Center Worlds: Spark

By Tim Morrison

A lost world, abandoned for over a thousand years, all but forgotten, except to the young Clansman who wants to explore the mystery at the heart of his own Clan territory.

A boiling nebula full of fire and ice stops all travel through it, at it's heart lies a forgotten and lost world full of potential allies in an oncoming war.

For war is coming, sure as the suns rise and the moons make their orbits. The Clans will take sides and everything will change for the young Lord as he tries to weave politics and military tactics within a loose alliance ruled by a Half-Mad Emperor, known as the Confederacy.

Young Ryo Camelin, soon to be Lord of Clan Camelin, does not want to be stuck ruling the Clan from the Central Tower of his Clan World. He wants to command the battlecruiser that has been his Clan's for more than four hundred years, and he has an urge to explore. A violent gas nebula in the heart of his own territory has been off limits for more than a thousand years. Deep within it lies a world long thought destroyed, a world surrounded by legend and wrapped in lies and betrayal. Clan World Desinlo. Once the heart of the Confederacy, now banished and abandoned.

There are too many questions that need answers, and too many answers that beg more questions, young Lord Camelin must seek out the truth for himself and his children and uncover a mystery that concerns the entire survival of The Center Worlds.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tim Morrison
• Release date: Mar 22, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310290374

Book preview

Prelude To a War Story

Deep within the Galactic bulge, far away from the ancestral home of humanity, known to some as the Blue Marble, lie the Center Worlds. Roughly the shape of a sausage, it is divided lengthwise into two major populated areas. The Confederacy sits nestled against the clouds of the Core itself, surrounded on three sides by dense clouds of gas and dust that protect it from the raging storm at the center of our Galaxy, on the other side sits a too-thin buffer zone that separates the Confederacy from the United Suns.

Ideological and racial differences keep the two major players in constant conflict within this region. They know they are not native to this area, that they were transplanted here sometime in the far distant past, possibly a million years, or cycles as they say, ago. The major players are the Hablis, roughly human stock within the Confederacy, and the T'Ressi, a human feline hybrid developed at the same time as the Hablis who occupy the ruling position within the United Suns.

Within the Confederacy, twelve great Clans fight for position and power over both the Homeworld, where the Lord Emperor of the Clans resides, and over the individual clan territories, which provide food and materials to fuel both their survival and expansion. Clan Camelin is one of the major players as it comprises the bulk of overall Confederacy military strength. They have never tended to take sides, and will defend any and every clan against the United Suns, while striving to keep out of internal affairs unless they spill over into Camelin territory.

The Clans fight with honour and with rigid rules of conflict and structure. Age-old rules of warfare are strictly observed, and any deviation is acted upon with surprising violence. The young Lord Ryo Camelin is a student of tactical and strategic thinking and is in position to become a strong leader to his people once he assumes the reigns of command.

What he faces will change his life, and the lives of so many people he cares about, forever. This volume of The Center Worlds focuses on before the events that changed the entire region forever. The Destruction of Adhara. Dating is set before this turning point to ensure a common time line, leading up to the focal change in control and leadership.

Dramatis Personae

Gyo Helvolevac Camelin – Ageing Patriarch of Clan Camelin

Ryo Jejouclevac Camelin – Lord of Clan Camelin and Commander of the TGX-2 Battlecruiser

Lya Jalanysa Desinlo – Regent of Clan Desinlo and Consort to Lord Ryo Camelin

Gya Helvanysa Desinlo – First born daughter to Ryo and Lya, not considered Camelin, she is considered the next Regent Desinlo. Commands the TGX-4 Battlecruiser

Lyo Helvaleso Camelin (Willem Hyens) – An orphan that the Lady Lya Desinlo adopted and raised to be a protector to her daughters, lost to Pirates when he was 18.

Aya Nandreclevac Camelin – Second born daughter to Ryo and Lya, considered the First Daughter of Clan Camelin, Consort to the Lord Emperor.

Kya Kilvanysa Desinlo – Orphan who is trained to be Aya Camelin's Lari'Sota, intimate companion and personal maid. She is an empath.

