Children of Terrat: Book 2 of the Destiny Series

By William Emmett

In book 1, the lands around the middle sea between the two main continents of Terrat were controlled by Ronnin. The accidental arrival of Menem from Earth and his union with Destiny, allied with Parit, survived the ultimate battle and finally defeated Ronnin in the process. Book 2 is about the children of Destiny and Menem, who grow into positions of power and now have to confront the reestablished Ronnin Empire. What technology can they invent to defeat a much larger nation who has Parits weapons from the last battle? How will it all end?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Aug 8, 2017
• ISBN: 9781524561833

William Emmett

WILLIAM “BILL” EMMETT was bom in Girraween, NSW, in 1939. He is a graduate of the University of New South Wales where he obtained a degree in Industrial Chemistry, specializing in Ceramics. Emmett’s keen interest in sailing, science and astronomy, and his curiosity about the future possibilities for mankind, has led to the writing of this book.

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Copyright © 2017 by William Emmett.

                ISBN:             Softcover        978-1-5245-6184-0

                                      eBook               978-1-5245-6183-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 04/04/2017

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Contents

Chapter 1      Earth 2

Chapter 2      Terrat

Chapter 3      Death At Zormat

Chapter 4      Cxyy

Chapter 5      Ronnin’s Revenge

Chapter 6      Sea Battle

Chapter 7      Brite

Chapter 8      Craison

Chapter 9      The Old Empire Rebuilds

Chapter 10    Dulange

Chapter 11    E2

Chapter 12    The Thrust

Chapter 13    End Battle

Chapter 14    Dynasty

Epilogue

CHAPTER 1

EARTH 2

The cloud was immense. It stretched for millions of light years more than half way out from the galactic centre of the Milky Way. The cloud was old but it had collected minerals and elements over the billions of years of its existence from the death of numerous supernovas in distant parts of the galaxy. It was cold, slowly swirling as it circled around the galactic centre. Then near the edge of the cloud a large blue star went supernova blasting out billions of tonnes of heavy elements in a pressure wave that struck the cloud, pushing it, compressing it, causing hundreds of gaseous clumps to start collapsing along with the remains of the exploded star.

Star birth began all over the cloud. Another 500 million years rolled by as thousands of stars all over the cloud burst into life, each imbedded in a collapsing cloud of planets and debris. As the stars ignited they blew the surrounding gas away from the inner planets that had begun to form leaving hot rocky cores. Some stars began life alone; others were near each other and became double star systems circling each other in a chaotic dance, wreaking havoc amongst the planets born around them. Within a billion years the many planets created around each star began to move and collide. The solar systems began thinning out leaving just a few stable positions circling around their chosen star. Four and half billion years later one of these solar systems would have a moderate size planet able to hold onto its atmosphere in the goldilocks zone; it would bear intelligent life and be called Earth. Around the galactic plane a double star system had formed that drifted 300 light years further on in what became known as the Orion arm. This would also contain a blue planet slightly larger in size that would eventually have intelligent beings and become known as Terrat.

On board the Earth colony ship E2 a conference was in progress.

As you all know Menem and his crew left for the blue planet 78 years ago. It was 30 years before Mentor’s signal reached us indicating Explorer 2 had been destroyed. A few more years, and we realised Menem alone had survived on the blue world he went to investigate and that the planet had humans similar to us only less advanced, the director said, looking at the chairman to see if he wanted to add a few words. His 3D image was clear and precise along with the Chairman sitting beside him. All the security shelters were focused on the two images sent from the control centre.

Our circumstances were such that we could not go to his rescue but everyone has been following his life on the world known as Terrat with avid interest; ever since, there has been a growing desire to turn E2 around but until now that seemed impossible, the Chairman added.

Over the past 18 years we have followed his adventures surviving attacks and even marrying a girl called Destiny, a most beautiful Terranian, we then learnt he had been killed. But the most recent signal from Starship 1 indicates he was able to be saved and has helped Parit defeat the Ronnin Empire. Obviously he is very much involved with an alien race which is against our principles. I can only surmise he had little alternative.

The pictures of Terrat show it to be a beautiful world, equal to Earth although bigger with more gravity. This fact has shaped all living beings including the humans, the director explained. In deed Menem had his body altered to cope with the higher gravity. Most of us would tower above him now.

Is Terrat really similar to earth? one of the teenagers in the audiences asked.

Terrat is larger than Earth with more gravity and more water but its larger size means the land area is about the same as Earth. It seems that because its solar system was born from the same cloud as earth that it was sown with the same seeds of life, and has evolved along similar lines. It seems in fact that it developed faster than earth but then tragedy struck due to its double star system, and it has been catching up ever since. Hence the Terrat civilisation is about 200,000 years behind us. We have learnt this information from Mentor who has been investigating rock and fossil finds from many parts of this world, the Director explained.

I know all 5000 of you will be interested to watch the ensuing event so we will stop the broadcast until it has finished. It’s goodbye from us for now. We will speak to you later.

The 50 people sitting calmly in security shelter 20 in hub two on board Earth 2 began chatting exuberantly. Damien walked to the front and began explaining to the crowd the simulation in 3D at the end of the room.

