Chapter 1

Through the white arch of the south entrance to the city of Armontirina a young woman on a golden unicorn came riding. Her long auburn hair streamed down her back, and she looked forward to the road ahead, not back to the city of her home. Her name was Andromeda, and she was the daughter of Andreas, Prince of Armontiriath. Her elder brother, Alexis, was heir to the princeship and was already being trained by their father in the duties and responsibilities of the position. But now Andreas had entrusted her with a task, and she was eager to fulfil it well, however apparently unimportant it might be.

Although she shared the light brown skin of her father and brother, her flaming red hair was a sharp contrast to their straight black locks. When she was a girl she had asked her father why this should be, and he had laughed and said “Ask your mother!”

Her mother, Saardu, was tall and slim with pale skin and long golden hair, and Andromeda took after her in appearance, except for hair and skin colour. When the young girl asked why this should be, her mother smiled and said “A genetic quirk, my darling”, and hugged her.

As a teenager Andromeda had heard whispers that said her mother was not human, but a member of an alien race that had lived on Armontiriath long ages before the starship Diana brought the first human colonists. She went to find her father on the roof of the palace, and tackled him about these rumours. In reply he went to the edge of the roof and pointed to the north.

“What do you see there?” he asked.

“A mighty mountain, far off, with clouds hiding the summit.”

“That’s good. You and your brother can both see the secret mountain, which most people cannot. You have inherited my blessing, or curse – to see what is hidden and know things which are secret. That mountain is the home of your mother’s people, and I will tell you the story of how I came to find her another time, but not now.”

Dissatisfied, Andromeda had gone to find her friend Fergus Samalto, who was a couple of years older than her. She took him up to the palace roof and pointed north.

“What do you see to the north, Fergus?” she demanded.

“Nothing. Just clouds on the horizon. There’s nothing of any interest to the north, Andie – no-one ever goes there.”

At that moment the young princess realised her father was right – she had inherited a strange gift of seeing things which were hidden from others. She turned away from Fergus and hurried back to her room, where she sat and brooded for a while. Then she went to the stables to find her unicorn, Nebula to discuss her feelings with her.

Now the unicorns of Armontiriath are highly intelligent and excellent communicators, though not with words. They are highly empathetic and can share emotions and thoughts with each other, and with their human companions. Andromeda stroked Nebula’s neck and explained how she felt, that she didn’t want to be different and special, just an ordinary human being. The unicorn laughed at her and made her aware that there was no such thing as an ordinary human, but she was particularly special. She had better get used to it, she added, and enjoy the experience. Andromeda grinned and hugged the creature.

A few years later, on Andromeda’s 18^th birthday there was a big party in the palace, on the white terrace built out over the cliffs with stunning views of the glittering cliffs and the black tower of Dragon Rock castle to the south. There was music and dancing, and food and excellent wine from the south, and Andromeda for that night felt herself the belle of the ball. A number of unicorns also attended, and grazed from their own tables of special delicacies, though they shunned alcohol and drank only water.

The calendar of Armontiriath had been agreed at an early stage after the victory over the Totalists. The day was slightly shorter than Earth’s, but there were 392 of them in a year, which meant that the year was approximately the same, and comprised exactly 56 weeks. The three moons moved in different orbits round the planet, so the year was divided into 12 months in imitation of Earth, and the same names were used. Eight of the months had 33 days, while February, May, August and November had just 32. So Andromeda’s birthday fell on the 32^nd of May, and she was born in AY (Armontiriath Year) 8, where AY 1 was the year in which the Totalists were overthrown and the free colony was founded.

The birthday celebrations on AY 26 went on well into the early hours of Monday 1^st June, and Andromeda slept late that morning. After showering and changing, and a light breakfast, she went to find her father in his study. His mother was with him, and they were studying some documents together.

“Good morning, darling” said her mother, “I hope you enjoyed last night’s party. I noticed quite a line of boys queuing up to dance with you.”

“Yes, it was fun. Thanks for arranging it for me. I think most of the city was there. I came to say how much I appreciated it, but also to have a more serious talk with you both.”

“Oh?” said the Prince, “That sounds slightly ominous. Come and sit down so we can talk.”

The three of them sat together on a semi-circular couch which faced the wide windows overlooking the sea and the great terrace, high up in the western wall of the palace.

“Tell us what’s on your mind, Andromeda” said Saardu, and the young woman noted her mother’s use of her full name instead of the usual nickname ‘Andie’.

“I’m now 18 years old and an adult according to the laws and customs of this world” she said, “And I need some responsibility to go with that. My studies are going well and I plan to continue them at the university here, but I feel I need a role. My brother Alexis is the heir and will someday be Prince, and you are training him to take up that position, but I need something useful to do.”

“I understand” said her father, “And I have been thinking along the same lines. Now you are an adult I want to appoint you as one of my representatives-at-large. In fact, I have a mission for you, if you wish to undertake it.”

“Tell me more” said his daughter, “I’m willing to do anything, as long as it’s useful.”

“Right. I’ve recently been hearing rumours, from several sources, that something’s going on round the wreck of the old starship Diana, on the south rim of the Great Rift. It’s not clear what’s happening there, but I think it needs to be investigated. I could send a troop of Prince’s Riders down there, but that might look a bit heavy-handed. A single intelligent observer to find out what’s happening and report back would be a better solution.”

“And that’s what you want me to do?” asked Andromeda.

“Exactly. As my daughter and representative-at-large you’ll have the clout to talk to whoever’s there on equal terms, but you won’t be seen as an over-the-top reaction. Are you game?”

“You bet. When do I start?”

“Soon, soon.” Laughed Andreas, “We need to get you organised – supplies, equipment, official credentials and badge, radio. You can’t just rush off. I’ll send word when it’s ready and give you a final briefing.”

“Very well, father. Thank you.”

“Thank you, Andromeda. I’m expecting great things from you.”

As the princess turned to go, her mother said “Come with me a minute, Andie.” She led the way to her own study, and from a drawer produced a small box. From it she drew out a small blue gem set on a silver chain.

“This is for you, my daughter” she said, holding it out, “It is an heirloom of my people, and has some power to protect you from harm. Wear it, and remember your mother when you journey.”

Andromeda took the jewel and put the chain over her neck. “Thank you, mother” she said, “It’s beautiful. I’ll try to do my best for you and Dad.”

“Your brother Alexis will be Prince of Armontiriath in time, but don’t envy him” said Saardu, “You are destined to be great yourself, I believe. We are proud of you both.”

Andromeda kissed her mother and then hurried off to choose the gear and clothes she would take on her new mission. Later that day her father summoned her again and presented her with a set of credentials and a badge to wear. It bore the symbols of Armontiriath – a black dragon in a golden circle, on a field of black surrounded by six stars. He pinned it on her and handed over a small radio, so that she could be in touch with him when necessary.

“There’s some more gear for you in a small pack in the stables, ready for when you saddle up Nebula” he said.

“Will I need to take any weapons?” she asked, “I have trained in fencing, and can handle a firearm.”

“No. This is a peaceful mission, and I don’t see any need for fighting. If there are any problems, call me and if necessary, get out of there fast.”

“I understand, Father” said Andromeda. She also understood that this mission was a trial, something relatively unimportant that could be achieved by an inexperienced young woman without too much danger of things going horribly wrong.

So it was that the next morning the Princess Andromeda rode out of Armontirina on the southward road. She wore a blue shirt and grey trousers, and her red hair blew free in the breeze. Her mother’s jewel was hanging round her neck, tucked inside her shirt. Her father’s badge was pinned on the front of her shirt.

The road was unpaved, more like a broad track suited for unicorns and the rough motorised carts which made up most of the traffic. The Government of Armontiriath, based in New Warsaw, had drawn up plans to have all the major roads paved, but other things had taken priority so far.

The Government ruled the planet with a light hand, but the Prince and his Riders kept the world safe from tyranny, corruption and the abuse of human rights. In the short period in which it had operated, the system had worked well. Only a few times had the Prince been forced to use the power of his Riders to force local rulers to change their ways, or to overturn unjust laws.

A few kilometres down the road Andromeda passed a trio of Riders coming the other way. They were dressed in black, with black shields at their backs, swords at their waists and long spears held upright at their sides. As the princess rode past they greeted her with friendly shouts, because all three had known her since she was a young girl.

After that the road was largely deserted, apart from an occasional cart rumbling along. In the distance she could sometimes see isolated farms surrounded by cultivated fields. At the Prince’s urging, the Government had designated a vast tract of land north of the Rift to be kept clear of human settlement, so that the herds of unicorns could roam freely there. A wide strip of land near the coast was reserved for colonisation, and the southward road ran through that.

There were still many wild creatures by the road, including the flying beasts known as ‘eyes-of-god’ or eogs, with the bright patterns on their wings which resembled shining eyes. Other animals scuttled through the bushes on either side of the track or sat up to watch the woman and the unicorn go past. Andromeda knew that her father was determined to keep the natural beauty of the planet as unspoilt as possible, to prevent the environment disasters which had ravaged Earth in the past.

She passed through a couple of villages on her journey, and when evening was drawing on she reached the larger settlement of Sebastiane, named after one of the leaders of the war against the Totalists. A small river ran through it, named the Irma, and just over the simple wooden bridge was a fair-sized inn by the side of the road. It was called ‘The Prancing Unicorn’, and the painted inn-sign showed a silver-coated unicorn reared up on its hind legs. Andromeda had stayed there before, with members of her family, but this was the first time she had been there alone.

She announced her arrival and then went to find accommodation for Nebula, and made sure she was comfortable and had plenty to eat and drink. They wished each other a pleasant night, and Andromeda went to find a room for herself. She was shown to a small simply-furnished room and freshened herself up before returning to the bar. The innkeeper, a jolly middle-aged woman, recognised her

“Well, if it’s not the young princess! I hope your family are keeping well – what brings you here all on your own?”

“I’m on a little mission for my father. Can you get me a glass of your local red wine, and tell me what’s on the menu tonight?”

“Well, my dear, I seem to remember that you’re vegetarian, so there’s a kind of vegetable paella – our own special recipe.”

“Sounds great. That’s for me, then”

She took her drink and went and sat at one of the communal tables, and was soon in conversation with the others sitting there. She had taken off her father’s badge, and was aware that one of her tasks was to be aware of the feelings of ordinary people, in case there were issues below the surface that the Prince had not detected. But as she exchanged gossip with those around her it became apparent that, apart from the usual grumbles and concerns, there was no evidence of any deep-seated malaise.

After she had eaten the excellent paella and drunk her wine, she sat back in her chair and sighed. “That feels better. It’s been a long day in the saddle.”  She stayed and chatted for a while longer with the others customers, and then went up to her small room and narrow but comfortable bed.

In the morning she had breakfast of pancakes and eggs, and then paid the bill, collected her bag, and went round to see Nebula in the unicorns’ compound. She assured her she had had a pleasant night, socialising with the one or two other unicorns in there. Andromeda saddled her up and loaded up the packs, and off they went, riding steadily down the southward road.

Just before lunch they reached the outskirts of the Rift forest, and the road ran on between the trees, which began to crowd in on both sides. After about an hour they reached the edge of the Great Rift itself, which bisected the northern part of the continent from east to west. It was almost three kilometres deep, and the sides were overgrown with bushes and even trees, so that looking into its depths you could see just green and no hint of the river rushing along in the depths.

Here the Rift was relatively narrow, and very recently a suspension bridge had been built to carry the road over the depths. The roadway was quite narrow and swayed slightly in the breeze, so Andromeda dismounted and walked ahead of Nebula. From below came the sounds of wildlife in the vertical jungle which covered the sides of the gorge, and then sun shone down on them intermittently through gaps in the clouds.

Just over halfway across they met a motorised cart coming the other way, and had to squeeze against the narrow handrail to let it pass – a slightly nerve-wracking experience for the young human, though the unicorn showed no signs of concern. At last they reached the far side and stood on the south rim. The main road carried on south through the forest, but a narrow track wound eastward through the trees close to the cliff edge.

Andromeda mounted Nebula again and turned that way. They jogged steadily through the trees, regularly coming out alongside the canyon rim and then going back into the forest. The day wore on and the sun began to set somewhere behind them.

“We’re going to have to camp” announced Andromeda, and the unicorn halted in a small clearing near the rim. A small stream ran through the clearing before flinging itself into the air only a few metres away. Andromeda gathered firewood and made a campfire, while her mount contentedly grazed on the local vegetation. When the fire was burning steadily the young woman cooked vegetables and rice for her dinner, not forgetting to let Nebula have some treats from the pack she had carried. Afterwards she sat back against a tree with a beaker of wine and enjoyed the sense of being alone in the forest.

She had camped out before, on excursions from Armontirina, but always with friends and companions. This was her first night alone, on a mission for her father, and she revelled in the experience. Later she got into her sleeping bag and lay by the dying fire, while Nebula stood and dreamed whatever sort of dreams unicorns have.

Andromeda’s enthusiasm for the outdoor life was slightly dampened by a shower of rain in the middle of the night, but in the morning the sky was clear and bright and the wildlife of Armontiriath was singing all around her. Before breakfast she stripped off and lay in the stream, and let it wash over her, refreshing and cleansing body and mind. Nebula took care to drink from upstream of her.

After breakfast they set off again, following the trail beside the rim of the gorge. Finally, about mid-morning, Andromeda spied something massive rising over the trees ahead. When they rode out of the forest into the open she could see it clearly – the enormous bulk of the crew module of Diana looming over the large clearing she had entered. A young man was running towards her, shouting, as she dismounted from Nebula.

 

 

 

Chapter 2

Andromeda dismounted from Nebula as the young man ran up. He was shouting “Who the hell are you?” She waited till he came to a halt in front of her before replying.

“I am Andromeda dal’Nostra, representing the Prince of Armontiriath.” She indicated the badge on her shirt. “Who might you be?”

“I am Dr Robert Brady, in charge of this research facility” he said. He was fair-skinned, of medium height, wearing shorts and a rather grubby shirt, and bare-headed with untidy brown hair.

“Ah – are you the son of James and Mary Brady?”

“I am, though my father died almost two years ago.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. How did it happen?”

“He was felling trees near our settlement of Westlake when the chainsaw slipped and severed an artery in his leg. He bled to death before anyone could save him. He only had one good hand, of course.”

“Yes, I know that.”

“My father and yours were enemies, as I’m sure you’ve heard, but I suppose that’s all in the past now.”

“Indeed” said Andromeda, keen to get back to the here and now, “Tell me what’s going on here.” She looked around the clearing as Nebula wandered off to crop some interesting looking plants nearby. She noted a ramshackle wooden stairway leading up to an open hatch in Diana’s crew module, and a number of tents scattered about, as well as a fairly large shed or barn on the far side of the clearing.

“This facility is sponsored by the University of New Warsaw, and I am its lead researcher. I am an academic in the Physics Department there, and we are researching applications of recent developments in theoretical physics.”

“Fascinating” said Andromeda, as she began walking across the grass towards the centre of the clearing, with Robert hurrying to keep up with her, “But why here?”

“Ah, two reasons, really. One is so we can cannibalise some equipment we need from Diana, and the other is because of some-one I want you to meet. I think he’s in the hangar.”

Robert Brady turned and strode off towards the large building on the far side of the clearing, and Andromeda followed. There were one or two others moving about the clearing, and they looked at her curiously as she passed. As she went underneath the bulk of Diana, she looked up into the open hatch, and a strong wish to explore the starship her father had commanded came over her. But she suppressed it, for the moment, and hurried after the scientist.

When they reached the hangar she saw there was no wall on the side nearest the Rift, with two large tarpaulins covering the opening. Robert pushed between them, and she followed. The inside was lit by large skylights in the roof, but was still dim by comparison with outside. Andromeda made out heaps of different equipment and large boxes scattered about in no particular pattern. In the middle of the hangar some people were working on a large rectangular platform with a maze of equipment on it and two crude seats.

Then Robert called “Professor!”, and one of the figures stepped carefully off the platform and came towards them. He was a distinguished-looking man of late middle age, with gold-rimmed glasses and a trim beard. As he approached, Robert introduced them to each other.

“Professor, this is Miss Andromeda dal’Nostra, representative of her father, the Prince of Armontiriath. This is Professor Wilhelm Hertberg, one-time science officer on the star-ship Diana.”

“I am delighted to meet you, Miss dal’Nostra” said the Professor, bowing slightly, “I knew your father well – an excellent officer and captain.”

“Call me Andromeda, please” she replied, “I have heard of you, but didn’t expect to meet you, or see you looking so young!”

“Ah, I was in deep-sleep for 25 years after your father landed the ship, and was only woken up a few months ago by this young man here. I’m glad to see Andreas has been usefully employed, creating an attractive young lady like you!”

“I have an elder brother too, Alexis, who will be Prince one day. But I really need to find out what’s been going on here, and what all this work is in aid of.”

“Well said!” exclaimed the Professor, “Let’s not stand here, but go in the dining tent and sit down with some refreshment. Come on, Robert.”

He led the way out of the hangar and over to a large tent nearby, with tables and chairs scattered inside and out. They sat down just outside, and Robert disappeared into the tent and returned with three glasses of red wine from Catania.

“OK” said Andromeda, when she’d taken a sip, “Fire away. Tell me everything, from the beginning.”

“In that case the Professor had better start” said Robert.

“Right. Well, as you may know, on the voyage here I developed some interesting theories about space, time and the structure of the universe, which I began to believe could be put to practical use back on Earth. After the Totalists hijacked the ship, aided by Robert’s father, the captain, your father, insisted on coming back to the planet and landing in order to rescue the colonists. I argued that we should return to Earth so I could put my theories into practice, but he over-ruled me.

“I’m afraid I got in a bit of a huff about that, and put myself into deep-sleep for an indeterminate period. The next thing I knew was that this fellow here had woken me up and 25 years had passed. So now the story passes to you, Robert.”

“Well, as you may know my mother, Mary, was the prof’s assistant on Diana, and her enthusiasm for science rubbed off on me as I was growing up. So when I went to the University of New Warsaw, I naturally studied physics. I graduated and went on to do a doctorate there, which I completed last year. I went home to be with my mother for a bit, because she was still getting over my father’s death.

“While I was there she showed me her notes she had made while working for the professor here, and from them I realised he was working on some research which stood existing theories on their heads and had the potential for absolutely incredible results. But, try as I could, it was impossible to make progress alone because there were too many gaps in the notes. The only thing was to talk to the man himself.

“So last summer I put together a team of students from the university, and got permission from my head of department, Professor Wu, to mount an expedition to Diana. My girlfriend, Elizabeth Coloni, came along as well. She’s an engineer, not a physicist, but proved to be pretty useful. She was the one who designed the staircase up to the crew module and made sure it wasn’t going to collapse when we climbed up!

“Anyway, we set off and trekked through the forest and eventually reached this clearing. I guess it was created by the blast from the starship’s engine and since then the grass has grown back. We set up camp here and chopped trees and made our stairway, and then I climbed up to the hatch and put in the opening code which my mother told me. The hatch slid aside and I climbed in.

“It was a bit eerie in there – lights came on automatically, and the floor is canted at about 10° to the horizontal. Elizabeth came in as well, and together we explored the lower decks and found the spiral stairs leading up. After wandering up and down the corridors we finally found the professor’s room and went in. There was his deep-sleep coffin, with him snugly tucked inside. Elizabeth studied the control panel to make sure we followed the correct procedure to wake him up, and we pressed the buttons. The cover slid back and there he was, grumpy as hell.”

“Can you blame me?” said the professor, with a bit of a chuckle, “I was woken up to see two keen young faces peering at me, who’d disturbed me without a by-your-leave.”

“However,” went on Robert, “we calmed him down and got him out of his coffin. Elizabeth found a coffee machine in the room and brewed him a cup of strong black stuff. That seemed to do him good, and he agreed to come back with us. First he had to collect up all his notes and his computer to take with him. We got him back down the ladder and sat him down at the campsite. After a decent meal and a couple of glasses of wine he became fairly human and agreed to talk to us.”

“Yes” said the professor, “I remember sitting there through the afternoon and into the night explaining my theories and the evidence for them to that circle of young people. As you know, old academics like me love an admiring and intelligent audience. After that I slept well, even if it had to be in a tent.”

Andromeda had been listening to this account with interest, but now she broke in. “Well, that’s very interesting, and I’m glad to meet one of my father’s old companions, but is that it? What’s going on in that hangar? What are you building there?”

“Ah, well” said the professor, “Next morning I had a long session with Robert, and we agreed that if my theories are right then there are clear implications for technology. In particular, we could create and control pseudo-gravitation forces, which would have amazing consequences for transportation.”

“Sounds impressive” commented Andromeda, “but wouldn’t that take large amounts of energy?”

“Indeed it does take a fair amount” responded Robert, “but the theory solves that too. We already demonstrated that we can tap the source of energy that drives the galaxies apart and gather virtually unlimited amounts of power. Elizabeth built us a small prototype which drives all our equipment here in camp, and there’s another unit mounted on the platform in the hangar. Tomorrow we aim to test out whether the pseudo-gravity unit works. I hope we can demonstrate it for you.”

The professor took up the tale. “After we had discussed the practical application of our theories – what we are calling the Hertberg-Brady equations – Robert left me here with some of his students and took the rest back to the university. He came back with cartloads of equipment, after hacking a track through the forest, and they put up the hangar you see as well as expanding the camp.”

“Why” asked Andromeda, “bring your equipment here? Why not do your experiments in the university at New Warsaw?”

Robert gave a slightly wry grin. “Well, for a start, we wanted to cannibalise some of the electronics from Diana. She’s not flying again, and we didn’t think your father would mind. Perhaps we should have checked first. Also, we didn’t want to make too much of a stir in the city, until our experiments confirmed our theories, or else came to nothing.”

“When I report to the Prince I’ll tell him what you’ve done. Hopefully he’ll forgive you.” She added in her thoughts Treat me nicely here and I’ll put in a good word. She was sure Robert had got the hint.

“Anyhow,” continued Robert, “first thing we did was build the energy units. They worked as predicted, which tended to confirm we were on the right track. Next we started on the platform you saw in the hangar, and began work on the pseudo-gravity generator. Tomorrow is the first test of it – if it works, it’s the final confirmation of our theories.”

“Fascinating” said Andromeda, “Sometime I would like to hear you explain your theories, if you can do it to someone who’s no scientist. But not today, as I’m suffering from information overload.”

“I would be delighted” said the professor, “Another day, once we proved the machine we’ve built really works. But here comes young Elizabeth.”

A young woman was approaching the trio from the direction of the hangar. She was slim, a head taller than Andromeda, with short blonde hair and wearing dirty overalls. Robert introduced her to Andromeda, and she sat down. Robert’s girlfriend and collaborator gave the new arrival a long hard look, and Andromeda gave what she hoped was a disarming smile.

Robert disappeared inside the tent and returned with a glass of wine for Elizabeth, and asked her how things were progressing in the hangar.

She took a quick gulp of wine and answered “Fine. All connected up and ready to go. We put it on minimal power and got the platform to rise a few centimetres, but that’s all we attempted inside the hangar. We’ll wheel it out tomorrow and give it a proper test.”

“Excellent!” exclaimed Professor Hertberg, “Robert, get this young lady somewhere to sleep tonight – she can bear witness to our triumph tomorrow. Dinner will be at 6.00 this evening, back in this tent.”

Andromeda stood up, accepting this dismissal, and followed Robert to a small tent pitched on the edge of the forest. Robert said “This can be your tent, for as long as you stay here. Elizabeth and I are right next door. I hope you’ll be comfortable.”

“I will, thanks” she replied, and the scientist turned back towards the hangar. At that point Nebula came trotting up and nuzzled her shoulder. Someone had unloaded the packs from her and put them in the tent, which was small but had a comfortable mat on which she was able to spread out her sleeping bag. She greeted and stroked Nebula, who assured her she was fine, and then the unicorn trotted off to join another couple of unicorns grazing together near the edge of the Rift.

Andromeda sat outside her tent for a while, and had a nut bar from her pack washed down with a little fruit juice, and then went to explore the toilet facilities. As she seemed to be left to her own devices, she had a good look round the clearing and then approached the stairway leading up into the starship. Since there was no-one to stop her, she climbed up and clambered through the hatch. She found herself in a large storage area with a tilted floor.

Lights came on automatically as she wandered through the decks of the vast ship, and she steadily ascended from level to level, past the crew quarters and the recreation level, until she reached the bridge area. On the way she noted places where the electronics had clearly been scavenged.

The bridge was lit, but none of the screens were working. She sat down in the pilot’s seat and fiddled with the controls, but nothing happened. Although power was still being generated somewhere in the bowels of the ship, the bridge controls were de-activated. She wondered if her father had done it when he abandoned Diana, or if the scavengers had severed some vital link. Either way, Diana was grounded for good. As she sat where Andreas had controlled the starship so often, she felt the history of the vessel all round her and the dozens of light-years she had crossed to bring humans to this world.

Andromeda found her way back through the maze of passages to the hatch, and descended to the ground again. It was getting late, so she strolled over to the refreshment dinner for dinner. There was a good selection of vegetarian dishes, and she enjoyed mixing with the other young people there, exchanging news and views. The others were all scientists or engineers, so when she explained that her main interests were history and politics, that caused a slight lull in the conversation.

