Palmora

By Julian W Schuetz

It was their coming out, a journey begun long ago, under a Forever Oak, where Tomasz and Shar Luz had played as children. After years of study and service the expectation of travel, romance, and adventure were now just days away. Both had made their plans independently, not knowing if the magic of their youth could be recaptured. Fate, however, had much more in store for them. Both would unknowingly trade all for the spontaneity of life. The people and events they would encounter along the way would put into action measures that would save their world from continued conflict and restore a lasting peace. They would circumnavigate an entire planet discovering the magic of people and places that were long ago pre-determined, entwined with others who shared something none could have imagined. They would rise to the pinnacle of their society, and their offspring would safeguard more than just their world. Under that Forever Oak, they and Jason would follow the path leading to Clair, whose destiny they would share. Our world as well, following the same path, can find the harmony we are in such great need of.

This is a story of friendships and courage, where evil is as rare as a wandering comet, kept at bay by looking on each other, and all that inhabits their world, as absolute equals.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: May 10, 2013
• ISBN: 9781475984835

Julian W Schuetz

Julian Schuetz is a retired communications manufacturer and USMC veteran who honorably served his country in Vietnam. He and his wife Sarah live in New Mexico. They divide their time between their home in Rio Rancho and a small cabin in the nearby mountains of Northern New Mexico.

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Copyright © 2013 Julian W Schuetz.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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ISBN: 978-1-4759-8482-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4759-8483-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013906396

iUniverse rev. date: 03/08/2018

For Sarah, Anne, Bill J

AUTHORS NOTE

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T he stories contained in this book are translated from a manuscript left on the stoop at my front door in 1983. Most of what is currently translated including chapter twenty eight, a last minute addition, are presented herein.

CONTENTS

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PART ONE

CLAIR’S WORLD

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

PART TWO

GUARDIANSHIP

21

22

23

24

25

PART THREE

SAIL ON

26

27

28

29

PART ONE

CLAIR’S WORLD

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1

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F inally, I was near the jetty. I had made camp about a mile back only minutes from the coastline north of my present location. I had been walking for at least an hour on the trail running along the cliffs overlooking the Pacific North Coast, the ocean crashing into the rocks some eighty feet below. My father had brought my brothers and me here to fish the cove near the end of a jetty when we were old enough to make our way along the trial. Even then dad would have us tethered to each other with rope as he followed along rope in hand. The trail had become treacherous over time and seemed to have moved closer to the edge of the cliff.

Once I reached the jetty I made my way out along the south-facing rocks to the cove some fifty feet west where the jetty was about ninety feet south to north, its widest spot. The cove was thirty feet wide, forty feet deep and well hidden. Beyond the cove another forty feet the rocks sloped in from both sides where the final rock dives down slightly inward as if the bow of a battleship. The cove blended in with a small finger of rock pointing east to west about five feet from its southeast corner, making it invisible from the coastline.

Dad never told anyone how he came to find the cove. I remember how he would sit for hours reading a pocket novel only stopping when fish bit or he caught one. He would bag the fish, re-bait, throw out his line, and call out to my brothers and me to be careful and go back to his book, all the while keeping an eye out for his boys.

Mom usually stayed at camp with our younger sister one mile in from the coast road in a gathering of Pigmy Pine where a small spring came out of some oak looking brush forming little pools as it meandered before tumbling over the edge down to the sea sixty feet below. Mom always liked to arrive just before lowest tide in time to see a small pool formed by tumbling water falling onto a huge rock covered with sea grass slowly appear from the underwater. She and my sister sat quietly on an outcropping waiting for the pool too fully appear. Then seals would come and play and stay, romping under the falling water as they slid across the slippery rock until the rising tide made its return eventually swamping the pool. Sometimes they would sit quietly just beyond our camp waiting for the few deer that would brave approaching so they could give each a plump red apple, all the while hoping a fish fry was in the making.

