The Third Planet

By J. V. Perrone

As the author of this novel, I prefer not to provide biographic data, except to disclose that I currently reside in Florida, having moved there in 2004 after working in the financial district of New York City. While still a rail commuter from New Jersey, my daily morning route included taking the PATH train from Hoboken into the basement of the World Trade Center where, especially when the weather was spring-like, I usually would exit the complex through its central plaza and, from there, walk the three blocks to my office. My timing was such that I was usually in the plaza by 8:45 AM in order to be on time for work.
Having returned a few days earlier from a tiring vacation, I decided that fateful Tuesday morning of September 11, 2001 to get a few extra winks of sleep and to take the late train to work. As a result, I was about thirty minutes later than usual, and not where I normally would have been at 8:46 AM when the first plane struck the north tower of the World Trade Center. If the events of that day did not change my perspective on life, then the following weeks and months of working in the humbling atmosphere of such a terrible disaster did. Many questions were asked and not answered. Was it by human design alone? Was it because of divine punishment? In any event, in order to mentally escape the reality of an environment in which physical escape was not then possible, I found that when I had a private moment to think (on the subway, the commuter train, on a work break, etc.), I did so with pen in hand. And what emerged at the time were poems that helped me deal with questions of the soul and resolve the remorse I felt which was later replaced with a sense of hope.
Although I always had what I thought to be a talent for writing, through which I could express thoughts and feelings in a way I never could do verbally, I had never written anything of consequence before that disastrous day in 2001. And yet, looking back, it seemed that whatever pen I subsequently used in writing those poems, which eventually turned out to be many, must have had a magical connection because the words came only after first picking up the pen. Many times, the words came quickly without my having to think, as if I was simply transcribing what was being dictated.
It was the same with this novel. I never planned to write a novel and, most certainly, do not consider myself an author. But one day, a thought came into my head, causing me to pick up a pen and, on a simple notepad, I began to write the first chapter of this book. The characters immediately came into being and, essentially, it is their novel, their story. At times, when the story stagnated, causing me to sit at the computer while my fingers remained still, it was as if the characters had nothing to say; so much so, that if a family member who knew of the writing of this novel would ask me, at the time, how it was coming along, my answer would be that the characters werent talking to me. So maybe this isnt a novel at all. Maybe it all did happen a long while ago, and that through some kind of a time anomaly, the people described herein may have telepathically communicated their story to me so that this world that we live in today could have knowledge of what once had been. I really dont know what do you think?

J. V. Perrone

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 31, 2014
• ISBN: 9781493114306

J. V. Perrone

N/A

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Though young, he is at the age when a boy becomes a man. Had he lived in a primitive society, he would now be old enough to enter into a rite of passage to prove his manhood. But his is not a primitive society; he had been born into a highly advanced civilization that ages ago had tamed its world and reached out to the stars. His world is Atlantsia, the third planet from its sun, which since Kar-del’s birth has circled that star exactly sixteen times.

A strong and intelligent youth, Kar-del is an only son in an old and influential family. His father, Jon-del, is a respected and influential senior senator in Atlantsia’s central world government. His mother, Sanra-del Rah, is a leading scientist who heads Atlantsia’s Magnetic Energy Agency. The family lives in the country-continent of Aurenia, one of five country-continents on the planet and also the seat of its world government.

It has been nearly five hundred years since the wars between the country-continents had ended and a world government established to ensure peace and prosperity for all. Famine, poverty, and disease had long been eradicated as a result of scientific and technological advances made possible in a peaceful world that also currently enjoys unrestricted interplanetary and world trade, facilitated by a universal currency and language. Energy needs are provided primarily through a network of pyramids supported by the discovery centuries earlier of cold fusion and the harnessing of magnetic energy. These sources of clean energy, coupled with more recent scientific developments that unlocked the secrets of matter/anti-matter conversion, enabled Atlantsia to turn its deserts into farmland to feed its growing populations, as well as to quickly travel to, and to colonize, its moons and neighboring planets.

At first, work colonies were established on Atlantsia’s primary moon, Obsidia, for the purpose of mining the minerals and raw materials needed to maintain the home planet’s technological growth, especially the crystals needed for its pyramids, the primary sources of power for the planet. Later, colonies were established on its two neighboring planets, Martiana and Terrana, respectively the second and first planets from Atlantsia’s sun. These permanent colonies are microcosms of the home planet and the source of essential trade providing food from their farms and precious metals from their mines.

Life on Atlantsia, in very many ways, had developed into a perfect, highly developed, almost Utopian society. However, the benefits offered by such a society came at a price. The prosperity and planetary abundance that resulted from a peaceful and healthful world brought with it global overpopulation. Even with the advent of space travel that brought about new sources of food, minerals, and raw materials to meet the ever-growing needs of an expanding populace, Atlantsia’s government representatives knew early on that if population growth was not kept in check, the eventual result would be extreme overcrowding, shortages, and ultimately, civil unrest that could lead to the possible breakup of the planet’s unified government. Accordingly, it was long ago decided that families would be limited to only one child, after which the parents would undergo sterilization. It was a hard, but necessary, decision that the people had to accept without choice. Later, when colonies had been established on Atlantsia’s neighboring planets, and as an inducement to encourage relocation, larger family sizes were permitted there. However, whereas family sizes on Terrana could be unlimited because of the verdant, rich, undeveloped, and unspoiled nature of that planet, on Martiana, with its relatively small size and fragile atmosphere, family sizes were limited to two children. Families on Atlantsia that somehow violated the one-child restriction were forcibly relocated to Terrana.

Each of Atlantsia’s country-continents and its colonies has representation in its central government comprised of three governing bodies: a Citizens Assembly, a Senate, and an Administrative Council. The Citizens Assembly consists of elected representatives based on population density, having one representative for every one hundred million people. The Senate consists of thirty-five elected members, of which five are from each of the five country-continents of Atlantsia, five are from Terrana (one from each of its five continents), four are from Martiana (two from each hemisphere), and one member representing the mining colonies on Obsidia. The Administrative Council consists of seven elected members: one from each of the country-continents of Atlantsia, and one from each of the two colonized planets. For purposes of representation on the council, the worker colonists on Obsidia are considered a part of Atlantsia’s capitol, the country-continent of Aurenia.

