Completion of Hope: Including Fulfilment of Hope and Defence of Hope

By Doug Lavers

The Rejuvenation Series was drafted between 2013 and 2015 and comprises four books.
While some of the characters, people, and events follow on from book to book, in character they are all different.
Rekindling of Hope (Political novel written in 2013 thinly disguised as a science fiction drama.)
Consolidation of Hope (Pure science fiction novel.)
Fulfilment of Hope (Although nominally a science fiction drama, a significant part of the book was about how to renovate the ecology of a primitive planet.)
Defence of Hope (This book has two timelines, one of which goes into the past using a backdrop of real characters and events dressed up with a fictional narrative, while the other moves into the far future. The timelines regularly intersect, and it is actually a mystery novel in the sense that a perceptive reader might guess before the end what was actually happening. A few clues were scattered through the text.)
Completion of Hope Description
With four books in the series, Doug decided to set up the stories in two paired texts which fit together naturally, Starting of Hope being the first and Completion of Hope the second.
Fulfilment of Hope
Following on from Rekindling of Hope and Consolidation of Hope, this science fiction novel describes the settlement of a primitive planet and the subsequent development of a new federation by one of the Shepherd children.
In this project, they are assisted by artificial intelligences, which are effectively life forms in their own right.
Dr. Katie Shepherd married a soldier called Hans Gretner, and the pair of them prepare to be taken together with about four thousand colonists to a geologically young planet at an enormous distance from Earth. The giant spacecraft which is to carry them is known as Habitat, and its resident artificial intelligence is called Sheila.
No trace is to be left on Earth of their final destination, and they will have to take all the fauna and flora required to reseed a planet with them.
The Bearing continues to provide considerable help, as the successful creation of this federation is critical to their plans for further developing the galaxy. They are certain that Katie is going to have to overcome huge problems in setting up her federation.
This is a book of ecological development, love and war, disaster, and recovery. It completes the trilogy of Rejuvenation books by bringing the story full circle.
Defence of Hope
Throughout human history, most significant events would have happened through movement of peoples, food and economic pressures, or fundamental religious or political differences. In a few cases, individuals have played starring roles, and their presence or absence made a fundamental change to the flow of history.
Defence of Hope combines two storylines in a science fiction format, one of which uses the backdrop of real events and people in the past combined with a fictional narrative to describe some key divertants. The other storyline moves into the far future, and the two threads regularly intersect.
While it is a standalone novel, it uses characters and some of the events of the Rejuvenation Trilogy as a start point.
This is actually a mystery novel in the sense that a perceptive reader might guess before the end what is actually happening. A few clues were scattered through the text.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Singapore
• Release date: Mar 24, 2016
• ISBN: 9781482864755

Doug Lavers

An Oxford graduate and retired financial executive, author Doug Lavers used his wealth of knowledge and experience to write the Rejuvenation Series. After originally reading chemistry with a topic in solid-state physics for his thesis, Doug worked at a stock broker’s office for a several years before taking an MBA. He went on to work as an engineering cost analyst and later a money market dealer at Ford’s Research and Engineering Centre. He moved to the South Coast of England, where he met his wife, and the two relocated to Melbourne, Australia. Doug held a number of senior positions in the finance industry before becoming a financial planner. Now retired, he enjoys playing bridge, gardening, reading, travel, and debating green and ecological issues with his daughter.

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Copyright © 2016 by Doug Lavers.

ISBN:       eBook       978-1-4828-6475-5

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.

Any resemblance to real people or events is not intended, unintentional, or required for historical background.

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

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Fulfilment of Hope

Story So Far

Prelude

Chapter 1 Preparation

Chapter 2 Travelling

Chapter 3 Arriving

Chapter 4 Establishment

Chapter 5 Ecological Engineering

Chapter 6 Looking to the Stars

Chapter 7 Preparations

Chapter 8 Contact

Chapter 9 Empire building

Chapter 10 Hubris then Nemesis

Chapter 11 Reappearance

Chapter 12 Doctor

Chapter 13 Cadet

Chapter 14 Naval Lieutenant

Chapter 15 Empress

Chapter 16 Xicon

Chapter 17 Return

Chapter 18 A little peace

Chapter 19 Devastation

Chapter 20 War

Chapter 21 Conclusion

Addendum Shepherd Genetics

Defence of Hope

Backdrop

Prelude

Chapter 1 Introduction to Foldspace

1a – First Alteration

1b – Changes

1c – Back on Europia

1d – Sienna

1e – Abdication

Chapter 2 Planning For War

2a – Wiemar

2b – Search for German changes

Chapter 3 Imperial Germany

3a – Establishment in Germany

3b – Nurse

3c – Erwin

3e – Move to domesticity

3f – Emergence

3g – Marriage

3h – Defence of a soldier

Chapter 4 Relativity Cracked

4a – Meeting the relatives

4b – WWII derailed

4c – Value of weapons

4e – Zurich

4f – Sailing Student

4g– Student derailment

4h – Meddling with time

4i – Sailing Accident

Chapter 5 Domestic Consideration

5a – History debate

5b – Re-introduction

5c – Cheetah

5d – First planetary visit

Chapter 6 Napoleonic Changes

6a – Visiting Datura

6b – Waterloo considerations

6c – Detainment on Datura

6d – Early 19th Century Brussels

6e – Andre Capellan

6f – Waterloo Campaign

6g – Three battles

Chapter 7 Masun

7a – Arun

7b – Contract of Sirt

7c – Negotiations

7d – Arbitration

7e – Masun Fix

Chapter 8 Two Generals and A Scientist

8a – Wellington

8b – Trap

8c – Aon

8d – John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough

8e – Isaac Newton

Chapter 9 Political Settlement

9a – Kenta

9b – Arrival

9c – Ball

9d – Disaster

9e – Asteroid Belt

Chapter 10 Nemesis Again

10a – New Beginning

10b – Escape

Glossary

Acknowledgement

Design of the cover by Nick Root was greatly appreciated.

These books could never have been written without the tolerance of my wife, Gill.