My brothers and sister stayed in the north coast area and until age and health intervened, were frequent visitors to the cove, introducing the next generation of our family to the magic of a secret cove, where you could sit quietly reading, listening to the timeless sea, a drop line attached to your foot waiting for the tug of rockfish. I moved half a world away and met the angel in my life, Lucia, whom I married, and together we raised our children Ken and Kara.

I reached the spot dad liked, got out my gear, baited my hook and swung my pole releasing line, sinker, and bait towards the middle of the cove, pulled a book from my bag and realized this could be my last trip to the cove. The hour-long walk from camp should have taken no more than half that time, nor was I that sure footed anymore. I jammed the pole between two rocks, sat quietly, and began to read just as my father had done years earlier.

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Hello friend.

I looked up surprised to see a young woman sitting, holding a leather-bound book staring down at me.

I didn’t mean to scare you but your routine was so purposeful, I thought better you’re sitting than standing. You know, so close to the edge and all, anyway I’m Clair.

I’m Benjamin. I’ve been coming to this cove with my family for decades, and in all that time only a few others were out here. They were usually locals we knew. That tan you have isn’t from this cold and foggy coast.

Your right, I’m from the islands. My family has been coming here for decades as well, even longer.

I thought for sure if that were true I would recognize her look or voice. I thought I knew all the families that might frequent the cove, but after living my adult life on the other side of the world I realized I had been away too long and for all I knew the cove today might be the most visited spot on the north coast. Still, with so many oceans and seas polluted or dying this coast was one spot not yet exploited by a world near collapse wanting more of what no longer exist.

I checked my line, nothing, put a bell on my pole, sat back, relaxed, and begun to read. Like my father I sat a reasonable distance from the edge not to tumble off into the ocean if I feel asleep and woke suddenly. Sure enough I began to feel tired, looked up at the young woman intently reading as she looked my way. Speaking softly she wished me pleasant dreams. Her words rang in my ears as if she were sitting beside me instead of the rocks above. As I drifted into unconscious I saw the young women take my hands.

I have a story to tell you Benjamin, a story you will re-tell, the story of my world.

When I awoke she was gone, her story clearly etched in my memory. Now I have a purpose with what remains of my life. I collected my gear and returned to camp. I would first record what I have learned, tell my children, then finally, I am telling you.

2

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BARR CITY PLANET PALMORA

THIRD RENEWAL

FOURTEENTH CENTURY

I had completed my two-year service to country, packed adequately for the first week of travel, bought a goods card for barter, had breakfast with my parents, and was ready for my year-long Journey of Discovery.

The journey came only after both your education and service were complete, as was written into law by The League of Nations at the start of the Third Renewal. My parents had counseled me and suggested I ride the Air Tram to the base of the Zaffa Mountains, spend the night in the youth hostel and begin in earnest the following day. I promised to communicate weekly, we said our goodbyes, mom cried, and I was off.

After reaching my first stop I spent the night with a dozen others also on their journey. Shar Luz Smyth, an old friend from prep school was there as well, the only one in the group I knew but had not seen in some time.

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"Of all people, I never thought I would run into you Tomasz. I heard after prep you went right to the College of Science at Brylor."

I did, my mother said taking a break would make me lazy. I had no idea what I would study. I really only thought about two years at a trade school. I thought I might become a technician at a photon accelerator. I ended up with a Life Science Degree.

That’s not a bad thing Tomasz. You know a little about most things, all very helpful. Yeah, I think that’s you, an Architectural Engineer whose secondary major would be Agricultural Science.

What about you Shar?

Wow, no one has called me that since prep. It’s ok though, I like things less formal.

Ok, what about you?

"My parents thought I should be a healer of some kind. Five more years of school then two more in service, I just thought it was more than I could endure. I thought about the Academy of Electro Magnetic Studies, but living so distant from my family was not as appealing as it seemed when we were in prep school. The thought of living aboard the Transnational Space Center to carry out research ended that so I did my two-year service first, I thought I might find my calling. After service I went to Cole School of History at Brylor and earned a degree in Ancient History. I have no idea what I will do, maybe teach prep school. Better yet become a ranger or curator at some remote ancient ruin. Anyway I really like history."

