series is one of harder science fiction stories, scoring a 4/4.5 on MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 2,3 (click to see context) from:
[[caption-width-right:270:It's basically [[Series/BattlestarGalacticaReimagined BSG]] with Chinese people. And the aliens from Videogame/WingCommander. ]]
to:
[[caption-width-right:270:It's basically [[Series/BattlestarGalacticaReimagined [[Series/BattlestarGalactica2003 BSG]] with Chinese people. And the aliens from Videogame/WingCommander. ]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Not the trope.
Changed line(s) 41 (click to see context) from:
* FirstContact: [[spoiler: And then ItGotWorse]].
to:
* FirstContact: [[spoiler: And then ItGotWorse]].it got worse]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 62 (click to see context) from:
* [[Matriarchy]]: Most senior positions on the ''Beijing'' are held by women (Captain, Chief Engineer, Chief of Marines, [[spoiler: Resident Alien]]).
to:
* [[Matriarchy]]: {{Matriarchy}}: Most senior positions on the ''Beijing'' are held by women (Captain, Chief Engineer, Chief of Marines, [[spoiler: Resident Alien]]).
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
trope redefined
Deleted line(s) 59 (click to see context) :
* LoadsAndLoadsOfRaces: [[spoiler: Saara]] implies this about the universe.
Changed line(s) 107 (click to see context) from:
* TheWorldIsNotReady: [[spoiler: Part of the reason the Toralii attack]].
to:
* TheWorldIsNotReady: [[spoiler: Part of the reason the Toralii attack]].attack]].
----
----
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 2,3 (click to see context) from:
[[caption-width-right:270:It's basically [[BattlestarGalactica BSG]] with Chinese people. And the aliens from Videogame/WingCommander. ]]
to:
[[caption-width-right:270:It's basically [[BattlestarGalactica [[Series/BattlestarGalacticaReimagined BSG]] with Chinese people. And the aliens from Videogame/WingCommander. ]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Deleted line(s) 37 (click to see context) :
* ThrownOutTheAirlock: People [[spoiler: especially Sheng]] wonder why Liao doesn't do this to [[spoiler: Saara]]. More humourously, Alex and Summer shag in a (temporarily) pressured missile launch tube, leading to Cheung to speculate that if anything went wrong they'd be vented to space and nobody would ever know. Liao is not amused.
Added DiffLines:
* ThrownOutTheAirlock: People [[spoiler: especially Sheng]] wonder why Liao doesn't do this to [[spoiler: Saara]]. More humourously, Alex and Summer shag in a (temporarily) pressured missile launch tube, leading to Cheung to speculate that if anything went wrong they'd be vented to space and nobody would ever know. Liao is not amused.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 20 (click to see context) from:
* AlwaysOnDuty: Much like in [[StarTrek Star Trek]], the cool stuff only happens when Liao's on duty.
to:
* AlwaysOnDuty: Much like in [[StarTrek Star Trek]], Franchise/StarTrek, the cool stuff only happens when Liao's on duty.
Changed line(s) 90 (click to see context) from:
** HarryPotter, StarTrek, StarWars, many many tropes by name... and [[OneOfUs TV Tropes itself]].
to:
** HarryPotter, StarTrek, Literature/HarryPotter, Franchise/StarTrek, StarWars, many many tropes by name... and [[OneOfUs TV Tropes itself]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 1,3 (click to see context) from:
[[quoteright:240:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Cover_7_TV_Tropes_Size_3466.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:It's basically [[BattlestarGalactica BSG]] with Chinese people. And the aliens from Videogame/WingCommander. ]]
[[caption-width-right:240:It's basically [[BattlestarGalactica BSG]] with Chinese people. And the aliens from Videogame/WingCommander. ]]
to:
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 89 (click to see context) from:
** TheATeam: [[spoiler: I just love it when a plan comes together!]]
to:
** TheATeam: Series/TheATeam: [[spoiler: I just love it when a plan comes together!]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 2,3 (click to see context) from:
[[caption-width-right:240:It's basically [[BattlestarGalactica BSG]] with Chinese people. And the aliens from [[WingCommander Wing Commander]]. ]]
to:
[[caption-width-right:240:It's basically [[BattlestarGalactica BSG]] with Chinese people. And the aliens from [[WingCommander Wing Commander]].Videogame/WingCommander. ]]
Changed line(s) 7,8 (click to see context) from:
Lacuna is science fiction story series [[TwentyMinutesInTheFuture Twenty Minutes In The Future]] by David Adams, with the first being [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006RZNR3Y/ "Demons of the Void"]]. The plot of the first novel centres around aliens coming and blowing up three cities on Earth, so Humans build three starships to go out into space with the aims of finding out why and preventing it from happening again. Primarily told through the eyes of Captain Melissa Liao and her ship, the ''TFR Beijing''. A 4/4.5 on [[MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness Mohs Scale of Science Fiction Hardness]].