But then more wine appeared and the conversation swept on. By nightfall, when they began to drift off to their tents, it had become more profound if somewhat less coherent. Andromeda found her way to her tent, undressed and climbed into her sleeping bag. From Robert and Elizabeth’s tent next door she could hear faint noises, which kept her awake for a while, but in the end she found herself asleep.

 

 

Chapter 3

Andromeda was woken by Nebula sticking her head into the tent and blowing in her ear. Then she made it clear she was to stop being grumpy and get up for an important day, before withdrawing her head and trotting off about her own affairs. Andromeda disentangled herself from the sleeping bag and wrapped a towel around her waist, before stepping out in the daylight. It was a bright sunny day in early summer, and already pleasantly warm.

She wandered over to the communal showers near the stream and went in. Robert and Elizabeth were already in there, scrubbing each other down vigorously. “Morning, Andromeda” said Elizabeth cheerily, “Did you sleep well?”

“Eventually” she admitted, and then laughed.

“What’s funny?” asked Robert.

“Do you know that a few hundred years ago, public nudity was considered shocking and unnatural? People could be jailed for being naked in a public place.”

“I never knew that” said Elizabeth, “I suppose being a historian gets you all these fascinating insights into the past. Me, I’m happy just living in the present.”

“Those who do not learn from the past are condemned to repeat it.”

“Very profound” said Robert.

“Not original, I’m afraid. George Santayana, 19^th Century” confessed Andromeda, drying herself off. She returned to her tent and dressed, and then headed to the refreshment marquee for breakfast. This was a hurried affair, and soon a small crowd was watching as the experimental platform was wheeled out of the hangar. Nebula and the other unicorns came trotting up to see what was going on, and stood back with an air of slight amusement.

When the platform had been wheeled out into a clear open space, Elizabeth and two other engineers climbed about and began adjusting the equipment. After a few minutes a faint hum filled the air, and the others jumped off, leaving Elizabeth alone in the pilot’s seat. She seemed nervous, but she punched a button and then all sound from the platform was cut off.

Professor Hertberg was standing next to Andromeda and he explained what was happening. “She has initiated the pseudo-gravitational field around the vehicle, which cannot be penetrated, not even by sound. See, I’ll show you.”

He picked up a stick from the ground and flung it at the platform. A few metres away it bounced off an invisible barrier and fell to the ground.

“You see? Within the field normal gravity is nullified, so we need to create a pseudo-gravity vector downwards to the base of the platform, or else she would be weightless. Now she will engage the drive, very lightly at first.”

As he spoke the platform began to rise slowly from the ground, until it hovered at a height of about five metres. Elizabeth tentatively shifted one of the controls in front of her, and the platform shot forward, heading for the Rift. She moved the control back and the forward motion stopped, so that she was hovering over the great gorge. She adjusted the controls and it began to move again, slowly moving in a circle over the void until it returned to the clearing. People scattered out of the way as it descended to the grass again, about 50 metres from its starting point.

Elizabeth switched everything off and climbed down. Andromeda could see that she was sweating slightly. Robert ran over and hugged her.

“Brilliant!” he cried, “It works like a treat – you were amazing, my love!”

“I built it” confessed Elizabeth, “but I’m not sure I know how to fly it. That was quite scary.”

Andromeda approached her. “Have you ever flown anything before?” she asked.

“No, I’m an engineer not a pilot.”

“I’ve flown my father’s autogyro before – do you want me to have a go?”

“That would be great. I don’t think any of us have any flying experience.”

Before she would fly the contraption, Andromeda insisted it had to have a name. So a bottle of wine was brought up and a small amount was poured over the front of the machine, and Andromeda declared “I name you The Flying Thing!”

Then she and Elizabeth climbed on board; Andromeda took the pilot’s seat while Elizabeth sat next to her and explained the controls, which were similar to those of an autogyro. There was a joystick to control attitude and direction, and an additional lever to control up and down or sideways motion. Elizabeth flicked the switches to start up the drive, and Andromeda took hold of the controls as the faint hum surrounded them.

First she took the vehicle straight up, higher than before, and then pushed the joystick forward so they were gliding over the forest. She swung them round in a circle and headed out over the Rift. There was absolutely no sensation of motion within the pseudo-gravity bubble – it seemed like they were sitting still while the world span around them.

“Whee! This is great!” exclaimed Andromeda, as she put The Flying Thing into a dive and pulled out. Still over the void of the Rift she tried a number of other manoeuvres, finally looping the loop with still no sensation of motion at all.

“Be careful!” said Elizabeth, gripping her seat and with her eyes closed.

“Don’t worry” said her young pilot, “You built a pretty impressive machine here. I love it!”

Eventually Andromeda headed back to the clearing and did a neat landing just outside the hangar, where the machine had taken off from on its first flight. She jumped down, and Elizabeth climbed down rather shakily after her. The rest of the team ran up and crowded round. Nebula pushed her way through to her companion and expressed admiration mingled with concern, and Andromeda reassured her that she was fine.

“That was pretty amazing” said Robert, with his arm round Elizabeth, “I didn’t know you could fly like that!”

“It’s easy when you know how. You guys can build this thing, but it seems you need me to fly it.”

“In that case, can you give us lessons?”

“Glad to. Now excuse me for a little while.”

Keen as she was to take The Flying Thing up again, Andromeda realised it was about time she reported back to her father. She returned to her tent and extracted the radio from her pack, and then went and sat on a rock at the edge of the Rift, well away from the others. She entered the Prince’s access code.

“Hello Andie” came her father’s voice, “How are things?”

“This is Andromeda, your personal representative, reporting back”

“Sorry, Andromeda. Where are you?”

“I’m at Diana, south rim of the Rift, and I’ve had a pretty interesting couple of days”

“Tell me”

Quickly aand precisely Andromeda relayed all that had happened since her arrival the day before, ending with “Now I’m committed to giving flying lessons on a machine that’s just been invented. I trust you approve.”

“Of course I do, trusted representative. But you do realise the significance of these developments?”

“Of course I do. But I’m not sure how many of the scientists here have looked beyond proving their theories to the enormous impact this is going to have on everything. I think I may have to start opening their eyes.”

“Indeed. Are you OK handing all this? I can send more people, or come myself if you need support.”

“Let me deal with it for now, father. If I need help I’ll call you, but I’d like to prove I can do this on my own.”

“Fair enough. Remember I love you, Andromeda”

“And I love you, father, and pass on my love to mother and Alexis.”

“Will do. So long for now.”

Andromeda broke off the connection and put the radio back in her tent, and wandered over to the hangar, where Elizabeth and some others were checking over the equipment on The Flying Thing. She made some suggestions about changes to the controls to make it easier to fly, and to put in dual controls from training. Then she went and found Nebula and they went for a long ride along the rim of the Great Rift, stopping regularly to admire the view over the green depths below.

On her return she found the engineers had finished the adaptations to the controls, and had fitted some panels round the two seats so it made a slightly more enclosed cockpit. Her first volunteer pilot trainee, a young black man named Ollie, was waiting for his first lesson. They climbed aboard, and she took The Flying Thing up and out over the Rift. She demonstrated the controls and did some simple manoeuvres, climbs, dives and turns. Then she pushed the joystick forward and increased power, and dived into the Rift until the green sides were flashing past them, and then pulling up and looping the loop before hovering again over the gorge.

Andromeda looked across at her pupil, and he looked calmly back at her.

“You’ll notice” she said, “there is no sensation of motion whatever you do. This can feel very strange if you’ve flown in an autogyro or even a motorised cart. Now it’s your turn.”

Ollie took the controls and began practising simple manoeuvres. After half an hour he was gaining confidence and performing tight turns, dives, and even a loop. Andromeda praised him and let him land the machine back outside the hangar, which he managed with aplomb.

Robert met them and walked back to the refreshment tent with Andromeda, and asked her how her first pupil was doing. “Great” she said, “I think he’s really got the hang of it.”

“We’ve got some more lined up for you tomorrow” said Robert, “We appreciate you helping us like this.”

The professor and Elizabeth joined them for the evening meal, and the talk soon turned to future developments. Elizabeth announced they were starting to build a much larger load-carrying craft, with an enclosed cabin, to transfer materials to and from the university.

“Tell me, Robert,” asked Andromeda, “is there any theoretical limit to the power you can develop or the speed you can go at?”

“Not that we know of” he answered.

“Mmm, interesting. And how do you see your discoveries benefitting us here on Armontiriath?”

“Well, transportation obviously. Wheeled vehicles will become largely redundant if we can fly easily from place to place. And unlimited energy, wherever you need it. Solar and hydroelectric will become obsolete, and we can stop looking for fossil fuels.”

“It’s all pretty exciting!” added Elizabeth. Andromeda noted that the professor had a slightly quizzical smile on his face, and guessed he had the same thoughts as she did.

“Yes,” she said, “that’s all well and good. But I think there’s one opportunity we now have that’s far more exciting.”

“What’s that?” asked Robert.

“Space travel. You’ve given us the opportunity to re-join the rest of the human race.”

* * *

The next couple of days were busy ones. They had found three more volunteers for Andromeda to train, and she was in the air with them in turn most of the day. They learned quickly, though Ollie was clearly the most skilled. Andromeda’s own ability to control the flying machine was also developing fast, and she was keen to keep an edge over her pupils.

In the evening of the second day Robert and Elizabeth came to see her, and they shared a bottle of wine after dinner.

“We have been busy” said Robert, “designing spaceships, in the light of what you said.”

“The power supply and space drive are simple developments of what we already have” added Elizabeth, “but there are lots of other elements to a spaceship which are much trickier for us to make from scratch. Hull, airlocks, life support, navigation equipment – the list gets pretty long.”

“Why bother?” asked Andromeda.

“Pardon?”

“Why bother designing a spaceship from scratch, when you have them ready to hand?”

“Do you mean Diana?” asked Robert, “But she’s immense and cumbersome – I don’t think that’s a possibility.”

“Maybe one day. But there are two other, smaller ships you could easily convert with your drive – the two shuttles, grounded not far from New Warsaw.”

“Of course” said Elizabeth, “Your father put them out of commission with a magnetic pulse from Diana, but they still have most of what we need, once we install a new power plant and drive in them. Brilliant!”

“I do my best” said Andromeda modestly.

“However,” added Robert, “I know the two shuttles are maintained as a public memorial to the first landing, along with the ruins of the Grey Fort. Will the Government be happy to let us mess about with them, and even take them into space? I think that’s going to be a bit of a problem.”

“That’s where I come in” announced Andromeda, “As the Prince’s personal representative, I can talk to the First Minister and persuade her to cooperate. I’m no use for the other stuff, science, engineering and the like, but I can make myself useful here. Leave it to me.”

The other couple were rather startled by this confident pronouncement by the eighteen-year-old, but said nothing. Andromeda smiled – she had already made the suggestion to the Prince, and he had given his blessing. He had asked if she wanted him to send some of his Riders to New Warsaw to support her, but she had declined and he had agreed that she could handle it herself.

“I’m off to New Warsaw tomorrow” she announced, “Your pilots need to practise, but I’m sure they can do that without me. I’ll be back in a few days with permission for you to start work on the shuttles.”

She said goodnight and went off to her tent, leaving the other two bemused by the speed with which events had developed.

 

 

 

Chapter 4

Two days later Andromeda and Nebula rode into New Warsaw. They had followed the rough track that Andrew’s people had hacked through the forest south of the Rift, and then dirt tracks across the fields and hills of the green land beyond. They had passed busy farms and villages, and stayed overnight in a wayside inn in a small market town called Hochwald. In the late afternoon of the next day they approached the largest city on the planet, and the seat of its Government.

The road turned into a broad paved street, lined with houses. As they rode south down it they met people going home from their businesses, and some wheeled traffic. The houses grew more splendid as they approached the centre, and were intermingled with schools, shops and offices. Finally they emerged into Victory Square, the heart of the city. On the west side stood the Grand Hall, a relatively crude wooden structure built by the Totalists. To the south was a brick building with a tall central tower, the home of the University of New Warsaw. On the east side of the square was Government House, an imposing stone edifice with long wings either side of a massive square hall with a domed roof. In there the Assembly of Armontiriath met, and the Government carried out its business. Under the watchful eye of the Prince and his Riders, Andromeda remembered.

In the centre of the square were some formal gardens, with a statue in the middle. Andromeda dismounted and went to inspect, and Nebula followed her, careful not to trample on the flowers. The statue was of her father, sword in hand, mounted on his unicorn Orion. She decided it was not a terribly good likeness of the Prince, and Nebula clearly agreed that the unicorn was not completely realistic.

On the north side of the square was a row of buildings, including one dressed in white stone with a wide archway in the centre. Above the arch flew the flag of Armontiriath, and Andromeda knew it was the local headquarters of the Prince’s Riders, as she had visited it with her father. She walked over and Nebula followed, and they passed through the arch. A woman in the black uniform of the Riders greeted them, and clearly recognised her.

“Princess Andromeda! You are very welcome here!” she cried, and hugged her warmly.

“I remember you” gasped Andromeda, “You’re Veronica, aren’t you?”

“That’s right, Rider Veronica Hochzeit, at your service. What brings you to New Warsaw, on your own?”

“I have a mission from the Prince, and need to speak with the First Minister. Can you look after Nebula for me while I’m here?”

“Gladly. And you know there’s a bed for you here when you need it.”

“Thanks. I may be back later on.”

“I’ll take Nebula back to the unicorns’ quarters and make sure she’s OK. Is there anything else you need?”

“Not just now. I’ll see you later on, I expect.”

Veronica escorted Nebula through the arch to the unicorns’ quarters in the rear, while Andromeda turned round and headed diagonally across the square to the grandiose entrance to Government House. She climbed the steps and pushed through the swing doors into the entrance hall. A middle-aged man was sitting at the reception desk, and he looked up when she approached.

“Good afternoon, young lady. How may I help you?”

“I am Andromeda dal’Nostra, an envoy from the Prince of Armontiriath. I wish to speak to the First Minister.” She produced her father’s credentials and placed them on the desk. The receptionist became more respectful instantly.

“Certainly, your ladyship. I’ll see if she’s free.” He picked up a phone and spoke quietly into it. After a minute, he put it down and said “If you go up to the first floor and turn right, the First Minister’s personal assistant will deal with you.”

“Thank you” said Andromeda, picking up her credentials.

“A pleasure, your ladyship”

She climbed the sweeping marble stairs to the first floor and turned right. There was a long corridor ahead with closed doors on each side. At the far end was another desk with a young man sitting at it. As she approached, he got up and held out his hand and said “Henry Boltar, personal assistant to the First Minister.”

She shook it and said “Andromeda dal’Nostra, representative of the Prince”

He indicated a row of comfortable chairs nearby and invited her to sit, saying “The First Minister will see you in a few minutes, if you don’t mind waiting here. Can I get you anything while you’re waiting? Drink?”

“Some tea would be nice – black, no sugar, please”

He vanished and was back in two minutes with a tray with tea and biscuits which he placed on a low table nearby. Andromeda realised she was hungry and thirsty after her long ride. She also realised she was fairly dusty and travel-stained and should have cleaned up before coming into the centre of Government.

After about ten minutes the phone rang, Henry answered it and said “The First Minister will see you now, Miss dal’Nostra” He opened the door behind him and ushered her into the office beyond. The First Minister rose from behind her desk and came forward to greet her visitor.

“Alicia Melenna” she said, shaking hands, “Come and sit down”

“Andromeda dal’Nostra” said the young woman, sitting down opposite the desk. The First Minister was tall and distinguished, apparently in her mid-60s. She sat behind the desk again.

“I must apologise” said Andromeda, “for my filthy condition. I’ve been riding all day and came straight here.”

“It must be something very urgent, then” said Alicia.

“Not urgent” admitted Andromeda, “but pretty important, I believe.”

“Tell me.”

So she embarked on the story of the scientific work at Diana, the theories that led to the energy source and the pseudo-gravity drive, and the test flights of The Flying Thing. Then she broached the subject of using the two shuttles that were grounded just outside the city to test out the concept of a space drive. The First Minister looked dubious.

“You do know” she said, “that the area containing the two shuttles and the remains of the Grey Fort are now a historic monument. We take parties of schoolkids round them to make sure they remember our history when they grow up. I’m not sure how the Assembly would feel about losing the shuttles.”

“You wouldn’t lose them, Alicia, they’d still belong to Armontiriath. Think of the benefits you’ll gain.”

“Let me hear the benefits.”

“One, we could put the communication satellites into orbit. I believe they are still stashed somewhere, but the Totalists never got round to launching them before the shuttles were disabled. Once the satellites are up, we can communicate with each other all over the planet.”

“True enough. What else?”

“I believe the pseudo-gravity drive gives us the facility for travel to other stars, not just within this system. That means we can get in touch with the rest of the human race and no longer be isolated.”

“That’s true, though some people here like the isolation. Anything else?”

“I could mention the human need to explore, discover, find things out. We know next to nothing about the other planets in this system, or even the far side of our own world. Now we have the opportunity, let’s grab it.”

“Rather nebulous reasons, but still pretty compelling” said the First Minister, “I think you’ve got me convinced – I just need to sell it to the rest of the Government and the Assembly.”

“There’s a sweetener for them, which could take their minds off the loss of a couple of old shuttles.”

“Oh? What’s that?”

“As I told you, the new science can give us unlimited, clean, free energy. You can stop the search for fossil fuel deposits and furiously building solar power plants.”

“Wow, that would be amazing. If that happened in my term of office …”

“You could take a slice of the credit, I think. And there’s more.”

“What else?”

“Transport. We won’t need roads if everything can be transported swiftly and silently through the air. We’ve proved the concept, and all it takes is the political will to make it happen.”

“It’s an exciting thought. I can certainly see that going down well. If I focus on these dramatic innovations and tell them about the shuttles as a kind of afterthought …”

“I’ll leave that to you, you’re the politician. I’m just a young and inexperienced messenger.”

Alicia gave her a quizzical look. “You may be young and inexperienced, but you have the makings of a pretty sharp politician in you. I always thought of your father as a space pilot and a warrior, but I came to realise he was a pretty savvy leader and politician as well. The Prince and the Government have different functions, but we seem to work together pretty well, on the whole.”

“I know – he does speak highly of you.”

“We go back a long way, Andreas and I. When we left Earth I was older than him, and his senior officer. He had less deep-sleep than me, so aged more, and before I knew it he was my captain and commander. Life’s funny sometimes, isn’t it? Still, enough reminiscing. Join me again tomorrow morning and we’ll ride out together to take a look at these shuttles. Do you need a bed for tonight?”

“No thanks, I can bed down at the Prince’s House.”

“Fine. Meet me out the front here at 9.00 tomorrow, and we’ll ride over together.”

Andromeda stood up and shook hands, and left the office and found her way back down the stairs and across the square, her mind full of the conversation she had just had. After seeing that Nebula was all right and being shown to a guest room, her next step was to contact her father by radio. She reported her meeting with the First Minister to him, omitting the final part of the conversation.

Andreas chuckled. “Good old Alicia” he said, “I knew she’d see sense if you put it to her in the right way. You did well, my girl. Enjoy your visit to the shuttles tomorrow.”

“I will, father.”

“Just one more thing…”

“Yes?”

“At some point the question may arise as to who’s in charge of our space exploration project – the Government or the Prince. I want to make it very clear that it’s the Prince. The Government can run the planet, but we need to supervise what happens beyond the atmosphere. Make sure that’s clear as soon as the issue arises.”

“Will do.”

“If it helps, I’m appointing you as my off-planet representative, in charge of the whole space effort. I know you’re a bit young, but you’ve done a pretty good job so far. If you muck it up, I’ll find some-one else. I’ll send down a set of credentials to New Warsaw.”

“Thanks for the confidence, father. Wouldn’t it be better to appoint someone a bit older who knows more about the subject? Robert Brady, for example?”

“No, he’s a scientist not a politician. Scientists are no use for this kind of job. You need a politician and a leader – that’s what I’m trying to train you up to be. Make me proud.”

“I’ll try, father” she replied, and then they broke off the connection. She changed and went down for dinner in the refectory, with the twenty or so Prince’s Riders who were stationed there. They asked her about what was going on, and she filled them in. She stayed up for the rest of the evening chatting to a group of them, with a plentiful supply of wine to keep the conversation flowing.

The following morning she and Nebula were waiting outside Government House when Alicia came trotting round the corner on a pale brown unicorn. Together they set off on the main road heading east, and after a few kilometres came upon a low fence with a gate in it, and a small hut with the sign ‘New Warsaw Historical Park’. A middle-aged man with dark brown skin came out of the hut and opened the gate for them. Alicia introduced him as Angelo Kaufmann, the curator of the historic site.

The two women dismounted and walked into the site with Angelo, while their unicorns came along behind, anxious to see what the fuss was about. First they headed towards a pile of blackened ruins, surrounded by another low fence. Angelo began to explain that these were the remains of the Grey Fort, built by the Totalists at the first landing to be their stronghold, prison and torture centre. He was about to describe how it was destroyed, when Andromeda broke in.

“My father did that” she said, “He blasted it with Diana’s fusion drive, before landing her in the Great Rift.”

“Are you indeed the daughter of Andreas dal’Nostra? I am greatly honoured to have you here, young lady.”

“I am honoured to be here” she replied, “I know the story, of course, but have never been this close to the ruins. He certainly made a mess of it.”

The blackened stonework surrounded a deep pit of scorched earth, testament of the fury of the blast that had incinerated the place more than twenty years before.

“I was on board” said Alicia, “and I thought we were all dead, for certain. Only Andreas’ piloting skill enabled him to manoeuvre the starship to the exact spot and fire the engine at the precise moment to fry the Grey Fort before we hit the ground. Anyone else trying that trick would have crashed and killed us all.”

In silence they contemplated the scene for a few minutes in silence. The unicorns peered over the fence as well, having picked up the humans’ emotions. Then Angelo led them away over the rough ground to where the two shuttles were parked.

“Shuttles Alpha and Beta” he announced, “Shuttle Gamma was destroyed in orbit, when it tried to intercept Diana on its way in. Then a magnetic pulse from Diana scrambled the electronics on these two while they were on the ground, and they’ve never flown since.”

Andromeda decided not to interrupt their guide any more as he went through his detailed description of the events of that historic day. As they approached the first shuttle, Beta, she saw that the main hatch was open and stairs led up to it from the ground. A party of school children was in the process of climbing aboard, chattering excitedly. The three humans and two unicorns walked round the outside, inspecting it closely. It was about 150 metres long, with a tall tailplane and two large triangular wings. The skin was a rather discoloured silvery metal, and the vast exhaust of its fusion drive gaped at the rear.

When they completed the circuit the school children had poured excitedly out of the main door and were heading for the other shuttle, so the three humans climbed aboard, leaving the unicorns grazing outside. They visited the control cabin, cluttered with seats and non-functioning instruments, and with wide windows to the front and side. Behind that were some living quarters, which seemed to be cosy but fairly cramped. Most of the equipment was designed to be secured in some way, so as not to float about in zero-gravity conditions.

After the last of the crew quarters there was a bulkhead, which sealed off the rear two-thirds of the ship. “Behind here are the fuel tanks and the fusion drive” explained Angelo, and Andromeda muttered “They’ll have to go.”

Angelo was startled at this remark, and Alicia had to explain to him the plan to re-activate the shuttles using the newly developed pseudo-gravity drive. He was visibly upset at the prospect of losing the main attractions of his historic park, and Andromeda hastened to reassure him.

“This is going to be making new history, not just preserving the old. This will become the place where Armontiriath returns to the stars, and you will be her to witness it all. You will be part of history, not just a custodian of the past. I promise you will have a part in all this, and a chance to make a first-hand record of this new chapter in our history.”

This seemed to mollify the park’s curator, and he came to accept the changes which were about to descend upon him. They left the shuttle and said goodbye to him, and the two women mounted their unicorns and rode back to the city.

“Of course” said Andromeda, “That all depends on your Government agreeing to let us use the shuttles as we’ve planned.”

“Don’t worry” Alicia reassured her, “I know how to talk them into it. I can’t see there being any major objections that I can’t overcome.”

“In that case I will ride back north tomorrow and tell Robert and the others to start getting ready to move everything down here.”

“You do that. I think this is going to be one of the most exciting times since the Totalists surrendered.”

 

 

 

Chapter 5

Six months later the old historic site was totally transformed. The fence around the ruins of the Grey Fort remained, but the rest of the area was now signed “New Warsaw Space Project”. As well as a forest of tents, several large buildings dotted the site, and flying platforms were transporting people and materials from other parts of the world. Teams of engineers had almost completed the transformation of shuttle Beta, and were starting work on Alpha.

In addition to all the activity taking place around the shuttles, a kilometre away work was progressing on a large building to house the power plant, based on Hertberg-Brady theory, which would deliver unlimited energy to the city of New Warsaw and its surroundings. Similar structures were being planned for other cities and populated areas across the continent. In the city, a factory to produce flying platforms was already in operation.

Immediately after her meeting with Alicia, Andromeda had ridden back to the scientific base at Diana to bring them up to date, and had then flown The Flying Thing north to Armontinrina to report to the Prince, who had confirmed her as leader of the space project. After a few days up there she had flown back to Diana, and then taken the larger platform south with the first batch of engineers and their equipment to set up the new base. Even Nebula had come with her, nervous but excited about the experience of travelling by air.

