Ti, Hypershear

By Steve (S. R.) Jaborsky

Most countries on Earth seem to be involved in the revolutionary space project. Roy Blain, reporter for Worldwide Newsgroup and his friend, Professor William ‘Wild Bill’ Taylor, suspect the low earth ion powered orbiter tagged ‘VIP’ is much more than advertised. Their investigation leads to more questions than answers. Could an Earth at last united in cause be looking for an enhanced pathway to the stars? Or is the entire Project VIP a fraud for a much more sinister purpose? The notion of a Rosolite influence cannot be discarded. The return of Seron and her cousin Quillian of the revered House of Ti, more than 70 years after Seron’s last visit to Earth, prompts Blain, Taylor, Seron and Quillian to embark on a dangerous race to stop an experiment that could disrupt the entire Solar System.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gypsy Shadow Publishing, LLC
• Release date: Dec 3, 2016
• ISBN: 9781619503045

Steve (S. R.) Jaborsky

My dad used to play a tape recording he made of me when I was 5 years old (1956). On it, I related a story about a ‘mechanical man who roamed the land’. I guess that was my first science fiction story. My favorite T.V. show in those days was ‘Science Fiction Theater’ (“Let me show you something interesting.”) Later, ‘Men Into Space’, ‘The Twilight Zone’, ‘One Step Beyond’ and even ‘Alfred Hitchcock Presents’ captured my imagination. D.C. Comics were a staple. Tom Swift stories helped me to learn to read. I’m not sure when I discovered Bradbury’s ‘The Martian Chronicles’ but I reread it many times during my grade school days. He became my favorite sci-fi author at the time. Of course, I soon discovered Campbell, Asimov, van Vogt, Heinlein and many others. A particular favorite is Fritz Leiber. All are ‘Golden Age’ authors and the genre I attempt to imitate. Ordinary folks caught up in extraordinary events is the template I begin with (the ‘Alfred Hitchcock’ influence no doubt). It doesn’t matter if those folks reside on Earth or in another galaxy or if the extraordinary events involve an invasion from space, a domination by rogue computers, questions of God and existence or speculations on the future; logic is logic but the responses to such events and concepts make the story. Now retired, my working life was spent in CNC manufacturing. I had the opportunity to be trained on early computers. Turned out I had an affinity with computerized machining and ended my career a few years ago working with state of the art computers doing incredible things with unbelievable machinery. Programming in the various languages, getting the utmost out of the equipment and even going beyond limits to have the machines do things they were never designed to do became my forte. I was consulted on a few jobs after retirement. In my working years, my main focus was Defense and Aerospace. I was involved in some neat projects including F-15 engines, launching systems for Patriot missiles, the JSOW missile guidance system and a few others things I probably am not allowed to discuss even today. During those years I wrote as much as possible, submitted a few stories here and there and had a grand total of two short stories published! Retirement has allowed me time to work in earnest on a passion that has been inside me since I was 5 years old.

Book preview

Contents

Copyright Page

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 5

Chapter 10

Chapter 15

Chapter 20

Chapter 25

About the Author

Ti, Hypershear

Book Two of Seron Ti Series

by S. R. Jaborsky

All rights reserved

Copyright © May 23, 2016, S. R. Jaborsky

Cover Art Copyright © 2016, Charlotte Holley

Gypsy Shadow Publishing, LLC.

Lockhart, TX

www.gypsyshadow.com

Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.

No part of this book may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to printing, file sharing, and email, without prior written permission from Gypsy Shadow Publishing, LLC.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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ISBN: 978-1-61950-304-5

Published in the United States of America

First eBook Edition: December 3, 2016

Dedication

To the great writers of The Golden Age of Science Fiction, I dedicate this book. Their inspiration allowed me to explore other worlds, other dimensions and other minds. The names Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Lester del Rey, Poul Anderson, Fritz Leiber and so many others have transported me thousands of light years from home and deeply into the recesses of my own soul. However, it was Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles, first read so many years ago by this impressionable grade school boy, and reread many times since, that set my heart aflame with the desire to write. Hopefully, my meager efforts will inspire others to explore this greatest era of science fiction literature which I attempt to reflect in my writings and possibly to pick up pen or tap keys and keyboards to further the journey begun many years ago by true pioneers.