Each governing body separately elects a leader from among its members who serves for a three-year period with these elections held, respectively, on an alternating basis. The role of the leaders is to propose policy recommendations to the Administrative Council that are formulated by consensus within each of their governing bodies. The leaders elected within the Citizens Assembly and the Senate are also voting members of the Administrative Council bringing the total number of that body to nine members. Final decisions on matters of global and interplanetary importance are made exclusively by the Administrative Council in conjunction with the three leaders. In such events, six of the seven members of the council, excluding the leader elected by that body, would individually have one vote with the three leaders equally having two votes apiece. In the event of a tie vote, the leader elected by the Administrative Council would then be given an additional vote in order to break the tie. As a senior member of the Senate, Kar-del’s father had been chosen repeatedly as the leader for that body.

A recent graduate of Atlantsia’s Intercontinental Preparatory Academy located in Aurenia, Kar-del had studied not only the history of his own world, but also that of the colonization and development of its neighboring planets. As a birthday present, his father promised to take him on an excursion to the colonies where they would visit Martiana, the smallest and the closest planet to Atlantsia, and also Terrana. Travel to each planet would take about one day’s time with the use of warp speed, and they would spend a week on each meeting with colony leaders. The trip would also entail a visit to Atlantsia’s closest moon, Obsidia, which is the sole source of the crystals needed to power the planet’s pyramid network and its fleet of interplanetary vessels. Atlantsia’s other moon, Mercredia, composed largely of iron at its core with solidified lava rock at the surface, provides no commercial enterprise to the home planet. However, similar to Terrana’s moon, Luna, which also has no atmosphere, it is used primarily as an astronomic outpost for studies of the stars and for the stationing of systems that interrelate with the planet’s artificial satellites, making interplanetary communication and global networking possible. Although larger in size than Obsidia, Mercredia’s orbit is much further away from Atlantsia than its sister, causing both moons to appear about the same size in Atlantsia’s night sky.

With peace and prosperity long evident on Atlantsia, the current primary concerns of its world government are that of the growth of its planet colonies as suppliers of the agricultural and mineral products needed by its expanding populace and as an outlet in alleviating the pressures of its burgeoning population through relocation, plus the exploration of new worlds that could provide additional sources of the crystals needed to support its energy needs. Crystal mines on Atlantsia were long ago depleted, and the only current source of high quality crystals is from the mines on Obsidia. Even though a new lode of this essential mineral was recently discovered there, its location deep within the moon implies the possible danger of destabilizing this lunar body if it should be extensively mined, a real concern to the Administrative Council since the closing of Obsidia’s mines would mean that, without the discovery of new sources, current stores of crystals could be depleted within the next several years. Whereas crystals had been found on Terrana, they are of inferior quality and, as yet, technology has not been developed to purify them to the levels needed. Although Jon-del periodically visited the colonies in order to gauge their developmental progress and to remain in direct communication with local magistrates, the primary purpose of this new trip is to assess the future output of the Obsidia mines, to view the newest colony on Martiana, including its farms and mines, and to see if existing mining operations there and on Terrana have had any success in uncovering crystals pure enough to meet technological needs. He also hoped that having his son along would be an opportune experience for him, culminating with a visit to Terrana’s new great pyramid located in its capitol, Atlantica, the completion of which is being supervised by Kar-del’s mother.

CHAPTER 2

Kar-del was anxiously looking forward to the trip his father had planned as it would be his first time in space, and he also wanted the private time with him that it would provide. Jon-del was a very busy man and did not spend much time at home, and very often when he was at home, his son was away at school. Now, Kar-del’s mother was also away, working on Terrana. He was glad that this hiatus from his studies would be not only an interesting one, but also one that, he hoped, could possibly end with his family being reunited.

There were many questions in Kar-del’s mind about the places they would be visiting that were not answered by his studies of them. In order to better ready himself for their trip, he prepared a list of questions that he decided to take to his father, hoping that he would have time to answer them. However, as he reached the door to his office chamber, he heard him speaking with someone on the televiewer. He was about to turn and leave when he recognized his mother’s voice.

Standing at the threshold, he heard his father say, Sanra, we’ll be leaving in a few days just as soon as I finish up some government business here. I’m looking forward to our son’s company, and I’m hoping that this trip will give him an adult view of our worlds. We’re sorry that your duties on Terrana prevented you from attending his recent graduation but, especially since he graduated with honors, it’s time that he had some practical experience along with his learning. He’ll be entering the university in a few months, and who knows if either of us will have any time to spend together after then. Now that the Administrative Council has saddled me with the responsibility of spearheading the search for a solution to the pending crystal shortage before it becomes an interplanetary crisis, time is the one luxury I no longer have. It’s as if they think that all I need to do is to grab a shovel and to start digging!

Silently remaining at the doorway, Kar-del heard his mother reply, Jon-del, I love you, and I’m really worried about you. You cannot damage your health worrying about a problem that is everyone’s. A solution will be found, I’m sure. I wish I could be there by your side, but unfortunately, I’m having my own problems here on Terrana.

Sanra, has something gone wrong with the great pyramid’s construction in Altantica?

The problem isn’t with the pyramid, but rather with what it represents to the people of Terrana.

What do you mean?

I can’t really discuss it over the televiewer. Suffice it to say that even though Terrana was populated as a microcosm of Atlantsia, mimicking its country-continents and government, things here are not the same as at home. The adversities in our past that served to unify our home planet do not exist here. There are underlying tensions among Terrana’s colonized continents that have been growing in proportion to the growth of the new great pyramid that some fear may come to a head at the time of its completion. I can’t tell you any more now, but we’ll talk about it another time in private when we’re alone together.

All right, I won’t press you. But, let me get Kar-del. I know you’ll want to congratulate him on his studies, and I’m sure he’d like to talk with you.