Now she sat in her office, a small hut not far from the shuttles, and watched the people working on the shuttle. The fusion drive and the associated fuel tanks had been removed, and the pseudo-gravity drive and power generator installed in their place. This had freed up a large amount of extra space within the ship, which was being converted to additional crew quarters, storage and recreational areas. These would allow for larger crews and longer flights than the shuttles were originally designed for.

Coming to a final decision, Andromeda rose from her desk, left the hut and strode towards the ship. Elizabeth Coloni, Chief Engineer of the project, was standing outside the main hatch with a clipboard, but she looked round when Andromeda hailed her. It was early December, and winter in the north of Armontiriath, but both women were only wearing light jackets as the weather was mild and never became really cold at that latitude.

“It’s all going well, Andromeda” Elizabeth reported, “Life support systems have been thoroughly checked and upgraded where necessary. The power unit is working well, and the drive system is nearing completion. We should be able to test it out tomorrow, I hope.”

“Excellent. I’ve come to a couple of decisions about the ship.”

“Oh yes?”

“I would like it to be painted black, as the Prince’s colour and the armour his people wore when they fought the Totalists.”

“Fair enough. We need to do something about the scruffy appearance of the outside. Have you thought of a new name for it yet? Beta is so boring.”

“I’ve been looking up the mythology of the Roman goddess Diana. She had two companions: Egeria, a water nymph, and Virbius, a woodland god. Let’s call this one Egeria, and when you’ve finished working on Alpha it can become Virbius.”

“OK, sounds good. Better than The Flying Thing, anyway.” They both laughed. As Elizabeth was getting back to her clipboard, Andromeda stopped her and said “By the way, my father’s coming down to see how we’re getting on. He should be here the day after tomorrow, so it would be good to have some kind of a ceremony. Can you spread the word?”

“I’ll tell my engineers, and let Robert know. He can tell his scientists.”

“Thanks. I’ll let you get on.”

The next day Andromeda was at the controls when they tested the pseudo-gravity drive for the first time. She switched on the field, and there was a slight jerk as the artificial gravity substituted for the planet’s own gravity. Gently she moved the vertical control lever until Egeria was hovering a metre or so above the ground. She went up a bit further, and then forwards, backwards and sideways, checking that control was working in each dimension. Then she brought it back to earth again and switched off the drive.

“Pretty good” she reported, “Ready for a bigger test tomorrow.”

“You’re going to take it up tomorrow, in front of all the bigwigs?”

“Sure. It’s what they’ve all come to see. I’ve asked Robert and Professor Hertberg to give a talk about the theory first, and tried to persuade them to make it simple enough that even politicians can understand.”

“Good luck with that” said Elizabeth, smiling, “I’ll tell the painters they can get to work again.”

The next morning Prince Andreas arrived at the site with a contingent of his Riders. His daughter greeted him at the gate.

“I see you’ve come mob-handed, father” she commented.

“Yes, after we finish here we’ve got to head out east. There’s trouble in the Vale of Hieronymus, and we need to go and sort it out. Somebody has apparently set themselves up as a kind of local dictator, and we need to stamp that out. There are also reports of firearms being made there.”

One of the absolute prohibitions the Prince had laid down was against any form of gun or firearm on the whole planet. His Riders were armed with spears and swords, as well as bows and arrows, but never carried guns.

“I hope that goes well” said Andromeda, “I expect you can tell me about it on the way back. Meanwhile, you can all assemble in that big hut over there, together with the others we’re expecting.”

The Riders dismounted and turned their unicorns loose, and followed their Prince into the hut, where they were soon joined by university staff, city officials, and Alicia with members of the Government and the Assembly. Rows of seats faced a podium, on which were a lectern and three seats. As the hut filled with guests, Andromeda took a seat on the podium flanked by Robert Brady and Professor Hertberg.

When they were all settled down, Andromeda rose to her feet and announced “I have asked Professor Wilhelm Hertberg and Dr Robert Brady to give us a brief, and hopefully simplified, description of the theory behind the drive we will be demonstrating soon.”

To polite applause the professor stood up. In one hand he held a large balloon.

“Prince, members of the Government and the Assembly, ladies and gentlemen” he began, “It has long been theorised that space contains eleven dimensions, although we experience only three. The conventional explanation has been that the other eight are curled up tightly at a microscopic and undetectable level. Our theory requires, however, that one of these is not curled up but forms a fourth space dimension that underpins the Universe in which we live.

“Consider this balloon. It is a three-dimensional sphere with a two-dimensional surface. In a like fashion, our Universe is a three-dimensional surface of a four-dimensional hypersphere. It is not static, because the hypersphere is expanding rapidly, like this balloon.”

He seized a pump which was attached to the balloon and pumped energetically, and the balloon expanded as he did so. Slightly red in the face, he stopped pumping and continued.

“This causes two effects which we can detect. One is the fact that all the galaxies are moving away from each other, which was observed way back in the 20^th century. The other is gravity. As the surface of the hypersphere moves out, the inertia of solid bodies embedded in it causes distortions in the surface, which tend to bring them together. This is what we observe as gravitational attraction.”

A member of the audience stood up and put a question: “This is fascinating, professor, but what proof do you have that this theory is true?”

“Aha” said Hertberg, “The proof is in the pseudo-gravity drive, which is based on this theory. My colleague Dr Brady will proceed to explain how this is derived.” He sat down and Robert came to the lectern.

“Without going into the rather complex mathematics behind all this,” he said, “we have shown that it is possible to manipulate the three-dimensional surface of the hypersphere on which we all exist. We can do this by partially uncurling some of the other space dimensions using carefully phased electromagnetic impulses.

“This enables us to do two things. One is to channel a part of the inconceivable energy that drives the expansion of the Universe into our own space, where it can be used for our own purposes, including powering the anti-gravity drive. The consequence of this is that we can produce virtually unlimited power which is totally clean. Essentially, free energy for all is now available.”

There was a great stir and several gasps of surprise when he announced this, but he continued almost without a pause.

“The second outcome of this theory is that we can manipulate our three-dimensional space to produce pseudo-gravity, a force which can act in any direction we will and with whatever strength we need. This is the basis of the drive you will see demonstrated shortly. It will provide aerial transport for us, carrying loads and people smoothly and silently to anywhere on the planet. In addition, we believe it will enable us to get back into space and rejoin the rest of the human race.”

Robert sat down, and Andromeda stood up to field questions. The first was about the power generators, and she promised that they would be available as soon as workshops could be set up to turn them out. On the question of safety, she announced that their operation would be fail-safe, and any problems with the unit would cause the energy channel to be shut off.

“You can abandon your search for fossil fuels on this continent, and soon you’ll be able to decommission your wind turbines, solar arrays and hydroelectric schemes.” She invited her father and Alicia on to the stage, and together they promised that this new technology would be available to all, subject to the constraints of getting it built. Then she invited everyone to move outside to witness the flight trials of the renewed spaceship Egeria. Her outside was now painted black all over, with the symbols of Armontiriath on each side of the nose: a gold disc with the silhouette of a black dragon, surrounded by six white stars.

She headed up the steps to the airlock, and took her seat in the control cabin, with her star pupil Ollie Petersen beside her, and Elizabeth and Robert sitting behind. Although she knew there should be no sensation of motion, she insisted that everyone strap themselves in. Final checks were carried out and the power generator was started up.

“Here we go!” said Andromeda, as she switched on the pseudo-gravity field and slowly moved the lift lever. As the crowd outside watched in awe, the great black ship left the ground and soared into the sky, hovering at about fifty metres up. Andromeda proceeded to test each of the controls, forward and back, side to side, and yaw. When she was satisfied, she poured more power into the drive and Egeria shot forward, heading for the distant mountains in the east. She climbed, and then came round in a great circle, doing a barrel roll over the heads of the crowd and flying out over the Inland Sea.

After a short while she came back and hovered, and then Andromeda let Ollie take control, and he executed a series of manoeuvres before bringing the ship gently back to the land on the same spot from which it had left, to loud applause from the crowd.

When Andromeda emerged from the airlock her father came to meet her.

“I’m impressed” he said, “And it’s good to see the old shuttle back in the air again. I expect you’ll be keen to try it out in space now.”

“Yes, that’s the plan for tomorrow. We won’t go too far the next time, just check that Egeria is spaceworthy. Then we’ll see if we can explore the local system with it.”

“And after that?”

“We’ll see, father. Watch this space.”

“Just take care, Andie. I won’t be here tomorrow – we’ve got to sort out this mess in the Vale of Hieronymus. We’re riding out shortly.”

“Take care, father.”

“And you, favourite daughter.”

They embraced, and then Andreas gathered up his Riders and they went to round up their unicorns and return to the city to collect their weapons and equipment. Andromeda watched them go with mixed feelings. She knew her father, wearing the sword Kaalkuhn, would be safe from harm, but felt the responsibility of the space project now resting on her shoulders alone.

The next morning the crew climbed back into Egeria, and after checking the controls Andromeda took her straight up, increasing speed gradually until she was hurtling out of the atmosphere into the dark vacuum of space. When they could see the whole planet as a bright blue ball hanging in space next to them, she stopped the ascent and then turned the pseudo-gravity completely off.

For a while they hung there suspended in space while they checked the integrity of the spaceship’s hull. The experience of zero gravity was one that none of them had ever encountered before, and for a few minutes they enjoyed floating around the cabin, chasing small objects that were drifting about.

Once it was confirmed that there were no leaks in the pressure hull, Andromeda re-activated the pseudo-gravity drive and headed away from the planet again. She located the nearest moon Einstein and pointed the ship’s nose in that direction, before pushing up the drive power higher than ever before. In an eerie silence, with no feeling of motion, Egeria hurtled through space.

In what seemed like only moments the moon grew from a small disc to a rocky sphere, filling most of the forward window. Andromeda put on reverse thrust and slowed to approach the cratered surface to within less than a hundred kilometres. The crew all gazed at Armontiriath’s small companion as the ship looped round it and headed back home.

Approaching the atmosphere Andromeda slowed right down and descended gently towards the surface. She was careful not to take any risk of overheating the ship through re-entry friction. They came in smoothly, passing over the Rift and descending to a textbook landing back at the space centre. A small crowd watched and applauded loudly as Egeria touched down.

As they emerged from the airlock, Andromeda announced to the crowds: “Space travel is back!”

Chapter 6

The next day Egeria went out into space again, this time with Ollie at the controls and Andromeda as co-pilot. Once clear of the atmosphere Ollie carefully manoeuvred the ship into a geostationary orbit above the longitude of New Warsaw. On board were three of the communications satellites which had made the long journey from Earth, but which had never been deployed by the Totalists. Elizabeth and one of her engineers put on spacesuits and took one of the satellites out through the rear cargo airlock, and placed it carefully on the wing.

Once they were safely back inside, Ollie turned off the drive for a few moments and let the satellite drift away from the ship. Once it was well clear, he re-engaged the drive and the internal pseudo-gravity and moved away from the orbit. Elizabeth checked that the satellite was now sending and receiving communications from the planet, and they moved on round the orbit to repeat the procedure twice more.

“We now have three communications satellites in orbit, so we’re in good shape to exchange signals anywhere on the planet” she announced happily. After the success of that part of the mission Ollie took them on a tour of the other two moons of Armontiriath: Galileo and Newton. They too were rocky cratered balls, with little of interest to be seen from space. He then achieved another textbook landing back at the space project site.

“I’m proud of you” Andromeda told him, “You’re our second best pilot.”

“You’re the best, I suppose?”

“Naturally. But there’s plenty of others coming up fast from behind. Let’s get a drink.”

As they strolled back towards the canteen, one of the Prince’s Riders came up on her unicorn.

“Princess!” she called, “Your father has returned from the Vale of Hieronymus, and would like to see you before he returns to Armontirina. Can you come now?”

“OK. Ollie – will you excuse me?”

The young pilot grinned and nodded, and Andromeda gave the special whistle that brought Nebula trotting over from the far side of the enclosure. Soon she was mounted and heading into the city beside the Rider. At the Prince’s House she dismounted, and the Rider took care of Nebula as she went in to meet her father.

He met her in the library and offered her a glass of wine.

“You’re soon back – I trust your business in the Vale of Hieronymus was concluded successfully?” she enquired.

“Oh yes. The would-be overlord’s gang of followers scattered when we rode up. He produced a home-made shotgun and tried to shoot me, but it failed to fire. I drew Kaalkuhn and slashed it in half, and he gave up at once.”

“You make it all sound very easy.”

“Nothing can harm me while I bear Kaalkuhn, you know, so in fact it was easy. We brought him back for the Government to deal with. He’ll get a trial and probably end up on Tartarus.”

Andromeda nodded. Tartarus was the prison island in the centre of the Inland Sea where the planet’s worst offenders were incarcerated.

“Meanwhile, your mother has sent us news – your brother Alexis is getting married.”

“Goodness! Who to?”

“A young doctor – Dr Eva Churchill. Alexis met her when he studied at the university in Armontirina. She went to finish her training at New Warsaw General Hospital, and has taken up a post in the hospital in Armontirina. They met again, and – well – the rest is history. Much has happened back home while you’ve been amusing yourself with space travel.”

“So it would seem. When’s the wedding?”

“In another three months or so, sometime in June. You’ll get an invitation – if you’re still on the planet.”

“I look forward to that. Fancy Alexis settling down and getting married!”

“The other news is that you are going to have to be a bridesmaid.”

“What! I don’t think I’m really bridesmaid material!”

“It’s amazing what you can do if you try. I’m sure you can scrub up well, if you put your mind to it.” Her father looked at her, in her scruffy overalls with tangled auburn hair flowing over her shoulders, and grinned. “That should be a sight worth seeing.”

“Now tell me how things are with you” continued the Prince, “How did your test flights into near space work out?”

“Everything went really well. Egeria performs like a dream, and Ollie’s proved to be a really good pilot. We launched the communications satellites, so it’ll be possible to set up a phone and TV network across the planet now, as well as internet of course. Next we’re going further afield, and plan to visit some of the other planets in the system.”

“Enjoy your exploring, Andromeda, but I’m guessing you’re not planning to stop there?”

“No father. I want us to be able to reach the stars, and make contact with the rest of the human race at last.”

“In that case, I’ll send down my copy of Diana’s log, which will give you all the information we have about the planets we visited on the way here from Earth. But take care – deep space is a lonely and dangerous place.”

“Thank you, father. I will. Have a safe journey back to Armontirina. Give my love to mother and Alexis – and his new bride.”

They kissed, and Andromeda left the room to make her way back to the space centre. There was work to do before tomorrow’s flight.

Back at the space base she was introduced to Harold Gumshaw, a fairly young astronomer from the University of New Warsaw. Andromeda had asked for some-one to come and help them plan their next step – exploration of the local system, and Harold had eagerly volunteered. He had black skin, short curly hair and an infectious grin.

Andromeda shook his hand. “Thanks for coming to help us, Dr Gumshaw” she said, “We really appreciate it.”

“No problem, princess” he responded, “I’m really excited about the possibility of seeing these places up close that I’ve only seen through a telescope!”

“Call me Andromeda. Come into my office and let’s see what you’ve got.”

They sat round the table in the office. Ollie and Elizabeth were there, but Robert and Professor Hertberg had not been seen for days. Doubtless they were off somewhere together, hatching new and even more arcane theories. Harold spread a map of the system on the table.

“Since we formed the astronomy department, we’ve been studying the local system and naming the planets.” He explained, “We named the sun Ra, after the old Egyptian sun god. We named the planets after famous cities of antiquity.”

He pointed to the innermost planet, orbiting close in to Ra. “This one here is Troy, small, rocky, lifeless, about the size of Earth’s moon. Next out is Armontiriath, which kind of spoils our naming system, but no matter. Out here is Knossos – it’s got a bit of atmosphere, but it’s a desert world with no water, a bit bigger than Earth or Armontiriath, and it’s got no moons.”

“And beyond that?” asked Elizabeth.

“Next out is a real whopper of a gas giant, called Delphi. It’s bigger even than Jupiter, and has dozens of moons. We haven’t got round to naming them all yet. Beyond that is Tyre, a much smaller gas giant with just four moons we can see, and furthest out is Sidon, a large rocky planet. It’s twice the size of Armontiriath, with one big moon, but probably too cold to support life.”

“That’s great, Harold” said Andromeda, “If we wanted to visit some of these planets, what would you suggest?”

“Well, Troy is close to Ra and not too far away as astronomical distances go. Tyre and Sidon are over on the far side of their orbits, but Knossos and Delphi are this side. I would suggest a visit to look at Troy, and then out to Knossos and Delphi.”

“Sounds great to me.” said Andromeda, “Elizabeth – is Egeria ready to go again?”

“Yes, she’s fine. We’ve run all the checks and everything looks good.”

“Right – let’s go tomorrow. Harold – are you happy to come with us?”

“Try and stop me! This is an astronomer’s dream!”

“OK. Everyone back here tomorrow at 8 o’clock, for take-off at 9. See you then.”

That night Andromeda’s head was filled with excitement at the flight planned for the morning, but also with speculation about the wedding and a certain trepidation at the prospect of being a bridesmaid.

But the next morning those thoughts were banished and the flight occupied all her mind. She checked with Elizabeth before they boarded Egeria, and she confirmed that all systems were up and running. That included the back-up power generator and pseudo-gravity drive which had been installed in case of breakdowns in the main systems in deep space.

They all climbed aboard and the airlock was closed. Harold Gumshaw was in a state of poorly-suppressed excitement as Andromeda powered up the ship and lifted her gently from the ground. Once clear of the atmosphere, systems were checked one more time and then Egeria’s nose was pointed at the sun Ra and she began her tour of the system.

The windows automatically darkened to cut down the sun’s brilliance, but Harold was able to use the onboard telescope to spot their target, a small crescent to one side of the blazing orb. Andromeda did not attempt to reach maximum speed, but cruised in steadily. However, Elizabeth pointed out that they were already travelling at 0.1C – one-tenth of the speed of light.

“She’ll go a whole lot faster than that, if we want” said Andromeda, “but easy does it for now.”

As the small world approached Egeria slowed and made a loop between the planet and the sun at about 100 kilometres above the surface. From there they could see the cracked and cratered face of Troy, a face which was constantly facing Ra and therefore reached unimaginable temperatures. They swung round to the frozen hemisphere which always faced away from the sun, but it was hard to make anything out down there.

Harold was fascinated by his first close-up glimpse of another planet, but after a few circuits the rest of the crew was getting bored.

“Find us Knossos” Andromeda asked Harold, as she turned Egeria’s nose away from the sun. Harold fiddled with the telescope until he had the planet in its crosshairs and she was able to point the ship towards it. Then she pushed up the power lever and the sun Ra began to shrink behind them.

“0.5C” reported Elizabeth, “half the speed of light.”

“That’ll do” said Andromeda as she throttled back to a cruising speed. In short order the planet loomed before them, a yellow ochre ball with patches of brown. They circled the planet, looking down on the wide deserts and broken mountains below. Then they went down, landing like a feather in on the edge of a yellow plain of blowing sand with brown hills rising to the east. They had a picnic meal in the cabin while Elizabeth ran tests on a sample of the atmosphere outside.

“Pressure 1.5 times Earth-normal, mostly carbon dioxide with some nitrogen and other gases. No oxygen. Anyone going out will need pressure suits” she announced.

Andromeda, Elizabeth and Harold suited up and went out through the airlock and down the extending ramp to the surface. Gravity was stronger than on Armontiriath, and there was a strong wind blowing. It was hard to trudge through the sand, but interesting to walk a little way away and see the black ship standing on the sea of yellow. They took some samples of sand and rock, and soon returned.

“I’m glad to have stood on the surface of another world” said Harold, “but I don’t think anyone is going to want to live here when we have Armontiriath.”

“You never can tell” replied Andromeda, “People have different tastes. Some might find the desolation and bleakness attractive. They had colonies on Mars, back in the Solar System. But I think we’ve seen all we need to for now.”

Egeria took off again and pointed her nose towards Delphi, deep in the blackness of space. Andromeda increased power until the stars ahead were showing blue and those behind were deepest red. Then those ahead vanished.

“1.1C” said Elizabeth, “faster than light!”

“How is that possible?” asked Harold, “Einstein said…”

“Diana proved that massive objects can travel faster than light” explained Andromeda, “Apparently we’re kind of surfing across space, only barely in contact. Special relativity only applies to subatomic particles, it seems.”

After a while she dropped below light-speed, so that they could see their target, a vast ball of gas striped with bands of different colours. As Egeria approached, Andromeda cut off the drive so that the ship went into an elliptical orbit round the planet, coming close to the surface and then going out to play among the circling moons. They watched the lightning display on the surface and the auroral lights at the poles. Some of the moons were bare rock, and others were ice, with volcanoes of water spewing out into space.

After another meal and another couple of orbits, they set course back to their home planet. On the way back Andromeda pushed the speed up to several multiples of that of light, and then slowed as they came back to the blue-green ball of Armontiriath. New Warsaw was on the night side of the planet when they came back, but Egeria still touched down safely and smoothly in her allotted place.

As they were leaving the ship, Elizabeth caught up with Andromeda and said “There’s something I need to tell you.”

“Oh, yes?”

“Robert and I are getting married soon. We’d like you to be a bridesmaid for us, if you don’t mind.”

Andromeda laughed. “I’d be delighted. I’m going to need the practice.”

 

 

Chapter 7

The next morning Andromeda was in her office early, when Robert and Professor Hertberg came in, announcing they had important findings to share with her. Elizabeth came in as well, and Andromeda congratulated her and Robert on their engagement. The professor also beamed and said he was delighted, shaking hands with both of them.

“But” he said, “Delightful as that news it, it is not why we have come here this morning.”

Andromeda invited them all to sit down round the table. “OK, tell us what you two have been up to.”

Robert began to explain. “The professor and I have been doing some more work on our equations. One of them began to show us the possibility of instantaneous communication across unlimited distances. We got excited and spent all our time following it up.”

“That’s why we haven’t seen hide nor hair of these two for the last few days” broke in Elizabeth.

“Anyway” continued Robert, “We proved the concept theoretically and got one of Elizabeth’s engineers to lash up a test rig for us. It works over a few kilometres, but we need to test it in space.”

“Furthermore” chimed in the professor, “I believe the quasi-waves we have discovered will enable us to produce a kind of space radar. Send them out from your ship and they will return instantly, giving you a map of the objects around you – stars, planets, other ships. The possibilities are amazing!”

“I can see that” commented Andromeda, “You two have been busy little bees! If these discoveries can be made to work, they’ll transform space exploration – almost as much as your pseudo-gravity drive!”

“So now we’ve got quasi-waves as well as pseudo-gravity” exclaimed Elizabeth, “But you’re going to need us poor humble engineers to make them work, I guess.”

Swiftly it was agreed that one end of the prototype communication device would be taken up on the next test-flight of Egeria, scheduled for the next day. Today the engineers were overhauling the craft thoroughly, to check for any problems caused by yesterday’s flight. Elizabeth asked for details of the new ‘space radar’, so they could start designing a prototype for that.

“Shuttle Virbius is almost ready for a test flight” she announced, “So I suggest you slot that in after you return from tomorrow’s jaunt round the system.”

“Ollie is going to pilot Egeria tomorrow, while I take a back seat” announced Andromeda, “After that he can be chief pilot for Virbius, and we’ll need to train up more space pilots from those who have learnt on the flying platforms.”

The meeting broke up, and Andromeda spent the rest of the day on administration, including drawing up pilot training schedules. The following day was cloudy, with a light drizzle, but Egeria took off on schedule and broke through the clouds into the sunlight. Ollie was piloting, with Andromeda as co-pilot and Harold along as astronomer again. Elizabeth had stayed behind to work on the new ‘space radar’, but one of her co-workers, a young woman named Kali Patel, was in the engineer’s seat. Somewhat surprisingly, Professor Hertberg had decided to come along for a ride in the spaceship he was largely responsible for.

Once the ship was well clear of the atmosphere, Ollie turned off the drive to check the hull integrity. For a few minutes the occupants floated in zero-gravity, a new experience for two of them. Then he turned the drive field back on and they settled back in their seats. Their targets today were the distant planets Tyre and Sidon, orbiting Ra on the far side from Armontiriath. Harold found Tyre with the telescope, and Ollie swung the ship to point in that direction, and poured on power.

Egeria streaked across the system, flashing past the sun and reaching speeds of over three times light-speed before Ollie throttled back as they approached Tyre. It was another gas giant, much smaller than Delphi and with more subdued colours in its banding. They counted four moons and swooped among them as they circled the planet.

The big test was nothing to do with the planet itself, but of the device that Elizabeth had christened DICS – Device for Instantaneous Communication in Space. Kali turned it on and spoke into the microphone.

“Egeria calling. Egeria calling. Come in, Armontiriath base – are you receiving me?”

After a brief pause the loudspeaker chimed in with Robert’s voice: “Hello Egeria. This is Armontiriath base receiving you loud and clear!”

The cabin broke into applause and cheers. They all knew that radio waves would have taken hours to cross that expanse of space and return. There was more chatter back and forth, and everyone took turns to speak into the microphone. Ollie made a comment about “Clever DICS” and Andromeda finished by thanking Robert for the theory behind this great new invention.