We can’t exactly show you real time pictures of the starships going past us. This picture is a 3D simulation of what is happening. It will show the instant the starship passes. It is a mathematical representation of the pass. Of course, the ships are going so fast we cannot see them either coming or when they pass. As you can see the ship is closing in on our position and will pass us in seconds.

A violent wave shuddered through E2.

The mood changed immediately.

Did the starship cause that? I thought there would be minimal effect, one well known doctor exclaimed, amid other cries from the room.

Can the ship take this pounding? said another as a muttering of words began throughout the crowd followed by continuing reverberations through the hub.

Damien the chief engineer in the middle hub stood up looking at his instruments. We have changed direction by one degree, he said with some relief.

If space is curving then why are we experiencing this awful shudder? another person queried.

Damien looked at him with a blank face, himself wondering about what could be causing this effect. It felt like the ship was breaking up.

He began to reflect on how all this drama had begun.

E2 was a massive object, 150 kilometres long split into 3 large compartments called hubs rotating slowly giving the effect of gravity around the inside shell, he thought to himself. It was a mini world with all the ingredients to sustain the life of its citizens for at least 1000 years. The shell walls were some five kilometres thick. As such it offered complete protection from all manner of radiation as well as being structurally strong enough to withstand reasonable impact.

All 5000 people on Earth 2 had been following the events on Terrat. Indeed it was the main topic of conversation. However, due to the enormous distance of space between Terrat and Earth 2 the information was 30 years old before they learnt of the demise of Explorer 2 with Menem and his crew on board.

They also knew there were approximately another 100 years before the colony ship E2 would reach the appointed star around which they could turn. Even though they were passing numerous stars on all sides they were either too far away for a safe manoeuvre or none had been shown to have any significant value.

In many respects, his thoughts continued, this large missile weighing millions of tons travelling through space at half light speed was not unlike the sailing ships of long ago. They were very good at sailing with the wind but very hard to turn and no good at all turning into the wind.

Earth 2 needed curved space to make a significant change in course. Curved space only existed around massive objects such as stars or large planets. Even though it was theoretically possible to turn the ship it would impose an enormous centrifugal force on the occupants, exceeding 2G within, and in particular cause havoc with lakes and rivers. It would also have to be maintained for some years to complete a 140 degree turn. The ship had not been designed to do this.

I recall the meeting, he thought; which had been convened to see if there was another solution for them to get to Terrat. He remembered that after some discussion there was a lull in the conversation; then one of the mathematicians raised his voice to speak to the meeting.

Ladies, gentlemen, I have been giving the problem of turning this ship around some thought and I have an idea. There is an element of danger with the idea but mathematically it is possible to do. Allan was not considered a prominent mathematician and had been sent along because everyone else was too busy and most felt the meeting would be a waste of time. At least Allan would represent their institute.

All eyes focussed on Allan the mathematician.

We could send our starships out into space. Then get them to fly past us at right angles, unfortunately very close to us at near light speed. As you all know, when an object is at near light speed its mass increases exponentially. "At a speed of 95% light speed their effective mass is astronomical.

As each one passes, space would be curved for that moment due to its incredible mass. After a series of passes the ship would have turned automatically about 89 degrees to face a nearby star which is currently at right angles to our position, about 2.5 light years distant. We are travelling through the Oort zone of that star as we speak. It would also allow Earth 2 to maintain velocity. Of course the engines would have to be shut down during the manoeuvre

Within moments almost the entire population of Earth 2 were focussed on Allan.

How many passes would we need? asked the Chairman with immediate interest.

I suspect about 90. We would turn about one degree with each pass."

What would happen to the ship and the people within? asked a lady professor sitting nearby.

Well, I am not entirely sure. You may not even realise it was happening, however I suspect with each pass there would be a slight vibration. You see, it’s not the ship turning on its own; the lines of inertial force within the ship would remain the same because, you see, it is space that would be curving. We would simply be following the lines of space for that moment.

The Chairman replied, That’s brilliant, Allan, but you said there was some risk element?

Well of course. You see, the starships would have to fly quite close to us and if they are off course slightly and slam into us then its goodnight, and there are 90 chances this could happen.

The realisation of the danger was suddenly very dramatic.

Yes I see what you mean; then we have to look at two things, countered the Chairman. We need to ensure there can be no collision before we put the proposal to a vote by all the people on this ship. Allan, come with me. We will start working on your idea now. I am certain we could build instruments that ensure the starships fly exactly on a given trajectory. This will ensure they do not accidentally strike us.

He went on. As a further safety feature we will all be stationed in our special security shelters in each of the E2 hubs. All the citizens can reside in these while the flypasts continue so that in the unlikely chance that some disruption does occur they will be safe.

There is one proviso, Allan interrupted. Once we commence this operation we cannot abort and must continue until we have turned the required amount, His voice trailed off indicating he had some misgivings as well.

Why? returned the Chairman.

We must turn sufficiently to head for the nearest star. If we don’t then we will be heading in a direction that does not lead to any star.