Kyo Helvotreos Masilec – Current Emperor, killed during a Grand Council meeting and paving the way for Tyo to begin the rise to Emperor.

Tyo Jalatreos Masilec – Emperor in waiting at the beginning of the story, becomes Lord Emperor of the Confederacy on his 18th Name Day, marries Aya Camelin

Captain Viktor Kalen – Executive Officer (XO) Of the TGX-2, Second in Command and Ryo Camelin's most trusted officer.

Jalena Kilva Sinlo – Mate to Viktor Kalen, dies in childbirth of her daughter. Daughter vanishes. Jalena was an empath

Sergeant Sylva Cato – Comm officer and lover to Gya Desinlo after Lyo is lost, becomes her XO when Gya assumes command of the TGX-4.

Myo Michelab – Leader of Clan Michelab, assassinated by Captain Kerilac who then assumed command of the combined Clans in an effort to destroy Clans Camelin and Desinlo.

Captain Jaseb Kerilac – Vengeful leader of Clans Kerilac and Jasinlo who assassinated the leader of Clan Michelab, then assumes command and wages a bloody war against Clan Camelin for more than 14 cycles.

Mistress Tya Veritas – Lari'Sota who is assigned to be surrogate mother to the young Lady Aya and Kya as they grow. She teaches and trains both girls to be ready to survive in the complex politics of the palace.

Doctor Hektor Solano – Chief Doctor to the Palace. A surgeon with exceptional skill who has helped at the palace for decades and who was responsible for saving young Aya's life.

Chapter 1

Taking Command - Clanworld Camelin -32 BA (Before Adhara)

Father? What lies at the heart of the Oxymax Nebula? Ryo asked his ageing patriarch as he helped the older man from his bed to the travel chair.

Gyo Camelin looked at his eldest and only surviving son through bushy eyebrows. Is that a trick question, my lad?

No, Father. I have been reading the archives again. There may be a misinterpretation.

Gyo sighed and leaned back as his aching body began to be massaged by the chair. Manipulating the controls with his one good hand, the chair rose on a cushion of air and silently drifted towards the room spanning windows that showed a view of the Camelin Clanworld from 5 kims in the air, allowing him to see the entirety of the capital city and the lands surrounding it.

The Clan Desinlo took control of the Confederacy fifteen hundred cycles ago, in a night of blood and fire. You know this, this is all part of our history. Our Clan aided them, initially.

Ryo nodded, I know, father.

Then after three hundred cycles of draconian rule, Clan Masilec contacted our forefathers and showed us how the Desinlo had used deceit and treachery to wrest military control from them. Clan Camelin agreed to switch sides, and after a brief but brutal uprising, Clan Desinlo was swept from power and driven back to their Clanworld. All of their colonies were assigned to other Clans, and they were stricken from the Confederacy records.

Father, that is where I found a discrepancy. Ryo asked. May I discuss it with you?

Gyo nodded. By all means, my lad. You have always had a good head for going through the records and finding jewels amidst all that ancient detritus.

I found a note at the bottom of the original directive, that said it was to be reviewed after a period of 12 Grand Cycles. Nothing more has ever been entered into the records. Do you know if our records may be out of sync with Tara?

Gyo seemed lost in thought, and paused for so long that Ryo felt he had gone to sleep, and carefully rose to let the old man rest. I think a mistake has been made, my Son.

Father? Ryo said, turning back to the ageing patriarch.

The Clanworld Desinlo was a low mass planet, my boy. The people had been expert at low-G manufacturing, and they are also the ones who began the Lari'Sota process. Control through pleasure, was what they were called. That is the real reason why the rebellion against them started. Not the night of blood. That was caused by Clan Jasinlo, not Desinlo.

Ryo pulled up a chair and paid his Father his full attention.

Like you, I enjoyed looking up the history of the Clans. I recall looking through the records, however I never dug as deeply as you do, my boy. You have become better than our archivists. Do you know, that Desinlo is rumoured to have an entire sea that vaporizes every morning into a veil of multicoloured mist, only to reform every evening? Gyo said, lost in thought.