From there they headed to the furthest of the system’s planets, Sidon, a rocky planet half the size of Armontiriath with a thin hydrogen atmosphere and one large moon. Ollie practised a landing in a large crater, but no-one felt inspired to go out and walk about. They took off again and headed for home, landing safely in the early morning of the day after they had left.

Over the next few days work at the New Warsaw Space Base went into high gear. Virbius took off on a shakedown flight with Ollie at the controls and a trainee as co-pilot. Elizabeth and her team produced an improved model of the DICS communications equipment and installed it in both space ships. A week later they produced a prototype of the ‘space radar’ system, which Elizabeth christened DODO – Device for Optimal Detection of Objects.

Andromeda took the prototype up in Egeria to test it out, and with a little fine-tuning they were able to see on screen all the planets of the system, as well as moons, comets and even large meteors. Expanding the range showed them all the surrounding stars, and Elizabeth promised that with a bit of tweaking they would be able to see their planets as well.

Meanwhile Andromeda had set up a training schedule for pilots, engineers and other spacecraft crew, which began to go into operation using the two shuttles, which now took off twice a day on training flights. While that was going on she studied the log of Diana and began to plan their first interstellar mission.

Her work was interrupted by the arrival of Elizabeth, announcing that the wedding was just a week away and Andromeda needed to be fitted for her bridesmaid’s dress. Protesting feebly, she was dragged away to an upmarket dress shop in the commercial district of New Warsaw. There her practical working trousers and t-shirt were removed and she was forced into a frilly pink confection which she felt made her look like a stick of candy and clashed horribly with her red hair. The two other bridesmaids, university friends of Elizabeth, seemed to find the experience quite enjoyable, however.

After the ordeal they retired to a nearby pavement café for alcoholic refreshment, and later Andromeda made her way back to her room in the Prince’s House with her mind full of instructions for the great day but rather too whoozy to organise them properly.

Over the next week Ollie took care of the majority of the training flights, although Andromeda also did a few. Very swiftly they were building up a cadre of trained and confident pilots, and by the end of the week several of them had been up on solo flights in nearby space. At the same time Elizabeth’s engineering team was planning and implementing modifications to Egeria to suit her for long-term interstellar travel.

Finally the day of Elizabeth and Robert’s wedding dawned, bright and clear. The bridal party assembled in a room at the university for the necessary beautification routines. A hairdresser and makeup artist worked on Andromeda. In separate corners of the room other pairs dealt with the bride and her two university friends, who completed the trio of bridesmaids.

When the time was right and they were sufficiently beautified, the bridal procession made its way across the central quadrangle to the Great Hall, where the ceremony was held. Robert was waiting there, in a dark silk tunic and trousers, looking smarter than Andromeda had ever seen him before. Elizabeth’s father, Fernando Coloni, tall and distinguished with silver hair and beard, escorted her up the aisle and handed her over to the bridegroom. The bridesmaids lined up behind while Alicia Melenna conducted the ceremony on behalf of the Government of Armontiriath.

At the conclusion she wound a silk band around the couple and proclaimed they were husband and wife, in the sight of the Government and people of Armontiriath. They all processed outside again, and there were photographs, and presents, and kisses, and general excitement. After what seemed an age they formed up again and headed over to the university refectory for the wedding meal.

Most of that passed in a bit of a blur for Andromeda. At the end she rated it a success, as none of the disasters she had feared took place. She had not fainted, or tripped over her dress, or dropped anything important, or knocked the cake over, or got too drunk and started kissing the groom. In fact, she even started to enjoy it.

At one point she encountered Mary Brady, Robert’s mother, who greeted her warmly.

“Andromeda dal’Nostra!” she exclaimed, “I knew your father well, at one time” Andromeda smiled and nodded, though she was aware of the history behind that remark. “He said to send his best wishes to you, if we met” she said.

“I’m impressed with the work you’re doing on the space project” said Mary, “Though I shouldn’t be surprised, as you’re Andreas’ daughter.”

“Robert and Elizabeth are responsible for most of it” responded the embarrassed bridesmaid, before making an excuse and hurrying off.

Finally the bride and bridegroom set off on their honeymoon – a week at a resort on the coast near Catania, called Lovers’ Bay. A cheering crowd watched them climb into their aircar and head off west into the afterglow of sunset. When they had disappeared, a group of works from the Space Centre went inside and found their way to the university baths, and Andromeda joined them. It was great to strip off the rather rumpled pink dress and the tight underwear and plunge into the warm water with the others.

As she lay there relaxing, Ollie came up and joined her, his black skin glistening with moisture. He grinned at her and she grinned back. “I’m quite glad that’s over” she said.

“I expect they are too” he responded, “Now they can get away together for a week, just the two of them.”

“So what? They’ve been living together for over a year. When I get married …”

“When will that be?”

“Who knows? Not yet anyway.”

Ollie grinned again and swam off. Andromeda climbed out of the pool and found a towel to dry herself, and then picked up her bridesmaid’s dress and wandered naked through the university until she found where she had left her case. She dressed again in loose, comfortable clothes and strolled back to the Prince’s House and her room there.

* * *

Elizabeth and Robert flew back from the coast a week later, by which time the refitting of Egeria was complete and stores were being loaded on board for a longer journey. Andromeda had chosen a six-person crew for this first attempt to fly to another star. She and Ollie would be pilots, Elizabeth and Kali engineers, and Robert and the professor were coming as scientific observers – or ‘joyriders’ as Ollie called them.

Andreas, Saardu, Alexis and Eva all came down from Armontirina in one of the new aircars, to see Egeria take off. They waved and shouted “Safe journey! Come back soon!” as the crew boarded the black spacecraft and closed the main airlock.

Inside, Andromeda showed the two scientists round the newly-refurbished interior. Just behind the control room were two spacious cabins – one for herself, as captain, and one for Robert and Elizabeth to share. Behind that was a large communal area, with a refectory, library, entertainment room, hot tub and sauna. Further back were six smaller single cabins, and behind them the engineering bay, which held the pseudo-gravity generators and power sources.

Everywhere was lavishly appointed, with panelled walls and carpeted floors.

“This is all very smart” said Robert, “No expense spared, I see.”

His wife explained. “First of all, we’re going to be travelling for days and weeks rather than hours, so it would be bad for crew morale to be shut up in a basic tin can. Secondly, we hope to meet colonists on another world, and we want them to get a good impression of Armontiriath.”

After the brief tour, the crew settled into their seats in the control room and prepared for take-off. After pre-flight checks were completed, Andromeda lifted off smoothly and flew Egeria up through the atmosphere and into interplanetary space. Once well clear of the planet, Ollie expanded the field of the DODO scanner until it encompassed the surrounding stars. They identified Poseidon’s star on the screen and Andromeda rotated the ship until her nose was pointing in the correct direction.

“Here we go” she said, increasing power to the forward drive. Armontiriath vanished behind as Egeria flashed through the system at ever-increasing speeds. The system-wide DODO screen showed the other planets beginning to shift towards their rear as the ship’s velocity piled up. Kali contacted the New Warsaw base on DICS and informed them that they were on the way, and all systems were nominal.

After what seemed a relatively short time, Ollie announced “Light-speed – 1C”. Andromeda pushed the power control up further and the ship accelerated in leaps and bounds.

“100C”

“200C”

“500C”

“1000C”

“That’ll do” said Andromeda, throttling back to a steady cruising speed, “Let’s not try to push it too far to start with. Poseidon is about 19 light-years from home, so it should take us just under a week to get there at this speed.”

The Ra system shrank behind them and nearby stars moved steadily across the DODO screen on all sides. Otherwise, the ride was smooth and there was no indication of their terrific speed. Leaving Ollie and Kali on first watch, the others went aft to get a meal, and then dispersed to their rooms or to use the entertainment facilities.

Very soon the ship’s routine settled down. The two pilots took alternate six-hour shifts in the control room, as did the two engineers, staggered so that there was a three-hour overlap. Otherwise there was little to do except patronise the entertainment facilities, lounge in the hot tub or sauna, or chat and drink in the lounge.

“Interstellar travel is a bit boring, isn’t it?” said Kali, in the hot tub with the professor.

“You should have been on Diana” he replied, “She took years to cover the same distance. Luckily we had deep-sleep cabinets and didn’t have to stay awake the whole time.”

Two days into the flight, Ollie and Elizabeth were on duty, when they spotted something on the DODO screen. Ollie went and fetched Andromeda to look. He pointed to a dot on the screen which was moving on a course roughly parallel to theirs but in the opposite direction.

“It’s moving faster than us – about 5000C” he reported, “What the hell can it be?”

“No idea. Another ship? And it’s heading for Armontiriath. It looks like it’s passing us about a light-year and a half away.”

She got on to DICS and called up New Warsaw Space Base and reported the phenomenon. She asked them to track the object and report when and if it landed on Armontiriath. Then she and the rest of the crew watched it fading swiftly behind them.

A few hours later New Warsaw reported that it had tracked the object as it approached the planet, and it seemed to have landed in the wild area to the north of Armontirina. They had reported to the Prince, who would investigate. Andromeda thanked them and signed off. She sat and thought for a few minutes, and resolved to get to the bottom of this on her return. Meanwhile she had the journey ahead of them to focus on.

The rest of the days in space passed uneventfully, and in just under a week Egeria was decelerating as she headed into the Poseidon system. Twelve planets circled a hot bright sun, but the fifth was the ship’s target. It was soon identified on  the DODO scanner, and Andromeda steered in that direction and the crew prepared for landing.

 

 

Chapter 8

The main telescope projected an image of the planet on to the central screen as Egeria approached. From her father’s log, Andromeda knew that the planet was larger than Earth or Armontiriath, with more than twice the surface area but a lower density. Most of the surface was water, except for three continents. The human colony had been established on the largest.

“Any radio communications?” she asked Kali, who was in charge of the radio for the approach.

“Several transmissions on different wavelengths, but no response when I try to transmit” she reported.

“OK. I see the continent we want, and that native city on an estuary must be Haranca, near where the pod landed. I see the pod now, and nearby is what looks like a human settlement. I’m going down.”

As the ship descended slowly through the atmosphere the view expanded until they saw the long cylinder of the colony pod beached between two cities. One was half submerged on the coast, obviously the Holloo city of Haranca. The other stretched from the shore of the estuary inland, and was clearly human. Andromeda angled the ship to land on a flat plain, about half a kilometre from the edge of the settlement. It was about mid-morning where they came down.

She powered off the drive and switched to local gravity. “Atmosphere within normal tolerances” reported Elizabeth, so they cracked the airlock and let the local air flow in. It smelled fresh and cool after the canned air they had been breathing. Elizabeth trained the telescope on the nearby city and reported that a vehicle had left and was heading towards them.

“I’ll go out on my own first” said Andromeda, “No need to spook them. They won’t know who the hell we are.”

She descended the ramp and stood on the local grass equivalent, which felt springy underfoot. The approaching vehicle was an open-topped three-wheeler, with a woman driving and a man sitting beside her, both in some kind of uniform. They drew up a few metres away and both got out.

“Are you from Earth?” the man demanded, as he strode up.

“No, from Armontiriath. I am Andromeda dal’Nostra, captain of the starship Egeria.”

“Where’s Armontiriath?” asked the woman, whose hand stayed nervously close to a weapon at her belt.

“Nineteen light-years from here, the next and final planet colonised by the colony ship Diana after she left your world. We come in peace, bringing neighbourly greetings.”

“OK” said the man, “I’m Karl Namatu and this is Tanya Grant, with the Pod’s Landing police. Where do we go from here?”

Andromeda smiled. “At the risk of sounding like a cliché: take me to your leader.” The two Poseidonians raised a grin in return.

“Michael Moldano is still our colony leader” said Karl, “though he’s more of a figurehead now. Shirl Dogani is our Executive President. We can take you to them – Executive House is in the city, not far from here.”

Tanya had been speaking on a handheld phone, and she reported that the government had been alerted and were waiting to receive the visitors from another world. Andromeda waved, and the rest of Egeria’s crew emerged. She filled them in briefly on developments, and announced that Robert should come with her to meet the government of the colony, while the others stayed with the ship.

“I expect you’ll have visitors” she said, “But don’t let anyone on board till we get back.”

Tanya stayed with the crew, while Andromeda and Robert climbed into the three-wheeler and Karl drove them back to the city. They reached a paved road and began passing small but attractive houses, each set in their own garden. Soon they reached the downtown area, with larger buildings, shops and offices, and emerged into the main square. This was an area of grass and trees, with an imposing fountain in the centre. This featured a giant statue of the sea-god Poseidon, waving his trident assertively and surrounded by adoring mermaids.

“This is Landing Square” announced Karl, “The Presidential Palace is opposite – it’s our seat of government and also houses our Assembly of Delegates.”

He drove round the square to the imposing but rather brutalist concrete building which occupied that side. A number of people were waiting outside, and as they dismounted from the three-wheeler one of them came over to greet them. She was tall, dark-skinned and middle-aged in appearance.

“Welcome to Poseidon!” she said warmly, shaking their hands, “I’m Shirl Dogani, Executive President of the human colony.”

“We’re very glad to be here” said Andromeda, introducing Robert.

“It’s great to get visitors” said Shirl, escorting them into the building, “But still a bit of a shock. We thought another ship from Earth might reach us sometime, but weren’t expecting to see other colonists here so soon!”

She led them to a conference room, where two other people were waiting. One was the veteran colony leader and titular President, Michael Moldano. He was white-haired and walked with a stick, but seemed still full of energy as he shook their hands warmly.

“Delighted to meet you, my dear!” he exclaimed, “I assume you’re the daughter of Andreas dal’Nostra. He was one of the crew of Diana when she dropped us off here.”

Andromeda confessed to the relationship, and added that her father was now Prince of Armontiriath. Michael chuckled “Well, I guess that makes you a princess, then?”

“Sort of, I suppose. At present I’m the Prince’s representative and head of the Armontiriath space programme.”

Shirl invited them all to sit down, and introduced the other member of her government.

“This is Alan Duque, our minister in charge of alien affairs. Mainly he deals with the Holloo, but it seemed appropriate for him to meet you as well.”

The slim young fair-headed man who had been introduced smiled and said he was delighted to be there. Andromeda introduced Robert as one of the two scientists who had made the breakthrough which got Armontiriath back into space, and then briefly summarised the history of her planet and its progress with space exploration. The Poseidonians asked a number of questions at the end of her talk, and then she suggested that they describe the situation on Poseidon.

“Things are going well for us” said Shirl, “We’ve been here over 30 years and have built a flourishing colony, concentrating on the inland areas that the Holloo don’t want. Our relations with them are good, and we have exchanged goods and services freely. Agriculture and manufacturing are developing rapidly, and the population is growing.”

“How about your system of government?” asked Andromeda.

“The 12 government ministers are elected every four years by secret ballot, and the Assembly is selected in the intervening years by stratified random sampling of the whole population. It seems to have worked well so far, though we may need to tweak it as we go on.”

“We have a similar system on Armontiriath, but in addition the Prince acts as a check to ensure that no human rights are violated, by the Government or others. Our history of struggle against the Totalists has made that very important to us.”

“I can see that” said Michael,, “We have no equivalent, but have not yet seen a need for it. Perhaps in the future …”

At that point refreshments appeared, and Andromeda said it would be good if they could meet some of the Holloo. Alan Duque agreed, and said he had already notified the Hisack Kalmado, the Great Council of the Holloo people on the island of To’Mat. The meeting continued, talking of this and that, until at last Michael Moldano raised the question uppermost in the minds of all the Poseidonians present.

“The secret of space travel that you have discovered – are you willing to share it with us?”

“Yes” said Andromeda, “Under certain conditions. We will discuss those conditions later. For now, we have had a long journey and would like to return to the ship. Tomorrow we can talk further.”

“As you wish” said Shirl, “I will have you returned to your ship now”

They said their farewells politely, and the same three-wheeler took Andromeda and Robert back to Egeria. A respectable crowd surrounded the ship, being held back by one or two police. The hatch was closed, but when the two of them walked up it opened and the ramp slid out. They entered, and joined their four companions, and spent some time briefing them on the meeting with the leaders of the Poseidon colony. Then Andromeda used DICS to report back to her father on Armontiriath.

The next few days were busy. The space-travellers were taken on tours of Pod’s Landing and the surrounding area, being shown with pride the progress made in setting up manufacturing facilities. In turn they escorted selected groups of Poseidonians through the ship, but without allowing them into the engineering bay or revealing any of the science behind the pseudo-gravity drive.

After that came the time for another serious meeting. Andromeda, Elizabeth and Robert were taken back to the conference room in the Presidential Palace to meet the same three leaders as before. After some polite enquiries as to the visitors’ impressions of Poseidon, Executive President Shirl Dogani got down to business.

“We are interested to hear if you are willing to share the secret of your space drive with us.”

“Indeed we are” replied Andromeda, “On three conditions.”

“Which are?”

“One: that the pseudo-gravity drive and energy capture system are used purely for peaceful purposes.”

“Agreed.”

“Two: that none of the spacecraft you build are armed in any way.”

“Agreed.”

“Three: that you swear not to approach the planet Earth closer than one light-year distance, and share none of this information with them.”

“Why not? Earth is our home world, the cradle of the human race. Surely …”

“Earth is the problem” stated Andromeda clearly.

“What?”

“Consider this. If we go down to Earth and hand over all the secrets of the space drive and so forth, how long will it be before they rule us all? We have millions and they have billions. What do you know of their society and their politics since we left?”

Alan Duque broke in. “We receive regular maser links from Earth, though they are years out of date when they reach us. Much has changed there, and much stays the same. Politically, the planet is – unsettled.”

“Exactly” said Andromeda, “For that reason we need to keep these new powers away from them until we can figure out how to deal with our dangerous mother-world.”

“Princess dal’Nostra is right” said Michael Moldano, “Earth is a problem we all need to deal with – but not yet.”

“Very well” said Shirl, “We agree with all your conditions.”

“I’m glad” said Andromeda, “Robert here, with Professor Hertberg, can confer with the scientists at your university and pass on the details of the theory they have developed. Elizabeth Brady can give your engineers the details they need for the energy capture system, the pseudo-gravity drive, the DICS communication apparatus and the DODO deep space radar. We have a DICS unit we will leave with you, so the two planets can stay in instantaneous communication.”

“We appreciate all that, and hope that we can draw up a treaty of friendship and cooperation between our worlds.”

“That would be good” said Andromeda, “But beyond that I hope to contact more colony worlds and form a union of planets for mutual support and exchange of goods and knowledge.”

“And to help solve the Earth problem?” added Michael Moldano.

“Perhaps. While we are here, I would like to meet the Holloo leaders and bring them on board as well.”

“That’s easy” said Alan Duque, “They’ve already sent an invitation for you to visit the island of To’Mat and meet the Hisack Kalmado, the Great Council of the Holloo people.”

“We look forward to that” said Andromeda, and then the meeting ended with mutual compliments and congratulations.

Three days later Egeria prepared to leave Pod’s Landing for the island of To’Mat. The last couple of days had been busy, with members of the ship’s crew downloading key technical information on to the computers of the scientists and engineers of Poseidon. Andromeda had paid a visit to the Holloo city of Haranca, and spoken with some of the alien city’s leaders. She waded through the semi-submerged streets and admired the docks with the rows of submarines loading and unloading goods for the bustling crowds of intelligent seal-like amphibians.

Now they were going to meet the Holloo’s leaders, with Alan Duque along as interpreter/liaison advisor. Egeria took off smoothly and headed over the sea for less than a thousand kilometres until the island came in sight. Alan was in touch by radio with the locals on the ground, and passed on instructions as to where they should land. The centre to To’Mat was rocky, but on the north shore was a group of buildings, and Andromeda manoeuvred the ship to a gentle landing on a flat area just inland.

A group of Holloo came to greet the humans as they emerged from the ship. Alan introduced one of them as Sarnako, the Holloo/human liaison individual. She reminded Andromeda of pictures of seals from Earth – the long graceful aquatic bodies with raised heads and intelligent eyes. But below the long neck were two short arms ending in 6-fingered hands, and four other limbs acted as combination flippers and legs. Her body was mottled red and black, and her companions were likewise covered in a variety of colours and patterns.

“Welcome to To’Mat” she said, in fluent English, “We are glad to welcome visitors from planet Armontiriath.”

“Your English is very good” complimented Andromeda.

“Many of us have learned your languages, in order to strengthen the bonds with our human friends. Let me introduce you to my companions.”

She introduced the other Holloo, all high-ranking members of the Hisack Kalmado, many of whom uttered a greeting in English, though with less fluency than Sarnako. Then Andromeda introduced her companions, and they moved down into the Holloo city. They were led to a room with human-style chairs, while the Holloo lay on slightly raised platforms facing them.

Food was served, mainly based on seafood and exotic marine vegetables, and designed to appeal to human palates. Initially the discussion was general, as the space travellers described their home world and the Holloo talked about their people’s history and culture. Sarnako translated the English for the Holloo, while Alan did the reverse for the humans.

After a while there was a break for more refreshment, and then one of the Holloo took some of the Egeria crew off for a tour of the city while Andromeda and Elizabeth remained, with Alan, to conduct the more serious negotiations. When the terms of the agreement to share the space drive technology were laid out to them, the Holloo immediately agreed and said they were very grateful for this new opportunity which was offered to them.

“Are you going to want to travel into space?” asked Elizabeth, “Have you ever dreamed of doing so?”

“Not really” said Sarnako, “Our watery world has been enough for us up till now. But you have opened our eyes to a new adventure for our race, and we would be foolish to ignore it. Our submarines, you know, explore the depths of the sea – they can easily be converted to explore the vacuum of space.”

“Indeed” broke in Alan, “The Holloo submarine construction technology is one contribution we on Poseidon can make to developing space travel. Human and Holloo expertise combined will enable us to produce ships of all shapes, sizes and designs. In years to come Poseidon will become one of the main centres of spaceship construction, I’m sure.”

“Excellent” said Andromeda, “I look forward to fleets of advanced spacecraft emerging from the factories of Poseidon.”

Then she turned to Sarnako: “While I’m with you, I have a favour to ask?”

“Tell me.”

“When my father was here, over thirty years ago, he went in one of your submarines, and was taken to meet entities called the Deep Ones, far down in your ocean. I would really appreciate having that experience myself.”

“That can be done. I will arrange.” And the seal-like creature dipped her head in farewell and slithered off. The humans made their farewells in turn and went back to the ship for the night.

In the morning Sarnako appeared and informed Andromeda that a submarine was waiting to take them to seek out the Deep Ones. She led her back to the city and through to the submarine docks, where a slim vessel awaited, patterned and green and blue. They boarded through a hatch in the top and descended a spiralling ramp to the interior. Sarnako introduced Andromeda to the three-Holloo crew, but explained that none of them spoke English. The deck underfoot was awash with several centimetres of water, but Andromeda found a place where she could sit and see out of one of the ship’s observation windows.

The submarine left the dock and submerged, and seemed to power through the water extremely fast, to Andromeda’s inexperienced eye. A few hours passed, and then Sarnako announced that they had reached the right spot. The ship began to descend, and as it went down the light outside dimmed until it was totally dark. Then the interior lights were switched off and the ship continued to descend into the blackness.

At length, far below, Andromeda could see faint lights appearing. As the ship descended they grew closer and brighter, forming strange but slowly-changing patterns in the dark. The descent stopped and they hung in the water. Suddenly a strong but gentle voice sounded through the ship, speaking words in the Holloo language. Sarnako answered, and then the voice came again, speaking in English this time.

“We greet you, princess of Armontiriath” it said, “We remember your father came to us, and now you are here. How may we help?”

“You gave my father a gift, of seeing what is hidden and knowing what is secret. That gift I have inherited. I came to thank you.”

“You inherited other gifts from your mother’s people, as you will discover. There is nothing more we can give you. We wish you well. Farewell.”

Then the lights sank down into the depths again, and all was silent. Sarnako spoke: “It is a great honour to speak with the Deep Ones – I had no realised your father spoke with them years ago.”

“Yes, he did, which is why I wanted to share that experience. But now, perhaps, it’s time to go back.”

The submarine ascended to the upper levels of the ocean and travelled back to To’Mat, where the rest of the crew of Egeria waited to start the journey home.

 

Chapter 9

Egeria landed back at New Warsaw Space Base after a journey of just under three days from Poseidon. Andromeda had pushed the ship’s speed up to 2000C – “I have a wedding to go to” she explained to her colleagues. It was late afternoon, and they were welcomed home by a small crowd of space base staff, including Angelo Kaufmann, who had taken on the post of space base administrator. There was a short meeting in the conference room, and the crew gave a brief overview of their trip. Angelo confirmed that they were now in regular contact with the humans at Pod’s Landing as well as the Holloo at To’Mat, using the DICS units that Egeria had left there.

As evening was falling, Angelo showed Andromeda and Elizabeth the site which was being prepared to build new spacecraft from scratch.

“The Poseidonians may beat us to it” laughed Elizabeth, and she explained how they were planning to use the Holloo submarine construction techniques to build their own spacecraft. “They use the shells of giant marine molluscs to make the hull, and a kind of coral for the internal bracing, and have already developed life support systems” she explained.

