Yesterday's Empire

By Christopher Thompson

In Chris Thompsons second sci-fi novel, we find ourselves on the peace-loving world of Correlia, at the heart of the galaxy. The gentle existence of this ancient world is about to be torn apart by savage invaders bent on dominating a vast empire. Unable to defend themselves against the might of the warriors, the fate of Correlia depends upon a young scientist who has discovered the ability to traverse time itselfwith unexpected results! Can anything stop the galaxy from being plunged into eternal darkness, and what will be the consequences of trying?

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Apr 8, 2013
• ISBN: 9781481788076

Christopher Thompson

Christopher Thompson is a retired IT Support Technician and a disabled veteran. He is the author of a poetry anthology titled "Breakfast Anytime" and his current works in progress are the romantic comedy duology "Saving Throw" and "Saving Throw: Critical Hit", the supernatural horror "Gardener of Eden" trilogy, a second poetry anthology titled "Dancing with Angels and Demons", and a compilations of anecdotes of telemarketer calls gone funny. He has won National Novel Writing Month in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 as well as Script Frenzy 2011 and 2012. His poetry has won several awards and accolades. He is the loving and devoted single father of three wonderful children and their pets - mostly bunnies and has a wonderful girlfriend who puts up with his muse.

Book preview

YESTERDAY’S EMPIRE

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CHRISTOPHER THOMPSON

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AuthorHouse™

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

© 2013 by Christopher Thompson. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 03/26/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4817-8806-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-8807-6 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Acknowledgements

Proof reading and grammatical assistance by Steve Counsell

In this book, dear reader, I have indulged myself… on occasions, with phrases or words that are deliberately incorrect. I have not done this merely to annoy Mr Counsell (who has been of great assistance), but either to enhance the telling of the story, or simply because I can.

By the same author:

The Io Incident

For Robert and Janice… always in my heart

Foreword

Everything in our material world exists in three dimensions (Length, breadth and height). If we move left or right, up or down, backward or forward… we are moving within three dimensions. The fourth dimension is time, and we, dear reader, are locked in a linear position within it. We cannot move within the fourth dimension. We are aware of the time that has already passed, and we anticipate the time that is yet to come. If we are having fun, then time seems to pass more quickly. On a bad day, time seems to drag by slowly, but in truth we can have no influence upon it. But what would happen if we could move within the fourth dimension? Take a journey with me, dear reader, and allow your imagination to run free.

Chapter 1

Tamak looked through the transparency panel in his small office at the panorama of trees and flora that stretched out before him. The red glow of the star they called Omeron bathed the gardens surrounding the technical sciences building where he stood. The air outside smelled sweet at this time of day as the flowering plants soothingly released their various perfumes under the warming sunlight. A gentle breeze had started up, its existence heralded by the swaying of the more delicate plants in rhythm with the wafting of the air. Tamak could not sense or hear the breeze from here in his sterile surroundings but he longed to feel it caress his skin. There was nothing, he thought to himself, that compared with feeling the midday atmosphere when you had nothing at all to do except waste away the afternoon. Today, however, there would be no time for wasting. He knew that soon Leatan would call him back to the laboratory when the next experiment was properly prepared, and ready for his attention.

A shadow passed over the garden, followed quickly overhead by the air-ship that had cast it upon the lawns. Tamak watched idly as it grew more distant until it became just an indistinguishable dot on the horizon. Who was travelling on that craft, he wondered? It was a small short-range air-ship, so it couldn’t have held more than forty passengers, he reasoned… perhaps a pleasure cruise? It had been many years since Tamak had travelled anywhere for pleasure alone. There was never time, it seemed. He grew distracted by the thought of how many years he had wasted trying to convince the Council of Elders that there was merit in his research. Years that could have been spent perfecting the complex machinery and calculations required to exploit the fourth dimension. Tamak would work feverishly to the exclusion of everything else. He would become consumed by his research, cocooned in his laboratory; and then every once in a while, like today, he would suddenly realise, like a flash of inspiration, that there was a real world going on all around him. A million different things that he barely noticed from one day to the next. The scent of blossoms, the warmth of the sun on his face, the happy sound of friends sharing a joke. Then, in his enlightenment he would vow to allow himself the luxury of a normal life and make time for all of these things… merely to plunge back into his work once more, like he always did.