Fulfilment of Hope

Acknowledgement

The assistance of Nick Root, Theresa Lavers and Richard Emery is gratefully acknowledged.

This book could never have been written without the tolerance and support of my wife Gill.

D:\BOOKS\BOOK_Outbreak\Map\Nova_4_WestHemi_05_05_13.jpg

Story So Far

In the previous science fiction novel in the Rejuvenation series, "Consolidation of Hope", the development of the two Shepherd twins was described.

The threat from the alien species known as the Calai was met by Earth effectively becoming a component of the Calai Federation with equivalent rights to the other planets. Tim Shepherd was instrumental in organising this integration with the help of the alien super intelligence collectively called The Bearing.

Separately, his sister Dr Katie Shepherd married a German soldier called Captain Hans Gretner, and the pair of them prepared to be taken together with about 4000 colonists to a geologically young planet at an enormous distance from Earth. Hans would be the Governor. The giant spacecraft which was to carry them was known as Habitat, and its resident artificial intelligence was called Sheila.

No trace was to be left on Earth of their final destination, and they would have to take all the fauna and flora required to reseed the planet.

The Bearing intended to continue to give them considerable assistance in setting up what would be known as the Outer Arm Federation.

The successful creation of this Federation was critical to their plans for further developing the galaxy.

"Fulfilment of Hope follows on from Rekindling of Hope and Consolidation of Hope". This science fiction novel describes the settlement of a primitive planet and the subsequent development of a new Federation by Katie Shepherd.

This is a book of ecological development, love and war, disaster and recovery.

Prelude

The communal intelligence known as The Bearing regarded their intervention in the affairs of the Human and Calai species as satisfactory.

The next phase of their plan required the successful transplanting of humans into the selected area of the Outer Arm of the galaxy, as the nucleus for the formation of another large Federation.

The notably xenophobic species known as the Qui continued their steady advance. Species they had conquered were faring badly.

The Bearing hoped that their long-term plan to control the Qui would work. Otherwise they would face the unpleasant prospect of organising a Qui genocide which would destroy other residual species at the same time.

They would need to provide an unprecedented level of assistance to both Humans and Calai.

Chapter 1

Preparation

About two years before the expected departure date, Katie started to interview the first of the possible colonists. She planned to see about 200 couples or individuals, which would give Sheila a sufficient sample to model questions and answers for the large number of remaining applicants.

After a further discussion with Sheila, she had decided to exempt trade tools and equipment from her 100 kg per person weight limit. However, she had also made it a requirement that tools and equipment would be thoroughly sterilised before being brought on board the Habitat.

A problem was posed by requests to bring pot plants aboard.

She was interviewing Yamato and Keiko, a young Japanese couple from Okinawa. They were agricultural scientists specialising in plant propagation.

After they had overcome their nervousness at the beginning of the interview, Yamato had glanced at his wife, and said; Doctor, our parents, brothers and sisters are sad that we wish to leave permanently, but they understand and support our decision. For many generations, our family has specialised in producing bonsai trees. If we are successful in our application to go with you our grandparents particularly want us to take two Japanese Cedar bonsai plants in their memory. These plants are several hundred years old, and we are not even sure when they were originally planted.

He paused for a moment.

Would it be possible to bring these plants with us?

Katie considered this for a few seconds. She badly wanted to ensure that the small townhouses that the colonists would be occupying would rapidly acquire human touches, and it seemed to her that little collections of pot plants would be quite helpful in this. She decided that it would also help the bulk of her people focus on the necessity for growing and nurturing the environment around them.

She liked the couple, and they would definitely be on her list.

Yamato, if you are selected, you and Keiko will need to talk to Sheila about ensuring that no pests are introduced by the trees, but I have no problem with the concept. The weight of the bonsai will not be included in your 100 kg weight allowance. You have been separately advised that the professional equipment you use would also be exempt. Specialist laboratories will be set up on the Habitat for people with scientific skills.

She smiled at the Japanese couple, Take great care of those two bonsai; there is a good chance that they will become exceptionally well travelled!

Keiko was much more perceptive socially than her husband, and said Dr Gretner, thank you for interviewing us, and we greatly hope we will see you in the future.

The pair bowed deeply to Katie before they left. They believed they had been given a fairly broad hint that they would be accepted.

*     *     *

Katie and Hans had a sad leaving party at the Institute in mid-October. However Peter and Zoë noticed that Katie and Tim were not as devastated as they expected. Immediately afterwards, Hans and Katie left for Germany to say goodbye to his parents, and then shuttled to the Habitat.

Shipment of the colonists up to the Habitat was completed by the end of the month.

A day later, and well before anyone had expected this, all the parents and relatives were invited to embark on a fleet of large shuttles, which assembled nearby.

A message from Hans in his role as Governor was relayed everywhere:

"Every volunteer is now aboard, and our preparations are complete. There is no point in remaining longer. We leave in half an hour; messages either way will be possible for the next two hours.

"People of Earth, we wish you well. Perhaps in the distant future, our descendants will meet again.

Goodbye.

There was no political impact; the number of people leaving was only the equivalent of those on a large cruise liner. A tiny number of people made the connection that this was similar to the first ship from Europe to the New World.

A few minutes later, the people in the shuttles saw the Habitat revolve slowly and start to move away. Soon, it faded from Earth’s consideration and history.

Nobody knew that The Bearing had assured Tim and Katie they would always be able to communicate while both were alive.

*     *     *

For the first few days, there was considerable upheaval within the Habitat, as all the immigrants sorted out their possessions, and started to get to know the people around them.

They also discovered that there was no such thing as cash on the Habitat. Each colonist had their own credit card, and all transactions together with a basic salary went through a bank account linked to the card. They simply told Sheila to credit or debit a particular amount, and the transaction would take place immediately. There were warned that overdrafts would attract appropriate penalties. Nobody wanted to be the first to find out more details about this.

The colonists found themselves remarkable busy. Their Governor had decided that the best way to prevent them fretting and minimise any irritation at having left so soon, was to quickly implement rigorous cross training programs.