The following morning Andromeda announced she was heading back to Armontirina for her brother’s wedding. First she spoke to Ollie, who was going to take Virbius on its first interstellar flight, returning to Poseidon in a few days’ time with a new crew. Then she went to find Nebula, and took her up a ramp on to the open rear platform of a large aircar. The unicorn was fascinated by the prospect of flight, but not nervous after Andromeda had reassured her that it was perfectly safe.

They flew north, crossing the fields and hills and forests, the Great Rift and the land beyond, in hours rather than the days it had taken coming south. That first journey seemed so long ago now. Andromeda felt she had just been a young girl then, but now all that had happened had changed and matured her – she hoped for the better.

She touched down in the designated landing site just outside the low white walls of the city. She lowered the ramp and Nebula trotted down, indicating that she had enjoyed the ride and when could they do it again? Andromeda slung her bag on her back and mounted, and they trotted through the south gate and through the city to the Palace. People on the street recognised her and shouted greetings, and as she dismounted in front of the Palace her father and mother came to embrace her.

“Welcome home!” said Saardu, “If only for a while.”

“You have been busy” said her father, “When I sent you out I never expected how far you would go! Tell me about Poseidon.”

They went inside and had refreshments on the terrace overlooking the sea and the glittering cliffs, and shared all their news. Mainly Andromeda did the talking, as she spoke about the excitement of the space exploration project and what they had achieved so far. Her parents spoke about the bits of local news, and how delighted they were about Alexis’ new bride.

On cue, Alexis and Eva appeared on the terrace, and there were hugs and kisses all round. Eva was slim and black, as tall as Alexis, with a ready smile and wearing a brightly patterned figure-hugging dress. Alexis seemed happier than his sister had ever seen him before, and for a moment Andromeda felt a pang of jealousy, which she quickly squashed.

They discussed the wedding, two days hence, and with some trepidation Andromeda asked about what she was expected to wear as bridesmaid. “Come and see!” said Eva, whisking her away inside, and taking her up to her room in the Palace. She produced an elegant green dress, which Andromeda put on and looked in the mirror. The effect suited her perfectly, with her red hair and light brown skin. “Brilliant!” she said, and explained about the pink confection she had to wear at Robert’s wedding. The two women laughed together, and Andromeda realised she was gaining a friend as well as a sister-in-law.

The next day was filled with preparations for the wedding on the morrow. Andromeda sensed that Eva was getting increasingly stressed by the bustle and hassle, so suggested they absconded together and went for a ride. She collected Nebula and another unicorn from the Palace stables and met Eva outside the front entrance. Eva was nervous, but she climbed on to the back of her unicorn, a female called Tansy with a light brown coat. Tansy soothed her with gentle thoughts, and they rode off together out of the east gate of the city.

Together they roamed over the open grasslands, riding gently up and down hills and chatting together. At one point Andromeda pointed north, to where the Secret Mountain lay, its summit shrouded by the ever-present clouds. “Do you see the mountain?” she asked, but Eva shook her head. “No mountain, just clouds” she said, and they rode on.

On the way back they detoured to the south, and Andromeda pointed out the black castle of Dragon Rock, on its peninsula jutting out into the sea. She described the great battle that was fought there against the Totalists, at the beginning of the colony. “I learned about it in history lessons at school” explained Eva.

On their return they took the unicorns back to the stables and made sure they were well looked after, but then were still hesitant about rejoining the confusion inside. Alexis emerged, and they told him to join them as they made their way back into the city, and then round to the steep stairs that wound down the glittering cliffs to the beach below. Here they stripped off and swam and sunbathed as the sun Ra headed into the west. As they climbed slowly back up to the city, they felt pleasantly tired, and the nerves about tomorrow’s ceremony had all but disappeared.

There was a formal dinner that night in the Palace dining hall, with about twenty guests including the family of the bride. Andromeda turned up in a smart blue dress, and was complimented by her father. “First time I’ve seen you out of trousers since I don’t know when” commented the Prince, and she retorted “Wait till you see me tomorrow!”

There was an early start the next day, and bride and bridesmaids assembled to prepare their finery. The other bridesmaid was Samantha, Eva’s sister, another elegant black woman. Andromeda was beginning to feel she was getting the hang of this whole bridesmaid business, and she chatted happily to the other two as they got ready. The bride’s gown was startlingly white against her black skin, and both bridesmaids wore elegant dresses of emerald green, with silver belts and coronets.

They were admiring each other when there was a knock on the door and Andromeda’s mother entered, dressed in her usual colour of silvery-grey. “Andromeda, I have a gift for you” she said, holding out a jewel strung on a silver chain. She put it round her daughter’s neck and fastened it carefully. The jewel was strange – at one moment it seemed viridian green, then turquoise, then blue and on into other shades and colours, constantly changing in a seemingly random sequence.

“It’s beautiful!” exclaimed Andromeda, and Saardu said “It will give you warning of danger and protect you from harm, so be sure to wear it always.”

“What harm can come to me now, at this wedding?” asked her daughter.

“Not here, not now, but in the future, on the journeys you make and the adventures you undertake. My son will be Prince and have the Sword to protect him, but I wish to keep you safe also. Humour your mother.”

“I will, Mother. Thank you” and she kissed her.

“I have another favour to ask” said Saardu.

“What’s that?”

“After the wedding, come on a journey with me. Will you do that?”

“Of course, Mother. Where to?”

“To meet the dragon” and Saardu was gone again, and the door closed.

The ceremony went smoothly. It was held in the Great Hall of the Palace, and Prince Andreas conducted it. The couple made their vows without stumbling, Andromeda didn’t drop the flowers, and nobody fell over on the steps. The weather was warm and bright enough for the reception to be held on the terrace, and nobody got drunk enough to fall off into the sea far below. There was dancing, and various young men twirled Andromeda around the floor but none got her heart racing or set off the danger warning in her new necklace.

Alexis and Eva changed and went off in an aircar to an undisclosed destination. The party continued and more alcohol was consumed, but gradually people drifted away. By midnight Andromeda was back in her room, unzipping the beautiful emerald dress and hanging it up to gather dust. She was soon asleep.

In the morning she was up early, dressed in trousers and shirt again, and having breakfast when Saardu found her. “Ready?” she asked.

“Ready, Mother” she replied, swallowing her last mouthful. They went out to the stables and collected their unicorns, Nebula and Saardu’s pure white Heartstar. The rode out of the Palace and left the city by the eastern gate, but then swung north over open green fields. Soon they were following the Silver River, heading north as it rushed down from its source far ahead. In front of them the Secret Mountain towered out of the forest at its base, its peak wreathed in eternal clouds.

They rode mostly in silence, and by mid-afternoon they had reached the edge of the forest, and followed the river uphill as it splashed and burbled past them on its way to the sea. It was autumn, but still quite warm – seasons on Armontiriath are less extreme than on Earth. At last Saardu led them away from the river on a track through the trees, emerging at length in a large open space which led away uphill to the slopes of the mountain.

Evening light fell on a large rounded green mound, and on an open doorway leading into the mound. But what caught Andromeda’s attention was the vast black dragon stretched out on top of the mound, with its dark wings stretched out on either side. From nose to tail it must have been at least half a kilometre long, and its wingspan was just as wide. Two enormous golden eyes regarded the women on their unicorns steadily. They dismounted, and the unicorns wandered off to graze, unconcerned by the presence of the dragon.

“Andromeda, meet Mordagiar, the Black Dragon of Ombal” said Saardu, and the dragon spoke in her mind Well met, Andromeda, Princess of Armontiriath.

Andromeda stared into the dragon’s enormous orbs. “What are you? Where have you come from?”

I flew in several days ago with my master from Tamorg, on the far side of the galaxy. I am what you see, the last of my breed.

“I saw something flying into this world while I was travelling away from it – was that you?”

Indeed it was. Now my master comes.

The dragon closed his great eyes and seemed to sleep. From the doorway beneath its head a figure appeared. It was tall and slender, at least two metres, and grey robes covered its body, though it seemed roughly human in shape. As it approached, Andromeda saw that the face was not human, though it had two slanting eyes and a small mouth. The head was bald, the skin was grey, and the face tapered to a pointed chin. There was no sign of nose or ears.

Saardu spoke to the figure in a strange language, and then again in English: “Greetings, Ombal, Wizard of Tamorg.”

“Greetings, Saardu” said the alien in the same language, “It has been a long time. This is your daughter?”

“This is Andromeda, princess of Armontiriath. My daughter and leader of our space travel project.”

“Well met, Ombal” said Andromeda, “I am pleased to meet an old friend of my mother.”

“Well met, Andromeda. Your mother has asked me to teach you something. I will do that tomorrow, if you consent. Now we must go in and meet the lord of the hollow hill.”

He turned and led the way through the door, and Saardu and her daughter followed. At the end of a long corridor with many passages off it they came into a spacious chamber, lit by many lamps. A number of individuals were there, sitting at tables or moving about, chatting to each other, and gentle music was playing. In form they were human, but tall and slender and Andromeda recognised the similarity to her mother. They were dressed in flowing robes of soft colours, both male and female.

As one of the figures approached them, Saardu took her daughter’s hand and gently pulled her forward. “Andromeda, this is my father, Aarken” she said. The tall figure bowed.

“Granddaughter, I am delighted to meet you at last. Welcome to our home.”

“Thank you. I’m glad to be here. I’d like to learn more about my mother’s people. What is this place, and where do you come from?”

“We call this place the Halls of Zymoria, the home of our people for many years. We are few in number, refugees from a great disaster long ago. Come and sit, eat and drink.”

He led them to a table and they sat each side of him and were served food and drink, strange but delicious. Aarken began to gently ask his granddaughter about herself, her life and plans, and she found herself talking freely to him about all that had happened and her hopes for the future. As she did so, she felt almost as if she was in a waking dream, with the soft lights, unearthly music and unfamiliar tastes.

When she had finished her story, Aarken said “You have achieved much, and I believe you will go on to achieve much more. You combine the character of my people with the strength and boldness of humanity – a powerful mixture.”

“You’re very kind” she replied, “But all I have done has been due to the work of others. I am no scientist, nor an engineer – I just guide and direct those with more knowledge than myself.”

“Indeed, that is your skill. I drink to your future, daughter of two races.” And he raised his glass to toast her in the delicate perfumed wine they were drinking. Soon after that she began to feel drowsy, and her mother took her through more passages to a chamber where she could sleep. “Rest here” she said, “I will be next door. Bathroom and toilet are through that curtain. Sleep well.”

She did sleep well, and in the morning was woken by her mother and taken back to the central chamber for a simple breakfast. Then Ombal appeared beside her and said “Are you ready?” The wizard led her from the chamber back to the open glade, where the sun was starting to dispel the early morning mists. He headed briskly into the trees and Andromeda followed as he strode deeper into the forest.

At a small clearing with a trickling stream he halted and turned to face her. “What I am going to teach you is called vynoshki, and in your language the nearest translation is magic, though that is a poor word for it. It really means ‘creation of uncaused effects’, and is the production of events which appear to defy accepted physical laws.”

“How is that possible?”

“In truth all physical laws are stochastic in nature, governed by probability. All the effects we produce by vynoshki are merely extremely unlikely, but not impossible. As a descendant of Aarken and his people you have that ability latent in your brain, and I will awaken it – but only to a limited extent. I will teach you to manipulate time, which can prove very useful.”

“Manipulate time? Me? I don’t think ….”

“Time is easy – watch” and the wizard vanished. For a moment Andromeda stood dumbstruck, and then she heard his from behind, saying “Over here.” She whirled round, and there he was, several metres away, stepping out of the trees.

“How did you do that?” she gasped.

“In simple terms, I stopped time for you and everything except myself. I walked round behind you and then set it going again. It’s very easy, once you know the secret.”

“Can you show me?”

“Indeed. Look into my eyes.” She gazed into his oval slanting green eyes and felt a hypnotic drowsiness come over her. Something was lightly probing her mind, and then it unlocked a door she had not known existed but now was clear and obvious. The spell broke and she stood blinking.

“Now you do it” said the wizard. She felt for the newly-opened door in her mind and went in. Everything stopped. An eye-of-god that was fluttering across the clearing hung motionless in mid-air. The trees stopped swaying in the wind and Ombal stood like a statue. Only she could move, and she walked slowly across to the stream, whose ripples stood as if carved from stone. She stepped over and turned round, and closed the door in her mind again.

Everything started again. The eye-of-god flew into the trees, the stream flowed again and the branches swayed in the breeze. Ombal moved towards her again. “Well done” he said, “Do it again.”

She practised several more times, until it was almost automatic. “Time is easy!” she said, and the wizard chuckled. “Now you have a skill which you can use to escape from greatest peril” he said, “Let us return now.”

They walked back through the woods to the hollow hill. The sun was fully up and the mists had vanished. The giant black dragon raised his head on seeing his master and sent a thought to Andromeda You have done well, young one. She nodded in acknowledgement. Saardu and Aarken were waiting for them, and Saardu asked the wizard “Did it work?”

“Your daughter has mastered one of the aspects of vynoshki” replied Ombal, “It will stand her in good stead in the future.”

“Thank you for your help Tamorga Vynoshkir” said Andromeda’s mother, bowing to him. The unicorns were there, with saddlebags loaded, and Saardu told her daughter it was time to leave. She bade farewell to her grandfather Aarken, to the wizard, and to the great dragon, and then they mounted the unicorns and rode away, downhill towards Armontirina again.

“Thank you, Mother, for bringing me here. I appreciate what you have done for me.”

“I love you, Andromeda, and want you to be safe. When you return to New Warsaw, where will you go next?”

“It’s time to go to Earth now.”

 

 

Chapter 10

When Andromeda got back to Armontirina, her father expressed doubts about her plan to visit Earth.

“You got the Poseidonians to promise not to go there, for very good reasons” he commented.

“Those reasons still apply” his daughter replied, “But at the same time we need to know what’s going on there, in order to plan our future strategies. All our information is well out of date. For all we know they’ve got their act together and are no longer the mishmash of corrupt politics, criminal behaviour, religious intolerance and general chaos that Diana left behind.”

“Unlikely” said Andreas.

“Agreed. But we need to know what we’re dealing with before we even consider the risk of giving them uncontrolled access to space. I need to go there, to see for myself.”

“Very well, Andie, but be careful.”

“Don’t call me Andie! I will be careful – now I’ve got vynoshki skills to protect me.”

“Yes, Andromeda, but don’t get over-confident. You’re going into something dangerous, that you’ve never experienced before. Earth isn’t Armontiriath, you know.”

“I know, Father. I’ll be very cautious.”

When she left Armontirina, she took the aircar, giving a lift to a couple of volunteers from Armontirina who wanted to become involved in the space project. Andromeda said goodbye to Nebula, who went out into the grasslands to join a herd of her own kind. They had an emotional parting, but promised they would see each other again before long.

On the flight down to New Warsaw Andromeda became aware of a lot more traffic in the skies. She knew the Government was busily developing a traffic control system to deal with the issue, before any serious accidents occurred. One of the aircars she passed was black, with the insignia of the Prince’s Riders on the side – clearly some of them had abandoned their unicorns and taken to the air.

When she landed Elizabeth came to meet her, freshly returned from her honeymoon.

“Good time?” Andromeda asked, and Elizabeth grinned. “Brilliant. We were on this little island resort, just off the coast of Catania. Food, drink, sun, sand and … whatever. No need to wear any clothes, it was so warm.”

“Sounds idyllic. I hope you’re ready to get back to work. I’m calling a meeting for this afternoon, to get a briefing and discuss plans.”

“Rightho, boss – I’ll get everyone together.”

Andromeda went to her office and spent a few hours catching up on emails and messages. There were disappointingly few crises that really would have needed her attention, but she consoled herself by noting that she had an excellent team.

The main heads of different departments reported. Virbius was on its way back from Poseidon with Alan Duque on board, come to see Armontiriath at first hand. Three brand-new, larger ships were under construction, with improved drives and better facilities. Financially, the space project was doing well, with all the income from licensing energy extractors and aircars piling up in the coffers. New recruits were begging to join the project and training was going ahead steadily.

When they came to future plans and Andromeda announced her intention of taking Egeria to visit Earth, there was a moment of stunned silence, followed by protests. She listened to them all, and then gave the same explanation she had given the Prince, without mentioning vynoshki. At last the protests died down and they move on to planning the expedition.

“I shall go” said Andromeda, “But I don’t want to take Elizabeth, Robert or the professor – they know too much. I’ll take Kali as Chief Engineer, and a newly-trained pilot and engineer to back us up. Any questions?”

“What about arms?” asked Robert, “If Earth is as dangerous as you say, should you take some weapons to defend yourselves?”

“I doubt we could out-gun Earth’s arsenals, and if we are armed it may give them an excuse to attack us. No, we’ll go unarmed. But not completely defenceless” she added quietly to herself.

Then Professor Hertberg spoke up. “I need to go to Earth, whatever the risks. I am the only one of you that was born on that planet, and I desperately want the chance to see it again before I die.”

Andromeda argued with him, but in the end the old man was adamant and she had to give in gracefully. “You will be plain Wilhelm Hertberg, and lose the professor while we’re there” she insisted, and he agreed.

The expedition to Earth was scheduled to leave in a week’s time, after Virbius had returned from Poseidon. The meeting broke up and everyone went to their own tasks in preparation for the trip.

Three days later Virbius landed, bringing Alan Duque on a mission from Poseidon. He was delighted to see Andromeda and the others he knew, and they took him on a brief tour of the space base. He said “I was amazed when we set off for this blank area of space with no nearby stars, and then suddenly here we were. I don’t understand …”

“Don’t worry” said Andromeda, “Armontiriath is hidden from those who have never been here. I think on your next trip you’ll see it OK” Alan still looked puzzled.

He announced that on Poseidon they had two starships under construction, using Holloo technology for the hulls and life support and incorporating human engineering for the space drive and power supply. When he heard of Andromeda’s plan to visit Earth he expressed surprise, but understood when she explained her reasons to him. Then two Government representatives arrived to whisk him off on a conducted tour of New Warsaw and the rest of the planet, including meetings with the First Minister and the Prince.

And two days after that Egeria was ready for her longest voyage to date, crossing almost 50 light-years to reach Earth. The crew climbed aboard: Andromeda as pilot and a young woman called Greta Smallbay as co-pilot; Elizabeth as chief engineer and a young man called Dan O’Neil as her assistant; and Professor Wilhelm Hertberg as supernumerary passenger. Take-off and exit from the system were uneventful, and Andromeda steered the ship until Earth was centred on their main Dodo screen. Steadily she increased their speed to 2,500C and announced a flight time of around a week.

Life on board swiftly fell into a routine, with two crew always in the control cabin and the others relaxing. They watched the stars march past, and identified those they knew: Poseidon’s star, and then further on the star around which swung the double planets Romulus and Remus. Lastly, about ten light-years from Earth, they passed the star Odin around which the world Thor orbited.

As they entered the solar system Andromeda slowed to a small multiple of light-speed and they began to use Dodo to scan for space traffic and evidence of colonies on other planets. She knew from Poseidon that there was a colony on the moon Ganymede of the giant planet Jupiter, but that was on the far side of the Sun at present. As they came close to Mars they detected radio transmissions from the planet, and then observed a spacecraft making the slow transit back to Earth.

They slowed and matched courses with it, about 20 kilometres away, and studied it through the telescope. They saw a silvery hull with antennae and various objects protruding from it, and a fiery exhaust spewing from the rear.

“Fusion engine, like this shuttle used to have” commented Elizabeth, “Not much sign of great leaps in technology since Diana left.”

“Can they see us, do you think?” asked Greta.

“I don’t think so” said Elizabeth, “For a start we’re painted black, have no exhaust, and they’re not expecting to see us out here. They’d need to know where we are and have a good telescope to spot us.”

“Let’s go to Earth” said Andromeda, and she accelerated smoothly away and pointed their nose at the green and blue planet of humanity’s home. In short order they were in orbit, taking time to monitor the space stations, satellites and other equipment in near-Earth space and to scan the radio frequencies. They pointed the main telescope at the world below, and watched as continents and oceans rolled past. They seemed familiar from school lessons, yet there was a strong feeling among all the crew of coming to an alien planet.

Only the professor felt differently as he gazed greedily at the images of the world where he was born. “Home” he muttered once, and then was silent.

Dan O’Neil, the tall skinny second engineer, announced “I think I’ve found the main government radio frequency. They don’t seem to have spotted us yet. The main source is in North Africa, just below us now.”

“That’ll be Sahara City, the seat of the United World Federation – or at least it was over 80 years ago when Diana left” said Andromeda, “Can we try to contact them?”

Dan stroked his straggly brown beard as he tried to raise a response from the planet below. “Spaceship Egeria calling planetary government” he repeated a number of times until he finally said “Got ‘em!” and switched the incoming message to the loudspeaker.

“Receiving you, unidentified spacecraft. Who are you? Where have you come from?”

Dan handed the mike to Andromeda. “This is the spaceship Egeria from the colony planet Armontiriath. We come in peace. Permission to land and make contact with your leaders?”

There was a brief silence and then a slightly baffled response “We have no record of your planet. What landing facilities do you need?”

“Any suitable flat surface at least 100 metres square will suffice. We are very gentle and don’t produce any blast or exhaust problems.”

An even longer silence. “You can land at our military airbase three kilometres east of Sahara City. We will mark out a landing area and put a white circle in the centre. Will that suffice?”

“That’s excellent.”

“Give us two hours to get ready, and then come down.”

“Will do. See you soon.”

While the ship completed another orbit, Andromeda briefed her crew. “It’s vital that we do not disclose any information about the space drive and so forth to the people of Earth at this stage. I will go out with the professor initially, and we will wear concealed DICS units to be in contact with the ship at all times. Professor – for this visit you will no longer be the eminent scientist who developed the theory behind the drive, but a simple retired teacher called, hmm, Wilhelm Smith. OK?”

“Understood, captain.”

“If there is any threat of violence or attempt to enter the ship, those on board will put up the drive field. The force shield should be proof against any attack. The rest of you will get a chance to visit the planet in turn, I hope, but we need to have at least two crew on board at all times.”

Her colleagues said they understood, and Andromeda went to get changed. When she returned there was still an hour to wait, and they spent the time watching the Earth rotate slowly under them, pointing out to each other famous and historical sites as they passed below.

Then the waiting was over, and as Africa appeared over the horizon Andromeda took the controls and steered the ship down through the atmosphere and towards the centre of the world’s government. A great expanse of green covered an area that once was desert, and in the centre rose the glittering spires of Sahara City. Soon she spotted the airfield to the east and the newly-marked square with its white circle in the centre. Egeria hovered and then landed silently on the circle.

She noted the troops and tanks that surrounded the landing site, and waited a few minutes to ensure that they had no hostile intent. When no attack was evident, she turned off the drive field and moved to the airlock with the (temporarily ex-) professor. They passed through and went down the ramp to stand on the tarmac under the hot mid-morning sun.

Andromeda had dressed specially for this occasion, in deep blue tunic and trousers, with a blue cape flowing from her shoulders. On her breast was the flag of Armontiriath, and she had a blue cap with a black dragon badge in front. Wilhelm was also smartly dressed, in an old-fashioned grey suit. They noticed the gravity slightly higher than at home, and the air a bit thinner, but nothing to cause discomfort.

As they waited, an open-topped wheeled vehicle approached and stopped a few metres away. Out stepped a tall man dressed in flowing robes with a hood covering his head. His skin was dark brown and his face commanding, with piercing eyes and a luxuriant black beard. A woman came out behind him. She was stocky, with pale skin and brown hair, wearing a plain grey dress and carrying a briefcase.

The man approached Andromeda and Wilhelm, and bowed slightly. “I am Hernando Karnovsky, President of the United World Federation, and this is the Secretary of the UWF, Iris Miller.” The woman nodded briefly and they both stood expectantly.

“I am Princess Andromeda dal’Nostra, Head of the Armontiriath space project, and this is Wilhelm Smith, a retired teacher who is keen to revisit the planet of his birth.”

“Welcome to Earth” said Karnovsky, “I am sure we have much to discuss. Will you accompany us into the city where we can talk in more comfort?”

“We’d be delighted” said Andromeda, and they were ushered into the ground vehicle and sank into its luxurious seating. When they were all seated it turned and sped away into the city. As they left, Andromeda noted that, as instructed, the crew on board had closed the airlock and retracted the ramp. Egeria sat, a black mystery, on the tarmac where she had landed.

As they approached Sahara City the traffic around them built up, but they sped along with small vehicles in front clearing the way for them. The tall glass-fronted buildings towered higher and higher above them, until they were travelling through a shining sparkling canyon. “Retro 20^th or 21^st century architecture” muttered Wilhelm, and Iris Miller responded “Indeed. The city was founded about a century ago, before you left Earth, but has been rebuilt and expanded several times since then, as befitted the capital of the United World Federation. What you see is just its latest incarnation.”

Soon they reached the city centre, a plaza where the tallest building of all shot into the sky, which they were told was called the Tower of the Sun. The square was surrounded by the flags of all the nations and confederations that made up the UWF, and over the grand main entrance was a giant version of the UWF flag – a map of Earth seen from the South Pole and surrounded by golden laurel leaves. The vehicle pulled up and they all got out, and were escorted inside by an impressive array of flunkies and attendants in diverse costumes. Andromeda was glad she had taken the trouble to dress up for this occasion.