to:
Lacuna is science fiction story series [[TwentyMinutesInTheFuture Twenty Minutes In The Future]] by David Adams, with the first being [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006RZNR3Y/ "Demons of the Void"]]. The plot of the first novel centres around aliens coming and blowing up three cities on Earth, so Humans build three starships to go out into space with the aims of finding out why and preventing it from happening again. Primarily told through the eyes of Captain Melissa Liao and her ship, the ''TFR Beijing''. A 4/4.5 on [[MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness Mohs Scale of Science Fiction Hardness]].
MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Added new cover.
Changed line(s) 1 (click to see context) from:
[[quoteright:240:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Cover_resized_8961.png]]
to:
[[quoteright:240:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Cover_resized_8961.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Cover_7_TV_Tropes_Size_3466.png]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Toralii are mammals.
Deleted line(s) 70 (click to see context) :
* NonMammalMammaries: [[spoiler: The Toralii have these, as basically giant CatFolk]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 7,8 (click to see context) from:
A science fiction story series [[TwentyMinutesInTheFuture Twenty Minutes In The Future]] by David Adams, with the first being "Demons of the Void". The plot of the first novel centres around aliens coming and blowing up three cities on Earth, so Humans build three starships to go out into space with the aims of finding out why and preventing it from happening again. Primarily told through the eyes of Captain Melissa Liao and her ship, the ''TFR Beijing''. A 4/4.5 on [[MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness Mohs Scale of Science Fiction Hardness]].
to:
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 7,8 (click to see context) from:
A science fiction story series [[TwentyMinutesInTheFuture Twenty Minutes In The Future]] by David Adams, with the first being "Demons of the Void". The plot of the first novel centres around aliens coming and blowing up three cities on Earth, so Humans build three starships to go out into space with the aims of finding out why and preventing it from happening again. Primarily told through the eyes of Captain Melissa Liao and her ship, the ''TFR Beijing''. A 4/4.5 on Moh's Scale of Science Fiction Hardness.
to:
A science fiction story series [[TwentyMinutesInTheFuture Twenty Minutes In The Future]] by David Adams, with the first being "Demons of the Void". The plot of the first novel centres around aliens coming and blowing up three cities on Earth, so Humans build three starships to go out into space with the aims of finding out why and preventing it from happening again. Primarily told through the eyes of Captain Melissa Liao and her ship, the ''TFR Beijing''. A 4/4.5 on Moh's [[MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness Mohs Scale of Science Fiction Hardness.
Hardness]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
whoopsies
Changed line(s) 2,3 (click to see context) from:
[[caption-width-right:2400:It's basically [[BattlestarGalactica BSG]] with Chinese people. And the aliens from [[WingCommander Wing Commander]]. ]]
to:
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 2,3 (click to see context) from:
[[caption-width-right:320:It's basically [[BattlestarGalactica BSG]] with Chinese people. And the aliens from [[WingCommander Wing Commander]]. ]]
to:
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 88 (click to see context) from:
** [[XKCD]]: Twice... even once as a major plot point. [[spoiler: Bangarang, ''motherfucker''.]]
to:
** [[XKCD]]: XKCD: Twice... even once as a major plot point. [[spoiler: Bangarang, ''motherfucker''.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Creating article.
Added DiffLines:
[[quoteright:240:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Cover_resized_8961.png]]
[[caption-width-right:320:It's basically [[BattlestarGalactica BSG]] with Chinese people. And the aliens from [[WingCommander Wing Commander]]. ]]
->''This story is less a love note to TV Tropes and more a [[OneOfUs proposal of marriage]].''