I really like life science.

Well then Tomasz Buchelli, I would say we both found our calling.

We talked for a few hours more catching up. I was pleased to hear she had kept in contact with most of our prep school friends.

How else would I find out what my prep school crush was doing?

She had mapped out her journey. What ancient sites to visit, where to stay, what family to visit along the way and so on. While I had mapped a few places I wanted my journey to be more spontaneous than planned.

Tomorrow I’m going to the ancient city of Morgrove. I suppose you're going west as well.

Yeah I am Shar. The northwest, on this continent anyway is where most young families are settling these days. Small and large communities, group gardens, how they use the near and far moons, the star, all part of life science, all near Moronettoe my first destination.

Before saying goodnight we agreed in four months to meet at the small village of Astrulla at the base of the Margo Mountains. There were ancient ruins, modern mountain dwellings, Margo Valley, and the headwaters to both the Rue and Luri rivers. Something of interest we both can enjoy. Shar leaned over and kissed my cheek goodnight Tomasz.

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I was up early and on my way. Shar left earlier on the pre-dawn tram to Morgrove. An envelope was pinned to my knapsack containing a tram schedule to Astrulla with a recent snapshot of Shar. I studied the photo several minutes before stuffing the envelope and its content into my duffle bag. I hoped to see Shar again although my Journey was more about places seldom visited and was uncertain where I would be in four months, although Astrulla was unlikely. The tram to Moronettoe took almost two days and was at capacity but still accommodating. A group in service was returning from the southeast where they had helped with the Astt Nut harvest. They seemed in good spirits, even if a bit noisy. The first stop after crossing the Zaffa Mountains was Morrant, the sight of the last armed battle on Palmora over fourteen hundred years ago. I decided to spend the night and visit the museum at the battlefield the following day. Every schoolchild planet wide learns the history of this little village. The following day a well-known historian, Xandra Cohen, was the guest speaker at the museum lecture hall. Even though I was several minutes late I decided to sit in anyway just as Cohen began a brief history of the Final Battlefield.

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"We all believe with lasting peace and compassion between nations could it ever have been any different. Will my friends, it most certainly was.

Before the Third Renewal conflict not peace was the norm. Conflicts over territorial boundaries or a single fresh water spring could spark war between neighboring nations that could last year’s even centuries. Beliefs over Palmora’s origin could differ so widely conflicts that erupted from them seemed endless. As the population grew, along with technologies, weapons became alarmingly lethal; entire nations vanished in conflicts lasting only a few days. Therefore midway through the Second Renewal alliances created super powers, forcing small nations to choose sides pitting neighbor against neighbor. War came to all corners of Palmora. When a cease-fire commenced nearly half the population planet wide had fallen from battle. Many were victims of weapons designed to take out entire nations in a single blow. Those that survived would live with contamination reducing life to a struggle of endurance. Surviving nations signed the Declaration of Peace and Mutual Oversight. To ensure this would never happen again, these horrific weapons and their launch platforms were outlawed. Dangerous chemical elements were sent to containment centers to be neutralized. Fusion of any type, for power or weapons production was outlawed and declared obsolete with the advent of advanced solar applications. Liquid light emitting lasers capable of firing great distances and their production facilities were retained only as a defense from wayward space rocks bearing down on Palmora. Hand held laser weapons capable of severing body parts were banned. Dangerous gases, chemical poisons, and toxic agents would now be closely monitored or banned from production. Less destructive weapons used for national defenses were retained. Agents deemed to have virtually a perpetual life and too hazardous for containment on Palmora were shipped by drones to a distant star and destroyed by heat, vaporizing before impact."

I felt like arguing this point with Mr. Cohen. How could waste shipped by un-manned drones ever be safe in the vastness of space? I thought this reckless and irresponsible.