Only his old friend, Auger, seemed to understand the potential of his work, or perhaps he was just humouring him for old times sake? At any rate, without Auger he would never have been able to progress this far. Auger was a good friend, thought Tamak, regardless of his motives for convincing Qindar to authorise the vital resources that allowed his work to continue.

Another air-ship became visible and once more diverted Tamak’s attention momentarily. This one was further away and flying higher but Tamak could tell even at this range that it was a ship designed for longer distances. The shape of the wings gave it away; they altered constantly as the atmospheric conditions changed, and retracted completely once clear of the atmosphere and out into space. Tamak could see the sleeked-back wings moving outwards to take advantage of some denser air as the craft banked left. Taross; the smaller of the two moons that orbited Correlia was crossing the disc of Omeron, adding to the redness of the light by blotting out some of the brightness. This tiny satellite moved across the skyline every four hours, its close orbit making it appear to be a similar size to Maena; the larger and more distant moon. Ancient religion believed that Maena, keeper of the skies and wife of Omeron the God of light, kept a watchful eye over the people of Correlia. Their son Taross had been cast out for treacherous behaviour to spend the rest of eternity chasing after his mother, begging for forgiveness. Tamak’s gaze fell again onto the gardens outside his office and he watched two female’s talking as they walked past his building and then out of sight. The grounds surrounding his workplace were vast and beautiful and he never had time to enjoy them. He would often decide on a day like today, that he would give himself a few hours away from his research to just walk and think of things… things other than electro-science calculations. He would allow his body to bathe in the light of Omeron and listen to music or perhaps just listen to the sounds of the wildlife all around. Many times he had decided on this and many times it had simply never happened. One experiment led straight to another. One problem solved immediately produced another to fill the void. There was no escape. Even when he went home it was to an empty home. No life-partner waited there for him. No-one missed him when he was working. Why did he work so much? It wasn’t as if he had no choice in the matter. In fact he was always fighting to get the resources to allow for more and more work. He could easily take things at a slower pace and no one would care… but he would care. He would know that he had not accomplished all that was possible and that, for Tamak would simply not do. He was a victim of his own success and aspirations and even at times, he admitted to himself, of his own vanity. There was no-one else to blame. No-one made him devote so much time to work. Others that he knew seemed able to balance their lives far better than he, but they had the support of the Council. They didn’t have to fight every step of the way. His face momentarily took on an expression of annoyance and then he put his hands into the pockets on his overall and found the half eaten snack that he had begun some time ago. He took it out and looked at it, was about to take another bite but then for no reason decided not to and returned it again. A short bleeping sound told him that he was being contacted via the communicator on his desk. He touched it gently and said, Tamak. A familiar voice replied, Ready to commence experiment 2736. He smiled to himself… he could have perfectly predicted the exact words and even the tone of voice that would have conveyed that message. Just for once he would have liked to hear something different, the equipment is assembled, come to the lab now, even something ridiculous like, do I have to wait all day for your lazy carcass? but no, that would never happen. On my way Leatan, he said, and immediately realised that he too, probably said exactly the same words in the same tone of voice… still no matter. Leatan knew him so well that they exchanged few words outside of instructions and feedback during experiments. Each knew the other’s likes and dislikes… good and bad points. Tamak might have been the brains and inspiration behind their current project but without Leatan he would be further behind, for sure. Leatan had gone to the same learning centre as Tamak and they had become friends whilst very young. Despite the fact that Tamak held a more senior position, he often thought that Leatan had prospered more than he in many ways… Leatan had a life-partner… Leatan had a life! Outside of the lab that is. Where as Tamak was always too busy. Not intentionally, it just seemed to work out that way. How he would have loved to lie out in the afternoon sun and dream of unimportant things right now but as he turned the last corner and approached the door to his laboratory, all such thoughts were wiped away from his mind.