-->-- '''[[WordOfGod Word of God]]'''
A science fiction story series [[TwentyMinutesInTheFuture Twenty Minutes In The Future]] by David Adams, with the first being "Demons of the Void". The plot of the first novel centres around aliens coming and blowing up three cities on Earth, so Humans build three starships to go out into space with the aims of finding out why and preventing it from happening again. Primarily told through the eyes of Captain Melissa Liao and her ship, the ''TFR Beijing''. A 4/4.5 on Moh's Scale of Science Fiction Hardness.
Author is a troper and the work contains many shout-outs to TV Tropes and assorted tropes by name.
----
!!These books contain examples of:
* AcePilot: Alex "Jazz" Aharoni, at least in his own mind.
* AliensAreBastards: [[spoiler:At least until Saara comes along.]]
* AliensSpeakingEnglish: Averted. The Toralii have their own dialects and while they can understand English, they are physically incapable of speaking it (and vice versa). Significant time in "Demons of the Void" is spent [[spoiler: learning Toralii from Saara and teaching her English]].
* AliensStealCable: Some Toralii know English already [[spoiler: such as Varsian the Immortal]].
* TheAlliance: The Toralii have one. They're pricks.
* AllNationsAreSuperpowers: Toyed with. The main demographics of the crew are Chinese (justified), Iran (possibly) and Australia ([[AuthorAvatar huh]]). The United States is barely mentioned, except they couldn't join the Task Force because of [[TruthInTelevision some significant economic trouble]].
* AlwaysOnDuty: Much like in [[StarTrek Star Trek]], the cool stuff only happens when Liao's on duty.
* ApocalypseHow: Type 0 for Sydney, Beijing and Tehran. [[spoiler: ApocalypseHow/ClassX-2 for the Toralii homeworld. ApocalypseHow/ClassX-4 for everyone, eventually]].
* ArtificialGravity: Modified gravity generators serve as engines, artificial gravity and [[spoiler: space mines]].
* AsteroidThicket: Averted. Summer complains that hiding in an asteroid belt is pointless because of how empty it is.
* TheBattlestar: The ''TFR Beijing''.
* BoardingParty: [[spoiler: The final chapter, sans epilogue]].
* BondOneLiner: Summer Rowe, a civilian, wants a handgun like the rest of the crew so if the opportunity comes she can deliver an [[ShoutOut XKCD inspired]] BondOneLiner. [[spoiler: She gets her chance. "Bangarang, ''motherfucker''".]]
* TheBridge: Most of the action takes place in Operations, which is in the heavily armoured centre of the ship.
* CallARabbitASmeerp: Saara talks about distinctly Earthly things, such as tomatoes, in her own language and can't physically speak English. It's unclear if she's using her own words or trying her best to pronounce it in English.
* [[CantArgueWithElves Can't Argue With Aliens]]: The Toralii Alliance don't seem to be fond of doing much but pontificating about their upcoming victories before opening fire. It's implied that only the moderates in the alliance keep them from simply exterminating species they encounter [[spoiler: with jump drive]].
* CatFolk: [[spoiler: The Toralii are distinctly catlike]].
* CasualInterstellarTravel: Played straight [[spoiler: except for the dire warnings of the Toralii who tell them that overusing the technology, or using it incorrectly, can create a universe destroying NegativeSpaceWedgie. This has already happened three times already; since the singularities continue to grow and never stop, eventually they'll consume everything]].
* CoolStarship: The ''TFR Beijing''.
* DeflectorShields: The three Pillars of the Earth, such as the ''TFR Beijing'' can charge their hull to strengthen it, but this is far from invulnerability and the larger Toralii ships can easily [[spoiler: take on all three of the Pillars without breaking too much of a sweat, until the ''TFR Tehran'' [[RammingAlwaysWorks rams them]]]].
* EarthThatUsedToBeBetter: Occasionally this, occasionally CrapsackWorld.
* TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt: The attacks on Earth united [[spoiler: most of]] the population against the alien threat.
* EnergyWeapon: Averted for the Humans. Weapons are either nukes or railgun slugs. The Toralii have generic energy weapons designed to heat up their targets [[spoiler: and the WaveMotionGun that blew up parts of Earth, which they use on some of the ships at the end]].
* ThrownOutTheAirlock: People [[spoiler: especially Sheng]] wonder why Liao doesn't do this to [[spoiler: Saara]]. More humourously, Alex and Summer shag in a (temporarily) pressured missile launch tube, leading to Cheung to speculate that if anything went wrong they'd be vented to space and nobody would ever know. Liao is not amused.