It certainly sounds like a nice place to explore, Father. Ryo said.

That is what you will then do, Ryo. Go find the lost Clanworld. See if anybody still survives. Explore it, see what can be seen. If they are still a proper clan, bring them into Camelin. The nebula they live in is in the heart of our space. We need them as an ally, not an unknown, and certainly not a hostile. Gyo said, tapping his fingers on the chair.

Father, I'm not to leave you. The radiation is draining your life, I must be with you now.

No, my lad. You need to take control of our clan. You are the only son I have left, and Camelin has always been a patriarchal clan, you are ready to lead. It is time. My days grow short, and I wish to spend them looking down on the world I love the most. Take the ship – lead the clan, solve the mysteries you feel that need to be solved.

Gyo reached up and gripped his son's arm with surprising strength.

Be prepared, my lad. There is much treachery in these dark times. Keep your family honour strong, stand for what you believe in, and keep the Confederacy together. Help to ensure we don't dissolve.

Ryo nodded even as he sighed and stepped backward then bowed to his father. He then turned and walked to the door, which upon opening, was presented with the figure of Vis Macelon, his father's Commercial advisor and the holder of the Camelin funds.

Lord Camelin. Vis Macelon said deferentially.

Vis Macelon. Can I assist you, or do you require my father? Ryo asked.

Your father is growing far too weak for matters of this nature, my Lord. You will do nicely, if it please you.

Ryo nodded. Walk with me, Vis.

As they strode down the corridors towards the sweeping ramps that spiralled down towards the main block at the 5 kim level of the tower, Vis Macelon brought the young lord up to speed on the financial matters that were worrying him.

Our imports are not exceeding our export levels, my Lord. We are generating massive amounts of credit with the central banks, and Regals flow into our coffers daily. Our exports to the United Suns and the Frontier continue to grow at about 4% per cycle, but I am seeing a disturbing trend towards the Confederacy central hub.

What do you mean? Ryo asked.

The Central governance, which demands we pay Clan tribute in the amount of 1/12 our gross, have begun to ask for advances. Your father allowed this as we are on good terms with Clan Maselic, but the drain is becoming pronounced, and it is beginning to effect the balance of funds.

Ryo stopped and looked at the Vis. How much? He asked.

We are currently owed more than three and a half million Regals by the Governance, my Lord. My sources within the other Clans also tell me that Clans Michelab, Veritas, and Guylian have also loaned additional funds to the Governance. If my sources are correct, the Lord Emperor owes the combined Clans more than ten million Regals at this time.

Ryo thought for a moment. Michelab and Veritas I can understand, they are producers, like us. Guylian though – they are a production Clan, not a primary producer. Their funds fluctuate based on supply and demand.

Agreed, my Lord. However, Glimmerpearls and the waste products from their refinement are in very high demand. Guylian holds one of the top production facilities for glimmerpearls and as such, in recent cycles, their profits have risen a hundredfold.

Vis, you are trusted to keep the Clan financially balanced. I have been entrusted to command the TGX and seek out the remnants of Clan Desinlo, by my father. He wishes me to find this out before he goes to Pangea. I would recommend that if Clan Masilec continues to ask for loans, we do so, but coordinate with the other three clans and make sure our contributions meet or exceed theirs. I have no problem with the central governance being indebted to us. Our military strength is part of what is holding the Confederacy together at this time. Ryo said as they reached the transport pods.

Of course, my Lord. My loyalty is to the clan, and to the Clan leaders foremost. I will maintain our balance until you return. Vis Macelon said as he bowed.

Ryo stepped into the travel pod and tapped the control to ascend to the top of the tower, nearly 20,000 kims above him.

My father is still in control, Vis. Follow his wishes foremost. He said as the door slid shut, then he sat down as the pod began to accelerate in the evacuated tube until it reached transit speed and flew upwards, travelling towards the massive skyhook that was anchored to the planet and at which the TGX-2, Battlecruiser for Clan Camelin, was currently moored.

...