At these words, Kar-del stepped forward saying, Father, I’m right here, and I’ve been listening to your conversation with Mother.

Well then, come up to the televiewer so she can talk with you.

Mother, it’s good to see you. I really miss you. How are things going in Altantica?

I’ve been very busy with the work on the new great pyramid, which is finally nearing completion. I’m really sorry I couldn’t come to your graduation, but I was able to watch it on the telescreen. You should be very pleased with your accomplishments at the academy. Your father and I have spoken about all the honors awards you received. That was no small feat in view of the large size of the graduating class. We are both very proud of you.

Thank you. I’m glad it’s over so that I now can have this time with Father. Will your work schedule permit you to be with us while we’re on Terrana?

I certainly hope so. However, exactly how much time I’ll have will depend on how soon the pyramid will be completed. We’re now working around the clock.

Around the clock? Mother, I hate to say this, but that doesn’t sound too bad, teased Kar-del. After all, a day on Terrana is only twenty-four hours long, compared to a day on Atlantsia, which is thirty hours long.

Yes son, that is quite true. And, accordingly, my very best wishes to you for a happy twentieth birthday, which is the reason for my tele-visit.

What do you mean twentieth birthday? Is there something you and Father know that I don’t?

No, but as long as you’re being technical, since Atlantsia takes four-hundred-eighty days to circle the sun, which is one-fourth longer than Terrana’s three-hundred-sixty days, when you visit here you’ll actually be one-fourth older than your sixteen years, which means that from where I’m standing you are actually twenty years old.

Okay Mother, point well taken! But don’t you think your math is a little flawed? Even though a year on Atlantsia may be one-fourth longer than a year on Terrana, since its day is also one-fourth longer than a day on Terrana, that means that when I’m on Terrana I’ll actually be twenty-four years old, or one-half again older than I am here on Atlantsia.

Now, my only son and heir, you look at it your way and I’ll look at it my way! This happens to be my opinion and I’m emphatic in saying that you are now twenty years old in Terrana years. Not only that, but when you’re on Martiana you’ll be only ten years old while there since this neighbor planet takes twice as long to circle the sun as Terrana, even though its day is about the same twenty-four hours long.

Mother, I’m not even going to go there! replied Kar-del. But then, realizing the double meaning of his words, he quickly added, Oh, I guess I will be going there with Father, but I’m not going to go and accept your math. Suffice it to say I’ll be young at heart during our trip and not get old, or young, too fast.

Son, it’s all fine with me, but just you hope that I’m not on Martiana while you are here on Terrana. If that should be the case, then I could possibly be younger than you. Now, you just think about that while you’re trying to go to sleep tonight! At this point, his mother began to laugh heartily. Then she added, I love doing these brainteasers with you. But, do enjoy your trip with your father. He’s giving you a wonderful birthday present and a unique opportunity, not only to be with him, but also to see things many others never have the opportunity to. He has a lot on his mind, and I’m sure you’ll be a good companion. Then looking at her husband, she added, Jon-del, please try not to worry so, and do enjoy your time with our son!

Although his conversations with his parents and their way of talking with each other had a sense of formality to it, Kar-del could feel the deep love and respect each had for the other. Despite his mother’s sometimes offbeat sense of humor and her love for intellectually confusing and sometimes irrational mindbenders, he loved both his parents greatly and wished that time would permit them to be together more frequently. He listened quietly as they said their good-byes and hoped he would not only see his mother during their visit to Terrana, but that she would also have some time to spend with him and his father all together as a family.

CHAPTER 3

The day of departure eventually dawned, and Kar-del waited anxiously for his father to begin their journey. Finally, the time came to take the shuttle car to the departure terminal where their spacecraft was waiting.

Well, son, said Jon-del after they boarded the spaceship. You’ve traveled on our airships before when you’ve visited the other country-continents of Atlantsia, but this is your first time on one of our space vehicles. Tell me what you are thinking.

It’s much larger than I imagined. Also, whereas our airships are cylindrical in shape in order to better cut through the atmosphere, this spacecraft is round in design. But why, when it still has to navigate through the atmosphere before reaching space?

Since there is no gravity in space, replied Jon-del, the round design of this ship enables it to rotate while in flight, thus producing an artificial gravity. Also, you are well aware that space is a vacuum, so there is no need to consider aerodynamics or to worry about atmospheric drag on the ship’s fuselage. Like our airships, this spacecraft also employs cold fusion energy for propulsion, but once in space, its matter/anti-matter engine will be utilized in order for it to travel great distances at warp speed. However, since our first destination is the nearby moon of Obsidia, our ship will not employ warp speed until after our departure from there for the planetary colonies.

What are you planning to do on Obsidia? There is nothing there, except domed settlements from which mining operations are conducted.

That’s correct, replied Jon-del. The problem is that the mines are beginning to be depleted. The Administrative Council made a decision several months ago, contrary to the Senate’s judgment, to dig deeper into the moon where there is a newly discovered lode of crystal deposits. Although outvoted, I was against this decision in fear of the possibility that we could destabilize Obsidia’s rotational pattern or weaken its ability to withstand meteor bombardments if we dig too deeply down toward its core. If there is a danger that Obsidia could be destabilized by such mining, it is possible that an impact from a large enough meteor could either cause much of the moon to implode or cause it to change its orbital path, either of which could be disastrous for Atlantsia. We will be meeting with Obsidia’s chief mining engineer in this regard and, upon our return home, I will report my findings to both the Senate and the Administrative Council.

Father, why would the Administrative Council make such a decision? And why haven’t new sources of crystals been found elsewhere that could be mined instead?

The answers to both of your questions are interrelated in that Obsidia is the only current source of quality crystals, and the Administrative Council is very concerned that its mines may soon be depleted. While we have discovered crystal deposits on Terrana, we haven’t found any that are pure enough for our purposes. Exploratory expeditions to other planets and moons in our solar system have also been unsuccessful, with the exception of our neighboring planet Juptera’s moon, Olympia, which is about the same size as Terrana.