There would be attached examinations, and it was made clear that eventual appointments when they arrived at the new planet would be heavily associated with the enthusiasm and ability shown. Also all manner of clubs and competitions were encouraged.

Zero G smashball was still a favourite, and a small league with no less than ten teams was established.

One enterprising group started The Habitat Newsletter. The only restriction was that all the editions would be electronic since paper was likely to be scarce for a long time. Much lower quality paper would be available as a byproduct of the Habitat farms.

Hans and Katie encouraged people with particular skills like dressmaking or cooking to set up their own small businesses. Also, there were quite a large number of people involved with teaching, medical services, provision of food and clothing and miscellaneous consumer items, and the general administration of the Habitat.

Hans was wondering how the large number of small items that most people required would be produced, when Sheila introduced him to a whole floor of the Habitat which he had not seen before. Corridor after corridor was packed with basic consumer items, including toys, sportswear and bicycles as well as the more mundane such as soap and deodorant.

Sheila told him, In the further areas of this floor, I’ve stockpiled a large selection of the consumer goods and materials we will require when we arrive. For example, there are 10,000 house stockpiles. Each of these include a fridgefreezer, cooker, washing machine, drier, lights, iron, curtains, carpets, computers, screens and a large supply of copper pipe and plumbing accessories. Window frames and doors are also included, and there is a substantial supply of spare parts.

Hans asked her, Why can’t you make these Sheila?

The answer surprised him a little. Of course I can make them. However, this would be a huge distraction from the basic processes which I will need to undertake. As it is, it will be many months or possibly years before we really start to get ourselves organised.

There were about 200 colonists without partners. A number of social clubs were soon arranged to cater for their particular preferences; amongst the more exotic was the Tiddlywinks Club.

Hans remarked to Katie, That sounds like just a good excuse to meet members of the opposite sex and have a drink!

Katie laughed; I suppose there is some risk of them getting as far as playing a few games!

She paused. After all, it is a sort of serious game with real rules!

*     *     *

All the colonists were requested to assemble on the shores of the reserve three weeks later, for what was simply described as an important meeting.

At precisely 7 in the evening, Hans and Katie came across the lake, standing on a small shuttle. A golden cat was on Katie’s shoulder.

The shuttle stopped about 50 meters offshore, and for the first time Katie spoke to them all.

Welcome everybody. This meeting is at the request of The Bearing, who will make an address to us.

Her voice was clearly audible to everyone, despite nearly four thousand people being present.

As she stopped talking, a large opaque glowing sphere appeared next to her.

"Greetings, emigrants from earth. We are The Bearing. You are being transported over a distance of 18,000 light years to a planet which will be called Nova. This will take about three years. We are providing Sheila with a complete database at Katie’s request, which will assist in your planning. There are no nearby star-faring species, so you will be able to build a new civilization in peace.

"We are appointing Katie Shepherd the Overseer and Empress of your planet. She and her successors, who will always be direct descendants, will hold that position as Emperor or Empress. They will have ultimate responsibility for the actions of all species in that Arm of the galaxy and will be able to communicate with us at will.

Katie will find a suitable residence for her family in place when she arrives.

At that, The Bearing disappeared.

Even Katie felt a little surprised.

There was absolute silence for a moment, then Hans said, "We should be truly grateful to the Bearing for providing us with such a database.

I will be organizing specialist groups to study the information from particular points of view, and start to develop detailed plans on how we should proceed.

Katie then added, "A competition will be arranged. The subject is a town plan for our new city, which I would like to be called New Melbourne.

"The competition is open to any two individuals, or group of individuals. It will specify the location and the general design of the town, although the position of my residence has already been marked on the database. It should be based on a city size of about one million people. It will be a conceptual plan, so specialist town planning qualifications are unnecessary. However, coastal foreshores will always be Imperial land for a distance of 100 meters, the only exceptions being land required for yacht clubs and marinas, surf life saving clubs, public access water ramps, and port areas. Similarly, major rivers will have development free Imperial zones for 50 meters on either side, and minor rivers or streams of more than 2 meters width, 25 meters on either side.

"The competition will be judged in eleven months’ time, with the prize awarded one month later. There will be subsequent competitions on other aspects.

The first prize will be choice of allotment position when we arrive, with one allotment for every two individuals in the group. The winners can decide between themselves the division. Other worthy plans will be given the next priority for choice.

Hans added, To provide the only clues, the Empress loves trees and open spaces, and cannot abide ugliness. New Melbourne will be beautiful. He wanted to emphasize her new title.

Apart from this, when more detailed planning for the whole planet has been completed, anyone wishing to use land for farming or other purposes will be able to make application to the government for long-term leasehold or freehold land as appropriate. A study group will be set up to organise the conditions for this.

He paused for a moment.

Finally, when you all return to the town you will find that Sheila has arranged a communal party. Enjoy!

Chapter 2

Travelling

Soon after leaving, Hans started to receive a steady stream of requests to grow pot plants and similar in the housing areas.

Sheila said "There is no problem in providing suitable pots. However, people will have to prepare their own compost mixtures. We do not have a ready supply, and we are in no position to start digging up the reserves. However, I suggest we allow one pinch of soil for each pot, to provide microflora, plus a few worms. A few weeks’ diligent collection and pulverising of suitable household rubbish will soon provide a growing medium. We have plenty of fertiliser to spare.

Actually, there is considerable merit in the idea. When we arrive, the pot plants can be used as the starting basis for planting gardens.

Yamato and Keiko were enlisted to help with this.

Katie had involved herself directly as Keiko had become a friend; Keiko, I think it would be a nice idea if most of the houses were given largish pots. These could be used for growing small trees, shrubs or flowers. Could you please liaise with the plant resources manager and quietly feed out plants to anyone who is interested. We should be careful to make sure that no significant diminution in our reserve material occurs.

The Japanese girl looked thoughtful for a moment and said, It might also be fun for us to start a small bonsai club.

Both women smiled.