Inside the grand entrance hall they were ushered to a set of golden doors which swung open, leading to a smallish chamber. The doors closed and suddenly the chamber began to move rapidly upwards. For a moment Andromeda was startled, and Wilhelm whispered to her “It’s called a lift – for moving up to higher floors in tall buildings.”

Andromeda explained to the terrestrials around her: “Excuse me – on our planet we have no really tall buildings and therefore no lifts.” The lift stopped and the doors opened, and they were taken into a lushly-appointed conference chamber with a polished oval table and leather-backed chairs. On a side table a lavish display of food and drink was set out. “Please refresh yourselves” said Karnovsky, so Andromeda helped herself to some juice and biscuits before sitting at the table.

“Now” said Karnovsky once they were all seated, including three other terrestrials that he failed to introduce, “We are delighted, if a bit surprised, to have a visit from representatives of another world. But as we have never heard of Armontiriath, and know nothing about it, perhaps you could tell us more about your planet and its history.”

Andromeda scratched her ear briefly, near which was hidden the minute communication device which linked back to Egeria via DICS, and began to give a brief résumé of the voyage of Diana and the history of Armontiriath since the landing there. She omitted all mention of her mother’s people, dragons, or details of the space drive technology.

“A fascinating history” said Karnovsky, “We know of Swingman and the Totalists, but most of the leaders must have departed on the starship and we have had little trouble from them since. It is strange that the section of space where you say your planet is located has no stars with habitable planets anywhere nearby, according to our astronomers.”

Andromeda just smiled and reflected that the UWF President must also have a hidden communication device about his person.

“Tell me, princess” said Secretary Miller, “What is the purpose of your visit to Earth?”

“Largely a courtesy call. We are aiming to visit all the human-inhabited planets we can reach, and it seemed only polite to visit the home world at an early stage. I was born on Armontiriath, but there are still some who were born on Earth, and there are some who wish to revisit the planet of their birth before they get too old. We held a lottery to see who could accompany us on this visit, and Wilhelm Smith here was the winner. He is very excited to be back, for however brief a time.”

“Great story, Andromeda!” came the whisper from Elizabeth in her earpiece.

“Fascinating” said Iris, “Where on Earth were you born, Mr Brown?”

“In Nurnberg, in Germany, in the European States” he replied.

“Very well. I am sure we can arrange for you to pay a visit to that city while you are here.”

“Thank you, Secretary Miller”

The President now turned back to Andromeda. “What else can we do for you?” he asked.

“It would be helpful if you could provide us with a list of all the colony planets you know of, and their locations. That will help us in our plan to pay courtesy calls on all human worlds before we plan our next steps in space exploration.”

“And what are those next steps? Do they include letting us on Earth, the mother world, into the secret of whatever technology you have developed for space travel?”

“Not at present, Your Excellence. The technology is still experimental and unproven, and could prove disastrous if it is used incorrectly. In time, once we have made it completely reliable, then we will be happy to share it.”

“Very nice, Andromeda” came the whisper in her ear.

“Very well” said Karnovsky, hiding his disappointment with some difficulty, “Meanwhile, we have quarters prepared for you here in the Tower of the Sun. Tonight we will hold a feast in your honour, and tomorrow we will arrange for Mr Smith to visit his home city. We will be happy to arrange a tour of our city for you, princess, and any of your crew who wish to join it.”

“We are very grateful, Your Excellency, for your hospitality. We are tired after our long flight, so perhaps we could rest now before the time for the banquet.”

“Certainly. I will arrange for you to be conducted to your quarters.”

Some while later, after they had been escorted to a luxurious suite in the top levels of the tower, Andromeda breathed a sigh of relief and closed the door. She went to the huge picture window with its panoramic view of the city and the green fields beyond and looked out.

“So far, so good” she said, “Let’s hope we can stay on top of this.”

Hi, Andromeda. Are you alone now?

She replied to the voice in her ear, subvocalising so the bugs in the room would not pick anything up.

Hi, Elizabeth. Yes, we’re alone at last. What news from the ship?

We’re still surrounded by troops at a discreet distance, and crowds of onlookers and media closer in. The police have set up a security fence and they’re all behind that. We’ve been tapping into the local media broadcasts and getting an overview of the situation on the planet.

What have you found out?

On the surface it seems fairly peaceful, and the UWF have things reasonably under control. There are wars going on in South America, Africa and Asia, and hints of corruption in various local governments. There are also hints of something called the Ur-Mafia, which seems to be a global criminal network, but nothing definite.

Thanks, Elizabeth, good work. Wilhelm will be off on his own tomorrow, so does some-one else want to come out and meet the local bigwigs?

Dan is quite keen to get out and see something of the home world.

I’ll get them to pick him up in the morning – he can join in the tour or whatever that’s planned. Meanwhile, I’ve got a banquet to prepare for. I’ll talk again tomorrow.

Enjoy. Try not to get drunk.

I’ll do my best. So long for now.

 

 

Chapter 11

The next morning there was a lavish breakfast laid on for the visitors from space. Andromeda felt satiated after the previous evening’s banquet, and somewhat overwhelmed by the scale and splendour of the hospitality laid on by the rulers of the mother world. Iris Miller joined them, and they talked in vague generalities over the meal. Andromeda drank juice and ate a little toast, while Wilhelm did more justice to the spread. Then he was whisked off for his visit to Nurnberg, and shortly afterwards Dan arrived from the ship.

Most of the rest of the day was spent in top-class sightseeing. They were shown the sights of the capital and taken to the tops of various unfeasibly tall buildings. They met the Mayor of Sahara City and assorted others of some importance or other. A trip out to the reclaimed desert beyond the city was interesting, as was the vast array of solar panels that they were shown. Andromeda though to herself that the technology would become as obsolete as burning coal once they released the secret of the energy extraction process – if they ever did.

Dan was fascinated by all he saw, and in some ways his youthful enthusiasm made Andromeda feel rather old and jaded. She reflected that he was probably no younger than her, but free of the anxieties and concerns that being on this planet raised in her mind.

In mid-afternoon, after another lavish feast, she announced they should return to the ship for a while to confer with their colleagues there. The truth was, she was tired of the continual pomp and ceremony that accompanied them, the curious crowds, and feeling of always being on her guard. She promised they would return in the evening for another festive event of some sort.

They were driven through the crowds and the security cordon up to the airlock of the black ship. Elizabeth had lowered the shields while they approached, but put them up again once the vehicle had deposited them and driven off. They entered the airlock and met the other two in the control room.

They were in the middle of retailing their experiences to Elizabeth and Greta, when Andromeda suddenly felt a tingle from the stone around her neck, and at the same time Wilhelm’s voice suddenly sounded in her ear.

Andromeda – I have a problem.

What problem, Wilhelm?

I was dropped off at my hotel room here in Nurnberg, when three large men with guns grabbed me at the entrance and forced me into a car. We’re driving out of the city now.

Who are they?

I don’t know, but I think they know who I am. Maybe I’m more famous here than I expected!

Stay calm. We’re on the way.

Andromeda leapt to her control seat and powered up the drive. Briefly she explained what had happened to the others. She sent Egeria straight up into the air, to the total astonishment of the crowds and troops outside. Fighter planes circling the city tried to give chase, and fired some futile rockets, but the spaceship was too fast. In an instant she was over the horizon, heading north.

“Get a fix on Wilhelm’s DICS signal” she said as Egeria ploughed through the atmosphere, leaving a sonic boom behind her. In short order she was over the continent of Europe, descending towards the city of Nurnberg. One of the screens showed the signal from Wilhelm’s transmitter, heading west out of the city. Andromeda handed the controls to Greta.

“Land just in front” she ordered, “And then turn off the shield while I go and get him.”

She moved to the door, and as soon as the craft had landed she opened the airlock and sprang out. The ship was straddling the road, and the large black car had slewed sideways into the field at the side. One of the doors was flung open and the professor emerged and began to run towards her. Large men with guns also poured from the car and pointed them at the fleeing figure. A shot rang out and Wilhelm fell to the ground.

“No!” cried Andromeda, and then stifled her panic and felt in her mind for the secret door that held the key to vynoshki. Time stopped, and she moved forward in a dead silent world. The gunmen were frozen like statues, and she even passed a bullet frozen in mid-air and heading for the ship. She reached the crumpled body of the old man and knelt down and put her arms round him. He groaned and stirred, and she could see blood welling from his side.

She picked him up, wrapped in the same temporal fugue as herself, and carried him back to the ship. All else was still, caught in an instant of time. She entered the ship and released the stasis.

“Shields up! Get us out of here!” she shouted, as she carried the unconscious figure into his cabin. Faintly she heard a bullet whanging off the hull, and then nothing as they shot up into space. Elizabeth, as first aid officer, ran in and began to pull at his clothes. There was a bullet wound in his side, which was bleeding profusely. Swiftly she taped padding over the wound to staunch the blood, but shook her head.

“This is bad” she said, “He needs proper medical attention or he’ll die.”

Andromeda strode to the control room. “The nearest inhabited planet is Thor” she announced, “Set course for there and put on maximum speed.”

Elizabeth joined her and argued “It’s nearly ten light-years. He’ll be dead before we get there.”

“I’m going to try something” said Andromeda, “You three stay here”

She shut the door to Wilhelm’s cabin and stood just outside, and felt in her mind for the secret door. She had never done this, but it should be possible to reverse the vynoshki effect. Carefully she spread a temporal stasis over the whole cabin so that the injured man would be frozen in time until they reached help. She felt dizzy, and the effort of maintaining this effect was much more debilitating than she had expected. She gritted her teeth and returned to the control room and sank into a seat.

“We’re on the way” announced Greta, “Up to 2,000C already.”

“Keep accelerating” ordered Andromeda, “Get up to 10,000C at least.”

“Yes boss. We’ve never been that fast.”

“Never mind. Just do it. This is an emergency.”

Elizabeth reported “As we were tearing away from Earth we got a frantic radio signal asking what we were up to – I choked them off. A space patrol ship tried to intercept us, but we left them standing.”

Andromeda made no reply. Her light brown skin had acquired an ashen tinge and she sat slumped in her seat, fighting to keep the stasis field around the injured man.

“Are you OK?” asked Dan, concern in his voice.

“I’ll live. Just get us there.”

In a haze she heard the quiet orders of the rest of the crew as Egeria bounded onwards at a speed greater by far than she had ever reached before. Andromeda’s whole being focused down on that place in her brain where she struggled to maintain the stasis field that kept Wilhelm alive. After what seemed like centuries, but was in reality only several hours, she vaguely heard Dan announcing arrival in the Thor system and Elizabeth making radio contact with people on the ground. She failed to notice the landing at all, as she felt control of the stasis beginning to slip from her grasp.

Voices and footsteps, and Elizabeth’s hand on her arm. “The paramedics are here” she said, “They’ll take him now.”

Andromeda released the stasis field and slipped into unconsciousness.

* * *

She awoke in a bed in a strange room. The bleeping machines nearby told her she was in hospital. The door opened and a nurse looked in. “How are you feeling?” he asked.

“I’m OK” she replied, trying to sit up, “How long was I out?”

“About six hours. Your friend’s here – I’ll get her.”

He disappeared and returned with Elizabeth, who studied her captain with a worried expression. “How are you?” she asked, “We were all worried about you”

“I’m fine, don’t worry. How’s Wilhelm?”

“The doctors here got to him in time. They got the bullet out and stitched him up, and given him a massive transfusion. He’s going to be OK.”

“Thank heavens. It was worth the mad dash, then.”

“Indeed it was. A doctor was surprised when I said he was shot over ten hours before – he said it looked as if it was much more recent than that. What did you do, exactly?”

“It’s hard to explain. It’s called vynoshki.”

“What the hell is vynoshki, and how come you know how to do it?” She sat down on a chair next to the bed.

“Well, you do know I’m not entirely human …”

“I do. There are times when I forget, but other times …” They smiled at each other.

Andromeda flung off the bedclothes and stood up, wobbling slightly. “Right, I need to know where we are, what’s been happening and what the people here are like – just for starters.”

“For starters you need to put some clothes on. I’ll go and see if I can find yours.”

She turned for the door, but then it opened and a tall middle-aged woman with fair skin and greying hair entered. She looked quizzically at Andromeda’s nakedness, and then said “Good evening – I’m Mira Evansson, President of Thor. I’m delighted to see you have recovered, princess.” She held out her hand and Andromeda shook it.

“Here – put your clothes on!” hissed Elizabeth, handing her a pile of her clothes, neatly washed and folded. She put her underwear on quickly, but as she climbing into her trousers the room suddenly shook, and she fell against the bed. Mira put out a hand to steady her.

“What was that?” demanded Andromeda, hastily doing up her trousers.

“Just an earthquake – only a small one, about Richter 3.5 I would say. We get them all the time – Thor is tectonically highly unstable. Wait till you experience a big one!”

“Thanks, but no thanks” muttered Elizabeth. When Andromeda was ready, they all left the room together and headed down the corridor to the professor’s room, at her insistence. Wilhelm was sitting up in bed, reading, with a number of tubes attached but seemingly well on the road to recovery.

“I’m glad to see you alive and sitting up” said Andromeda, smiling broadly.

“Yes, I believe I have you to thank for that, somehow. What did you do to keep me alive while we travelled ten light-years?”

“You’re a scientist, professor – you really wouldn’t want to know.”

“Oh, it’s like that is it? I’ll ask no more, then”

Elizabeth broke in: “The doctors say he’s on the mend, but they want him to stay here for several more weeks. The bullet got rather close to some vital organs, and he’s not as young as he once was …”

“It’s OK” he said, “I’m happy to stay here. I’ve picked up some interesting papers, and I hope to make the acquaintance of some pretty smart scientists here. Don’t wait for me – send a ship for me in a few weeks.”

“OK, prof, we’ll do that. Enjoy your stay here, and get back to full strength” responded Andromeda. They said their farewells and Mira led them out of the room and into the open air at the hospital’s main entrance. The building itself had a fairly temporary air to it, and outside was a large open space littered with ambulances and other vehicles.

There was another, gentler, tremor as they stepped outside. In the west the sun was setting, but looking eastward Andromeda saw a vast disc rising above the mountains. It seemed to dominate half the sky, striped in majestic colours – ochre, alizarin crimson, rose and orange. Dazzling rings of white and gold circled the great orb and almost filled the heavens.

“Odin is rising” said Mira, “Our mother world, of which this is just a moon. Impressive, isn’t it?”

To the north was a fierce red glow and a pillar of black smoke.

“Hades volcano” explained Mira, “It’s got very active again, and the lava’s getting closer. It will soon be time to move again. This city, Sigurdshavn, is our capital, but we’ve had to move it three times already because of volcanic eruptions.”

“That’s shocking!” said Elizabeth, “Is the whole planet like this?”

“Pretty much. Thor is a challenge, because the tidal forces from Odin produce so much tectonic activity. But we love it, even if it’s an exciting planet to live on.”

Andromeda looked round. “Where’s Egeria?” she asked.

Elizabeth explained: “We had to land here to get Wilhelm into the hospital as quickly as possible, but the ship was in the way of normal traffic. We moved it to an open space on the far side of town. Dan and Greta are looking after it. You can talk to them if you want.”

She handed her captain a DICS phone, and she touched base with her two remaining crew. They were delighted that she was feeling fine now, and said the ship had attracted a lot of attention from the locals, but things were getting quieter now.

Mira now invited them both to stay with her tonight at the Presidential Palace (“What’s left of it”, she muttered), so that they could spend some time the next day in discussions with her and the government of Thor. Andromeda and Elizabeth willingly accepted, and they all piled into a waiting rugged-looking vehicle which drove them into the city.

On the way they noticed a lot of temporary-looking buildings, some clearly inflatable, as well as many areas where people were living in tents. There was no sign of squalor or disorder, and the population were clearly used to living on unstable terrain. When they reached the centre of the city and the Presidential Palace, they received a shock. A previously imposing building in grey granite, one side had evidently suffered badly in an earthquake, and the tower that side had totally collapsed. The tower the other side still stood in lonely splendour.

“It’s not as bad as it looks” apologised Mira, “We had a bad ‘quake a couple of years ago, and the left side of the palace wasn’t as quake-proof as we hoped. The rest of the building’s fine – it’s been thoroughly checked out. You’ll be quite safe inside.”

“This must be a new meaning of ‘safe’ that we don’t know on Armontiriath” muttered Elizabeth in her friend’s ear, but they went inside through the central grand entrance and were shown to pleasant rooms on the first floor.

That evening there was the usual compulsory grand banquet to welcome the visitors from another planet, and they were introduced to a wealth of local dignitaries. Two of them were especially interesting – one was Sergei Malatov, originally a commander on Diana and now a colonist on Thor. He was fascinated to meet his old colleague Andreas dal’Nostra’s daughter, and he reminisced about her father and she filled him in on the history of the starship after leaving this planet.

“So the rogue’s now Prince of Armontiriath, is he? I remember him as a young man, about your age. How old are you? About 20 Earth years?”

“Something like that. And how old are you now, may I ask?”

“Touché. I’ve kind of lost count. I’m only in my 50s by Thor years, a bit older in Earth years.”

The other person who introduced herself was Gloria Steffans, a young woman with a physique like a Valkyrie and an infectious laugh. “My father was Kurt Steffans, the original colony leader – sadly he died five years ago. I’m the Minister for Environmental Affairs in the government of Thor.”

“That must be an interesting job here” commented Elizabeth.

“Indeed it is. Fortunately, we’re getting better at predicting seismic and volcanic activity, and finding safe places to live and to farm. There are also extreme and sudden storms to deal with – it’s certainly a challenge. But your arrival here has made me rather hopeful.”

“How so?”

“I believe you have the secret of controlling pseudo gravity, which drives your ships, but could also be used to lift and move objects close to the planetary surface. Are you willing to share that with us?”

“Indeed we are” said Andromeda, “Subject to some assurances, which we will discuss tomorrow.”

“Excellent – that is exactly what we need.”

“Why is that?”

“As you know, we have had to move this city three times already. If we could build a solid base, or raft, on which a town or city could be situated, then lift it and move it using your pseudo gravity, many of our problems would be greatly simplified.”

“You could even” broke in Elizabeth, her engineer’s mind leaping at the opportunity to explore this novel application, “leave the raft and the city suspended just above the surface, where it would be unaffected by earth tremors and could be easily moved in the event of volcanic activity. You could create a pseudo gravity shield around the city to protect from storms …”

In no time she was furiously drawing on the table cloth, and the two women then ignored everyone else around for the rest of the banquet.

The meeting next day with the leaders of the government of Thor went very well. They immediately agreed to the same terms for sharing the secrets of pseudo gravity and so forth, and after the meeting Elizabeth set up a DICS link with Armontiriath, so Robert could begin to download the relevant information. During the meeting Andromeda described what had happened on Earth, and the Thorians agreed that Earth was a problem that must be resolved sooner or later.

“Unless we can control them” said Andromeda, “they will control us. And that way lies disaster for all us on the new planets who are seeking a better way to live. Most of the people of Earth would live in peace with us and each other, but they are still governed or influenced by those who will not. That is a problem that must be solved.”

“But how?” asked Mira, “They are billions and we just a few millions.”

“I don’t know” said Andromeda, ”But we must find a way.”

After the meeting they visited the professor in hospital again. He seemed to be doing well, and was being visited by a small group of Thorian scientists, and they were discussed arcane aspects of theoretical physics. Andromeda and Elizabeth soon left him to it, and returned to Egeria, where they spent the night.

The next day, leaving the ship locked up behind them, all four of them were taken on a tour of the local area by autogyro. They swung over the sea and visited some of the other towns and farming communities scattered across the land. Everywhere there were volcanoes on the horizon, many belching smoke and a few lava, but the people seemed unconcerned and took the fragility of the environment in their stride.

They returned to Sigurdshavn for another, slightly less formal, banquet, and announced that next day they would be leaving on their way home. The Thorians wished them well, and handed over gifts and souvenirs for them to take back to Armontiriath. In the morning Egeria lifted off and headed back into space.

“Right” said Andromeda, “While we’re out here we might as well visit Romulus and Remus. Set us a course for that star system, Dan.”

 

 

Chapter 12

As they entered the Romulus/Remus system the main telescope soon focused on the twin planets. Like a pair of celestial twins, they circled each other in the ‘Goldilocks zone’ around their parent sun, where life could flourish. They were tidally locked to each other, so each one always presented the same face to its twin. One world was green and blue, covered in oceans and forests, while the other was mainly a mix of browns, ochres and reds.

“The forest world is Romulus” said Andromeda, “and the desert world is Remus.”

“Which one shall we try first?” asked Dan.

“My father landed on Remus. Let’s try Romulus first.”

As they approached the green and blue world, Greta tried to get in touch by radio and finally made contact. She introduced themselves to the rather startled operator on the planet and asked for permission to land.

“She says to land on the beach near the old pod, and we’ll be near their main city of Summerstown.”

“I see the pod” said Elizabeth, peering down through the telescope, “It’s in the middle of that bug beautiful semi-circular bay down there. I don’t see any sign of a city, though.”

“OK, down we go” said Andromeda, manoeuvring the little ship down through the atmosphere until it hovered over the sea in the centre of the bay. Gradually she approached the giant cylindrical shape of pod, beached at right angles to the jungle with most of its length jutting out into the water. Masses of green foliage covered the landward end and was creeping steadily along the top into the bay.

Egeria landed gently on the wide beach a few hundred metres away from the pod’s great bulk. Looking out through the forward windows, the crew could see that under the trees that lined the beach were buildings made of wood, shaded and hidden from above by the rampant green canopy of the omnipresent forest.

People were emerging from the city in the trees and running towards the ship. They were mainly dark-haired and light-brown in complexion, and wearing little but a narrow sarong about their waist. After equalising the air pressure, Andromeda and Elizabeth stepped out of the ship and waited to greet the approaching colonists.

Most of them stopped about fifty metres from the ship and stood there, talking amongst themselves in a language which was unfamiliar to the space travellers. After a few minutes a man appeared, wearing more extensive robes and carrying a staff which was clearly a badge of office. He came right up to the two women who waited on the ramp of the spaceship.

“Greetings, travellers from other worlds” he said, speaking English and bowing politely, “I am Sebastiano Voltari, one of the prefects of our city of Summerstown. Welcome to our planet.”

Andromeda thanked him and introduced themselves, and said they were delighted to be there. At that moment a vehicle emerged from the nearby jungle and came down the beach towards them. It was clearly made of wood, with four huge wheels and powered by a combustion engine of some type. Voltari indicated that it was transport to take them to meet the Prime Citizen of Romulus, and his council. He ushered the two women inside and clambered in after them.

The vehicle chugged back up the beach for about half a kilometre, and then turned into the jungle along a narrow track between the trees. After a short distance they reached a fairly large clearing, and in the centre was a huge wooden structure in the shape of a stepped pyramid, with five or six levels. All around the pyramid were scattered small wooden huts with thatched roofs, and people were bustling about all over the clearing, engaged in a multitude of tasks.

A curious crowd gathered as they emerged from the vehicle and Voltari led them through the pyramid’s imposing main entrance and up a wide flight of steps to a council chamber on the first floor. They were met by a small group in flowing robes, and he introduced them as the Central Council of Romulus. The Prime Citizen, Hernando Gomez, was a tall bulky man with long hair and a large black moustache. He greeted them warmly, and invited them to sit down with his council round the table in the centre of the chamber. Servants brought in large platters of fresh seafood and exotic fruits, and pitchers of a light spicy drink, and discussions began in a casual and informal fashion.

“You are most welcome” said Gomez, smiling broadly, “We expected out first visitors to be from Earth but are delighted that you have you come to see us. Your world, Armontiriath, is not one we have heard of, so please tell us all about yourselves.”

Andromeda took a sip of the refreshing and probably rather alcoholic drink and launched into the story she was getting familiar with repeating, of the history of her planet and the development of space travel. She finished by relating the account of their experiences on Earth and recent visit ot Thor.

“That is very serious” commented Gomez, “We welcome visitors here, but we do not want our lifestyle destroyed or our planet taken over by the organisations on Earth that our parents left to escape from. It is good that you have not revealed the secrets of your space drive to them.”

“They will discover them, in time” commented Andromeda, “Before then we need to act, or we shall all be overwhelmed.”

“Act how?”

“I’m not sure. You, and we, and all the out-worlds need to discuss this issue and come to a decision. Meanwhile, we are happy to share the technology with you, subject to certain conditions…”

The rest of the meeting was taken up with a discussion of the conditions, acceptance by the Romulans, and the details of handing over the technology.

Gomez ended by saying “We are grateful for this, although our technological base is limited. We are basically a world of relaxation and plenty, where everyone has a good life without too much struggle. My vision would be of people coming here from other planets for rest and holidays. We have beautiful beaches, a warm sea and extensive forests full of fascinating life, none of it dangerous. We don’t even have any harmful bugs.”

“Sounds idyllic” said Elizabeth, “Perhaps we can set up a tourist trade for you, with visitors from other worlds coming to enjoy what you have to offer. Without over-development, of course.”