* ExplosionsInSpace: Averted. Most explosions seem to be the ship simply breaking up.
* ExposedExtraterrestrials: Averted. [[spoiler: Saara had clothes but the surgeons cut them off her to operate. The Toralii boarding party wear space suits.]]
* FasterThanLightTravel: [[spoiler: The reason why the Toralii attacked was to warn humanity not to do this. They didn't listen]].
* FetishFuelFuture: Summer and Alex seem to enjoy sex in strange locations, such as missile tubes and fully stocked armouries.
* FirstContact: [[spoiler: And then ItGotWorse]].
* FlawedPrototype: The ''TFR Sydney'' is constantly plagued by mechanical malfunctions and stays out of the action for most of the first book.
* FixedForwardFacingWeapon: The ‘’TFR Beijing‘’ (and the other two ships) are equipped with railguns that run the whole length of the ship.
* GoingCritical: The ''TFR Beijing's'' reactors if they can't radiate away their heat efficiently.
* GreyGoo: Summer finds some strange goo [[spoiler: in the Toralii fighter. It has some funky properties but its ultimate purpose remains a mystery]].
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: James]].
* HumanityIsSuperior: [[spoiler: Averted. It takes three of their ships being nearly destroyed and the loss of the ''Tehran'' to take down even one of the Toralii's great fleets, and even then they won by ramming it]].
* HumansAreWhite: Averted. There's only one token white character and one character who ''may'' be white; the rest of the crew is overwhelmingly Chinese or Iranian, and James is black.
* ImmuneToBullets: Regular bullets have significant difficulty piercing the Toralii armoured space-suits, except for the visor or joints. Un-armoured Toralii die like Humans.
* InertialDampening: The Human ships use a modified version of their ReactionlessDrives to create artificial gravity and some limited inertial dampening.
* InSpaceEveryoneCanSeeYourFace: The Toralii space suits obscure the face unless the visor is raised. [[spoiler: For Vasian the Immortal, this was a remarkably poor choice]].
* InYourNatureToDestroyYourselves: The Toralii believe this about Humans (and, indeed, every species they encounter). [[spoiler: That's why they stop other species from possessing jump drives]].
* IronicName: Varsian the Immortal. [[spoiler: Soon after his introduction Rowe stabs him in the eye then delivers her much-desired BondOneLiner as she kills him]].
* ISO Standard Human Spaceship: Averted for the Human ships. Played straight with the Toralii.
* [[ItOnlyWorksOnce It Only Works Thrice]]: The Humans suspect this about the Toralii WaveMotionGun. Possibly justified.
* KineticWeaponsAreJustBetter: The railguns are almost as powerful as the nukes and certainly effective over longer ranges (against stationary targets their range is essentially unlimited).
* LastStand: [[spoiler: During the Toralii boarding action]].
* LetsMockTheMonsters: [[spoiler: Liao is less than polite to the Toralii fleet that jumps in after they release the Forerunner]].
* LoadsAndLoadsOfRaces: [[spoiler: Saara]] implies this about the universe.
* MachineMonotone: The Toralii can't physically speak the English language so at first they use an automated translator that sounds like this.
* MadeOfPhlebotinum: The complex, extremely strong hull material nicknamed ''indestructium''.
* MadScientistLaboratory: The research facility Liao and James visit is basically this meets a college dorm.
* [[Matriarchy]]: Most senior positions on the ''Beijing'' are held by women (Captain, Chief Engineer, Chief of Marines, [[spoiler: Resident Alien]]).
* MiddleEasternCoalition: Iran, given its real-world level of technological development, is possibly one of these.
* MilitaryScienceFiction: The book is this. The crew, where applicable, have People's Army ranks.
* MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness: WordOfGod says he was aiming for 4/4.5.
* TheMothership: [[spoiler: The Toralii scout ship launches strike fighters. Later in the story, the Humans build their own.]]
* NegativeSpaceWedgie: [[spoiler: Treating jump drive trivially leads to one of these]].
* NonMammalMammaries: [[spoiler: The Toralii have these, as basically giant CatFolk]].
* NoSexAllowed: Liao and [[spoiler: James]]'s relationship is strongly implied to be against regulations.