*     *     *

The area selected for settlement was an island in a partially enclosed sea which had a remarkable resemblance to the Mediterranean. The name was soon adopted. There was a sheltered bay on this island nearly closed off from the open sea by a peninsula, the end of which had been marked as the site for Katie’s house.

The colonists with a background in farming and ecology had been aghast when they had first looked at the database. It was apparent that the land was mostly rock, with occasional areas of sand, clay and gravel. Land plant life was almost non-existent outside the swamp areas in the tropics.

One farmer was almost in tears as he spoke to Sheila and Hans. It will be impossible to grow things on this land – it is essentially abiotic! It’s all rock, gravel and sand!

Sheila said, "The reason we have brought food supplies and the like for nearly 10 years rather than the three years it will take to reach Nova, is that I will have to use galactic terraforming technology extensively. It will take us some time to start, and then we will have to breed sufficient numbers of animals and plants.

"When we arrive, I will be operating robotic terraforming teams. Each of these consist of three large shuttles. The first will travel over any approximately level ground, and will use an oscillating forcefield to fracture the rock into approximately fist size pieces to a depth of about two meters and a width of about 3 meters. Immediately behind the forcefield generator, small fold space translocation units will inject drops of water into the base of the fractured area. Since the drops are essentially emerging in solid rock, there will small but quite violent explosions which will churn the fractured rocks above the entry points. This will provide air spaces and further shatter the rock.

"The second shuttle will follow immediately behind the first, and pulverise the rock into gravel to a depth of about 1 meter. The third shuttle will reduce the top 50 centimeters to dust and sand, and level the ground.

"The brackish coastal swamp areas in the tropics are full of large plants resembling giant kelp, although they are much more primitive. We will be harvesting these, followed by desalting and shredding. We will shuttle in loads of this material which will be ploughed into the ground. Fertiliser, seeds and a very sparing inoculation of our own soil will complete the process. Every 30 meters, a small amount of compost material rich in earthworms will be inserted, to provide seed populations of worms. Earthworm supplies may well prove to be a critical constraint, and I intend to start large-scale worm farms well before we arrive.

"With careful watering, we would expect a basic grass and plant cover to be established quite quickly.

"Each robotic team can process about 1.5 square kilometers a week, and I will have 100 teams operating initially. As manufacturing and computing resources become available, I will produce more teams.

"For the first month, we will concentrate on processing our city areas and their surrounds. We will need to get operating farms established as soon as possible.

Thereafter, teams will be allocated to terraforming areas in other climate zones.

Sheila paused for a moment; As a farmer, you should be pleased. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the air is about six times that of earth. Given sufficient water and fertiliser, our plants should grow nearly twice as fast as on earth.

The newsletter quoted these comments in full, and there was an almost palpable sense of relief amongst the future biologists and farmers.

There was also an article on the terms on which businesses would be financed or operated when they reached Nova.

– All the colonists would have a basic salary.

– If they worked in a civil service or office function, they would receive a supplement to make the basic salary up to an appropriate figure.

– If they operated a business financed by Sheila, they would receive 10% of turnover or some other figures as judged appropriate as an incentive bonus. After five years they could purchase the business as an individual or partnership at a cost of four times average annual profit, with a loan. If this option lapsed, after 10 years the business ownership would be thrown open to tender.

– If they wished to start a new business on their own terms, provided a business plan was produced which met basic business criteria, a loan would be available. In this case, they would be entitled to all the profit, and suffer any losses.

The initial colonists would receive their houses and a shuttle free if they were a couple, and unattached individuals would be credited with a notional sum to be applied to a flat or property when they wished to purchase. In the latter case, an on request system would apply if they wished transport. For the next generation, loans would be available to purchase flats or properties.

Two further comments were added, In the long-term, the government only wishes to operate in areas where private sector involvement would be inappropriate. Also, from the third year onwards, there will be a flat tax of 10% on all salaries and earnings, with an estimated taxation amount payable monthly.

On the matter of shuttles, Sheila and Hans had a discussion about transport systems. Sheila said to him, "Hans, I know you are concerned about the construction of roads and the vehicles to use them. While I can easily handle the number of shuttles in use initially, in the long-term this will not be practicable. I believe that I can build a traffic management system which could be managed by a computer complex operating from the city and elsewhere. This would take the pressure off my resources. Comprehensive safety systems would be built-in, and I have plenty of time to completely test the coding.

This way, we could avoid the need to build vehicles travelling on roads, or the need for those roads.

*     *     *

When she appeared at relatively official functions, Katie always arranged to have her hair tied back rather severely. She quickly discovered that this had the advantage of ensuring that when she wore casual clothes and let her hair down she still looked like a 17-year-old, and unless someone knew her well she would not be recognised. Readopting her maiden name also helped, and this enabled her to move around quietly and anonymously most of the time.

She was very interested in how the social clubs were establishing themselves. Late one afternoon she casually dropped in on the chess club which was in the process of being formed. A number of games had been played between the possible new members, and one individual called Anton Sergei was clearly the strongest player.

He stood up and said, I would like to propose myself as the President of our new club. I think I am the strongest player here, and this should entitle me to the position.

This actually annoyed some of the people present, but they were hesitant to take him on directly as he had a strong personality.

However, a young woman seated at the back of the small hall said "Anton, you may well be a strong player, but I think that is a poor way to introduce yourself to your future members. It would be much better to sell yourself on the basis of your enthusiasm for chess, and your ability to draw in new members and teach them to really enjoy the game!

Anyhow, I would like to challenge you to a game, as I was also considered quite a strong player in the town I came from. If you win, you can organise the club your way, otherwise I have some suggestions which might be acceptable.

This was actually disruptive to the flow of the meeting, but the young girl seemed to have a powerful presence of her own, and most of the people present decided this might be fun to watch.

Three moves into the game, Anton realised that he was totally outclassed. It only took Katie a dozen moves to dismantle him. As she played, at least one member of the audience realised her true identity.

As Anton rather shamefacedly toppled his queen, he heard a voice behind him addressing the girl; My Lady, would you consent to be the Patron of our club?