As the door closed behind him Tamak looked across the untidy room to see Leatan closing the blast screen over the transparency. Leatan was slightly bigger than Tamak and had a more youthful air to himself. His complexion was a more healthy shade than Tamak’s and no doubt he ate the right food. Perhaps the affections of a life-partner were the secret to this? Experiment 27…

I know, said Tamak, holding up his hand, Experiment 2736 is ready to commence. Let’s hope this is the breakthrough, eh? Although we haven’t had need of the blast screens since experiment 446, but that’s not the kind of breakthrough I was thinking of.

Leatan looked unfavourably across the room at Tamak. We had an unexplained power eruption on experiment 1583 and in any case you know what would happen if we failed to follow all the protocols. Even Vice Consort Auger couldn’t save us if there were injuries to…

Stop, stop! Tamak held up his hand again, I was just teasing you, my friend.

Tamak sat opposite Leatan at the control console, he reached into his pocket for the key to initiate the start procedure and instead found his snack once more. He fidgeted and checked his other pocket before noticing Leatan holding the key in front of him. Leatan was always the practical one. Tamak could calculate the orbit of a comet in his head but couldn’t connect a power coupling to save his life. Good job Leatan was always there to deal with the mundane aspects of the work with his customary infallible precision.

The hum of the energy amplifier grew as the experiment neared initiation. Tamak stared at the readout as the field collapsed and discharged into the apparatus. Just check that for me, Leatan, he said in disbelief… could they have achieved it? Could they really have achieved success after all this time?

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Tamak raced across the gardens with scant regard for those who were meditating in the last rays of sunshine. He didn’t notice the warm red sun or the perfume from the plants or even the Draygot that flew overhead in search of prey. He had but one thought on his mind… to find Auger!

He thundered up the white steps that led to the Chamber of the Council of Elders, almost knocking over an old male who was absent-mindedly strolling by Sorry friend, he called without looking back or waiting for an answer. He rushed through the open doorway into the grand building. The female on the information desk looked up disapprovingly as he charged across the entrance hall. I must see Auger immediately! he exclaimed, out of breath and with his face coloured from the blood pumping through his veins. The female said nothing, she just looked at him in a way that made it obvious that he would get nowhere fast unless he played it her way. Realising the futility of the situation, Tamak took several deep breaths and then composed himself. It is of the utmost importance that I see Vice Consort Auger urgently, he said, trying to calm himself as his heart still thumped in his chest.

And you are? She held his gaze and made no insinuation through her body language whether she would help him or not.

I am Senior Scientist Tamak from the Technical Sciences Department, he said in an almost apologetic manner, straining to contain his temper lest this wretched menial delay him further. She touched something below her desk that Tamak couldn’t see, paused and then looked back up at him. Vice Consort Auger will see you. He is in his chamber which is…

I know where it is. Thankyou. Tamak ran down the long corridor without a backward glance. The receptionist watched his form disappear with the same disapproving look and then returned her attention to the monitor beneath the upper portion of her desk as the sound of Tamak’s footsteps gradually faded with distance.

Tamak reached the door leading to Auger’s private chamber and pressed the contact that would announce his arrival and then, without waiting for an answer or an invitation he entered. Auger looked up from where he sat, Tamak, you look unwell, my friend, he said. Can I offer you some refreshment?

I am fine, Auger… I am more than fine. I am ecstatic! But I will have the refreshment nevertheless. Why don’t you open the good stuff?

Is there something we need to celebrate? Auger looked amused and curious as if he expected his friend to announce that he had finally managed to meet a female without boring her to death.

We’ve done it! Tamak could hardly contain himself, he put his hands on his friend’s shoulders and squeezed. We’ve done it Auger! Leatan is preparing the machine to conduct the experiment again, but I know we’ve done it. I don’t need to see the repeat to know. It works!

Auger poured a green liquid into a glass and handed it to Tamak. Your time dilation experiment has been successful? he said with a look of approving surprise before his face narrowed into a calmer expression. Tell me exactly what it is that you have done, Tamak.

Tamak took the glass without looking at the contents, A few moments ago we successfully transported a photon, one millisecond through time and then returned it to our dimension.

Auger paused and seemed unsure about pouring a glass for himself, There is no doubt that you actually dilated time?

None! Leatan is preparing the apparatus again. Come, Friend Auger… come see for yourself. Tamak put