* NoWarpingZone: Anywhere with strong gravity fields (such as inside a solar system). Very specific points, Lagrange points, allow the use of the jump drive in-system.
* NukeEm: Humanity's response to the Toralii.
* OneWorldOrder: The Toralii had this [[spoiler: until the great cataclysm]].
* OutgrownSuchSillySuperstitions: Almost all of the characters are agnostics or outright atheists, especially James.
* PoweredArmor: The Toralii marines have armoured boarding suits that make them very hard to kill. [[spoiler: But also aren't really powered and therefore weigh more, so when the Humans crank up the gravity they can't move]].
* ProudWarriorRace: The Toralii have shades of this, especially the [[TheAlliance Toralii Alliance]].
* RammingAlwaysWorks: James invokes this trope by name when discussing his actions in the war games. [[spoiler: In the final chapter, it works for real]].
* RayGun: Summer invokes this trope by name when [[spoiler: they find the Toralii energy pistol]].
* ReactionlessDrive: The main ship is powered by this when not using its jump drive to move around between Lagrange points. [[ShoutOut It's even explicitly referred to as a Reactionless Drive]].
* RealityWarpingIsNotAToy: [[spoiler: Why the Toralii attack Earth]].
* RedAlert: Called 'General Quarters'.
* ScaryDogmaticAliens: Most Toralii.
* SciFiWritersHaveNoSenseOfScale: Averted. Summer Rowe makes a point of writing "Not To Scale" on a map of the map of the solar system to try and show how vast it is, and to go anywhere without using the jump drive takes a really really long time.
* [[ScrewYouElves Screw You, Toralii!]]: The Toralii instruct Humanity not to build jump drive. Humanity builds jump drive.
* SecretGovernmentWarehouse: Where the jump drive was developed. [[spoiler: It goes boom]].
* ShoutOut: So many.
** [[XKCD]]: Twice... even once as a major plot point. [[spoiler: Bangarang, ''motherfucker''.]]
** TheATeam: [[spoiler: I just love it when a plan comes together!]]
** HarryPotter, StarTrek, StarWars, many many tropes by name... and [[OneOfUs TV Tropes itself]].
* SomethingOnlyTheyWouldSay: When [[spoiler:debating if the unknown contact is the ''Tehran'' or not, it sends out a signal in Morse Code which is a reference to a gift James gave Melissa]].
* SpaceBase: The Toralii have one. [[spoiler: It goes boom]].
* SpaceBattle: Several times.
* SpaceElves: The Toralii have shades of this.
* SpaceFighter: [[spoiler: The Toralii use these. Later, so do the Humans.]]
* SpaceFriction: Averted. The ship, once ballistic, continues on its way unless stopped.
* SpaceIsCold: Averted. The ships are constantly in danger of overheating and are described as covered in fins to try and radiate as much heat as possible.
* SpaceMarine: Regular Chinese marines are present, and it's stated they have extra training and protocols to deal with space combats.
* SpaceMines: [[spoiler: The Humans build these out of modified Reactionless Drives. They’re non-destructive, but serve only to keep ships (friendly or otherwise) from jumping into a jump point]].
* SpaceX: Summer calls the [[spoiler: strange device found in the Toralii fighter cockpit a 'space dildo']].
* SuperweaponSurprise: [[spoiler: The Toralii use the weapon they devastated Earth with against the Pillars of the Earth]].
* TokenHeroicOrc: [[spoiler: Saara. Also TokenNonhuman.]]
* TwoOfYourEarthMinutes: The Toralii give the Humans a certain number of Earth rotations to comply. [[spoiler: They don’t.]]
* UnpredictableResults: [[spoiler: Prolongued, careless use of the jump drive leads to universe destroying singularities]].
* WeaponOfMassDestruction: The Toralii have one and use it to destroy Sydney, Tehran and Beijing. [[spoiler: And later, they use it on the Pillars of the Earth. Technically the jump drive, if improperly cared for, counts too]].
* WeWillWearArmorInTheFuture: [[spoiler: At least, the Toralii will]].
* TheWorldIsNotReady: [[spoiler: Part of the reason the Toralii attack]].
[[caption-width-right:320:It's basically [[BattlestarGalactica BSG]] with Chinese people. And the aliens from [[WingCommander Wing Commander]]. ]]
->''This story is less a love note to TV Tropes and more a [[OneOfUs proposal of marriage]].''