Hans had quietly made it clear that in any sort of formal gathering, that was the appropriate form of address for Katie.

She agreed, and added "I would like to suggest that Anton be made temporary president, and a full election be held in three months’ time. In the meantime I think that a subcommittee should be formed to devise a draft constitution. There are several examples in the database which could be used as models. The Constitution can be voted on at the same time as the election for club officials.

By the way, when I’m at the club, please call me Katie.

Anton, still a little shocked at being so easily beaten, could only smile a little hesitantly.

*     *     *

Hans was having a quiet discussion with the other four members of Platoon 29 from the Naval Academy who had volunteered to come to Nova. He had always been surprised at how well Patty Croft, Anna Sears, Henry Banting and Barry Owen had meshed together. He did not know that Sheila had been extremely careful that the platoon members were completely compatible in the first place.

Anna had asked an interesting question, Hans, I have been wondering how we are going to keep our soldiers occupied for the next three years. While we are travelling, any military function they could provide is simply irrelevant. How are we going to handle this?

Patty said, It appears to me that we need a general discussion about this including Captain John Harding and all the non-commissioned officers.

Hans agreed, and the meeting was arranged for the following day.

*     *     *

At nine o’clock following morning when the officers and NCOs had assembled and taken their seats around a long table, Hans stood up.

"Good morning, everyone.

One of the problems we have as a military organisation, is that over the three years we will take to travel to Nova our personnel are likely to be seriously underemployed. We need to find routines which will maintain military discipline, while using a good proportion of the time reasonably productively. I’m open to suggestions as to how we achieve this.

In fact, all the staff had already started to think about this. The NCOs were much more concerned than the officers, as bored troops would make life difficult for them.

Henry Banting was a solidly built soldier with distinct traces of African ancestry. He said, For part of the time at least, we could insist that troops learn a more civilian orientated skill, for example, welding or electrical machinery maintenance. Assuming that we stick with a five day working week, that would keep them out of our hair for perhaps two days.

Patty said in her broad Australian accent, "I have been studying the database with respect to the space regions reasonably close to Nova. As far as I can see, there are five inhabited planets with civilisations varying from primitive to industrial. The more advanced planets have populations of several billion.

In the shuttle bay, we have a destroyer and five scouts. Sheila has designed them so they can each be managed by a crew of 15.Why don’t we arrange that each scout crew specialises in the culture, history and main language of one of the planets. From a fairly early stage, we are going to have to start to keep an eye on them. My reading of the appearance of The Bearing, is that they clearly intend us to take a leadership role in our part of the galaxy.

There was a pause for a minute or so as the group thought about this.

Hans said "Those sound like sensible suggestions, so let’s build them into our planning. If we use two days a week on each of those ideas, we can use the remaining day to remind our people that they are in the Nova armed forces!

"In future, I’m sure we will think of other possibilities. Please let me know if other suggestions occur to anyone.

"Henry, can you liaise with everyone here and produce a report on the civilian skills area, including what is available and how we should partition it. It might be an idea to include a selection element, so our people can within reason choose areas of personal interest.

"Patty, could you chair a study group with all the officers, with a view to producing a plan on how we should handle the nearby species. I think it will take some time for a final plan to be completed, but it would be nice to have some sort of interim report at our next meeting. I expect the Empress will be interested in reviewing it.

"Anna and Owen, could you liaise with everybody and start to get together a normal military training plan for what looks like the remaining day of the week.

Are there any questions?

When it was clear that no one had anything further to add, he said Dismissed.

*     *     *

Two months later, Katie and Hans were just sitting down to supper after quietly congratulating themselves that general arrangements were going well, when there was a knock on the door.

Hans answered it and saw a senior member of the biology group standing outside, clearly agitated.

Hans said, Please come in Patricia.

When she was inside and seated with a drink, she said "Hans, we have just discovered two serious problems; a fungus infection in one of the pine groves, and pathogenic cyanobacteria, better known as blue green algae, contaminating one of our three main algae farms.

In the case of the pine groves, cinnamon fungus has been detected. We immediately isolated the area, and no walking through the area has been permitted. All movement is now by shuttle. We’re not sure of the extent of the problem, as it takes a long time for the fungus to show itself before killing the trees.

As a biologist, Katie was well aware of how serious a problem this could prove. Although they had stored seeds, they needed the groves to nurture the symbiotic fungi on which most firs and pines were dependent. However, cinnamon fungus had to be absolutely prevented from reaching Nova.

She said, Sheila, if we draw a line about 30 meters outside the current known extent of the infection, and sterilise everything within that line, will that be sufficient?

Sheila answered, Probably. However I think it would be safer to use 50 meters. In conjunction with Patricia, I will develop some much more sophisticated cinnamon fungus detectors. We would use these systematically and regularly through the remainder of the Habitat. Any further infestations will be immediately eradicated.

I will incinerate everything within the 50 metre line.

Patricia said, I agree with this. I think about 3 hectares will be involved. The Japanese cedars we have been growing will be totally wiped out, and two other different pine groves badly affected.

Katie said, "If it is any help, I know where to go to get some re-establishment material for the cedars.

What about the algae farm?

Patricia continued, I have discussed this with Sheila. Once again, the only solution is complete sterilisation of the farm. It would be horrible if any of the other farms are affected, as they are our main oxygen regeneration route, as well as providing baseload food material. It will take up to 6 months to re-establish the farm and make sure the cyanobacteria do not recur. During that period, we cannot afford to distribute any material from the farm – it will all have to be incinerated.

Hans had been sitting quietly listening to this, as these matters were outside his area of expertise. However he was expert in resource utilisation and planning.

He said, I will not authorise use of the food we have stockpiled for the decade when we arrive. The speed with which we can establish the farms is an unknown quantity, and we will literally starve if we miscalculate. There will be many more mouths to feed at that time at the rate our population is starting to grow.

Sheila had advised him that a good proportion of the women on the Habitat were already pregnant. She suspected Bearing assistance.

I believe that for the time needed to re-establish the algae farm, we should institute quite rigorous rationing. This might also be an interesting lesson for the colonists.

