Stars of Tvestra

By Leslie Wayne Doliber

On the edge of a distant galaxy is a binary star system locally known as Tvestra. This small system is comprised of Tvestra Solana and Tvestra Primera and a collection of seven planets. Three of these planets are habitable. The planets are smaller than our earth and have lower gravity and a thinner atmosphere. There are also several moons known as lumas around some of the planets. The system is populated by Sinmenian's which are like us in form, but smaller and able to breathe in the lower density atmosphere of their worlds. Their home world was originally Sinmenia which orbits Tvestra Solana. Solameina also orbits Tvestra Solana at P-point-5 which is trailing behind Sinmenia in a co-orbit and is a colony of that planet. The two planets belong to the Solana Colonial Federation (SCF). Telameina orbits Tvestra Primera and is a former colony of Sinmenia that became independent some time ago. Its government is the Independent Primera System (IPS).

The Sinmenian's achieved space flight quite some time ago and travel between their planets in ships with large reflective sails that use the starlight for propulsion. Due to the characteristics of these small planets they are able to achieve orbital flight using rockets fueled by Dumereia. They have not discovered many things we on earth take for granted and are still somewhat at a stage of development like we were in the early 1800's. They do not have computers, radios, and only have the stars to use for navigation.

Join Tzang Lux and his crew of the interplanetary sail ship Farre on their dangerous voyages.

This eBook contains the following published novellas:
Mysterious Lumas
The Last Voyage
The Lost Voyage

Other eBooks by Leslie Wayne Doliber:
Sunrise on Sedna – 1st book - Nathan's adventure on Sedna
Centauri Armada – 2nd book - Nathan returns to the Moon
Dogs of Sedna – a short story that follows Sunrise on Sedna
Running – a short mystery story

• Language: English
• Publisher: Leslie Wayne Doliber
• Release date: Jul 19, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005252038

Book preview

Stars of Tvestra

by

Leslie Wayne Doliber

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events or locales is entirely coincidental.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. 

No part of this text may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the author. 

Copyright © 2022 Leslie Wayne Doliber

All rights reserved. Including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof, in any form. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the author. 

Registration Number: TX 8-960-155

Published by: LWD, Inc., Dover, DE

Version 2022.07.19

Special thanks to:

Sheila for helping me edit this story.

Cover image from Pixabay.com

LibreOffice for their great software: https://www.libreoffice.org/

For more books visit my web site at – http://tvestra.lwd.cc/

This eBook is a composite of three previously published novellas:

Mysterious Lumas

The Last Voyage

The Lost Voyage

To my wonderful wife

who patiently listens to my ideas and stories

Table of Contents

Title page

Notices

Dedication

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Thank you for reading Stars of Tvestra

Now for the techie stuff

Introduction

On the edge of a distant galaxy is a binary star system locally known as Tvestra. This small system is comprised of Tvestra Solana and Tvestra Primera and a collection of seven planets. Three of these planets are habitable. The planets are smaller than our earth and have lower gravity and a thinner atmosphere. There are also several moons known as lumas around some of the planets. The system is populated by Sinmenians, which are like us in form, but smaller and able to breathe in the lower density atmosphere of their worlds. Their home world was originally Sinmenia which orbits Tvestra Solana. Solameina also orbits Tvestra Solana at P-point-5 which is trailing behind Sinmenia in a co-orbit and is a colony of that planet.  The two planets belong to the Solana Colonial Federation (SCF). Telameina orbits Tvestra Primera and is a former colony of Sinmenia that became independent some time ago. Its government is the Independent Primera System (IPS).

The Sinmenian’s achieved space flight quite some time ago and travel between their planets in ships with large reflective sails that use the starlight for propulsion.  Due to the characteristics of these small planets they are able to achieve orbital flight using rockets fueled by Dumereia. They have not discovered many things we on earth take for granted and are still somewhat at a stage of development like we were in the early 1800’s. They do not have computers, radios, and only have the stars to use for navigation.

Sinmenia orbits Tvestra Solana once every solan. This annual orbit takes 245 sindees which is the Sinmenia sidereal day. A sindee is 12 solanee (which is equivalent to 1.5 earth hours). Their primary distance measurement in space is a padine, which is equivalent to about 1 million miles.

Note: For definitions, characters and other information see the Now for the techie stuff chapter.