Chapter One

Professor Taylor’s Office

Case Western Reserve University

"Am I talking to Roy my old buddy, or Blain, reporter extraordinaire of Worldwide News?" Taylor asked the man seated across from him at his desk.

"C’mon, Bill. You know me better. What you say goes into print, will. What you say doesn’t, doesn’t."

"Well, what we discuss now, doesn’t."

Fair enough.

Taylor looked away from Blain and began. I’m in a sensitive position this time, Roy. Oh, I’ve dealt with the govs on projects before, but this is different. It… feels different. Some of the data needed for VIP has come through us here at Case. I, myself, have furnished schematics for one of the onboard computer systems for the command module. Some of what I hear makes me feel this project has had a little special… help. I’ve felt this for a while.

Ever since our little trip to Hawaii a couple of years ago? Blain interjected.

"It truly sucks to be one of only two people in this world who had proof positive of visitation by extraterrestrials and couldn’t convince anyone because the evidence… disappeared. I tried so hard to find proof, something the Dahrens overlooked when they eradicated the equipment and thoughts of those involved."

As has the other person who knows about the extraterrestrials, and is a reporter, to boot, Blain said. "I’ve tried to jog Megan’s memory—what she knew, what she saw. All she says is that you and I were on a fishing trip in Hawaii during that period. They completely cleared everyone’s memory of those events, except for yours and mine, but we’ve been through all this crap before. What do you feel VIP really is?"

Taylor sat back down behind his desk, looked at Blain as if he were debating a decision within himself, then opened a drawer and withdrew an artist’s rendering of a spacecraft. He handed it to Blain. At the top of the rendering were the words: VIP, Vulkan Ion Propulsion. Restricted Use.

He studied it a while and said, Yeah, okay, Bill. This is what the VIP is supposed to look like when it’s built. VIP is supposed to test a new concept in ion propulsion, once it has established orbit around Earth. It’s been in several papers and in all the tech journals. I’ve seen it before. It’s what the Russian rocket is blasting into space.

The picture was of a round, tubular-shaped craft with four immense exhaust nozzles toward the rear, and eight engine blocks affixed in a circular pattern around the main tube. A rectangular-shaped projection located nearly in the center of the main tube shape had small windows/ports on it, and appeared to be the actual command module. On the front of the command module was another nozzle, octagonal in shape with the open end facing the front, or bow, of the craft.

That octagonal object on the front of the command module. What is it, why is it there? Taylor asked.

An air scoop? A collector of some kind? A mail slot? Look, Bill, if you’re asking me…

Certainly not an air scoop and there’s nothing in space to collect, at least not with a clumsy scoop.

You know, I don’t remember that nozzle or scoop in the press releases, Blain said as he studied the picture.

That’s because it’s not in the press releases. This rendering is for those of us involved in the project. This picture is designated Ultra Secret. Just showing you could get us both locked away in a cold, dark dungeon.

What do you say it is?

It’s called a Projector, which denotes matter being projected and not collected. What it will project is a matter I am not privy to and am pondering.

Well, whatever it is, does it matter?

There are other things that don’t add up. The Russian Vulkan booster seems an overkill. A spacecraft the size of VIP should be able to be launched from a much smaller platform. The actual VIP craft must be of extreme weight.

Taylor began slowly to swirl a finger around an empty drinking glass on the table.

The pause became lengthy, and finally Blain said, Look Bill, I’ve known you long enough to read between the lines. If you’re worried about me running to Megan with a hot story…

I think we’re about to embark on a path that is irreversible— Taylor said to the glass on the table, —and extremely perilous. What bothers me isn’t just the experimental ion drive. This is not purely a NASA project. It’s unprecedented in scope. The security is phenomenal. The ESA has a hand in it. Security is shared with the Russian FSB, Chinese MSS, German BND, Japanese PSIA and the English MI-6.

A lot of letters.

And three more: CIA.

Sounds like everyone is keeping an eye on everyone else.

I have taken extreme precautions in this very room just to talk with you. He gestured toward various devices around his office. Sound interrupters, maskers and low-level white noise to muffle our conversation. Projectors aimed at the windows so prying devices can’t peer in at us. If you, old buddy, had entered my office with any sort of sound or visual recording device, I would have known.

My cell phone…

Has been rendered inoperative.