Doesn’t Olympia have a twin, Venusia, and aren’t they in a binary orbit around each other in addition to both being satellite moons of Juptera?

"Yes, Kar-del, that’s correct. They represent quite an anomaly in the universe, existing essentially right next door to our home planet. Whereas there are twin stars in other galaxies that have a mutual binary rotation, we haven’t discovered this in any planetary or lunar bodies. The two moons are twins in size and in composition, and it is hypothesized that they had a common birth, perhaps having been flung from the molten mass of a forming star or planet when the universe and our solar system were very young. Our astronomers have guessed at their formation and feel that they may have at one time been of a single body that in its molten state must have split in two with each half subsequently caught in the gravitational pull of the other, thus forming its present mutual binary orbit. If this were true, then it could explain the mutual rotation pattern of these moons. Whether or not they emerged from a molten Juptera at the time of their creation cannot be determined. This planet neighbor of ours is about eight hundred times the size of Atlantsia, and because of its huge mass and density, our probes cannot fully penetrate its thick atmosphere or compensate for its immense gravitational pull, much less be able to analyze its strata.

"Actually, except for minor variances in their composition and density, the only major difference between these twin moons is that we know that crystal deposits exist on Olympia, but that there is no evidence of their existence on Venusia. We can only guess that the reason for this anomaly must be the result of Olympia having been struck by crystal-bearing meteors while it was still in a molten or semi-molten state. However, even though we know from our initial probes that crystals do exist there, nevertheless, we are facing serious problems that impede our ability to set up mining operations. The moon has a dense atmosphere of almost pure carbon dioxide, with high concentrations of methane, requiring the construction of domed settlements before mining operations can commence. Thankfully, its atmosphere is not as dense as its twin, Venusia, where atmospheric pressures at its surface would crush our spacecraft, and Olympia’s surface is not as hot. However, the areas where crystal deposits are located have a comparatively thin crust, below which exists molten lava from which unpredictable eruptions can occur. In addition, this crust is also extremely dense with metallic compounds that impede the use of our probes in pinpointing the exact locations of the crystal deposits.

"Because of the hardness of Olympia’s surface, we are unable to use conventional drilling methods and, instead, have to use the explosive force of fusion power in order to blast mining tunnels. Since initial probes have also indicated the presence of large pockets of methane gas below the surface close to the areas we suspect the crystals are located, there is a serious danger in this type of mining if we should also inadvertently expose subterranean pockets of oxygen. In such event, it is possible that we may ignite the methane and possibly cause explosions both below the ground and in the atmosphere that could be devastating to this moon, depending on the volume of these gases and whether or not its crust would have been sufficiently breached to permit subterranean molten strata to escape explosively. Accordingly, once we have determined where clusters of crystal deposits are specifically located, a lot of time will be needed in the construction of a domed mining colony, as well as our developing the technology that will enable us to effectively and safely extract the crystals without threatening Olympia’s fragile geology. Unfortunately, this is time that we do not have.

I’m sure you are aware, added Jon-del, that our scientists have been trying for decades to develop high quality artificial crystals. However, these attempts have been unsuccessful. Without crystals, interplanetary travel beyond Martiana would not be feasible. As a consequence, Terrana could then literally become a world unto itself with no physical daily contact with our home planet. Instead of travel to and from there taking only days, without the advantage of warp speed made possible by the crystals that power the matter/anti-matter engines of our spacecraft, our cold fusion engines would take many months to traverse the distances between our planets. And don’t forget about the everyday use of crystals that provide the energy needed to power our world systems and lasers. Eventually, with no new crystals to replace those that become depleted from decades of use, our civilization’s power grids would begin to decay.

What about the mines at home, Father? Aren’t there crystal deposits on Atlantsia that could be mined until discoveries are made elsewhere?

Kar-del, don’t you think we’ve exhausted efforts to find new sources of crystals on our home planet, which would be the most logical and easiest place to obtain this much needed mineral? Our mines were depleted decades ago. Accordingly, the main purpose of this trip is to enable me to make a final assessment of all operating mines on each of our colonized worlds so that the Administrative Council can have the most current data before making a final decision on the crystal dilemma we are facing. Do we continue to mine Obsidia at levels that may possibly destabilize that moon? Do we expend time and energy in setting up mining operations on Olympia, which may not be successful? Do we just ignore the problem and hope that new deposits will be found on Martiana or Terrana? Or, do we continue our search in space for new sources of the elusive crystals? I guess I’m hoping that a miracle may occur during our mine inspections that would expose new crystal sources that would, at least, buy us more time, if not completely solve this problem. But enough about this exhausting matter! Why don’t we just settle back in our seats and enjoy the ride? We’ll be on Obsidia before too long.

Jon-del watched as his son sank back in his seat deep in thought. He was proud of Kar-del and hoped that this trip would gain for him the broad perspective needed to help him focus on a plan for his future. He loved his son for the good, respectful, and intelligent person he had become, and also because he so reminded him of his wife. Their son had his mother’s quick smile, her thick dark brown hair, as well as her deep brown eyes that had the ability to focus fully on whomever she was speaking with. It was the feeling that she gave him of hanging onto his every word that made Jon-del fall in love with the then Sanra-rah and make her his wife. Since he had been for such a long time much too busy with government business, Jon-del wanted this time to spend with his son, and deep down, that was the real reason he wanted him on this trip. He could see that Kar-del was no longer a boy and would soon be a man off on his own pursuing his own path in life.

This was an important year for Kar-del. He had just completed his studies at Aurenia’s preparatory academy and would soon enter Atlantsia’s elite interplanetary university where he would select his chosen field of study. Jon-del had hopes that his son would enter the engineering sciences and eventually work on energy development, which was an important and growing field. Whereas Kar-del’s mother had specialized in magnetic energy technologies, Jon-del hoped that his son would eventually specialize in crystal technology and research. Crystals provided the power that not only fired the engines of Atlantsia’s long-range spacecraft, but also kept all of the elements of their complex civilization working in harmony. If new sources of crystal deposits could not be found, it would be crucial to the future of their world that technology be developed that could artificially create the special types of crystals that their civilization depended on.