Cohen continued; "however the damage brought on by war, even in peacetime, would last centuries. Even so nations and kingdoms left less damaged opened their borders to those left homeless. Centuries would pass as Palmora was reborn until old habits returned. Near the end of the Second Renewal border conflicts and disputes over territorial rights returned. One man in particular took advantage of these conflicts, Corlin Karl.

Karl came to power, won over the people of the northern most nation on the Major Continent, Eli, and began a southward push conquering nation after nation until he arrived at Morrant. On the battlefield outside these walls he came to his end.

Manipulative, intelligent, aggressive, Corlin Karl came to the attention of Secretary of War Byron Apsly of Eli while in battle against border raiders from neighboring nations. His brave actions soon won him his own command as he beat back all attempts to breach Eli’s borders. His fame grew and the people he protected subsequently looked upon him as a hero. He was very calculating, saw an opportunity and began following raiders back into their own nations, capturing, executing, and hanging them from trees by their feet, mutilating their bodies and putting their severed heads atop poles at borders as a warning.

At this time the Astinov family ruled Eli. The king and queen, who preferred to use their first names, Mium and Isabella, were deeply angered when these actions were made known to them and ordered the High Council to the King to remove Karl from his command and bring him to the Kings Court. While protecting borders was necessary, non-aggression beyond borders had earned the royal family respect from many nations throughout Palmora.

Karl, ever calculating, had a spy working as an aid to the council who re-laid news of this to Karl who already had a plan in place and now would carry it out that very night. He had his most loyal troops slip in and capture the royal family, their servants, aids, council members, their families, and anyone present who could expose Karl. The following day as residents of Hazel, the capitol of Eli awoke, all those captured had already been taken to a small naval base north of the city, put on ships, and taken to Chandler Island. Karl released a proclamation as if from Mium. It stated Karl’s spies had uncovered plans for a major border offensive against Eli by several neighboring nations. Karl would engage the suspect nations under the direction of Mium and the council who were at the royal residence on Chandler Island as a precaution. The proclamation went on to say the suspect nations would outnumber Karl’s troops three to one, yet they expected Commander Karl to be victorious at which time the king and council would return to Hazel.

Although many thought it odd that Mium would leave Hazel and his kingdom in time of great danger, Karl, still a hero to most, reassured the nation this was the best plan. Other than the residence at Port Chandler the proclamation was a complete lie.

The island’s port community was small, mostly sea anglers, removed enough from the mainland that the captives posed no threat, or so Karl thought. His troops destroyed any boat capable of fleeing the island and crossing to the mainland as well as all communication stations, repeaters and uplinks. The islands one shipyard was burned; the exception was the shipwright’s home. He had his soldiers remove what few weapons they had. He left troops at the community’s rear wilderness and a naval vessel from Eli’s small fleet of gunboats at the entrance to Port Chandler. He stationed four riflemen in the guardhouse at the entrance to the royal residence. Troops were also stationed along the coast, effectively making the community a prison with no walls."

Again I wanted to argue this point with Cohen. All that has been written about the islanders touted how brave and easily they outwitted Karl’s thugs; however I thought he might explain this omission later as he continued.

"The four riflemen had lost many family members to raiders and had repeatedly asked for permission to cross the border and retaliate. Mium refused permission, instead fortifying their village with additional troops, creating a deep hatred with the four along with many others in the small village.

It would be discovered later that Karl knew the small village was to be attacked but held back his troops until the raiders had control of the village. With the help of his spies he knew when to attack. Driving the raiders back across the border without giving chase he told the villagers Mium would not allow acts of conflict outside the borders of Eli. So it was, the villagers hate for Mium begun, orchestrated by Karl. Corlin Karl assured the four when he returned they would first deal with the royal family. Then conquer and occupy the nation responsible for their grief. He left orders with the four that if they came under attack to sneak in at night, as was the habit of Karl and his troops, and kill the royal family.