Chapter 1

Tzang Lux was always intrigued by the mysterious disappearance of the Janna on a mission to Tvestratina. Tvestratina is a giant gas planet that orbits the Tvestra system. The Janna was to explore the three lumas that orbit the planet. The Janna was commanded by Valas Janna who was a famous explorer that had been the first to land on Tvestralana, the small planet in a elliptical orbit around Tvestra Primera. He also pioneered many space sail techniques, like elliptical path sailing.  They departed Solameina 110 solans ago and were never heard from again. Lux was only a child then, but is now middle age for a Sinmenian. He is the owner of the two mast interplanetary sail ship Farre, a small merchant ship. He is a second generation Taleede-2 like his father. This rank is like a Captain on Earth. Tall with a light completion, with pink eyes and long red hair tied behind his head.

Top view of the Farre

I'm ready for a new adventure and was thinking about finding the Jana, Lux said to Jolano Speke. 

Speke is a long time friend to Lux. He is also a Pledare-1 on the Farre. His rank is like a First mate here on Earth. He is older than Lux with short brown hair and green eyes.

I don’t know how we could do that, it is a long way out and the trip back will take even longer! Do we have the the resources to do something like that? We can’t use our light sails to return, so how would that work?

Lux replied, I have given it considerable thought and feel we can do it with the Farre and four Dumereia ships attached to the Farre. We can attach one cargo Dumereia ship to our rear port and two Dumereia shuttles would be attached to our rear sail braces and our shuttle to our forward port. With our hold capacity, the shuttles and the cargo ship we can carry enough food, air seeds and Dumereia fuel to get there and back. We can use our shuttle to explore the lumas and see if we can find the Janna. There also may be some valuable resources on those lumas too.

Sounds interesting, but it will take a almost solan to get out there. When do you think we could do this?

We would need to go to Solameina to provision and start our journey there. Tvestratina makes an optimal approach to Solameina in 35 sindees, so we would need to leave in a few sindees to be on schedule. I have been talking to Nasen Farde and he is willing to help finance the journey.

Nasen Farde! Are you sure you can trust him? I heard he is a very nefarious character. He is rumored to sell to both the SCF and the rebels on Solameina. Why would he be interested in our trip?

He thinks there may be some resources to be claimed on the lumas and helping find the Jana would raise his esteem. He would arrange for us to get the cargo ship, the two extra shuttles and all the provisions we needed when we get to Solameina in about 20 sindees.  Farde will have everything ready when we get there and dock at the Arra Solane orbital station. We would need to leave no later than 10 sindees after we arrive. It’s a quick turnaround, but we should be able to do it with time to spare. We will even be able to visit the planet while we are there. It would give the crew some good down time before such a long journey.

So I see how we would get out there, but how do we get back? I don’t want to end up like the Janna.

The Janna only took two shuttles with them. I think they underestimated the complexities of the journey. Maybe Valas Janna was a little cocky after all his success. We can use the two extra shuttles and the cargo ship’s thrust to get us headed back on an intercept course to Telameina. It would take longer than the trip out, but we should have plenty of provisions for that. I figure we can make the whole journey in less than two solans. We could only spend about 12 sindees exploring the lumas to keep within our return window. I know it is a tight schedule, but that's the way it is. We will be so far out that light-flix signals will not be seen by anyone. If we miss the return window we would end up like the Janna, Lux replied.

Alright, you must have already talked to Farde, so what’s next?

I have a meeting with Farde tomorrow at first light at his estate and we can go over the proposal I sent him. We should both be there.

Chapter 2

Nasen Farde is one of the wealthiest Sinmenian’s and has a huge estate outside of Sinmenia’s capital city. He also has a vast plantation there and on Solameina too.  They grow various food plants and air seeds. He also controls a Dumereia mine and a processing plant. His various cargo ships can deliver his products to Arra Sinme, the primary space station orbiting Sinmenia. He also has business ventures at the habitat on Luma Sinme, Sinmenia’s only luma. There were always rumors that he had possible connections to rebel factions, but nothing could ever be proven. He is quite old and large for a Sinmenian, with long gray hair and a beard. He has an intimidating presence with sharp blue eyes.

This is quite a place you have here Farde. Looks like you even have your own launch station, Speke said.