Shortly after their ship left Atlantsia’s atmosphere, lunch was served, during which father and son were again engaged in conversation.

Father, what are you planning to do on Terrana? The colonies there are well established and are pretty much self-functioning due to the rich abundance of natural resources on the planet. I would think that any business matters could be handled via telecommunications.

Son, soon after our arrival on Terrana, a special event will be occurring whereby the thirteen special crystals of the newly constructed great pyramid will be installed, thereby activating its power and also establishing the continent of Atlantica as the planet’s world capitol. Because of your mother’s position as head of the Magnetic Energy Agency and her involvement in the pyramid’s construction, she will be attending the installation ceremony, as will I, since I will be representing the Senate and the Administrative Council in this regard. The good news concerning you is that I was able to obtain permission for you to also attend.

Wow, that really is great news and a once in a lifetime opportunity, not to mention being able to be with Mother. It seems she’s been away from home for much too long a time. Do you think she’ll have time to spend with us and maybe even return home with us?

"I’m afraid that her stay on Terrana will last for a while longer as she will be supervising completion of the large supporting pyramids on each of the remaining two of the planet’s continents. When their construction has been completed, Terrana will have a network of large pyramids on all of its five continents that, together with the myriad of lesser pyramids that are also to be built throughout that world, will provide support for the great pyramid in Altantica, thereby creating a power grid over the whole planet. I hope you will be able to visit these new construction sites with her while we are there. It is a remarkable thing to see how the use of magnetic energy negates the normal force of gravity to lift stone blocks weighing thousands of pounds each and to gently place them one on top of another until these monolithic structures are complete. In any event, even though work will continue on Terrana for several years longer for the purpose of building the many smaller pyramids needed to fill in the global network, your mother’s supervisory role should be turned over to her subordinates before then and she should be back home before you know it.

When her work on Terrana is completed, the planet will truly be a mirror of Atlantsia. Its geological and physical similarity to our home planet, with its oceans and five continents, was the reason the Administrative Council decided that it be similarly developed and populated. As a result, unlike the integrated colonies of Martiana that have been conjointly populated with people from all parts of Atlantsia, each of the five major continents on Terrana has been colonized separately with inhabitants, respectively, from each of Atlantsia’s five country-continents. Since it is centrally located among the others, the continent of Altantica has been deemed its capitol and, therefore, has been populated by former residents of our own capitol, the country-continent of Aurenia. And that is one of the reasons why the new great pyramid is being constructed there. Although its development is in many aspects still in the beginning stages, Terrana is a wonder to see. Despite its physical similarities to Atlantsia, it is in many ways unique in the solar system and has potential that our home planet lost ages ago.

Kar-del sat back in his seat and tried to imagine the great pyramid of Terrana, sitting in the middle of a vast open plain, glistening in the sun. Although he was able to visualize the sights he would see based on his prior studies and the information his father had shared with him, there was no way he could foresee the experiences that were awaiting him on this trip; experiences that would shape and also alter his life forever.

CHAPTER 4

It wasn’t long before father and son found themselves on Obsidia where they made contact with Gon-dar, the chief mining engineer for the moon. After introducing his son, Jon-del immediately brought up the business at hand.

Gon-dar, please tell me about the progress that’s been made here since our last contact. Have there been any new discoveries?

Senator, I believe you’re aware of the new vein of high quality crystals that we discovered not too long ago. Further excavations in this area, however, have revealed that it leads sharply down toward the moon’s core. At present, we’ve restricted mining operations solely to the higher elevations until it can be determined that deeper shafts can be sufficiently stabilized, not only to withstand the increased pressures at that level, but also to safeguard the core integrity of the moon.

Yes, replied Jon-del, I am well aware of the problem, but I also know that the Administrative Council is anxious to exploit this new crystal source. The Senate, however, is looking at the broader picture. In view of the extensive mining that has already taken place here, this moon just isn’t large enough to support deep mine shafts that could severely undercut the many older ones above without creating concern for its stability in the event of bombardment from astral bodies. Unfortunately, our options are limited since there is no immediately alternative source of the much needed crystals.

Excuse me, Father, interjected Kar-del, why can’t newly excavated soil be packed into the vacant tunnels that have been depleted of minerals. Wouldn’t that help to stabilize the older mine shafts?

"Son, theoretically that sounds plausible. However, much of the excavated non-mineral bearing rock is vaporized by the lasers in the digging and extraction process. If this wasn’t done, it would be impossible to efficiently process the ore in a timely manner. As a result, there isn’t all that much material left to fill the vacant chambers. And even if there was, such fill material could never be compacted sufficiently to prevent settling caused by vibrations that would occur from a meteor strike. That is why the moon’s vulnerability comes from the mines in the deepest areas, the ones we are currently concerned about that can cause instability to the older ones above.

Gon-dar, continued Jon-del, there is a new expedition underway on Juptera’s moon, Olympia, where initial engineering studies indicate there are crystal deposits of the size and quality suitable for our future needs. The moon is similar in size to Terrana. However, the similarity ends there because it has a hostile atmosphere and a geology that necessitates the prior construction of a domed mining colony and the use of fusion technology instead of lasers. Since traditional methods of mining and extraction would not apply on Olympia, we would have to proceed very slowly in our efforts to set up mining operations, starting with the need to have sufficient bore samples in order to determine exactly where clusters of crystals would be located, while at the same time taking protective measures not to expose the underlying strata which might be volatile. Consequently, your operations here are our only immediate source of high quality crystals, and might be for a significantly longer period of time.

You’re hitting me with an overwhelming responsibility that doesn’t sit very well, Senator! exclaimed Gon-dar. I’m just a mining engineer, and I’ll extract whatever is needed from the ground in the most efficient and safest way possible. However, I’m now being put under almost unbearable pressure to make decisions that could have far-reaching negative consequences. Why must the burden of the future of our entire civilization be dependent solely upon what I and my crews bring out of the ground? If it is so difficult to find dependable crystal deposits elsewhere in our solar system, then why, when we have a space fleet with warp speed capabilities, haven’t we explored worlds in other galaxies?