-->-- '''[[WordOfGod Word of God]]'''
A science fiction story series [[TwentyMinutesInTheFuture Twenty Minutes In The Future]] by David Adams, with the first being "Demons of the Void". The plot of the first novel centres around aliens coming and blowing up three cities on Earth, so Humans build three starships to go out into space with the aims of finding out why and preventing it from happening again. Primarily told through the eyes of Captain Melissa Liao and her ship, the ''TFR Beijing''. A 4/4.5 on Moh's Scale of Science Fiction Hardness.
Author is a troper and the work contains many shout-outs to TV Tropes and assorted tropes by name.
----
!!These books contain examples of:
* AcePilot: Alex "Jazz" Aharoni, at least in his own mind.
* AliensAreBastards: [[spoiler:At least until Saara comes along.]]
* AliensSpeakingEnglish: Averted. The Toralii have their own dialects and while they can understand English, they are physically incapable of speaking it (and vice versa). Significant time in "Demons of the Void" is spent [[spoiler: learning Toralii from Saara and teaching her English]].
* AliensStealCable: Some Toralii know English already [[spoiler: such as Varsian the Immortal]].
* TheAlliance: The Toralii have one. They're pricks.
* AllNationsAreSuperpowers: Toyed with. The main demographics of the crew are Chinese (justified), Iran (possibly) and Australia ([[AuthorAvatar huh]]). The United States is barely mentioned, except they couldn't join the Task Force because of [[TruthInTelevision some significant economic trouble]].
* AlwaysOnDuty: Much like in [[StarTrek Star Trek]], the cool stuff only happens when Liao's on duty.
* ApocalypseHow: Type 0 for Sydney, Beijing and Tehran. [[spoiler: ApocalypseHow/ClassX-2 for the Toralii homeworld. ApocalypseHow/ClassX-4 for everyone, eventually]].
* ArtificialGravity: Modified gravity generators serve as engines, artificial gravity and [[spoiler: space mines]].
* AsteroidThicket: Averted. Summer complains that hiding in an asteroid belt is pointless because of how empty it is.
* TheBattlestar: The ''TFR Beijing''.
* BoardingParty: [[spoiler: The final chapter, sans epilogue]].
* BondOneLiner: Summer Rowe, a civilian, wants a handgun like the rest of the crew so if the opportunity comes she can deliver an [[ShoutOut XKCD inspired]] BondOneLiner. [[spoiler: She gets her chance. "Bangarang, ''motherfucker''".]]
* TheBridge: Most of the action takes place in Operations, which is in the heavily armoured centre of the ship.
* CallARabbitASmeerp: Saara talks about distinctly Earthly things, such as tomatoes, in her own language and can't physically speak English. It's unclear if she's using her own words or trying her best to pronounce it in English.
* [[CantArgueWithElves Can't Argue With Aliens]]: The Toralii Alliance don't seem to be fond of doing much but pontificating about their upcoming victories before opening fire. It's implied that only the moderates in the alliance keep them from simply exterminating species they encounter [[spoiler: with jump drive]].
* CatFolk: [[spoiler: The Toralii are distinctly catlike]].
* CasualInterstellarTravel: Played straight [[spoiler: except for the dire warnings of the Toralii who tell them that overusing the technology, or using it incorrectly, can create a universe destroying NegativeSpaceWedgie. This has already happened three times already; since the singularities continue to grow and never stop, eventually they'll consume everything]].
* CoolStarship: The ''TFR Beijing''.
* DeflectorShields: The three Pillars of the Earth, such as the ''TFR Beijing'' can charge their hull to strengthen it, but this is far from invulnerability and the larger Toralii ships can easily [[spoiler: take on all three of the Pillars without breaking too much of a sweat, until the ''TFR Tehran'' [[RammingAlwaysWorks rams them]]]].
* EarthThatUsedToBeBetter: Occasionally this, occasionally CrapsackWorld.
* TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt: The attacks on Earth united [[spoiler: most of]] the population against the alien threat.
* EnergyWeapon: Averted for the Humans. Weapons are either nukes or railgun slugs. The Toralii have generic energy weapons designed to heat up their targets [[spoiler: and the WaveMotionGun that blew up parts of Earth, which they use on some of the ships at the end]].