Vis Macelon watched the young Lord's pod until it flew upwards out of sight, then turned and walked back to the downshaft pods which took him to the 3 kim level, where the main offices were. He walked into his expansive chambers, where his immediate staff of twenty were hard at work coordinating the income and outflow of Regals that ensured Clan Camelin could pay and be paid for it's expenses and requirements. On the wall was a map of the entire Confederacy, and beyond that, the frontier, showing the worlds that traded with the Clan, glowing in brilliant green. The green illuminated perhaps a quarter of the map, mostly in a region close to the Camelin borders. Some worlds were a much more brilliant green han others, and then some worlds were a more sickly yellowish tinge, indicating lesser trade value. The map was almost realtime, being updated hourly as trade reports came in from every exchange.

Macelon went to his desk, in an office with no door, so he could always see what was going on, and thumbed a control.

Get me the other Vis of the Camelin Governance, we need a meeting. He instructed.

In less than the span of an hour, the other members of the Camelin Governance had assembled in the Council chamber to meet Vis Macelon and discuss the latest developments. He walked into the chamber and greeted them all before they took seats to begin the meeting.

Vis Akelos was a thin hawkish man who was in charge of Announcement. His job was to release the public documents, speeches, laws, and info drops that kept the billions of citizens of Clan Camelin informed of the Clan Leadership and the direction the Clan wished the populace to go in.

Vis Waldorphi was a rotund but large man who was in charge of Social Reinforcement. His role was to ensure the billions of members of the clan were kept in line and happy by medical, social, education, quality of life, and any other means he and his staff could use to ensure there was no real threat of public revolt due to dissatisfaction with the leadership.

Vis Adelpha was a tall thin woman who was in charge of Relations. Her role was to keep tabs on everything that went on inside and outside the borders of the Clan, be it the other Clans, the Taran Governance, the Frontier, or the T'Ressi themselves. She and her staff tried to predict issues before they happened so they could be countered or reduced before they became a threat to people or materials.

Finally, there was Vis Pteria, a small round woman who was in overall military charge whenever young Lord Camelin was not present. Her role was to oversee the internal and external military affairs. She commanded the troops, outposts, and warships that patrolled Camelin space, keeping the peace.

They all sat at the round table that had spaces and controls for each of them, and for a few minutes, each one worked, bringing up reports and overviews of their departments to display for the rest when requested or needed to illuminate a point.

Thank you all for coming on short notice. Macelon began.

Short notice, you mean no notice. Normally, Macelon, these meetings are planned. What is so important to bring us all here now? Adelpha snorted.

Macelon nodded his head in acknowledgement of the short-tempered Relations Vis. He was nominally in charge of the Council when no Lord or Lady of the Clan was present, but in reality, all of them held equal rank. None of them held particular favour with the leaders of the Clan, so each of them worked studiously to try and win favour or to quietly discredit the others without causing undue embarassment. Such was politics.

Lord Ryo Camelin prepares the TGX-2 for flight. He is departing orbit to explore the Oxymax Nebula for the lost Clanworld Desinlo. Lord Gyo Camelin weakens more each day, so it leaves us to run the affairs of the Clan until the young Lord returns. Macelon explained.

Vis Pteria nodded. As we have been running the Clan for the past three cycles. Lord Ryo has no interest in leading the Clan. He is a battleship Commander first, and a Clan Lord second, in his mind.

Agreed, added Vis Akelos. Ryo has very little interest in the day-to-day affairs. He trusts us to keep the Clan together while he explores the realms and guards the frontier against aggression. At least, that is what my latest press bursts say.

Excellent. What is our state of affairs, can everybody report? Macelon asked.

...

Lord Camelin? What are you doing here? Ryo stood in the airlock from the skyhook and looked around. He had walked these corridors many times in the past 23 cycles, but never as this. He handed Executive Officer Kalen a sealed missive, written on Camelin clan foil and sealed with the clan bond. The Executive Officer broke the bond with his thumbprint and read the short missive.

My apologies, Sir. I see that you have been given command. Gyo Camelin has been medically retired from duty. May I be the first to welcome you aboard the TGX-2.