Yes, it comes in handy as I travel to our luma quite a bit. It can also save transport costs and deliver our goods directly from our plantation into orbit,  Farde said. As for your journey, I have some details to go over now. I will have my son waiting with the cargo ship and the two shuttles, all fully stocked with the necessary provisions. They will be waiting for your arrival at Arra Solane. You can load the rest on your ship when you dock there. My private shuttle will be available to take you and your crew down to Solameina when you want. It will save using yours, so you can put more fuel and provisions in it and keep it fully fueled as well. Now, let's have some refreshments and you can tell me more of your plans.

As you can see in the proposal I sent, we plan to spend about 12 sindees exploring the lumas around Tvestratina. Our shuttle will have plenty of fuel to do this. If the Janna is in orbit it will be easy to spot, but if it crashed on one of the lumas, well that will take a while to find. If it crashed into Tvestratina it will never be found and the mystery will prevail. We will also be looking for any valuable minerals on the lumas too. The expert you are sending with us will be kept busy while we explore. If we solve the Janna mystery, that will make us famous. Finding any minerals will be a big bonus, Lux said.

Yes, if you find anything worth while, I can start setting up a colony expedition  as you will have shown that getting there and back can be done. It will be a long term project, but you will get a finders fee from the venture. I may also have some other profitable ventures for you in the future. I could use an independent contractor sometimes. But, back to this mission. You said that you think the round trip would take less than two solans. When you get close enough to Telameina to send light-flix signals, they will let me know. My daughter Naala will be there to meet you with the Farde-G when you arrive. She will take the two shuttles and the cargo ship off your hands. They will be good additions to our fleet there. Now let's drink to my two favorite things, fame and fortune, Farde said.

After a morning with Farde, Lux and Speke returned to the city. They spent the next four sindees getting supplies together for the trip to Solameina. The crew had been anxious as it had been 35 sindees since their last voyage where they had delivered cargo across the gap to Telameina and returned with goods. It was a profitable run, but they needed to keep the ship active to pay the bills.

**

Lux and Speke met Mas Jonea at the observation deck on Arra Sinme. Jonea was the mineral specialist that Farde was sending with them. He had a mysterious look with his short blonde hair and green eyes. He was younger than Lux expected.

Have you ever been off world before Jonea? Lux asked.

I spent some time on Luma Sinme during my education internship. Farde sent me there as well to study a potential krepta mine he had found. I am looking forward to seeing some other worlds. We are hoping to find a source of krepta on one of the lumas out there too. It would make establishing a colony easier, but they would need some huge prisms to generate enough heat to release the air locked in the krepta.

Krepta was discovered long ago on the lumas and enabled the establishment of large habitats. Using air seeds required a constant resupply from the planets, as they needed to grow in an atmosphere because they sequestered the air within their seeds. Both needed heat to release the sequestered air, but the krepta required much higher heat to do this. The air seeds are much lighter and require less heat to bloom, making them more suitable for space ships.

This mission sounds truly exciting. I just hope I can get used to being weightless for so long, Jonea said.

It won’t be that bad. We get some minor gravity when we are under sail, but the return trip will be totally weightless. You will get used to it. Let’s get to the ship and you can meet the crew and get your equipment stored, Lux said.

Jonea had several crates of equipment that they moved onto the Farre. Lux gave him a bunk and then he introduced him to the crew.

Jaan Marss is our pilot and navigator, Loda Kindar is our secondary pilot and navigator, and Jenar Solas, Joela Tedon, and Kenson Zendere are our shipmen. We only have the five crew members now. We normally have six crew members, but one left to pilot a cargo ship on runs to Arra Solana, so Jonea you can lend a hand running the ship. This it is not a SCF ship, so please address us by our formal names.

It is good to meet all of you. We will be spending a lot of time together and I look forward to getting to know each of you.

The crew had already loaded Farre and docked their shuttle. Their departure window was tomorrow, so they returned to the station to enjoy the views in the observation deck for awhile and have a hot meal before departure. They could see the Farre docked below every time the habitat ring revolved. The small merchant sail ship had it’s two sails retracted into the long masts protruding from the sides of the hull. The masts were folded forward at a 60 degree angle resting on the forward sail braces so they would be clear of the station. She was docked to the station using the rear port and the shuttle was docked to the front port. The hull was a long gray cylinder with Dumereia propulsion pods on the rear sides of the ship. The ship was not very elegant, but to her crew she was beautiful.

"The Farre was built at the Demerte shipyard on Luma Sinme 80 solans ago and I acquired her 50 solans ago. We have made many voyages around the Tvestra system delivering goods and passengers. She is a good and reliable ship. This is the