Karl acted quickly. The following day he attacked the weakest border nations, captured all in power or high ranking, looted anything of value, removed their weapons, and hung the captured leaving their severed heads on poles at the border as a warning, always a warning. He knew fear would dismiss thoughts to retaliating.

He returned to Hazel having crushed the so-called enemy and was once again a national hero. Three days later he announced to the population those defeated had aligned with their neighboring nations and planned to attack Eli. The people rallied to support him. Thousands of recruits arrived in Hazel daily and once assembled he began his southward attacks swiftly, giving little warning Eli was at war while all others thought otherwise.

Therefore my friends, he duped an entire nation into his plan. His real goal was to rule all Palmora. With his armies assembled and organized he moved quickly leaving little time for those in his path to mount a response. Platoons under Karl’s second in command, Alejandra Brock, hanged those who resisted.

As the regular army moved southward Brock and his thugs remained behind, setup commands in the conquered nations, hung those in power, looted national treasuries and moved on to the next defeated. To avoid death and the death of their families, many captured soldiers joined Karl’s army as soldier slaves providing Karl with a disposable front line. Brock and his thugs would repeatedly violate captured women who resisted then hung them with their severed heads on poles at borders as a warning. Once these atrocities became known many smaller nations granted free passage, agreeing to Karl’s terms of occupation, avoiding attack.

As he moved nearer the nation of Kyldike and its capitol city Asti, his spies alerted Karl to an alliance between Kyldike and several nations to the west. Karl sent his Inner Guard, four officers with him from the very beginning, all part designers of the lies and murderous tactics to negotiate with the aligned armies. As negotiations began Karl secretly flanked the assembly, broke off negotiations, attacked, and won what would be his one great victory. All captured rulers, ranking officers, high officials, and others in command, were hung or shot, in front of the defeated armies.

Karl could now move south or west with little resistance. Karl’s troops however, had heard rumors of the atrocities and begun to desert in disgust. With his biggest battle looming he had all deserters who were captured before escaping brought back and hung in the troop camp area as a warning, always a warning.

While making battle plans for the attack on the eastern most nation, Lazur Lamont with his Inner Guard, a young lieutenant was brought to him along with a female sergeant. Both refused to engage the enemy. The lieutenant accused Karl and Brock of conducting an illegal, immoral, genocidal war and was immediately shot through the head by Karl. He then turned to the young women who had moved closer."

I would rather join those who fight you than for you.

Then you will die.

"She spat in Karl’s face as he took a knife and slit her throat. He turned and continued formulating strategies and calmly told his sergeants at arms to hang both in the troop camp area. He now commanded an army that begun denying him. To instill fear he daily had captured deserters hung. Troops were forced to obey or die.

His army passed the Central Badlands and made camp just outside Morrant. He knew he would face his strongest challenge. He also knew victory had to be swift. He was no longer being supplied munitions from the north, instead relying on a dwindling stockpile and what was captured from defeated nations. A victory over Lazur Lamont would supply him with munitions to take back the north if need be by force along with real naval vessels, the Lazur Lamont Naval Fleet, something he desperately wanted.

The army of Lazur Lamont was commanded by Abnah Altman. Peace, equity, freedom, and compassion, these were the cornerstones of eastern life. Lazur Lamont extended from the Central Badlands on the west, north along the eastern slope of the Margo Mountains, east to the Sea of Angelo and south to the tundra.

So it was, on the last day of the Second Renewal, in the early-morning hours, Karl’s army advanced firing heavy rounds over and behind his biggest challenger forcing them out to protect their border. Immediately Karl saw this as a flaw in his plan."

We need to chase them back before engaging. We have no flank if they withdraw suddenly. Following them would make our main army vulnerable and we may not be able to escape this narrow canyon. Fire directly into the center of their forces, we’ll make them dig in and pound them with heavy rounds.

One of Karl’s aid’s was on his comm; Sir, I was just informed our artillery detachment is talking heavy rounds, incoming from both flanks."