Naturally, he thought, the population of Earth 2 were informed and voted. The desire to head for Terrat was strong in everyone. However the vote was only passed with a slim majority.

Why risk ourselves to rescue Menem? the people in the room questioned. We are not sure if he wants to be rescued anyhow. The reports from Mentor coming from Terrat seem to indicate he has married maybe now with family.

It sounds to me he definitely does not want to be rescued, said another.

Listen to me, the Chairman said finally. We cannot leave any of our people stranded on any planet. After all it could be any one of you or your kin, plus he has discovered another human race and that is very important. The arguments stopped.

The engineer stopped his thoughts as another violent shudder ran through the room reverberating out into the hub space beyond. Growing apprehension was now building with the inhabitants.

A screen beamed on the wall.

Where is Allan? the Director asked loudly. Why are we getting these sensations?

Allan’s image replaced the director. I am not certain. Alan replied. But I think it is because the curved space is very concentrated. The middle part of the ship is being curved more than each end. As the vessel springs back it sends a sonic wave down the length of the craft.

Two degrees. said the main engineer.

Wumppppp resounded through the room again as the third starship passed.

Three degrees, went the voices of the crowd.

The counting continued as apprehension increased. At 87 degrees a siren screamed loudly in the vast middle chamber.

Abort the starships, cried the Chairman. First engineer please report.

Sir, our instruments indicate we have an air leak in the middle chamber. The wall near an exit tunnel has cracked. The ship is beginning to break up.

What? The walls are five kilometres thick. You say they have cracked?

I have sent the maintenance crew immediately to that site. We will have to suspend operations until the full extent of the damage is understood.

Pale faced and pacing to and fro in the control centre, the chairman called for Allan. Allan’s image appeared in the middle of the room.

Allan, we cannot continue this way, how can we finalise our turn without these violent shocks?

Yes, they are definitely not good. sir, I have discussed this with my colleagues and believe that if we send three ships all together passing at the same time we should be able to complete our turn with much less violence, Allan said, rubbing his chin. However, they must pass with a slight curve in their vertical flight path. They must also allow for a gravitational attraction that will happen between the starships. This must be calculated very exactly or the starships will collide.

The two images of the Chairman and Allan stood still, staring at each other. The Chairman, with his mouth open, was beginning to think this entire manoeuvre was a big mistake. What next, he thought.

What is the situation with the leak, engineer? He shouted with aggravation.

The problem has happened near an exit lock that passes to the outside for maintenance. It would seem as Allan has explained, the ends of E2 are not bending to the same extent as the centre section resulting in the walls stressing. The exit tunnel in this case is a weak point. Our drone platelets have stopped the air leak, sir, and will of course repair the walls. No other damage is apparent. However this pounding must not be allowed to continue; any more and we may have a serious fracture. I would not like to think of such dire consequences.

The Chairman looked to Allan then to the director.

Double check every item. Are you sure it is right.

Yes sir, all my associates have double checked the maths.

"You’d better be right, Director you are in charge, carry out the plan.

As you wish, sir, he replied.

The rooms in each of the security shelters went silent. The accuracy that was required for each starship was frightening. They watched the three ships on the screen projected mathematically careering in, all travelling at different angles to avoid collision. They passed in a blur of light. There was barely a shudder.

Eighty nine degrees, shouted the engineer.

The entire room gave a collective sigh and cheered.

With a great relief the chairman turned to the director. Thank heavens for that. I believe the plan is to finalise the remainder of the turn around the star up ahead. Is that correct, Director?

Yes that is so. However, because this was somewhat unplanned we will be entering side on through the star’s solar system. Normally we prefer to enter at right angles to the solar system so we encounter as few objects as possible. We will have to be far more diligent than normal.

Then plan for double shifts and have a third investigate long range viewing.

The Chairman gazed out to the vast vista of number two hub.

The artificial sun that travelled the full length of each hub along its central axis every 24 hours had passed overhead as the inside world became afternoon. He knew a second ‘sun’ would appear in number three hub some hours later as the morning in that hub. Green pastures could be seen on the walls 40 kilometres above him; they seemed strange as a river meandered along, shimmering in the afternoon light, curved around the hub wall seeming to defy gravity. How beautiful, he thought. What a wonderful place with its low clouds floating freely over the landscape. That reminds me, there is a kayak river race in in two days. I must get mine ready. It will be a grand affair.

Allan was feeling very satisfied with himself. He strapped on his motorised wings and, running in the opposite direction to the E2 spin, launched himself into the air. By neutralising the apparent gravity caused by the rotating cylinder he flew curving ever upward above the green forest watching his world glide past. He flew over the river that wound its way around the inside world always flowing gently in the opposite direction to the spin. He looked like a giant dragonfly moving above the tree tops. As his eyes scanned the ground below, he focussed on a small predator stalking its prey in the fields. The largest predator here is man, he mused. This is so wonderful I feel I could keep flying forever as there is no gravity in the free space; one only has the feeling of gravity when you are turning with the hub. Then banking slowly he headed for his home perched high on the side of the hub. Perhaps his compatriots