Thank you, Captain Kalen. My father is far too weak to make these trips any longer, and has instructed me to begin taking the reins of command appropriately. Take me to the bridge, please.

Walk with me, Commander. We will go there directly. Kalen said and they both started off towards the central trunk corridor. After a few moments they arrived at the corridor, with it's core gravity chute that went the length of the 1.6 kim long battlecruiser.

Do you need assistance with the gravity chute, Commander?

Ryo smiled and stepped into the chute, and was swept along, with Kalen smoothly sweeping along beside him. They swam through the chute as it rapidly pulled them towards the central core of the ship, and Ryo reached out and pulled himself to a stop at the main trunk exit, Followed by Kalen only seconds later.

Very good, Commander. You've been practising since you were last on board. Kalen said with a laugh.

Ryo laughed with him. Agreed, Kalen. No more bloodied lips for me. They walked down the short corridor and then stepped past the hardlock door and into the command centre of the starship. Ryo looked around at the staff busy checking and cross-checking instruments, verifying every part of the ship was ready and smiled to himself.

He noted the closed hardlock door that lead into the computer core, The bridge of the ship was buried deep in the heart of the vessel, right behind the core. Both of them the most heavily defended parts.

Kalen cleared his throat, then picked up the comm unit. Put me on ship-wide, Cato. He asked.

The comms officer flicked some switches and nodded back at him.

Crew of TGX-2. This is Executive Officer Kalen. Gyo Camelin has retired from active duty and is awaiting his journey to the Gates of Pangea. Our Commander has been chosen and is now on board. I bid welcome and honour to Commander Ryo Camelin.

Ryo nodded as the staff on the bridge stood and applauded, then walked into the middle of the bridge and took the comm unit that Kalen held for him.

Thank you and I bid all of you welcome. Some of you know me from my travels on board this and other ships. My Father has seen fit to place me in command and as you will see, I will live up to his standards of excellence and assured command. You know your duties, and I know you do them well. Continue to perform them and we will serve the Confederacy and Clan Camelin to the best of our power and strength.

...

What course do we set, Commander? Kalen asked.

We head for the Oxymax Nebula, Captain. Detach and prepare for neospace flight. Ryo said as he took up position by the main command console. Like he had seen his father do for many cycles when he had been on board this ship.

Viktor Kalen nodded and turned to the helm station, where the two officers who actually flew the immense battlecruiser werr sitting, hands on the controls but not doing anything as the ship was currently at rest.

Cato, signal Skyhook we are disembarking. Helm, prime the drives and prepare for maneuvering thrust.

Skyrook responds, moorings are detathing. We have soft lock, confirmed all moorings detactched. Skyhook is repelling us clear. Cato replied.

We are at 500 mets and increasing distance at a speed of 50 mets per second. Drives are all priming, and fuel pumps are ready. We are nearing ignition temperature on all six drive units. Helm replied.

Reactor control reports all four reactors operating at normal levels, full power is available at your comand, Helm. Came the report from the engineering station, beside the helm console.

All stations, report status. Kalen barked.

Helm, ready. Reactors, ready. Neospace, ready. Vortex, ready. Forward guns, ready. Aft guns, ready. Life support, ready. Gravity control, ready. Sensors, ready. We are in the Clear, Captain. TGX-2 is free and clear to move under your discretion. Came the reports from the various bridge stations.

Kalen looked at the big screen above the command console, painted on the view was an image of the Camelin Skyhook, now a few kilomers distant, and some other ships in range, but nothing in their direct course.

He walked over to put his hand on the back of one of the helm chairs. Ahead, half-thrust until we are a thousand kims clear, then full power. Make our heading for Oxymax.

The massive battlecruiser, engines flaring as it began to acclerate, soon pulled far away from the orbital facility that was it's normal home, and once it was far enough away, the engines ramped up to full power, spewing hundres of tonnes of helium radicals from the fusing of hydrogen and conveting that energy into momentum, quickly accelerated up to neospace velocity and slid beyond lightspeed.

...

What do you think, Commander?