Later on that day, there was an announcement in the Newsletter and on all computer channels that the Governor would be speaking at 7 o’clock that evening.

Hans was formally dressed when he appeared on the internal television channels. He looked up from the notes he had been studying and said, "Citizens, we have had two disasters in the agricultural sections of the Habitat.

"Possibly the less serious of the two is the fact that we have detected cinnamon fungus in some of the tree areas. It is imperative that this fungus is utterly destroyed as it will kill the trees, and this can only be done by incineration of all the material involved. This is a setback, but this will be fixed over the next few months.

"The second of the two disasters is much more significant. One of the three algae farms on the Habitat has been infected with pathogenic cyanobacteria, which are a type of blue green algae. Again, the only way to control the infestation is complete destruction of all the algae, followed by radical disinfecting of the area. Sheila is now in the process of arranging this.

"It is imperative that this infection is not allowed to spread, as the algae farms are the principal renewal source for oxygen, as well as being the base for a significant proportion of our food. We cannot afford a second farm to be infected.

"I will not release any of the food that has been stockpiled for the decade after we arrive. We have no real knowledge of how long it will take to establish a proper farming industry, and we expect to have a great many more mouths to feed by the time we arrive. If things do not go to plan, we risk starvation if we are not careful.

"Accordingly, rigorous rationing is going to be applied for the next six months. Pregnant women and children are exempt, but everyone else will be given just sufficient food for their size, but they can expect to lose weight. I’m afraid this means some real hardship, but bear in mind that this will only be for a limited period.

If anyone has any queries, please send a message to my office.

Later on that day, he was having a discussion with Katie and Sheila.

Sheila, I hate to bring this up, but what are the chances that these two disasters occurred concurrently by sheer chance?

With his background as an army captain, Hans had a military suspicion of the unexpected.

There was quite a long pause before Sheila answered, which meant a great deal of analysis was being put into the comment.

"It is unlikely these disasters were by chance. We must conclude that there is a saboteur amongst us. I have implemented security measures in all critical areas to ensure that the chances of further damage are minimised. However, we do not know as yet if these infections have spread further or if other areas were contaminated.

"I will also install a large number of DNA detectors sensitive to cinnamon fungus and the cyanobacteria. It will be difficult to move these materials again through the Habitat without their presence been detected.

I will carry out some analysis on my monitor recordings, and see if it is possible to narrow down the search for the individual. Of course, there is a possibility that more than one person is involved.

*     *     *

In fact, the saboteur was a single individual from the UK. With a Middle Eastern background, he had successfully pretended to be of a Christian persuasion, in order to be chosen to emigrate. The leaders of the terrorist group to which he belonged regarded the idea of the establishment of an infidel colony completely outside their possible control as anathema. His orders were to do everything in his power to damage or destroy the colony, but at the same time take great care to protect his identity.

He decided that security measures were certain to have been implemented, and he would have to go to ground for a considerable period. He discarded his remaining supply of pathogens through the sewerage system.

*     *     *

As the months had progressed, the people on the Habitat increasingly organised themselves into groups and subgroups. As Sheila observed, this appeared to be an integral part of the human psyche. In particular, a large number of committees were formed. One of the largest of these groups was centred around the planning competition for the new city of Melbourne.

Once the groups had sat down and started to consider the options, the individuals concerned had found the process increasingly interesting. Even quite staid people were fascinated by the knowledge that whatever was planned would have a huge impact on the future.

All manner of minor skulduggery occurred, as groups tried to spy on what their competitors were planning.

Katie and Sheila watched the process carefully, and with a certain amount of amusement. In fact neither of them had any problem with a limited amount of espionage, as it resulted in good ideas being disseminated across all the groups. This would improve the end result.

An anonymous article appeared in the Newsletter, describing in general terms what was happening. It ended with the observation that Sheila would allow a limited amount of mutual espionage, but disqualifications would result if certain boundaries were crossed; those boundaries definitely included physical electronic bugging of individuals.

Few doubted the identity of the author of the article.

In fact, when the city plans were finalised, it was apparent that the colonists would be living in the Habitat for some time after arrival. However, teams would be able to shuttle down to the surface every day to actually supervise the building operations.

Looking at the time plan which had been laid out, Hans said to Katie "What we really have here, is a cascade of operations.

"To build the city, almost the first items will have to be the construction of basic infrastructure. We must have power, water, and waste handling facilities. These require metal and cement. Sheila will need to build asteroid mining facilities first, followed by a large cement plant.

"Sheila has also told me that building a plastics and chemicals plant will also have to be high on the list. She will be running critically short of a number of organic chemicals by the time we arrive. Fortunately, it appears that the deep water areas close to our island are rich in methane clathrates. These can be mined by using a sort of giant bell jar, with pipes to the surface. Simply placing the jar over a clathrate rich area, and applying heat, will cause the methane to bubble out. A large floating rig over the field will collect the gas and liquefy it. Because this has to be done on a large scale – small platforms are not sufficiently stable – we will have a surplus of gas initially.

"Apparently, with a large supply of methane and a few other basic chemicals, we can manufacture almost anything. Our chemical engineers are going to be busy!

I think it will be several months before anyone can live on the surface.

*     *     *

Once the terraforming units – eventually known as scrunchers from the noise they made – had finished processing the city area, the basic power, water, drainage and communication system would need to be laid out.

The river which ran through what would be known as the port area was quite large, but it was apparent that its flow was highly irregular. There was essentially no vegetation or soil to trap and release water slowly. Fortunately, about 40 km inland there was a suitable site for a large dam, which in turn would form an impressive lake in due course. It was decided this would be called Lake Katie. The land around the proposed lake was a plateau which was already much higher than the coastal plain, at about 1200 meters on average, and it rose steeply from the plain quite close to the dam site. Its climate was a well watered cool temperate, rather than the Mediterranean climate prevalent on the coast.

Behind the dam area was the high mountain range which formed the core of the island, with peaks of nearly 4000 meters. There were some small glaciers visible.