* ThrownOutTheAirlock: People [[spoiler: especially Sheng]] wonder why Liao doesn't do this to [[spoiler: Saara]]. More humourously, Alex and Summer shag in a (temporarily) pressured missile launch tube, leading to Cheung to speculate that if anything went wrong they'd be vented to space and nobody would ever know. Liao is not amused.
* ExplosionsInSpace: Averted. Most explosions seem to be the ship simply breaking up.
* ExposedExtraterrestrials: Averted. [[spoiler: Saara had clothes but the surgeons cut them off her to operate. The Toralii boarding party wear space suits.]]
* FasterThanLightTravel: [[spoiler: The reason why the Toralii attacked was to warn humanity not to do this. They didn't listen]].
* FetishFuelFuture: Summer and Alex seem to enjoy sex in strange locations, such as missile tubes and fully stocked armouries.
* FirstContact: [[spoiler: And then ItGotWorse]].
* FlawedPrototype: The ''TFR Sydney'' is constantly plagued by mechanical malfunctions and stays out of the action for most of the first book.
* FixedForwardFacingWeapon: The ‘’TFR Beijing‘’ (and the other two ships) are equipped with railguns that run the whole length of the ship.
* GoingCritical: The ''TFR Beijing's'' reactors if they can't radiate away their heat efficiently.
* GreyGoo: Summer finds some strange goo [[spoiler: in the Toralii fighter. It has some funky properties but its ultimate purpose remains a mystery]].
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: James]].
* HumanityIsSuperior: [[spoiler: Averted. It takes three of their ships being nearly destroyed and the loss of the ''Tehran'' to take down even one of the Toralii's great fleets, and even then they won by ramming it]].
* HumansAreWhite: Averted. There's only one token white character and one character who ''may'' be white; the rest of the crew is overwhelmingly Chinese or Iranian, and James is black.
* ImmuneToBullets: Regular bullets have significant difficulty piercing the Toralii armoured space-suits, except for the visor or joints. Un-armoured Toralii die like Humans.
* InertialDampening: The Human ships use a modified version of their ReactionlessDrives to create artificial gravity and some limited inertial dampening.
* InSpaceEveryoneCanSeeYourFace: The Toralii space suits obscure the face unless the visor is raised. [[spoiler: For Vasian the Immortal, this was a remarkably poor choice]].
* InYourNatureToDestroyYourselves: The Toralii believe this about Humans (and, indeed, every species they encounter). [[spoiler: That's why they stop other species from possessing jump drives]].
* IronicName: Varsian the Immortal. [[spoiler: Soon after his introduction Rowe stabs him in the eye then delivers her much-desired BondOneLiner as she kills him]].
* ISO Standard Human Spaceship: Averted for the Human ships. Played straight with the Toralii.
* [[ItOnlyWorksOnce It Only Works Thrice]]: The Humans suspect this about the Toralii WaveMotionGun. Possibly justified.
* KineticWeaponsAreJustBetter: The railguns are almost as powerful as the nukes and certainly effective over longer ranges (against stationary targets their range is essentially unlimited).
* LastStand: [[spoiler: During the Toralii boarding action]].
* LetsMockTheMonsters: [[spoiler: Liao is less than polite to the Toralii fleet that jumps in after they release the Forerunner]].
* LoadsAndLoadsOfRaces: [[spoiler: Saara]] implies this about the universe.
* MachineMonotone: The Toralii can't physically speak the English language so at first they use an automated translator that sounds like this.
* MadeOfPhlebotinum: The complex, extremely strong hull material nicknamed ''indestructium''.
* MadScientistLaboratory: The research facility Liao and James visit is basically this meets a college dorm.
* [[Matriarchy]]: Most senior positions on the ''Beijing'' are held by women (Captain, Chief Engineer, Chief of Marines, [[spoiler: Resident Alien]]).
* MiddleEasternCoalition: Iran, given its real-world level of technological development, is possibly one of these.
* MilitaryScienceFiction: The book is this. The crew, where applicable, have People's Army ranks.
* MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness: WordOfGod says he was aiming for 4/4.5.
* TheMothership: [[spoiler: The Toralii scout ship launches strike fighters. Later in the story, the Humans build their own.]]
* NegativeSpaceWedgie: [[spoiler: Treating jump drive trivially leads to one of these]].