I think, Captain Kalen, we need to get in there. Ryo said as they watched the swirling of the dust and debris that was the Oxymax nebula.

It's ten Solar Lengths deep, Commander. The Vortex gateway was destroyed by Clans Jasinlo and Kerilac five hundred cycles ago. They detonated Antimatter mines through the one mapped corridor. No Vortex ship can penetrate that dust cloud.

Then we go using Neospace drive. We will fly through it and see what lies at the centre. See if the lost Clanworld still survives.

Why do you seek the Desinlo Clanworld, Commander? All records show they were banished from the Confederacy, and with good reason.

Ryo looked at his XO. I seek it, Kalen, because it is there. At the heart of our own Clan territory lies this nebula. Within the nebula lies the Clanworld that once ruled the entire Confederacy, and has now fallen so far from the light. We must return the light to them and see if we can drive away the darkness.

Diving into that dense gas cloud using Neospace is going to be a strain on this ship's superstructure, Sir. She was designed for vacuum, not plowing through a gas cloud with close to a hundred pascals of pressure. Kalen said as they continued to observe the roiling clouds of the active nebula.

Then, Captain, we need to do some plowing. Unless you have any other objections, let's get the shields trimmed and get the ship prepared for extended gaseous exposure.

Understood, Commander. We''ll get trimmed and ready to slide.

Chapter 1.1

Defend The Planet - Oxymax Nebula -32 BA

The entire ship is vibrating, Commander. Hull crews report the armour is cracking from the stress of the dust and debris impacts. Neospace drives are also showing strains.

How deep are we? Ryo asked, holding onto the main console and watching the monitors for any signs of a gap from the dense cloud that surrounded the ship on all sides. They had been diving through the dense cloud for more than an hour now.

Four lengths now, According to the old charts we should be entering the void bubble caused by the primary shortly. I don't know how much longer the shield generators can take this stress though. She was built for battle, not flying through a sustained gas cloud at faster than lightspeed.

The deep vibration through the deck plates stopped, and silence filled the bridge.

Gas density has fallen to deep vacuum, Sir. We are in a void approximately two Solar Lengths across. One primary star detected, planetary system confirmed.

Get crews working on the hull and drive systems. Get us back to full state. Commander – we are in the Clear. Kalen reported.

Ryo nodded. Take us in, approach to within Actual range of the Desinlo world, then open a channel.

Detecting small ships moving in and out of the system, they have the profile of freighters and corsairs. Nothing military so far on tactical sensors. Ryo and Kalen looked at each other. Desinlo was definitely not dead if there were ships in the system.

Ships are scattering away from us, Commander. They may have seen us. Chatter is increasing on all scanned channels. If the Desinlo were not aware before, they are now.

Captain, what do you make of this? Came the request from tactical. Kalen walked over and looked at the readings.

Conn, deep scan indicates relativistic projectiles, on course for the planet. I scan ten, no eighteen of them. One hundred tonnes mass each. Cobalt grade! Came the snap report from Science.

How long until impact? Ryo asked.

At current speed, five hundred seconds, Commander.

How long until we can intercept? Ryo said as he looked at Kalen.

No reply, Kalen snapped, You heard the Commander, how long until intercept?

Two hundred seconds, Sir. Came the reply from tactical.

Do we do this, Kalen? Ryo asked his XO.

We're already here, Sir. If you're here to make friends, protecting the planet is a great way to start. Kalen replied, then walked over to navigation.

Max thrust, all drives. Get us into a direct intercept position. Gun control, prepare for interdiction zone, heavy radiation. Kalen ordered as the two navigation officers made adjustments. The flight officer then increased throttle control as the entire ship began to vibrate while it's engines flared to maximum output, pushing the massive ship at well over 10g thrust, with gravity control keeping the interior at normal levels.

Ryo did not interrupt, Kalen knew the ship and crew a lot better than he did, and in a lot of ways, he was still excess baggage.

Kalen, what if we got in front of the projectiles, then slid towards the planet, side on. Would that increase the length of time to intercept? He said as he watched the tactical readouts.

"We run a risk of not being able to