Raw materials for the cement factory were a problem, and required a careful search through the planetary database. Limestone deposits were nowhere near as well-defined as on earth – the planet was too young – and the best deposit which could be located was of poor quality compared with what would be utilised on earth. It was equivalent to a material called caliche. Past glacial epoques had left large clay and sand deposits, so it would be possible to make cement.

Initially, power supplies would come through a large fusion generator, until the hydroelectric plant on the lake was functioning.

Asteroid mining operations would be rapidly established, and supplies of all metals would be available. Perhaps strangely, nickel iron from the asteroid cores was likely to be more readily available than pure iron. Coupled with some chromium from a planetary chromite deposit, this would make stainless steel.

An engineer called John Ferrers had been appointed head of Civil Infrastructure. He had laughed when he heard this, This is the first time in history that stainless steel frames will be used in preference to ordinary steel.

Construction of the major dam would be started as soon as cement supplies were available. It would be critical for long-term water supply, flood control, and power.

As part of the same exercise, Sheila would be constructing deeply buried pairs of 1 m diameter pipes to ferry the water from the dam to the city, and laying pipework along the planned city streets, as soon as possible.

All power supplies and internet connections would be through underground cable, except the overland power supply from the hydropower station. As transport would be shuttle based, overhead cables would be dangerous obstructions.

Roads would in general be mowed grass, with a bicycle path on each side. The concept of cars as understood on earth would be obsolete.

Every family would have its own shuttle, controlled by a rather primitive artificial intelligence. This would be sufficient to ensure automatic safe travel between specified locations. The steering column would only be unlocked for human use outside city boundaries, and even then safety protocols would apply which would mean the AI would take over if there were any dangers apparent.

Within the city, shuttles would travel about three meters above the ground on the left-hand side of the grass roadways. To turn right, they would increase altitude before turning.

As Katie remarked, This is really going to take the fun out of motoring. I think we will have to find some other pursuits which provide some excitement!

*     *     *

Yamato and Keiko brought two large plastic bags to their own house together with a small container.

They had asked Hans and Katie to attend as they wanted to make a ceremonial occasion of the rather drastic pruning of their two bonsai Japanese Cedars.

Yamato watched his wife carefully snip about half of the small branches from each of the cedars and drop them into the labelled and moistened bags, which were sealed. Small samples of soil from each of the pots were also carefully removed. The plant material would be taken to the mist propagation units in the horticultural area of the Habitat, and the replacement project for the lost cedars would be underway. The soil samples would be carefully subdivided and added to the rooting compost to enable the young trees to re-associate with their symbiotic fungi.

When Keiko had finished, small glasses filled with the last remaining bottle of ceremonial saki were passed around, and immediately after the toasts were drunk, the Japanese couple bowed deeply to Hans and Katie.

Yamato said, My Governor and Empress, thank you for attending. We are sure our ancestors will be pleased.

*     *     *

The small hospital area on the Habitat was being extensively expanded with new paediatric and birthing facilities. It had become clear that in a few months, a small army of babies would need to be delivered.

After talking to Sheila, Katie announced that every pregnant mother would have available a personal small remote to help with housework and similar. She made it clear that the remotes would be nowhere near as sophisticated as the Sheila remotes, but they would suffice. Every fourth child would be the qualification for another remote.

Eight months after the start of the journey, Hans had woken to the sound of his wife retching into the toilet, and drew the obvious conclusion.

When she returned to bed, he said Not twins, I hope?!

His wife gave him a wan smile, No, triplets. Hans was afflicted with an interesting mixture of alarm and pleasure.

Since Hans had not completely taken leave of his senses, he said That’s wonderful darling, and gave Katie a careful hug.

It would appear that you are as efficient at making babies as everything else you do!

His wife was not pleased at the comment. At that moment, her sense of humour was a little in abeyance.

*     *     *

Fortunately for the colonists, it was found that the outbreak of infectious fungi and harmful blue green algae had been successfully contained.

However, the food restrictions during the six months were stringent, and definitely put a damper on morale in the Habitat. Amongst other things, some small brewing ventures had to be abandoned temporarily.

Meanwhile, more and more households were being disrupted by the arrival of children. A few months later, the staff at the hospital insisted that Katie abandon her role as senior doctor.

One of the doctors told her bluntly, Katie, you must stop work and simply relax at home. You know that as well as I do, and I should not have to tell you this!

When Katie finally went into labour, she was quickly shuttled to the hospital. As soon as nobody was present except Hans, Sheila delivered the triplets by extracting them through fold space. This was almost without trauma for all concerned, but the hospital staff were somewhat mystified and alarmed that they had not been present.

Katie waffled her way through an explanation by pretending to be almost incoherent.

It did not stop the senior doctor who examined her giving her a quizzical look. On reflection he thought to himself, I think this is one of those occasions when the less I know the better!

There was an enormous sense of relief when after six months, Hans announced that food supplies were back to normal.

In his own household, the couple were finding that looking after triplets was quite trying even with three advanced Sheila remotes. The babies were identical girls, and everything they did from crying to feeding to peeing seemed to be synchronised. Also, Katie found trying to share her breast milk between three babies difficult; supplementary bottle milk was clearly nowhere near as popular.

*     *     *

About a year after leaving, Katie was just finishing a meal with Hans when he saw her go rigid and her eyes seemed to glaze over slightly. She seemed lost to the world around her. He rushed across, picked up her up from the chair, and then carefully laid her flat on the sofa. Sheila appeared next to him, Hans, I have no idea what has happened to Katie. Her mind seems to be somewhere else in the same manner as when she and Tim were linked in the hospital.

In fact Katie was having a long distance conversation with her brother about the Calai Trial and the battle chess game Tim had just lost. He explained what had happened, and why, and said Katie, for my next game I think we must attempt to link up mentally. I assume it is just as possible now as it was when we first tried. I cannot afford to lose the next game.

He then withdrew mentally.

A few minutes later, Sheila and Hans were relieved to see Katie stir. Her eyes opened, and she smiled slightly. I’m sorry for alarming you like that. I think I need to let you both into one of my dark little secrets. However, you must never tell anyone. The same thing is going to happen just before lunch tomorrow, and I’m likely to be mentally absent rather longer.