So they’re ready to fight? Good, then we will take them right up the middle. Order all troops, better yet, order the entire army to a full frontal attack. We will overrun them and move forward. By the time they catch up I’ll have captured their Capital.

Both armies had armored personnel carriers, quick attack armored cannons on tracked vehicles, as well as sixteen and twenty-inch guns mounted on trailers pulled by battle tractors with a tremendous range. Both had mobile, rapid-fire fifty caliber cannons and defensive armor busters deployed on tracked and wheeled vehicles. The easterners had shoulder fired hardened projectiles (M-7A Wakes) that could penetrate and disable Karl’s armored vehicles. M-7A wakes were an outlawed weapon put into production when Karl begun his march southward. Karl also had heat-seeking armor busters (K-Wacs) manufactured early on by his allies in Hazel, also outlawed. Both armies had all the so-called less destructive weapons allowed for national security under international charters signed into law by all surviving nations’ mid-way through the Second Renewal. Neither would use air-ships, both however, had satellite émigré of the other. The Lazur Lamont Fleet also had deep-sea attack vessels forcing Karl to keep the conflict land based. However, if he captured the easterner’s fleet, he, as they had, would dominate Palmora’s seas. What Karl did not know was that the advance on his army was not brought on by his heavy guns, but was a trap set to defeat Karl. The two great armies fought throughout the day until all armored vehicles and heavy arms were disabled, finally meeting in hand-to-hand combat."

I was curious how weapons banned for so long could so easily be brought back into production. Today these secrets are so closely guarded this would seem impossible unless corruption at the highest levels of government was in play. Who really watches those in charge? I wanted to point out rumblings concerning our governing body, The League of Nations. Cohen is probably in their service and speaking out against them was dangerous, and could, I’ve heard, bring about ones disappearance. This was one subject I ignored, after all the league sponsored the journey. Still, for years I had my suspicions concerning their integrity, their real goal, as Cohen continued.

Karl, who frequently joined his troops in battle, his aids beside him, came upon a northern solider who was holding a wounded eastern soldier.

I’m taking this man back for medical attention.

We kill the enemy, we do not aid them.

Karl then took out his pistol shooting the wounded soldier through the head. Before Karl could utter another word he too was shot dead by the northern soldiers, who was then shot dead by one of Karl’s aids. Realizing what he had done, the aid looked down amazed at the young soldier who had done what he had so often wanted to do but was too much of a coward to carry out. The aid was then shot dead by a nearby soldier slave.

Stunned, those witnessing this event stood speechless, looking down on the four dead dumbfounded. Brock also lay dead, shot by one of the soldier slaves.

News of these events spread quickly throughout the battlefield. Though the Eli Army seemed near certain victory, they put down their weapons and begun to retreat. Abnah Altman ordered an immediate cease-fire. As they left, soldiers from the north took the bodies of Karl and Brock. They would later hang them from a Pular tree, their severed heads on poles at the southernmost border of Eli, not as a warning, but as a sign of their hatred and absolute disgust for the two.

It was later learned that the two soldiers Karl came upon were brothers. The younger of the two had traveled east to meet his chosen’s family and had settled in Lazur Lamont. They are buried side by side, under a huge Forever Oak, at the very spot of their courageous last breaths.

As the Eli Army walked home, those captured and forced into battle were reunited with their homelands. The Lazur Lamont Army provided protection as they moved north through defeated nations. Abnah Altman knew most fought not for their country, but of fear if they did not, them and their families back home would be hung or shot. Once they reached the border of Eli, they were met by guards prepared to fight if Karl had been victorious.

In a bit I’ll tell you how Mium took back his kingdom as Karl moved south.

Their complicity not by truthful choice, soldiers from Eli were told to go home. Altman asked only that they return south a few months each year and help rebuild what Karl and Brock had destroyed. At first, they were reluctant, fearing they would be targets for revenge. However they went by the thousands, amazing even Altman at their compassion. They were welcomed as friends by nations warned against transgression by Karl,"

"If I receive just one unfavorable report from the troops I leave behind in command, I will return and kill every man, woman and child in your nation."