* NonMammalMammaries: [[spoiler: The Toralii have these, as basically giant CatFolk]].
* NoSexAllowed: Liao and [[spoiler: James]]'s relationship is strongly implied to be against regulations.
* NoWarpingZone: Anywhere with strong gravity fields (such as inside a solar system). Very specific points, Lagrange points, allow the use of the jump drive in-system.
* NukeEm: Humanity's response to the Toralii.
* OneWorldOrder: The Toralii had this [[spoiler: until the great cataclysm]].
* OutgrownSuchSillySuperstitions: Almost all of the characters are agnostics or outright atheists, especially James.
* PoweredArmor: The Toralii marines have armoured boarding suits that make them very hard to kill. [[spoiler: But also aren't really powered and therefore weigh more, so when the Humans crank up the gravity they can't move]].
* ProudWarriorRace: The Toralii have shades of this, especially the [[TheAlliance Toralii Alliance]].
* RammingAlwaysWorks: James invokes this trope by name when discussing his actions in the war games. [[spoiler: In the final chapter, it works for real]].
* RayGun: Summer invokes this trope by name when [[spoiler: they find the Toralii energy pistol]].
* ReactionlessDrive: The main ship is powered by this when not using its jump drive to move around between Lagrange points. [[ShoutOut It's even explicitly referred to as a Reactionless Drive]].
* RealityWarpingIsNotAToy: [[spoiler: Why the Toralii attack Earth]].
* RedAlert: Called 'General Quarters'.
* ScaryDogmaticAliens: Most Toralii.
* SciFiWritersHaveNoSenseOfScale: Averted. Summer Rowe makes a point of writing "Not To Scale" on a map of the map of the solar system to try and show how vast it is, and to go anywhere without using the jump drive takes a really really long time.
* [[ScrewYouElves Screw You, Toralii!]]: The Toralii instruct Humanity not to build jump drive. Humanity builds jump drive.
* SecretGovernmentWarehouse: Where the jump drive was developed. [[spoiler: It goes boom]].
* ShoutOut: So many.
** [[XKCD]]: Twice... even once as a major plot point. [[spoiler: Bangarang, ''motherfucker''.]]
** TheATeam: [[spoiler: I just love it when a plan comes together!]]
** HarryPotter, StarTrek, StarWars, many many tropes by name... and [[OneOfUs TV Tropes itself]].
* SomethingOnlyTheyWouldSay: When [[spoiler:debating if the unknown contact is the ''Tehran'' or not, it sends out a signal in Morse Code which is a reference to a gift James gave Melissa]].
* SpaceBase: The Toralii have one. [[spoiler: It goes boom]].
* SpaceBattle: Several times.
* SpaceElves: The Toralii have shades of this.
* SpaceFighter: [[spoiler: The Toralii use these. Later, so do the Humans.]]
* SpaceFriction: Averted. The ship, once ballistic, continues on its way unless stopped.
* SpaceIsCold: Averted. The ships are constantly in danger of overheating and are described as covered in fins to try and radiate as much heat as possible.
* SpaceMarine: Regular Chinese marines are present, and it's stated they have extra training and protocols to deal with space combats.
* SpaceMines: [[spoiler: The Humans build these out of modified Reactionless Drives. They’re non-destructive, but serve only to keep ships (friendly or otherwise) from jumping into a jump point]].
* SpaceX: Summer calls the [[spoiler: strange device found in the Toralii fighter cockpit a 'space dildo']].
* SuperweaponSurprise: [[spoiler: The Toralii use the weapon they devastated Earth with against the Pillars of the Earth]].
* TokenHeroicOrc: [[spoiler: Saara. Also TokenNonhuman.]]
* TwoOfYourEarthMinutes: The Toralii give the Humans a certain number of Earth rotations to comply. [[spoiler: They don’t.]]
* UnpredictableResults: [[spoiler: Prolongued, careless use of the jump drive leads to universe destroying singularities]].
* WeaponOfMassDestruction: The Toralii have one and use it to destroy Sydney, Tehran and Beijing. [[spoiler: And later, they use it on the Pillars of the Earth. Technically the jump drive, if improperly cared for, counts too]].
* WeWillWearArmorInTheFuture: [[spoiler: At least, the Toralii will]].
* TheWorldIsNotReady: [[spoiler: Part of the reason the Toralii attack]].