Blain looked at the screen on his phone. He tried to activate it. The screen fluttered and slowly, letters appeared. The screen soon read, YOU’RE FUCKED.

Nice touch, Blain said.

Taylor stood up and turned toward Blain. His facial expression changed to a look of concern mingled with fear. What he said next was blurted out as if unloading a heavy burden. There are other elements of this craft that have nothing to do with testing a new generation space-drive, elements that point toward serious experimentation in quantum physics. If what I suspect is true, we, the inhabitants of Earth, are about to explore an intergalactic jumpgate—a wormhole through space and time—near Jupiter. And the public, hell, ninety-nine percent of the inhabitants of Earth, are not in on this little endeavor.

Chapter Two

On Dahr

TiQChron SubD Rg58

(Ti, Quillian, Chronicle, Subjective Distributor, Register 58)

I, Traveler Quillian Ti, begin this Chronicle as true record and testament of my actions. May Truth guide my journey and may I proclaim my actions as honest in the Travel I prepare to make.

For All and Dahr.

An Audience with the Encyclopedic Body

I approach the Body today with a request. May the esteemed First Encyclopedian hear my plea.

Granted, Citizen Traveler Quillian Ti, said First Encyclopedian Bolan Qi.

I rose from the Citizenry Gallery and approached the Body. I took my place at the podium, standing, facing the Body. My current planned Travel to Earth, the planet referred to as D-8-3B in our technical journals and Chronicles, will be a delicate, but necessary, journey. May All guide and allow me to redirect the works of the inhabitants of that world without causing further damage, protect their race, and not interfere with the natural progression of their citizens and technology. However, there may be yet one more area that the Body may assist me with.

Bolan Qi replied in a warm, but correct, manner. Traveler Quillian Ti, we have reviewed your mission, agreed to the reasoning and have granted you all that was requested. Have we not yet discussed all that will be required on this Travel?

I eased my respectful stance slightly and released my hands, held clasped behind my back. First Encyclopedian, I request the company of another Traveler. Someone who has immediate knowledge of this world and indeed was involved in intrigues involving Dahr and D-8-3B.

Bolan Qi answered quickly, a slight smile on his face quickly faded. You most certainly refer to Seron, of the hallowed House of Ti and of your immediate blood. Her valor and truthful actions during a dark and evil time in our history are revered. However, I was informed she leads a somewhat reclusive life, living alone in a small dwelling in the open lands near the waters of the Trivol Lakes since the cessation of her Travels.

You are correct in your thoughts in whom I wish to accompany me, I began. However isolated, Seron Ti continues her contemplations of All and her experimentations in the sciences. Her small dwelling would be the envy of many experimentation laboratories and not a few universities. She has communicated many scientific observations, conjecture and conclusions to various schools and has contributed to our advancements in areas from communications to protective weaponry. She does this quietly and, as you know, without public announcement or personal recognition.

Why does she not appear before the Body on this matter? Why this hidden life? asked the Second Encyclopedian.

I turned toward the Second Encyclopedian, newly-appointed and perhaps not well-studied in the many exploits of Seron Ti. I again assumed a respectful stance, hands clenched behind my back. Esteemed Encyclopedian, after the intrigues in the times of Aabec Ai, she found, I chose my words carefully, … displeasure that those guiding Dahr had even allowed the ilk of Aabec Ai and his cohorts to have come to such a high position at the outset. She advocated the exploration of a form of governing she learned of on her travels to D-8-3B. A form of checks and balances, she called it, if memory serves. The Chronicles report her arguments passionate and her anger sharp in the discussions before the Body. She eventually abandoned her imploring and assumed her solitary manner.

Seron Ti has expressed personal thoughts concerning governance on Dahr and the manner in which our destiny should proceed. She has been quite… unwavering in these ideas, the First Encyclopedian said in a factual tone and as an education to this newest Body member. He then turned toward me. What thoughts has Seron Ti expressed in this matter? Does she concur with your assumptions of her usefulness on this Travel?

I turned again to the First Encyclopedian. This was a question I hesitated to answer.

I… I have as yet not discussed the matter with her. My thoughts were to first approach the Body for consultation and guidance before speaking with Seron Ti. I felt a flush spreading on my countenance.

This time, there was a full grin on the face of the First Encyclopedian as he said, It appears your uneasiness of speaking to your own blood exceeds that of appearing before this Body.