She explained what had happened.

"The Earth Fleets have been fighting a terrible defensive war against the Calai. They have lost so many ships that there is little chance of them successfully defending any longer.

"The Calai operate a battle code called intranu. One of its provisions is the arrangement of a Trial when one of the parties is clearly in a losing position. It is designed to minimise civilian casualties and allow for the continuing existence of embattled minorities, despite them having effectively lost the war.

"My brother Tim is the Earth champion in one of these challenges, which is a game which resembles chess. He has just lost the first game, and needs my help in a mental link to ensure he wins the next games.

Unfortunately, I tend to get a little distant to everyone around me when this linkage is in place. Hopefully, I will get better at it with practice.

Sheila said to her, Up to now, according to my database only The Bearing have been able to demonstrate the same long-distance communication facility and mental link-up.

Hans noticed that Katie seem to be thinking deeply about something. A minute or so later, she said, "While I was in contact with Tim, I brought myself up-to-date with what has been happening.

Sheila, I think I will provide a regular report to you to log, on news from Earth. Do you think we should report anything to our citizens?

Sheila said, I’m not at all sure that this would have a good impact. Our people have mentally adjusted themselves to never being able to know or hear of what is happening on Earth again. I think it would be disturbing for them to discover that some form of communication existed, even if we never revealed the source.

Hans was much more emphatic, My dear, we should definitely never reveal this information. Even I feel quite disturbed by your comment.

After a moment he added, Perhaps you can give us a quick summary of what has been happening? I’m afraid my curiosity has been aroused.

Katie agreed to these points, but added "There is one further item that I think would be of value to us. I mentioned that the Calai have this warfare rule known as intranu. It is a sort of enhanced Geneva Convention.

"I think we should adopt it, and make it clear to any species which we contact that we expect all forms of warfare to abide by these rules. There will inevitably be wars within or between cultures we have contacted. We should make it absolutely clear that we will take a dim view of any group which violates those rules, irrespective of whether or not we have any treaty obligations. In other words, we will oppose anyone who breaks intranu rules irrespective of the rights and wrongs of their position.

"We don’t have to reveal the source of intranu. We will just say that it came from The Bearing. This is quite true, if somewhat misleading as to the direct source."

There was a short pause.

Sheila said, "There is one further item I think we should discuss. I do not believe any of our citizens are aware of my ability to transfer people and items through fold space within a planetary atmosphere. I don’t think anyone has considered how I physically moved some of the ecological samples into the Habitat. While in atmosphere, this transfer is a technically extremely difficult process. Effectively, a forcefield has to be assembled around the person or object, and an identical forcefield placed round the location to which they are being sent. For the actual transfer, the force fields and their contents are essentially swapped. Otherwise, materialisation into air would occur, with small but quite violent explosions where atoms attempt to occupy the same space. The transferred material or person would definitely not survive the process. There would also be a loud sonic bang at the original transfer point.

"Only three species in the entire galaxy have mastered the process.

"Of course, in space this is not a problem, as essentially transfers are being made to and from ultra high vacuum.

"Katie and Hans, I am making a unilateral decision that only you and possibly your immediate families will be allowed to utilise this facility, which we should try not to reveal to anyone. I want to keep this in reserve as a defensive measure.

We will have to invent a cover story to disguise what I’m doing when we reach Nova. We will not allow anyone to observe the process.

Chapter 3

Arriving

A month or so before the anticipated arrival date, a huge sense of anticipation began to permeate the Habitat.

Everyone was beginning to feel the impact of cabin fever. While not as bad as being stuck in a real cabin during winter months, nonetheless the limited ability to move in the Habitat was definitely having a psychological impact. While there was general awareness that even after arrival, it would be a few months before they could physically shift, some interesting possibilities were apparent.

With her Australian background, Patty had pointed out that there was nothing to stop a recreational site being established in one of the safe warm water areas of the planet.

With a total lack of originality, the island on which they would be based was named Cyprus, and the surrounding sea was called the Mediterranean. The far eastern end of the sea was quite shallow, although geologically the equivalent of a rift valley was beginning to form. The continent was literally being ripped apart at that point, and inland there was a fair degree of volcanic activity. However on the coast, the water was at a comfortable temperature during the summer months and a small bay had been found which was protected by a rocky island and sand spit.

Hans agreed to make the establishment of a surf club and protected swimming area a priority.

There was general delight about this, as it would be easy for large shuttles to take groups of people and their children down to the facility during the day.

*     *     *

From every communication channel in the Habitat, a general announcement went out Emergence from fold space in two minutes.

It was completely unnecessary as almost everyone was already watching their screens.

As the Habitat emerged about 2 million km from Nova, they saw their new planet appear with large oceans, clouds, icecaps, and snow and glacier covered mountains. However, there was no green whatsoever on the land. There was a large moon surprisingly close to the planet.

Except for one individual, there was a universal feeling of hope and delight.

*     *     *

It took Sheila about an hour to move the Habitat into a stable orbit over the planet at a distance of about 50,000 km which was just inside the orbit of the moon. Large equipment carrying shuttles and one scout emerged, and headed down towards their new town site.

As the scout approached, it was seen that a huge building glittered on the peninsula at the entrance to the bay. On a level silvery disk, there were three large part buried hemispheres on the outside, surrounding four glittering towers which appeared like shards of giant quartz crystals. They were several hundred meters high. The smaller outside towers were connected up to about half their height to the higher central shard, which topped out with a slightly rounded point.

Sheila said, "That is the Crystal Palace that The Bearing have built for the Empress. They told me that it is sheathed in diamond.

They did promise that it would be impressive.

When they landed in front of the Palace, the landing steps deployed and hand-in-hand Hans and Katie walked down the steps followed by a Sheila remote. There was a golden cat on Katie’s shoulder. The rest of the crew followed, and formed up in ranks.

In her role as Empress, Katie said, I claim this land on behalf of our people.

As she finished