I share your frustration, responded Jon-del. Whereas warp speed does permit our spacecrafts to travel at speeds approaching the speed of light, it still would take years to reach the nearest of those far-away star systems, which would be long after the mines here are depleted. In the near term, however, we have every indication that crystal deposits exist on Olympia, and I have every reason to believe that we will very soon overcome the current difficulties in setting up mining operations there. Please rest assured that we respect the work you and your crews are doing, and I assure you that the Administrative Council will weigh very carefully any decision that may adversely affect mining operations here. Now, how about giving my son a tour of your mines so he can see not only how the crystals are extracted, but also how they are formed into the shapes that make their various uses possible?

After donning protective headgear and coveralls, Kar-del and his father boarded a small tram that Gon-dar piloted into the mine’s entrance. Once inside, Kar-del remarked about the smooth cylindrical walls of the tunnels that had a glossy, almost reflective surface, as if they had been highly polished.

The tunnels are created using powerful lasers fueled by crystals energized in our great pyramid on Atlantsia, responded Gon-dar. The heat of the lasers melts the surrounding rock as the tunnels are created and that is why they end up having a smooth and shiny appearance. However, once a crystal lode has been reached, the lasers are switched off and fusion powered machinery is used to extract the ore-bearing crystals. You can see this up ahead as we are approaching an active area of the mine.

As Kar-del looked on, he saw the tunnel walls gradually take on a jagged appearance as they widened into what became a cathedral-size room where machinery was at work removing sections of crystal-bearing rock. The operation was such that the crystal-laden ore fell onto a conveyor that led to a mechanical crusher that separated the softer rock material from the harder crystals, which were then placed on another conveyer. Solid crystals of exceptional quality and size were subsequently removed from the conveyor and sent to a special laboratory for technical observation and testing. The lab was the last stop on the tour of the mine.

What goes on in here? asked Kar-del. I thought this enclosed area would be a mining office, but it looks more like a scientific laboratory.

It is a laboratory, responded Gon-dar. Here, only those crystals of a certain size are inspected and tested to see if they are dense enough and pure enough to be used in our pyramids.

Those are the crystals that are used to power each of the large pyramids with the largest and purest of them used in the great pyramids, including the one nearing completion on Terrana, interjected Jon-del. "Energy from space, the sun and the stars are attracted by each great pyramid where it is absorbed into their special and perfect crystals. They, in turn, charge all of the lesser crystals that are subsequently used in the many and varied power systems throughout each of our civilized worlds. Charged crystals that are not utilized immediately are stored in a special structure on each colonized planet, which, except on Martiana, is located adjacent to one of the large supporting pyramids. This large special pyramid is similar to the other large pyramids located on the other continents of each planet in that it supports the great pyramid in the maintenance of a global power grid, but it also provides protection for its adjacent special structure and the charged crystals stored there so that none of their stored energy is lost until they can be distributed for use when needed.

Even though Obsidia is the only current source of the rare kinds of perfect and dense crystals needed for the great and large pyramids in our worlds, they are, nevertheless, very difficult to find. However, when they are found, it is in this laboratory where those discoveries are tested and prepared for utilization. Many such crystals are needed because each great pyramid requires thirteen perfect special crystals. Also, each of the large supporting pyramids located on each continent requires a special and perfect crystal in order for it to be able to support the global power grid. And because the large supporting pyramid adjacent to the special structure that houses the charged crystals must also provide for its protection, it requires a second special crystal for this purpose. It is only on Martiana that no large supporting pyramids were constructed, except for its great pyramid located on its equator. There, only the one great pyramid was deemed sufficient for the planet’s global energy needs because of its relatively small size and limited developmental potential due to its fragile atmosphere and the need to maintain adequate oxygen levels. Accordingly, on Martiana, the special structure housing the charged crystals is located adjacent to the great pyramid which, in addition to its own energy collection and generation functions, provides for its protection. Kar-del, your past studies must have covered these special structures, of which there is only one on each planet. They are called saephinxes.

Yes, Father. Our studies covered what they are, where they were located, the purpose for which they were constructed, and that no one is ever permitted entrance to them.

Son, that is correct. Only the keepers of the large supporting pyramids that protect the saephinxes, as well as the keepers of the great pyramids, control access to them. But you most certainly must have learned about the functions of the multitude of smaller pyramid structures on our home planet that are similar to those currently being constructed on Terrana—the ones that serve purposes other than power generation and containment. Some are used simply for astronomical reasons, or as latitudinal markers for the purpose of determining the occurrence of the solstice on each planet or for tracking the movement of star systems throughout the heavens. Or, like the one on Martiana that is located on the planet’s equator on the opposite side of the planet from its great pyramid, which is powered by a charged lesser crystal, they are also used to stabilize and enhance the planet’s magnetic field by directing heat into its interior in order to keep its inner core in a molten state. Hopefully, you’ll learn firsthand much more about the functions of our various types of pyramids, both large and small, when you finally get to visit them during this trip.

Father, I can’t wait to see the inside of a great pyramid and, hopefully, its special crystals as well. I’m in awe of the many types of crystals that are needed, and I had no idea that there was a technology to their extraction. We were taught in school where crystals are mined and how they function as a power source for our mechanized systems and for laser purposes, but our studies never went deeper than that.

The larger, denser and more perfect the crystal, the greater the energy it can store and retain, and the more power it can generate, interjected Gon-dar. The special crystals mined here are the densest we have discovered. In fact, they are so dense that only a laser that is fueled by the purest and densest of the crystals can be used to shape them; and it is their shape, in addition to their purity and density, that determines how they will function.

Are you now beginning to understand why it is so important that we discover new sources of the types of crystals found here on Obsidia? interrupted Jon-del.

I’m just beginning to, Father. But what I don’t quite understand is the connection of all of the lesser and large pyramids with the great pyramid and why the shapes of the crystals are of importance.