As was discussed earlier, her temper regarding the past events on Dahr is not easy to overcome, though her loyalty and love of All and Dahr is great. I will contact her, if the Body allows.

The Body consulted for a time and then the First Encyclopedian said, We have no reason to deny your request, Traveler Quillian Ti. However, convey our request for the appearance of Seron before this body, so that we may reacquaint ourselves with her as she honors this Hall with her presence, a presence too long denied the Body.

Nearly three gyres had passed since I had last visited Seron and the Trivol Lakes region, one of the most beautiful areas on all of Dahr. I traveled one quarter period of my journey in the transport vehicle, disembarking many doublepaces before reaching the dwelling of my cousin. I watched as dwellings beneath me transitioned to small agricultural areas, then vast fields and forests, and finally the three Trivol lakes. I guided the vehicle over Kerteu Lake and adjusted the control to a Touch on Seron’s area. Thankfully, her guidewave activated and informed her of my identity. My vehicle was locked for approach and touched on the grasslands next to her dwelling. She has been known to disable her guidewave for some vehicles, thus prohibiting access to her area.

I entered her dwelling and was met immediately by Seron in her reception chamber.

Quillian, it has been a time since we have conversed. Are you well? she asked with a smile as she touched two fingers to my cheek. In her ninety-third gyre and approaching mid-life, she looked well and fit. Svelte and sure of mind and step, her green eyes were still sharp and focused, the deep black hair flowing to her shoulders showed just a hint of a lighter color near the temples.

Dear cousin Seron, it is pleasing to see you. I am well. I trust you are the same?

Seron Ti was one of the few Travelers who had not undergone the Calming process after multigyres of Gathering. Her mental and physical state were determined to be such as to be allowed to retain knowledge accumulated during her Travels.

The Physician wishes me to allow for extended periods of rest, and limit working hours in my laboratories. Without my work, I would be just another rested Citizen, staring at the walls and playing the occasional game of Rokala. The Physician errs toward minimum risk.

The Physician wishes only to prolong your life. What are your current studies? I asked, as she led me into her great chamber. On a small table where we sat was a flask of Sasa wine, two glasses, crisp and soft wafers and a Tribulk root-dipping mixture, an old and expected Dahren custom.

I explore the area of distribution of vaccines to our outward colonies. You are certainly aware of the viral infections on Komhda Four. I seek to stabilize the serums and facilitate their transport great distances without corruption. It is a delicate serum, Seron said.

I poured Seron and myself a portion of the wine and sipped mine slowly. She had not taken her gaze from me.

Do I look different from our last meeting? I asked. You seem to be searching with your eyes.

Dear Quillian, it’s just that you carry the traits of our family so strongly. I see my father’s eyes and his mother’s smile on your face.

And I see your mother in your expressions and movements. I have observed the Chronicle recordings of her when she was a Traveler. You look as if you could have been her twin.

Seron rose and looked out over the lake. She was silent for a time as she sipped the wine. She may have been remembering those times when she fought against the First Encyclopedian of her Traveler times, and the tragedy of what was done to her mother.

I perceive that this may not be a purely familial visit, she said, still with her back to me.

I rose to join Seron near the window. I stood beside her and began to relate my Travel to that world that so changed our own Dahr.

I must relate to you a clandestine mission to D-8-3B two gyres past. I traveled to that world to…

The Secured Chronicles recorded that your group eradicated the last vestiges of the evil done by Aabec Ai in those dark times many gyres past, she interrupted, still looking toward the lake.

Dear Seron, that was a privileged Chronicle! Only the Body was to…

Dear Quillian, there is little that escapes my awareness. However, fear not that this information would be made available to the Citizenry by me. I learned long ago and appreciate the fact that one lie begets another. This last utterance was spoken with an inflection of sarcasm and disdain. The original lie was that of Aabec Ai, she continued, "and his intended rape of Earth. Let us hope the last lie was of your Travel to Earth. I am certainly aware of the damage that could be caused by public knowledge of all that occurred. Factions on Rosol, and indeed other worlds, would exploit such knowledge to weaken our resolve and challenge ours and other peaceful worlds. Rosol still denies knowledge of the plot perpetrated by our previous First Encyclopedian Aabec Ai and those on that wretched world Rosol who aided the plot. Yes, it was at last made clear to