"These same people knew from stories told by their repatriated soldier slaves that troops from Eli were treated just as ruthlessly as their own.

All of Karl’s ranking officers, Brocks thugs, and any considered criminal were taken as prisoners to Hazel. A tribunal was convened with one juror from each defeated nation, one from Lazur Lamont, one from Eli, as well as Mium and Altman, who condemned to death unanimously Karl, Brock, their aids, Karl’s Inner Guard and all who served with Brock. There were three hundred eighty-three prisoners confined in Hazel. Of the seventy-one condemned to death, only four were held in Hazel, six others condemned escaped before capture. All the others were dead, very few in battles, most shot by regular soldiers, or by suicide. The remaining three hundred seventy nine prisoners were sent south to rebuild what they had helped destroy.

The four held in Hazel committed suicide before their sentence could be carried out. Three were found hung with bed coverings in their cells. The fourth filled his privy bucket with urine and water rations. When full, he stuck his head in the bucket, drowning in his own piss. The six who escaped had such high bounties if brought to Hazel alive, they were caught within two weeks. One more was brought to Hazel after an order assigning him to Brocks command, signed by Brock, but not dated, was found.

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Joel Tallmadge was sixteen when taken by force from his family, who cried out his innocence. Several soldiers claimed to have seen him on the Final Battlefield with C Company, but none knew him. What was known, two brothers and one sister were killed in battle and he had sworn to avenge their deaths. With the signed order as evidence, he was considered under Brocks command and jailed with the other six awaiting execution. They were jailed at the Central Corrections Center (CCC) in Hazel while awaiting death by public hanging. However Abnah Altman convinced the other jurors if their sentence was commuted to life, others would see only through peace and compassion would Palmora move on.

They were moved to separate ten by twenty foot door-less cells opening into a circular commons area fifty-foot in diameter with one gate opening to a second gate a few feet behind the first. The second gate was never opened unless the first was closed. They saw only guards on a catwalk forty feet above patrolling all hours, all days, who never answered should they call out. In doing this, they had contact with each other only. Each cell had privy, sink with running water, cot with mattress, one chair, and a small desk. There was a communal shower in a separate cell. They were given books to read, an occasional Daly Press, pen, paper, and asked to write down what they could remember of the battles fought. It was hoped they would reveal burial sites of prominent victims, as well as the location of stolen treasuries.

After a few years, two who were grateful their lives were spared began drawing maps with locations of bodies not yet recovered. The stolen treasuries, as they recalled, were hidden in the sub-basement of the old courthouse in Hazel, concealed by movable stones. They also gave locations for weapon caches not yet discovered that contained airborne agents even Karl feared deploying. Had they been, the outcome could have been catastrophic, with Palmora’s future, as well as any survivors, doubtful. Karl, given the chance, may have used these weapons as a last effort had he faced defeat. Truly an insane evil person, whose lack of reason and contempt for the lives of others caused great concern over chemical research that could be used for the betterment of Palmora, or for manufacturing weapons of mass destruction for future conflict. Once in Palmora’s history these weapons were used resulting in centuries of struggle to recover from near oblivion. This became the focus of international scrutiny bringing about the total ban on crossover discoveries, unless vital for survival of the population. Even then, debate between international leaders could take decades before new discoveries were approved.

Much was recovered with the maps provided by repenting prisoners. Nevertheless, each year on the anniversary of the Final Battle protest and articles in the Daly Press called for the seven to be hung. However as the years passed, two-committed suicide, one died of an unknown cause, and three of natural death. One remained, Joel Tallmadge. He would spend sixty years, the last twenty-nine alone at the CCC. He never complained, allowing his family to move on. After his passing and burial at a nearby cemetery the CCC was dismantled.