Son, only the great pyramid on each planet has the ability to attract and collect intergalactic energy, which takes place in its apex through its special perfect crystals, thirteen in all, that are located there. And it is through these crystals, working in unison with the special crystals contained in the apexes of the large supporting pyramids, that a power grid is formed across each of our colonized planets. The great pyramid has the ability to transfer energy as needed to the other pyramids, or to remove it as well. This enables it, among other things, to provide control over the tectonics of each planet, including its weather and geophysical elements, as well as the ability to strengthen its magnetic field. The shape and perfection of the crystals in each great pyramid are the keys to its ability to collect and to then utilize the various types of energy—magnetic, solar, cosmic, as well as the energy from distant star systems that travel unimpeded through space. As for the actual shape, size, and quality of the thirteen crystals used in each, you just may get your wish to see that when we attend the crystal installation ceremony at the new great pyramid on Terrana.

I certainly hope so, Father. But, what exactly happens to the special crystals when they leave this laboratory?

Follow me, and you will see, answered Gon-dar.

The trio left the laboratory and proceeded down a long corridor that led to a large rectangular room that looked like an assembly plant, except that the workers were all robots. As Kar-del looked on, a large crystal appeared on a conveyor belt that brought it to, and then dropped it onto, a measuring scale.

The crystal you see here is on a scale that measures its weight, determines its density, and also confirms its purity, said Gon-dar. The purer the crystal, the less imperfections it has, and the denser the crystal, the more it can store and retain energy. Each of our great pyramids requires thirteen of the purest and densest of crystals so that the energy of the cosmos can be collected, stored, and used to charge all other crystals that are subsequently used to power our worlds. The scales located here begin the process of identifying, sorting, and preparing these and all other crystals. They have sensors that can detect even the minutest flaw in each crystal, especially those that may have escaped detection during laboratory testing. It then will sort each crystal based on its findings and route it to the appropriate conveyor belt for further processing.

As Kar-del watched, the crystal, which was large but opaque in color, was soon ejected from the scale onto another conveyor belt that brought it to one of the robotic sections. A robot took the crystal and placed it in a cradle where almost instantaneously a series of small lasers moved rapidly over its surface. When the crystal left the cradle, it was a perfect oval in shape with small indentations at each end. On another conveyer, a large white crystal entered a different area of the robotic section and was placed into a cradle that was shaped differently than the other. After exposure to the lasers there, Kar-del noticed that this crystal received a diamond shape with many facets that gave it a prism-like quality.

Pointing to the crystal, Kar-del asked, Gon-dar, why is that crystal shaped so differently from the previous one?

The shape of the crystal determines the purpose for which it is to be used. The first one, which is oval in shape, will be employed for domestic use to store energy that will be used for heat and power in residential homes. My guess is that it will be sent to Martiana for the new colony recently completed there and, after being energized, will be used to power one of its residential cells. The multi-faceted crystal, however, will be used for laser purposes. As a prism, the crystal can release its energy into laser light once it has been sufficiently charged. The light is extracted from each of its facets by laser generators for utilization as needed. Only the purer and denser of the crystals can be used for this purpose. Crystals that power the matter/anti-matter engines of our spacecraft are of a different composition. Only very dense dark crystals can be used for that purpose.

Once back in the mine, Gon-dar said, I’m taking you to see the shaft we’ve dug to the new lode recently discovered. It is the deepest of all the mines and is proving to be the most productive with regard to the quality of the crystals found there. In fact, the special crystals for the new great pyramid in Altantica on Terrana were found there.

When they reached the area of the new lode, Jon-del remarked at how far down they had traveled into the depths of the moon. Just how deep are we? he asked Gon-dar.

We are almost halfway down toward the center of the moon. This new lode, however, descends much deeper toward the moon’s core. Because of the quality of the crystals found here and the potential that they offer, there is much demand for them, not only for use in new applications, but also as replacements for older, weaker crystals already in use. As a result, we have been under enormous pressure to accelerate our exploration and mining of this new lode, despite the dangers that may result from excavations at these great depths.

That is one of the reasons for my visit, informed Jon-del. Obsidia is already crisscrossed with mining tunnels at many levels, and now the mining of this new lode will be undercutting those older areas. The primary concern we have is that in exploiting this new find completely, your crews will have to dig closer to the core of the moon, which may cause it to be unstable. There is ample evidence on Obsidia’s surface of impact craters from space debris and asteroids, and there is no way of knowing what the future may bring.

I wholeheartedly agree with you, senator indicated Gon-dar. However, it is not my decision to make. As a mining engineer, I have to follow orders from my superiors. My opposition would only result in my being replaced and the work proceeding in any event. All I know is that the demand is great from all corners of our various worlds and that this is the only mine in existence that can meet that demand. As a senator and as a leader, surely you have sufficient influence with the Administrative Council for them to provide instructions for us to proceed cautiously until adequate engineering studies have been completed.

These studies are underway as you are well aware, replied Jon-del. However, they will take time to complete. Unfortunately, the Administrative Council has been reacting to the enormous pressure being put upon it as a result of the extraordinary demand for new crystals for replacement and storage purposes, especially in view of the fear that existing ones may exhaust their power capabilities after the mines on Obsidia have been depleted. My report to the council will document what we have just discussed and what I have seen on this visit.

Kar-del had a very somber look on his face after listening to his father’s conversation with Gon-dar. He wanted to ask him many questions, but thought better of it after seeing how tired his father was, looking as if he had the weight of their worlds literally on his shoulders. Their visit completed, Jon-del and his son said their good-byes to Gon-dar and left for Obsidia’s spaceport in order to board their ship for the trip to Martiana.

On the way there, Jon-del looked at his son and said, I guess you’ve received more than just a rudimentary education about what is entailed in the mining operations here. I’m sure you must have many questions about our visit, however, it is getting late and I am very tired. Let’s just have a quiet supper on the spaceship and then, hopefully, get a good night’s rest. Since we won’t be arriving on Martiana until lunchtime tomorrow, we’ll have plenty of time to talk in the morning.