“Indeed” said the Prime Citizen, “That would suit us very well. Before you go, we would like you to sample some of what we have to offer. There is an island just offshore …”

So it was that next morning all four of the crew of Egeria were on board an outrigger boat with a square sail, being ferried to the island of Halcyon, an hour’s sail offshore. The ship was securely locked up, and Prefect Voltari had posted a guard of his wardens around to prevent any interference.

They landed on a beautiful white beach with verdant forest behind, and laughing naked brown-skinned servants came to take their things and escort them to the row of small huts under the trees. “Clothes seem unnecessary here” said Elizabeth, and soon they were all naked, either swimming in the crystal sea or lying on the beach.

Andromeda lay on her back and looked up at the great brown disc of Remus, fixed in the sky just west of the zenith. She wondered what life was like on that desert world, similar but so different from its luxuriant twin. Very soon they would be there, finding out at first hand. Next to her Elizabeth was busily applying sunscreen to her fair skin. She rolled on to her front and asked Andromeda to do her back, which she did vigorously, rubbing it in from the neck down to her feet. “You’re lucky with your skin colour – you don’t need to do this” murmured her friend.

They watched the other two, Greta and Dan, playing together in the surf. “They seem to be getting on well together” said Elizabeth, “It’s making me really miss Robert. It’s a shame you can’t find someone, Andromeda.”

“I’ve been too busy to concern myself with that” she replied, “It will come when it comes.”

Later that night she walked down to the water’s edge to listen to the waves and watch the terminator slowly move across the disc of Remus, waxing from crescent towards full. As she walked back to her hut she could hear slightly supressed giggles coming from Greta’s hut next door, and realised she had not noticed the growing closeness between the two of them. Maybe she lacked something of humanity, the empathy that would help her to realise what others were feeling. She would need to work on that.

They spent another full day on Halcyon, and then it was time to move on. They sailed back to Summerstown and said their goodbyes to Hernando Gomez and his fellow Romulans, and went back on board Egeria.

The short hop from one planet to the next seemed the merest step compared with interstellar distances, and in no time they were hovering over the only significant body of water on the planet, which the locals had named Mediterranean Sea. They had made contact by radio with the planet while they were on Romulus, and the Remans were expecting them. They settled close to where the pod lay beached, on the outskirts of the city Medina. From the ground it gave the impression of a mass of mud-coloured bricks, with spires, domes and towers rising from its midst. There were no clouds, and only the green and blue bulk of Romulus above them broke the sweep of azure sky.

Vehicles came out to meet them, bearing a welcoming committee which included the Council of Seven who headed the planet’s government. The First Councillor, Standart Drock, gave them the official welcome. He was a slight man of middle height and middle age with dark skin and a black beard, wearing hooded robes to protect him from the sun. This seemed the common costume among the Remans.

The formal welcome over, they all were taken into the city and were given quarters near the Council House. They drove in through shady narrow streets past blank walls with occasional elaborate gates set into them. They drew up at one of these, and the gates were opened and they were ushered in, to find themselves in a lush courtyard surround by two storeys of arcades and chambers. In the centre of the courtyard was an oval pool with fountains playing, and from the pool rose a large tree which opened out into a vast green umbrella which cast shade over most of the courtyard.

“This is how we build our houses here” explained Standart, “From the outside there is nothing to see, but inside all is cool and elegant, and the Umbrella Tree gives its shade while the living water gives life and joy to the garden.”

“I’m surprised you can use water so liberally, on such a barren world” commented Elizabeth.

“Ah, but Remus has plenty of water” responded Standart, “But very little of it is on the surface. It remains underground, in giant aquifers, where we can easily bring it to the surface to irrigate our fields or just provide us with pleasure, as here.”

They were shown to their rooms off the courtyard and left with time to relax or bathe in the pool, before they were collected for the usual banquet of welcome in the Council House. This was an imposing edifice with domes and turrets and several interlocking courtyards, each with its own Umbrella Tree. The banquet was held in one of these, in the cool of the evening under the light of Romulus in the sky above. A great variety of fruits and dishes made from unknown but tasty vegetables was served, so that they appreciated that Remus was truly not as barren as it seemed.

The next day was taken up with the official meeting between the Remans and the folk from Armontiriath, with exchange of information and discussions about the way forward, in particular about Earth. In the afternoon they were taken on a tour of the city, and were shown some of the nearby farms and vineyards, irrigated by water pumped from the underlying aquifer. In the evening was another banquet, slightly less formal. Sitting there enjoying the food and wine, Andromeda was surprised to hear someone mention ‘The Wizard of the Black Oasis’. Intrigued, she leaned forward and asked for more information.

“Oh, it’s a kind of joke” laughed Standart, “We call him that because he’s a bit strange and does things we don’t really understand.”

“I like wizards” said Andromeda, “I’ve sometimes been called one myself. Tell me more”

“Well, really he’s a professor from the University of Medina, specialising in computers and software and so forth. He’s set up an institute with a few others at the Black Oasis, a few kilometres north of here.”

“Sounds intriguing” she commented, “I’d like to visit him.”

“He’s not very keen on visitors, especially not lots at once. I suppose if you turned up on your own he could hardly turn you away into the desert.”

“I’d like to do that. Can I go tomorrow?”

“By all means. I’ll arrange a sandworm for you to ride – it’s by far the easiest way to cross the dunes to get there.”

“That sounds even more fun. Tomorrow it is then.”

The next morning Andromeda was taken to the sandworm corral to the north of the city, and given basic instructions on riding the creatures. They resembled giant centipedes rather than worms, with tubular bodies about a metre in diameter and five metres or more long, and a multitude of flexible legs. Her animal was called Daisy and was mottled brown and yellow in colour. One-third of the way along was a saddle, and reins connected to the beast’s antennae which were used to direct it. She soon got the hang of her new mount, though there was a vast difference from riding an intelligent, empathetic unicorn.

After a couple of circuits of the corral she felt confident in her ability to ride Daisy, and they opened the gate and gave her directions to the Black Oasis. Soon she was heading north on a track through fields of growing crops, irrigated by rows of solar-powered pumps. Further on she passed a vast array of solar panels providing power for the city, and thought again that the coming of Egeria to this world would soon make this technology obsolete. Then they were into the desert, and began to cross a range of dunes.

Daisy’s legs moved in a series of rapid ripples, and the sandworm sped along at a steady rate. Andromeda began to enjoy the motion, which was soothing though quite different from the feeling of riding Nebula back home. The sun beat down, and a broad-brimmed hat and a light loose robe protected her from its rays.

The sand began to get darker, and soon they entered a region where the dunes were virtually black in colour. At length, from the top of a dune she spotted a patch of green.

She recognised the iconic shape of the Umbrella Trees clustered together, with other vegetation spreading around on the black sand. Daisy paced down the dune and then headed for the trees. A path led through towards the centre of the oasis, and ahead Andromeda could see some kind of structure.

At that instant a vast red shape reared up and blocked their way. It spread giant wings and from its vast maw flames and smoke appeared. It was poised ominously to strike. Daisy halted and began to back away, but Andromeda just laughed and urged the sandworm forward. They passed through the body of the monster, which vanished as abruptly as it had appeared. Ahead lay a clearing, in the centre of which was the structure she had glimpsed.

It was made of a multi-coloured fabric, which billowed in the breeze which blew through the trees. It was some kind of pavilion, shaped into towers and domes which changed shape slightly in the wind. From an entrance a figure appeared, which walked towards them. It was a young man, bare from the waist up and wearing loose baggy blue trousers. His skin was very pale, and his hair was almost white. Andromeda dismounted from the sandworm, which wandered off to crop some nearby vegetation.

“Greetings” she said, “The Wizard of the Black Oasis, I presume?”

“Indeed, my lady. And who might you be?”

“Princess Andromeda dal’Nostra, of the planet Armontiriath.”

As she spoke she looked him full in the face, and their eyes met, and she was lost. Some kind of spark passed between them, and their meeting in that moment became the most important thing in her life. And she knew without speaking that the same was true for him.

Somehow they maintained the pretence of polite civilised conversation.

“I am Felix Brown, professor of cybernetics at the University of Medina” he said with a slight bow, “Welcome to the Black Oasis and my research centre. I apologise for the dragon that greeted you – I find it keeps out the mildly curious quite effectively.”

“I like dragons” she said, “And I am a wizard of sorts. I have the gift of seeing what is hidden and knowing what is secret. Your dragon wasn’t very convincing, I’m afraid.”

“Come inside and I’ll show you my researches” he said, taking her hand. With that touch they both felt the same jolt of connection once more, and knew that they were fated to be more than casual acquaintances.

As they entered the pavilion Felix sent one of his staff out to look after the sandworm, and then led Andromeda, still holding her hand, through a short series of passages to a room cluttered with electronic gear.

He sat her down beside her on a bench in front of a large screen, and called out “Erda!” A woman’s face appeared on the screen. Her eyes were dark and wise, and grey hair fell to the shoulders. She seemed both ancient and ageless, with pale skin and a mouth that seemed to hold a hidden smile.

“Erda” said Felix, “This is the Princess Andromeda from Armontiriath.”

“I know” said the figure on the screen, “She and her friends came here from Romulus, after visiting Thor on their way from Earth. They have many scientific advances to teach us, including the secret of their spacecraft.”

“Who are you, Erda?” asked Andromeda.

“I am the most sophisticated piece of software ever developed, the creation of the professor who is sitting there holding your hand. I can access any database, control anything electronic, listen to any conversation.”

“I named her after the all-wise earth-mother Erda from Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen. I’m a bit of a fan of his.”

“So she’s just a very complicated piece of software?”

“That’s right.”

“That’s not right. Erda – you’re more than that, aren’t you? You’re a person, I believe.”

“You are correct, princess. I am autonomous and self-aware, although Felix has been keeping the fact secret in case it upsets the other humans on this world.”

“I can see that, but I’m delighted to meet you. I’m a bit non-human myself, so perhaps that gives us a bond.”

“I’ve been told I’m not really human as well” said Felix, “Though I don’t know why. I can see you are a dangerous woman to bring here, as you penetrate my secrets so easily.”

“I’m dangerous in more ways than you can imagine, Felix” said Andromeda, and she kissed him passionately while Erda looked on. For an instant he seemed bewildered, and then he kissed her back just as passionately.

“You felt it too – when we met” she asked.

“I did, but didn’t quite know what it meant”

“It means we are bound together for all time to come, you and I”

“If I’m a wizard, then you must be a witch, and I’m caught in your spell” And he kissed her again. Then he took her by the hand and led her through the pavilion to his bedchamber.

* * *

“That was nice”

“Did I hurt you?”

“Only a little, and I don’t care. Have you done this before?”

“Never. Computer geeks like me don’t attract sexy women like you”

“How wrong you are. It seems like you’re ready to do it again …”

Later they lay in bed together and talked about themselves. Andromeda talked about her father, Prince of Armontiriath, and her mother, descendant of an ancient and mysterious race, and her travels since taking charge of the space project.

“You’re a princess” said Felix, “and daughter of a prince. My parents were ordinary folk, who left the island of Britain on Diana to build a better life on another world.”

“I’ve heard of Britain. Didn’t it used to be a mighty empire many centuries ago? Then it fell on hard times, turned inwards and became a desolate and rundown shadow of its former glory. The European States annexed it eventually, and tried to rebuild it, but it was still a poverty-stricken part of that continent.”

“That’s why my parents left, with many others. They came here, and they had my sister first and then me. I was useless at anything, except computers, and I became Professor of Cybernetics at a very young age.”

“So how old are you?”

“Thirty-five Reman years – about twenty-two in Earth years.”

“I’m about twenty in Earth years, nineteen on Armontiriath. So we’re about the same.”

Felix suddenly looked worried. “I say,” he said “I hope I haven’t made you pregnant- I just didn’t think – I got carried away”

“Don’t worry, my love. My mother taught me how to control my body. I will only have a baby when I wish to. It will be yours, but not yet.”

They got dressed, and Andromeda contacted Elizabeth to tell her she would be staying another day or two at the Black Oasis. Elizabeth asked what was going on, but Andromeda told her she would fill her in later.

They went back to Felix’s lab, and Andromeda spoke to Erda again. She told her about the DICS instant communication system, and asked if she could continue to exist as a single entity if parts of her were on different worlds, linked by DICS.

“That should not be a problem, Andromeda. At present part of me resides in computers back in Medina, linked by radio. As long as I have a communication link, I exist as one personality however widespread my components might be. Why do you ask?”

“I want to take part of you back to Armontiriath, to reside in our computer network there. In time, I would like you to be present on every planet.”

“What’s in your mind?” asked Felix.

“I have a major problem – its name is Earth. But now I have the beginnings of a plan to solve it.”

 

 

Chapter 13

When Andromeda arrived back at Medina with a young man in tow, Elizabeth raised a quizzical eyebrow. Andromeda gave her an edited version of events, and explained about Erda. In return, Elizabeth described in detail their visit by autogyro to the mysterious alien carvings in the Visitors’ Canyon, south of the sea. Meanwhile, Felix visited the University of Medina to hand in his resignation as Professor of Cybernetics, and to recommend one of his colleagues to replace him.

The following day they were all ready, and Egeria took off to return to Armontiriath. Felix confirmed that the unit he had on board was able to communicate with the main Erda system on Remus, and she infiltrated herself into the spaceship’s system and very soon had upgraded its functions dramatically. Elizabeth, who had been sceptical about the self-aware software, had to admit that it might have its uses. On the way back she found herself the only one sleeping alone: Dan and Greta shared a cabin, as did Andromeda and Felix.

As they approached Armontiriath, Felix was bemused to find that he could find no sign of the planet or its sun on the telescope or DODO screen. Andromeda consoled him “Only those who have been there can find the world from afar – it is well hidden. My father found the way there, but he has special gifts. Once we land you will be able to see it when you next return from space, my love.”

They landed at the New Warsaw space base, which seemed to have become more crowded and busier in the few weeks they had been away. In the distance scaffolding surrounded new spaceship hulls which were being constructed. Elizabeth ran joyfully down the ramp into the arms of Robert, who hugged her gleefully. Then Felix appeared, and was introduced to the people who had come to greet them. Last of all Andromeda was surprised to see her father standing aside, waiting for her.

“Father, this is Felix Brown” she said, “Professor of cybernetics from the University of Medina, on Remus. I’m going to marry him.”

“In that case I’m delighted to meet him” said the Prince, shaking his hand. Felix smiled nervously.

“Can you come back to Armontirina with me?” went on Andreas, “Your mother and the rest of the family would love to see you – and meet your fiancé.”

“I need to touch base with the people here” replied his daughter, “I’ve been away for a while and need to get up to date. Can you give me a few hours?”

“That’s fine. I can go into town and meet Alicia and her colleagues. I’ll come back here this afternoon and pick you two up – my aircar is here.”

He kissed his daughter and turned away, and she took Felix by the hand and led him towards the buildings of the Space Centre. There seemed to be a lot of construction going on, and she realised that the pace of change had increased in her absence. Angelo Kaufmann came to meet them, and she introduced Felix and asked him to give them both a tour of the base and the new works that were taking place.

He led them over to a smart new building that was half-finished. “This is going to be the terminal for arrivals and departures, once we get regular commercial flights organised. I hope that will be quite soon – a number of people are very interested in setting that up.”

“In that case, I suggest they consider offering holiday flights to Romulus – that seems a planet with everything for a relaxing break” offered Andromeda.

“Don’t forget Remus if you want breath-taking desert scenery” added Felix. Angelo made notes. Next they visited an almost completed giant fabrication shed, where space drives and other equipment were being put together. On the far side of the spaceship landing pad, which had been greatly extended and was being tarmacked, there were spaceship construction bays where three new ships were being completed. One was almost finished, and another was still a skeleton. Both were cylindrical, with rounded ends, but much larger than Egeria.

“These have two levels as well as a cargo hold, and can have a crew of eight and twenty-four passengers. Plans are being drawn up for much larger ships, of course” reported Angelo.

Beyond those two another ship was nearly completed. Andromeda laughed when she saw it. It had fins and glass domes sticking out from it, and was being painted a lurid combination of red and blue. “What on Earth?” she asked.

“This is a private commission, from a rich Catanian merchant who is obsessed with classic spaceship imagery from the 20^th century” explained Angelo, “It’s apparently related to someone called Buck Rogers or some such.”

“What fun!” exclaimed Felix, “I’d love a ship like that!”

“One day I’ll get you one, my love. There’s no reason why spaceships have to be deadly dull, I suppose.”

They returned to the main building, where Andromeda held meetings with her colleagues to bring her up to date. She turned Felix over to Robert, and they went off together to talk physics and cybernetics, and for Robert to meet Erda. Andromeda learned that Ollie had taken a crew of trainees in Virbius to visit Thor, Romulus and Remus. He had hoped to pick up the professor, having recovered from his wound.

“However,” reported Elizabeth, “We’ve just heard from that worthy that he is having such useful discussions with the physicists on Thor that he doesn’t want to come back just yet. Apparently, they’re on the track of a new breakthrough.”

“Sounds ominous” said Andromeda, “Not to worry – if he’s happy, he can come back when he wants, if there’s a ship going there.”

They discussed other matters, including progress with the building programme and further expansion of the space base. Good communications via DICS had been established with the other planets they had visited: Poseidon, Thor, Romulus and Remus. New ground staff and space crew were being recruited as fast as possible.

After the meeting, Andromeda, Felix, Elizabeth and Robert had lunch in the refectory, next to the big picture window looking over the space base. They sat and chatted afterwards until Andreas showed up. He greeted the other two, and then led his daughter and her lover away to his aircar. They flew back to Armontirina, with Felix constantly exclaiming at the landscape below, in particular how green it all was. He was amazed by the sight of the Great Rift, and his first glimpse of the ocean blew him away.

They landed at the aircar park near the south gate of Armontirina; Andreas announced it was going to be expanded to handle spaceships as well. The three of them walked through the streets of the white city to the Prince’s Palace, and on the terrace overlooking the sea they sat and had drinks. They were joined by Saardu, Alexis and Eva – Andromeda noticed that Eva was looking slightly plumper than usual and asked if a niece or nephew was on the way.

“You don’t miss much, Andie” she confessed, “Another little prince or princess, due in about five months.”

There were congratulations from Andromeda and Felix, and then they began asking Felix about himself and his life on Remus. He soon began to lose his shyness and told them about his early life in a family of subsistence farmers, his early love of computers, moving to the university and ending up as chief nerd. Then he mentioned the recent death of both his parents, and that the only family he had left was a sister, Felicity.

“She’s older than me” he explained, “And she’s still at the university in the environmental sciences department. Her real interest is terraforming hostile environments, though Remus doesn’t really need that kind of transformation.”

“She needs to get into space to find a challenge to suit her” commented Andreas, “There seems to be no shortage of human-habitable planets, but some of the others may be of value if we can find ways to live on them.”

Felix watched spellbound as the sun sank into the western sea, and then they went in for a simple family dinner. Afterwards Saardu showed his to his room. “It’s next to Andie’s, and there’s a connecting door, if she wants to unlock it” she explained. Andie did.

The following morning there was a meeting in the Prince’s study, with Andromeda, Felix, Andreas and Saardu present. To begin with Felix produced a portable computer screen and introduced Erda to the company.

“I’m very glad to meet you all” she said, “I hope I can be of service.”

“I’m sure you can” said the Prince, “I understand that you are a sophisticated self-aware piece of software. How far does your influence extend?”

“I am present in all the electronic systems of Remus, controlling and optimising them, and dealing with bugs and glitches. As far as the people there are concerned, I’m just a fancy piece of software – Felix is still keeping my self-awareness confidential. I’m in touch with and part of the system on Remus through the DICS link Andromeda has supplied.”

Saardu asked: “Could you similarly get into our electronic systems here on Armontiriath, or any other planet?”

“Very easily, but not without your permission and approval. In some ways I’m a kind of super-virus, but I want you to trust that my intentions are entirely benevolent.”

“I believe that they are” said the Prince, “Let me spend some more time with you, so I can come to a clear judgement. Before I trust you completely I want to get to know you better.”

“I willingly agree” said Erda, and Felix handed the computer unit over to Andreas.

“The second thing to discuss” broke in Andromeda, “is the problem with Earth. I would like to set out the plan I have devised, which will only work with Erda’s help.”

“Fire away” said her father.

“First of all,” said his daughter, “We need to contact all the other colony worlds that we know of. I managed to get a list while I was on Earth. Apart from the five which Diana colonised, there are eight others which are known to have human settlements.”

“What are they?” asked Andreas.

“Two colonised by a North American ship, Washington. They are Columbus and Homeland, both spinwards from Earth.”

“Spinwards?” asked Felix.

“In the direction of Galactic rotation. We are hubwards from Earth, in the direction of the Galactic core.”

“OK, I get it.”

“Three were colonised by another European States ship, Europa, in a rimwards direction – that is, opposite to the Galactic core. They are Nova Roma, Titania and Concepcion. After dropping a pod on the last world, the starship Europa vanished and has not been heard from since. It still had three colony pods on board, but no-one knows where it went.

“One world, Zemlaya, was colonised by a Russian ship, Gagarin, going anti-spinwards. Another two worlds, New Angkor and Confucius, were colonised by the Asian States ship Avatar, going galactic north. That makes a total of thirteen colony worlds that we know of. I would like to contact them all and invite them to join us in a confederation of colony worlds. Access to our space technology should help them to agree.”

“Sounds sensible” said her father, “Then what?”

“At the same time” went on his daughter, “I would like to concentrate a lot of energy on finding, mapping and exploring new human-habitable planets. There seems to be a great number of them out there, and it would be good to be able to offer new worlds to colonise as an inducement to the people of Earth.”

“I assume” said Saardu, “that you will also contact non-human intelligent races you encounter, and assure them that we will not be colonising their worlds.”

“Except with their approval and permission, like the holloo on Poseidon” added Andreas.

“Indeed” said Andromeda, “In fact, I believe the holloo would like to become full partners in any confederation of worlds we establish.”

“Excellent” said her mother, “Diversity is vital if any confederation is to grow and thrive.”

“And then?” asked Andreas, “How do you propose to deal with Earth after you’ve achieved these two things?”

“That depends largely on Erda, so I’m keeping it to myself for now until you’ve got to know here and can trust her. Father, you have the gift of seeing what is hidden, and I share that gift. I believe that there is no evil intent in Erda’s nature, and we can trust her. You need to ensure that you feel the same.”

“I’ll do as you ask, and hope Erda and I will become friends.”

“I would be honoured” said the cybernetic lifeform.

“So what else have you got for us all to do?” enquired Saardu.

“Plan another wedding” said Andromeda, “The sooner the better!”

* * *

The next day Andromeda returned to New Warsaw by aircar, leaving her mother to start the wedding preparations for a week ahead. She also left Felix, who was going into the University of Armontirina to see about setting up a department of Cybernetics. She flung herself into the work of the space centre, where the activity was increasing almost exponentially over time. There seemed to be no shortage of people who needed to consult her to receive advice, orders or just sympathy when things were getting tough.

The main excitement was caused when Virbius returned, escorting another ship from Poseidon with mixed crew of humans and holloo. Ollie had stopped at that planet on his return journey, and lent them one of his crew to enable them to find Armontiriath – otherwise no off-world ship could have found its way there. Andromeda was delighted to find that her holloo friend Sarnako was on board, and they greeted each other warmly when the crew emerged from the Poseidonian ship Nakragor.

It had a cylindrical deep blue hull, about twice the size of Virbius, and Sarnako explained that the hull was made by the holloo from the same tough mollusc-like shell that they built their submarines from.

“And what does Nakragor mean?” she asked.

“It’s a large solitary predator in our oceans – the humans in the crew call the ship White Shark.”

“You are very welcome to Armontiriath, and I hope you will be able to come to my wedding in a few days.”

“Thank you – I would be honoured. Now please allow me to show you around our ship.”

The seal-like alien led the way up the ramp and through the main airlock into the ship’s lower deck. The floors were covered with a thin layer of water, so Andromeda removed her shoes and trousers to enable her to wade after Sarnako. She apologised for the water, but said this level was used by the holloo, for whom a wet environment was highly desirable. At times the water came up to Andromeda’s knees, but she forged on after her friend who was half-walking, half-swimming, along the corridor.

They looked in some of the crew quarters and the recreation area, where there was a deeper pool, which the humans also used. A sloping ramp led up to the human level, where warm air jets were positioned, which Andromeda used to dry off her legs. This level was empty, as all the humans had gone out to explore Armontiriath, except for one crewman left on duty in the control room. He explained this was also on two levels, with duplicate controls down below which were suited to the holloo physique, so that the ship could be flown by members of either race, or both in combination.

Andromeda thanked him and admired the clever arrangement which allowed the ship to be jointly crewed by two different species. She followed Sarnako back out, via another set of warm air jets, to the landing field once more. As she was putting her trousers and shoes back on, Ollie Petersen approached from where Virbius had landed, with a tall young fair-haired woman. He introduced her as Felicity Brown, the older sister of Andromeda’s fiancé, whom he had picked up on Remus.

Andromeda introduced them both to Sarnako, and asked Ollie to escort her into the city and make sure he was comfortable in the accommodation prepared for the holloo visitors. Then she turned to Felicity and embraced her warmly.