CHAPTER 5

After an early breakfast the following morning, Kar-del was sitting with his father in their private cabin idly looking out the spacecraft’s viewing port when Martiana came into view.

Father, look at the planet! It looks so green, so unlike Atlantsia, which is so blue.

Our home planet looks blue from space because of its vast ocean surfaces that separate its five major continents, responded Jon-del. "Also, Atlantsia is much larger than Martiana with atmospheric levels that are six times as deep, further adding to its blue color. Martiana has a green appearance because of the verdant vegetation that covers most of its surface. However, it was not always like this. When our explorers first arrived there, the planet’s surface was largely barren, completely devoid of vegetation and water, and extensively covered with a dry rust-colored soil that gave it a reddish appearance when viewed from space. Early exploration of the planet, however, revealed that there were large ocean-size reservoirs of water hidden beneath the planet’s surface. By digging deep canals, lakes, and even large seas in certain areas, our engineers were able to bring these subterranean waters to the surface, which today are a means of navigation and irrigation.

The original atmosphere of this then red planet, continued Jon-del, was very thin and poisonous, consisting of high concentrations of carbon dioxide mixed with traces of methane, nitrogen and oxygen. It took almost twenty years for us to increase the oxygen content of the atmosphere sufficiently to levels that could support human and animal life and to also increase its density and depth. This was done by seeding the newly irrigated planet with genetically engineered plants and trees that consumed large amounts of carbon dioxide and converted it to oxygen. Also, fusion-fired oxygenation machines were utilized as bodies of water were uncovered and oxygen atoms could be extracted from the water molecules. As the greening of the planet took hold, rain water and milder weather patterns developed, further accelerating the vegetative and oxygenation process. Today, Martiana is a thriving planet, rich in farmland to grow abundant food for our home planet.

Father, why was it necessary to colonize Martiana at all if it was so barren and uninhabitable when Terrana is so much like Atlantsia in almost every way, including its atmosphere, and is a rich fertile planet? asked Kar-del.

The complete answer to that is very simple but also very involved. With the discovery centuries ago of fusion energy, and subsequently our uncovering the secrets of harnessing and utilizing magnetic energy, we were able to finally have peace on our planet. Cheap clean fusion energy enabled us to develop the systems and machinery to power our civilization and to conquer famine by turning our deserts into farms. It also helped develop the technology that enabled us to eradicate disease. The use of magnetic energy gave us a source of power that could negate the force of gravity and lift the heaviest of weights as if only a feather, giving us the ability to build any type of structure quickly and easily. The result was a prosperity that created population explosions all over our home planet. Within each of the five continents, city boundaries began to touch each other and to eventually disappear so that each continent became as one country. The country-continents eventually unified, forming a one-world government that many generations later was tasked with solving the problem of exponential population growth that would have eventually overwhelmed Atlantsia, as well as with finding and developing new sources of food and mineral resources that could support such an expanded populace. Fusion powered spaceships were the key in accomplishing this by efficiently providing transport to the crystal mines on Obsidia, and also to nearby Martiana, which is now the breadbasket of Atlantsia and the source of much needed minerals.

Father, but that still doesn’t answer the question of why a decision was made to develop Martiana, instead of Terrana, which is a fertile planet much like Atlantsia that could have provided all of the food and mineral resources we would ever need without having to wait so long for the physical and environmental changes to be made on Martiana.

Son, I was just getting to that point! At the time that our world government was looking to the stars for solutions, our space fleet was powered only with fusion powered engines. We created mining colonies first on Obsidia because we could get there quickly and easily. We then developed and colonized Martiana for the same reason. Since warp drive engines powered by crystals and matter/anti-matter conversion were not yet in use, Terrana could be considered initially only for exploration and not for colonization. Meaningful trade and the ability to adequately supply and service colonies there were not then possible primarily because of the travel time factor due to its distance from Atlantsia. We knew, however, what we could do on Martiana and what the time period for its development would be. Also, the initial construction of domed colonies there jump-started the colonization process and helped somewhat in alleviating our population pressures early on. For these and other reasons, any plans for Terrana were then regarded only as a future event. By the time matter/anti-matter conversion technology was fully developed and utilized in our spacecraft enabling warp-speed travel, the oxygenation of Martiana and its canal networks were well under way with too much time, material, and manpower already invested for us to abandon the planet. The end result, which is clearly evident even from space, is a verdant and thriving Martiana that has become a breadbasket for Atlantsia, in addition to the fertile and remarkable Terrana that, with all its physical and geological similarities to our home planet, represents the true future for our civilization.

"Father, I am well aware of the tremendous resources offered on Terrana. We studied the planet in depth just this past year. It is almost a twin of Atlantsia, having similar atmosphere, oceans, and continents, except that Terrana is smaller than Atlantsia, about two-thirds its size with consequential lower atmospheric levels, but with a large molten core. Unfortunately, Terrana’s molten core is responsible for much instability to the planet, causing it to be subject to seismic quakes and volcanic activity. The core also restricts mining operations from going too deep into the planet without excessive heat building up. Also, its relative closeness to the sun and its proportionately lower atmospheric levels make the solar rays very strong, which can be harmful to us if we are exposed for too long without adequate protection.

In any case, it is the similarities to Atlantsia that have made Terrana ideal for colonization purposes, which is also the reason why it has been colonized in a different way. On Martiana, the colonies are essentially homogeneous clusters of individual farming and mining communities, whereas Terrana has been structured similar to Atlantsia with each of its five continents having been separately colonized by people from each of Atlantsia’s five country-continents. Also, similar to Atlantsia’s governmental makeup, each of Terrana’s continents has its own governing body with a central world government located in its capitol continent of Altantica. The only real difference between our home planet and Terrana is that it is still relatively unpopulated. Unlike overcrowded Atlantsia, its continents, for the most part, contain relatively small city clusters whose future expansion depends on future population growth.

Excellent analysis! exclaimed Jon-del. "I see that you’ve paid attention