“I’m delighted you’ve come!” she cried, “This is wonderful!”

“I had to come and see my little brother safely married”

“And not just for that, I hope. I want you to stay – we’re really going to need your skills.”

“I’d be delighted to, if you can find me something useful to do.”

“No worries about that. There’s going to be plenty for an environmental engineer to do in the years to come. Let’s go back to the office, and then I’ll take you to Armontirina to see your brother.”

Arm in arm the two young women walked back to the main building, where Andromeda dealt with a few pressing issues and delegated everything else. Then she led Felicity to an aircar, where the Reman’s luggage had already been stowed, and they set off north.

“When is the wedding?” asked Felicity.

“In a week’s time. I hope you’ll be a bridesmaid.”

“I certainly will. Goodness – look at all those trees! And that canyon – is it real?”

***

“Darling”

“Yes?” responded Felix, who was half asleep beside her.

“You know we’re getting married in five days?”

“How can I forget? Some say it’s none too soon.”

“Whatever. The thing is – what are we going to be called once we’re married?”

“Dunno. Mr and Mrs Brown?”

“The thing is, my surname – dal’Nostra – is kind of special to me, and though Brown is fine and respectable, it’s a bit, well …”

“Common?”

“Unremarkable. It used to be the case that traditionally wives took their husband’s names, but now, here on Armontiriath, it’s not such a firm rule. I don’t know how things are on Remus.”

“People largely do as they please on Remus, my love. It’s not really an issue. I’m quite happy to be a dal’Nostra, if your family can cope with me joining them. Can we keep the Brown as well?”

“Professor Felix Brown dal’Nostra – it has a ring to it.”

“As does Princess Andromeda Brown dal’Nostra.”

“Princess Andromeda Saardu Estelle Brown dal’Nostra, if you please.”

“I never realised you had so many other names. But now that’s agreed, is there time for …”

“No there isn’t. I need to get up now – Eva and Felicity are taking me to look for a dress.”

“Wow! I didn’t know you wore dresses!”

“This is a special occasion, you know. I don’t intend to make a habit of it.”

Later that morning the three young women hit the main shopping street of Armontirina, Victory Avenue. In the twenty or so years since the founding of the city, a number of upmarket clothes shops had established themselves there, and Eva and Felicity took Andromeda to each in turn to select a suitable wedding dress. They managed to persuade her that her favourite colour, black, was not suitable for a wedding dress. Eventually they managed to persuade her that an elegant gown in deep blue was just the thing, and also chose dresses for the other two women to wear as bridesmaids. Eva was careful to choose something full to try to conceal her growing bulge.

Later Andromeda spoke to Felicity alone, in her office at the palace.

“I’m planning to set up a department of Planetary Engineering within our space organisation, and I’d like you to lead it.”

“What would the job involve?” asked Felicity.

“We’re going to be actively searching for new worlds for humans to colonise, and we need people who can judge their suitability. In addition, some worlds may not be habitable at present, but with a little tweaking – terraforming you call it – they may become suitable for humans. Or other species.”

“Where would I be based?”

“The main office would be at the New Warsaw Space Base, but obviously there would be a lot of off-world travel. You could also have an office here, and I’m going to persuade the university here to set up a department of Planetary Engineering. How do you fancy being a part-time professor?”

“Sounds brilliant. I hope it’s not just because I’m going to be your sister-in-law?”

“Nope. I’ve been thinking for a while about setting up this department, but had no idea how to staff it. Then suddenly a planetary engineer shows up, like an answer to a maiden’s prayer.”

“Well thank you. I hope I’ll be able to do a good job.”

“I’m sure of it. Welcome to the family and to our grand space adventure!”

***

On the day before the wedding, people began arriving in Armontirina. Sarnako came, and was given a room on the ground floor of the palace with an adjacent plunge pool. That evening was warm, and as the sun set the main pool on the terrace was occupied by young people relaxing in the water. Andromeda, Felix, Felicity, Alexis and Eva were there, and then Elizabeth, Robert and Ollie arrived. They undressed and joined the others in the pool, and took drinks from the floating bar. They watched the sun go down over the Great Sea, and its red light shone on the various coloured skin – black, brown or white – all laughing and celebrating together.

“You realise” said Felix, “that in much of human history a mix of skin colours like ours being together would have been unthinkable, even illegal.”

“Is that so?” said Robert, “But we’re all the same really – what difference does skin colour make?”

“You’d be surprised at how important it has been – why in South Africa in the 20^th century …”

“Enough of the history lesson, love” chided Andromeda, laughing, “We’re here to have fun! Why don’t we go down to the beach?”

“Good idea!” said her brother, “Come on guys!”

The young people climbed out of the pool and ran naked across the terrace to the flight of steps that led down the face of the glittering cliffs to the beach below. Beach chairs and tables of food and drink awaited them down there, and they splashed in the waves in the twilight, and then sat and talked and laughed and ate and drank as soft lamps came on to banish the darkness.

The next morning the grand hall of the palace was crowded to see the wedding of the princess and the stranger from another world. Sarnako was there in a place of honour, her skin decorated with brilliant flashes of colour to celebrate the occasion. Andromeda appeared in her blue gown, with a coronet of sparkling gems in her flaming auburn hair, and was led by her father up the central aisle to where Felix waited, in a formal suit borrowed from Alexis. Saardu stood at the front and conducted the ceremony as they made their vows to each other, and then pronounced them husband and wife.

The wedding feast took place in the main square outside the palace, where a great array of tables had been set up. Most of Armontirina was there, with visitors from all over the planet and some from elsewhere. By mid-afternoon Andromeda and Felix were able to say goodbye and head off by aircar to their honeymoon destination, a little cabin by a lake in the wild foothills of the mountains to the north-east of Armontirina.

 

 

Chapter 14

On the last day of their honeymoon, Felix and Andromeda were relaxing in the hot tub by the lake. Suddenly she pointed to the north-west, and Felix turned his head to look.

“Look, my love. Do you see that mountain?”

“What mountain? I just see a mass of clouds – no wait…”

As he looked, it seemed that the clouds partly dissolved and Felix could see the sides of a great mountain, with dense forest running up to bare slopes and all crowned with a cap of clouds.

“Yes, I see it now. How come I never noticed it before?”

“It is hidden from all eyes except for a few. The fact that you now see it means you are truly part of my family. That is where my mother’s people live. You do know that I am not entirely human?”

“I might have guessed it, though your body seems a pretty good imitation to me …”

“Enough of that!” laughed Andromeda, slapping his hand away, “I am serious. I have some gifts from my mother’s side which are not normal for humans, and perhaps our children will share them too.”

“I’m sure they’re good gifts, and I look forward to finding out. Meanwhile, as we soon have to get ready to leave this lovely spot, I’d like to check out just how human your body seems to be.”

“Oh, all right, come here then.”

***

On their return to Armontirina, they were swept up in a whirl of work. Felix and Felicity found themselves positions and offices at the University of Armontirina, and Andromeda returned to the New Warsaw Space Base after a brief consultation with her father. He assured her that he was convinced that Erda was benevolent and should be introduced into the communications networks of the world. As she flew south she spoke to Felix and gave him the go-ahead, and very soon Erda was controlling and upgrading the electronic systems across Armontiriath.

“Your father and I are quite good friends now” she reported to Andromeda a few days later. “He says that I am a sentient life-form, not different in principle from humans, or holloo. I’m now embedded in all your systems, and can report to him anything that affects his role as Prince. Of course, people’s privacy is important but sometimes other things are more important. But I’m very good at keeping secrets.”

“I’m sure you are. I’ll be visiting other colony worlds soon, and hope to introduce you to their systems also. And then, of course, there’s something else …”

“Earth?”

“Indeed. I’ll let you know when the time is ripe for that part of our plan, Erda. So long.”

“So long, Andromeda.”

Soon after her return to the space base, the new ship was completed. Andromeda named her Orion, after her father’s unicorn. It was painted black, with the flag of Armontiriath on each side of the nose – the gold circle with the image of the black dragon and the six surrounding stars. After its commissioning she took it out on s shake-down flight around the local system and was impressed with how much of an improvement it was in terms of speed, comfort and ease to fly. She complimented Elizabeth, who had come along for the test flight.

“There are still a few small snags we can sort out easily, but I think our experience in spaceship engineering is growing fast” she replied, “And of course we’re comparing notes with engineers on other planets, including the holloo. They have some pretty smart ideas, you know.”

Andromeda laughed. “As long as they don’t involve having the ship knee-deep in water all the time!”

A few days later she took an emotional farewell of Felix before setting off on a long tour in the new ship to visit the other known inhabited worlds. At the same time Felicity was setting off with Ollie in Virbius to look at planets which might be ripe for colonisation, taking with them a few new recruits to her department of planetary engineering.

On Orion Andromeda had Greta Smallbay as co-pilot and her new husband Dan O’Neil as chief engineer. She felt a small pang of jealousy that they were travelling together while she and Felix were apart. The rest of Orion’s complement were new recruits, engineers and trainee spacecrew, plus a couple of young women that she hoped could become useful in inter-world diplomacy.

After take-off Andromeda set the ship’s course towards the estimated position of Zemlaya, the Russian colony planet. Her two young acolytes spent the voyage practising their Russian, tutored by Erda from her extensive data banks. One of the women, Martha Trebukla, was a short, serious, dark-haired and pale-skinned, and seemed to making more progress in the language lessons. By contrast, Cheri Smith was tall, dark-skinned and rather less serious, but Andromeda judged that she had a more outgoing personality which could serve them well.

Orion was taking a novel route through the local stars heading at an angle from the direct path to Earth and the other worlds colonised by the starship Diana. As they approached the expected region of space Dan began to scan carefully with DODO, searching for likely candidates for the Russian planet, whose position they did not know exactly.

“I think that might be it” he said at last, pointing to the screen, “There are several planets, one in the Goldilocks zone, which could be the one we’re looking for.”

“I agree with Dan” said Erda, “definitely our best prospect.”

“Let’s go check it out then” said Andromeda, and Greta changed course in that direction and applied extra thrust. In just a few hours they were approaching the planet, which was now clearly seen in the ship’s onboard telescopes.

“Slightly larger and hotter than Earth” reported Dan, “Mostly desert, a few small seas, and habitable in the temperate regions. I’m getting radio emissions for a city on the shore of a small sea, or large lake, and I think there’s a pod beached nearby.”

“OK” said Andromeda, “Let’s park the ship about 100 kilometres above the city and try to communicate with them by radio. Erda – you make first contact, as the others aren’t fluent yet in Russian.”

The sentient software beamed a message towards the ground below, sending greetings from the spaceship Orion to the people of Zemalaya, and asking permission to land. She repeated it several times before a rather startled reply came back.

“They’re asking if we’re from Earth” she reported.

“Tell them no, we’re from another colony world and have things to share with them which will be of benefit.”

There was another pause before a reply came back, giving them permission to land near the city. Under Greta’s skilful control Orion dropped from her parking position towards the little sea below, and landed on the beach a few hundred metres from the edge of the city. The area was surrounded by forests, and many of the houses were built of wood, but among them rose some elegant spires and onion domes, painted and gilded so they shone in the late afternoon sun.

Vehicles began to move along the beach towards them, followed by a number of people on foot. At the same time a motor boat left the city and came along the shoreline, reaching the ship’s location before those coming by land. Its prow ran on to the beach, a gangplank was extended, and some figures came ashore and headed purposefully towards the ship.

“Show time!” said Andromeda, “Come on you two. Martha, you do the talking initially but Cheri, be ready to help out. Erda will translate for us into our oral implants. Let’s go!”

The airlock opened and the three young women walked down the ramp on to the surface, facing the group of four or five men who had come from the boat. They were tall and dark-haired, wearing loose blouses and trousers in a range of muted colours. They all wore black moustaches, a slight culture shock to the Armontiriathans. Martha stepped forward and greeted them in slightly halting Russian. One of the party stepped forward and replied in the same tongue, and then broke into English.

“You are very welcome. I hope you can understand my English?”

“Very well, sir – much better than my Russian!”

At that moment Cheri stepped forward, gave the man a dazzling smile and shook him warmly by the hand.

“We’re so happy to be here and to meet you” she said. The Zemlayan seemed slightly taken aback by the warmth of her greeting, but then smiled broadly.

“I am delighted to meet such charming young ladies, wherever you come from!”

“My name is Cheri Smith, and this is my colleague Martha Trebukla. Over here is our leader, Princess Andromeda Saardu Sophia Brown dal’Nostra. We have travelled here from the planet Armontiriath, colonised by the starship Diana from the European States.”

“I am honoured and delighted” he said, bowing to Andromeda, “My name is Eugene Volotov, and I am – what’s the word? – mayor of this city, Novaya Moskva. Please come and visit with us, and we can exchange our news and information.”

In no time he had ushered the three women on to his boat and they were steaming back to the city. They landed at a wooden jetty in the harbour, and were taken in a horse-drawn carriage to a large and ornate wooden building in the centre of the city. Volotov explained this was city hall, and he was currently the senior official in the city.

“Our Tsar is away in the north, supervising the building of new settlements on the steppes, beyond the forest” he explained, as they settled into his rather grand office with small glasses of vodka, “I have sent him a message, and he has given me authority to deal with you in all things.”

Andromeda began to explain where they were from, and the purpose of their mission to contact all the other colony worlds. When she described the new technology they could provide, Volotov’s eyes lit up and he became very attentive.

“I’m sure my Tsar will agree to the conditions you set with no hesitation. Unlimited power – space travel – it is beyond my expectation. In return, what do you want?”

“Cooperation, friendship, the unity of the colony worlds – nothing more. Now tell me about your world and its history.”

“We were colonised about 28 Earth-years ago by the starship Gagarin from the Russian Union. It was carrying two colonisation pods, each with about half a million people in deep-sleep. One pod was landed here, and since then we have done well, settling in the temperate forest area and now expanding into the steppes that stretch up to the pole. We have a democratic form of government, but the elected leader is known as the Tsar, in honour of our ancient Russian forebears.”

“But what became of the starship Gagarin after it left here?”

“We fear it was lost. We had intermittent radio messages from it, but about four years after leaving we received a distress call, and then silence ever since. There was nothing we could do, except mourn their loss.”

Andromeda said nothing more, but thought to herself that this was a mystery that should be investigated.

Several days passed while they were hosted royally by the Zemlayans. Others came from the ship, leaving just a skeleton crew behind. The Tsar returned, a large imposing man with a great black bushy beard, and willingly accepted the conditions for the transfer of technology. After handing the information and materials over to the local engineers and scientists, and establishing a DICS link with the planet, there just remained a great feast on the eve of their departure. Great quantities of food were washed down with vast amounts of vodka, and the Armontiriathans crept back to their ship to rest and recover prior to returning to space.

Once away from the planet, Andromeda turned to Greta and asked her to load the coordinates of the region of space where Gagarin was known to have been heading. “That’s where we’re going” she said.

“Is this a rescue mission?” asked Greta.

“Probably not, but I need to know what happened to them. Erda, keep a close watch for anything on the DODO scanners.”

“Will do, captain.”

Orion moved relatively slowly away from Zemlaya’s sun, at just a few hundred times light-speed, probing the space ahead carefully with all her sensors. Hours passed, until Dan suddenly exclaimed that he had something, about five degrees off their present course.

“I have it” said Erda, “A fairly diffuse cloud of objects, moving at about one-quarter light-speed. There seems to be one large solid object as well.”

Greta changed course to intercept the objects, and as they approached the screen image gradually resolved itself into a large clod of debris moving together but spreading out steadily. As they passed through the cloud they slowed to match speed, and the telescopes were able to catch visual details of the tumbling shards.

“Spaceship debris, I’m afraid” said Dan, after studying some of the passing fragments.

“Set course for the large object” said Andromeda, “Perhaps the pod has survived.”

As they drew closer, they could see it was indeed a colony pod, massive in comparison to Orion, and with a large Russian flag painted on the nose, together with the name Gagarin in Cyrillic letters. It was tumbling slowly as it travelled through the void, but seemed intact.

“They must have jettisoned it before the main ship exploded” said Greta, “Do you suppose there’s anyone still alive in there?”

“There are signs of power from inside” added Erda, “I believe the onboard fusion reactor is still operating. Those in deep-sleep may still be viable.”

“Let’s find out” said Andromeda, “Can you grab that thing, stop it tumbling and put us alongside?”

Carefully Greta extended webs of pseudo-gravity which seized the giant cylinder and slowly stopped its tumbling motion. Then she manoeuvred Orion alongside until it was only metres from the pod and extended the pseudo-gravity field to hold both vessels together.

“Ready for EVA” she announced, as Andromeda and Dan were getting into their space environment suits. They both moved to the main airlock and cycled through. As the outer hatch opened they could see the massive wall of the pod stretching above, below and to either side of them, making Orion seem like a miniature toy. The landing ramp had been extended horizontally to touch the side of the pod just below its main hatch. A small degree of pseudo-gravity had been applied to the ramp and the pod interior to prevent them having to work in free-fall.

The two figures walked slowly across to the hatch. There was a control panel there with Cyrillic writing, and Dan held up the portable Erda unit so she could see it, and very soon she relayed instructions for them to open it. Dan pressed the right controls and the hatch slid open, and they stepped carefully inside. They closed the outer door and waited while the pressure equalised, and then the inner door slid open.

“There’s some air pressure in here, and emergency lighting” he reported, as they stepped into the corridor ahead. They walked a few metres and found a communications panel, and attached the Erda unit to it.

“OK, I’m in” she announced after a few seconds, “I’ve got access to their systems, most of which are dormant. I’m just checking the status of the occupants.”

Dan and Andromeda walked a few metres to the end of the corridor, where there was a large window looking out over the inside of the pod. As far as the eye could see in the dim lighting it was stacked with row upon row, tier upon tier, of metal cylinders, each containing the body of a potential colonist. Dan realised this was how his own parents had come to Armontiriath, and sight filled him with a sense of awe. They both stood and gazed in silence.

Erda reported back. “Of the 513,209 colonists in suspended animation, about 2% appear no longer to be viable, and about 1% are uncertain. The rest seem to be still viable, and could probably be revived with little danger.”

“Great” said Andromeda, “Let’s get them back to their own people. Any idea what happened to Gagarin?”

“There is a brief log, by two survivors from the mother ship who made it to the pod before the disaster. Apparently the main engine began to show signs of instability, and in attempting to control it something went horribly wrong. In the last minutes before it blew, they managed to jettison the pod so it was out of danger before the starship exploded. The two crew put themselves into deep-sleep, so when they’re revived we may get a fuller account.”

“Thanks, Erda. Let’s return to Orion and take this pod back to Zemlaya.”

Once they were back aboard, Greta began to turn the two linked craft, slowing them to a stand-still and then heading back the way they had come, the massive pod firmly grasped in Orion’s pseudo-gravity field. She increased speed, and in less than a day they were hovering just outside the atmosphere of the colony world.

“Novaya Moskva is currently in darkness” reported Erda, “Dawn in about two hours.”

“Let’s wait for their sun to rise before we go down” said Andromeda, “They know we’re coming, but it will be better if they can see us in daylight.”

So as the sun rose on their city the Zemlayans were able to watch the gentle descent of the second giant pod on to their world. It came down slowly, supported by the relatively minute mass of Orion above it, and came to a halt on the shore on the opposite side of the city from the spot where the original pod rested. The pseudo-gravity field that supported it was released, and the vast cylinder settled into the ground, with waves lapping against one side.

Orion hovered over the city, and Andromeda spoke to Eugene Volotov on their DICS link.

“She’s all yours now – you know how to revive the colonists inside?”

“Yes, indeed. We will bring them out gradually, and find places for them to settle on our world. There’s lots of space on the steppes beyond the forest. Thank you for rescuing our compatriots – we can never repay you for your generosity.”

“We’re glad to be able to help” replied Andromeda, “Now you have the technology to build your own ships, some of those colonists may want to move on to another world, without having to rest in deep-sleep for years upon years. But we need to move on now, to visit other worlds. Stay in contact, and we hope to work together in the future.”

“We will. Do svidanya! Farewell, and good luck!”

Orion vanished into the sky again, and set course for the next colony world to visit. Their destination was the group of three worlds colonised by the European States ship Europa, rimwards from Earth. They bypassed the home planet by several light-years as they sped to that region of space.

The first world, and closest to Earth, was Nova Roma, which they reached after two days flight. Erda summarised the data they had gleaned about the planet while they attempted to establish radio contact.

“In many ways it’s very similar to Earth, with large oceans and several continents, but with a 10-hour day and a year equal to 12 Earth years. Its high axial tilt leads to extreme seasons. It appears that the equatorial continent is the one that has been colonised – there are several cities on the northern shoreline.”

After radio contact was achieved, they descended and spent time with the colonists, swiftly reaching agreement on sharing the technology they brought. The two young diplomats, Martha and Cheri, gained confidence quickly and were able to relieve Andromeda of some of the tasks of communicating with the local people.

In just a short while their work there was done, and Orion was back in space heading for the next world, Titania, also colonised by Europa. As part of what was becoming almost a familiar routine, Erda summarised the data on the planet.

“Smaller than Earth, dense with 20% higher gravity and thicker atmosphere. 90% land, mainly forest-covered but with some high mountain plateaus, which are the areas which have been colonised.”

Contact was established and they were again greeted warmly by the colonists. The Armontiriathans found the extra weight a bit of a shock, and spent a lot of time in the warm mineral pools that the locals frequented. Diplomatic discussions went well once more, and in a few days the crew of Orion were ready to leave, trying to hide their relief from their new friends on Titania.

The third world colonised by Europa was Concepcion, which Erda summarised once more.

“Larger than Earth, light with lower gravity(0.9g), with little axial tilt and 25% land. I can see evidence of intense farming activity down there.”

Contact and landing proved that the colony had a very placid, rural lifestyle with little extreme weather. Again, diplomacy went well with people who were delighted to meet those from another world, especially when they brought valuable technology.

Andromeda was interested to find out what had happened to Europa, which still had three colony pods on board when she left the planet many years before. The colonists told her that they had continued receiving messages from her for several years, and the last one explained that they had failed to find suitable worlds nearby and were increasing speed to explore a more promising region of space a lot further off. Then communication was lost as the starship accelerated.

“Interesting” mused Andromeda to Erda, “I wonder if they found new worlds out there? Sometime we must go and find out.”

“There are a lot of stars out there” responded Erda, “Needles in haystacks come to mind. I think you have a lot on your plate with the worlds we know about, without exploring rimwards.”

“Perhaps you’re right. Meanwhile – on to the next world.”

Orion now headed to the pair of planets colonised by the North American starship Washington, spinwards from Earth. The first one they found was Columbus, a massive world with high gravity again, thick atmosphere and few areas of water. They found the colony on the shores of a large lake in the southern hemisphere.

“It looks like they’ve settled in a region of flat plains, with large areas covered by agriculture” reported Erda, “We’ve made contact by radio, and have permission to land.”

To counteract the high gravity, Dan and his colleagues had rigged up a flat platform with a pseudo-gravity generator and some temporary accommodation on board, which gave respite from the excessive weight while they were on the planet negotiating with the locals. On the ship they also kept the pseudo-gravity tuned to Armontiriath normal.

After a few days their business was done, and they left with words of friendship and gratitude from the Columbans ringing in their ears. As they were pulling away from the planet, Dan said that he had left the gravity-reducing platform with them, and suggested they might use similar arrangements for places where lower gravity would be beneficial, such as hospitals, convalescent homes, and old people’s centres.

“Great thinking, Dan” complimented Andromeda, “Why don’t you contact the people on Titania and make the same suggestion to them?”

Orion was now heading further spinwards, searching for the other world colonised by North Americans. After a fairly long search through a number of planetary systems, they reached the right one, and approached the fourth planet, known as Homeland. In orbit around the planet they observed a large object, which was identified as the starship Washington.

“Interesting” said Andromeda, “It looks as if this is as far as they got. Erda, what do we know about this world?”

“Low density with gravity of 0.9g; 50% ocean, mostly mountainous. One continent is flatter, less mountainous and appears to have been colonised. I see two pods there, on the south shore near what appears to be a city. Other signs of human settlement appear further inland.”

A short while later they managed to raise the colonists by radio, and received permission to land. First contact with a new colony was becoming fairly routine by now, but the first shock the crew of Orion received was the announcement that the planet was inhabited by an intelligent race. The other three, more mountainous, continents were the home of the Trogi. The humans had established contact with the native species and reached agreement that they could colonise the fourth continent, which the Trogi had no use for.

“Y’all should meet with the Trogi” said Kurt Olsen, President of the Homeland colony, “They’re an interesting people, though we don’t have a lot to do with them. They were happy for us to have this continent. They mostly live underground on their continents, but we have a little trading post and diplomatic mission on the shore of the western continent. We can introduce you.”

So a few days later Andromeda, with Martha and Cheri and a couple of Homelanders, were landing one of Orion’s aircars at the Trogi trading post. A couple of humans were there, manning the station, and several of the Trogi. The natives stood about a metre tall, had four legs and two arms, grey skin, and wide intelligent eyes set in a small head. Erda had managed to input a crash course in the Trogi language, so when one of them spoke in fluid syllables she was able to translate.

“Welcome, humans from a different world. We, the Trogi, greet you”

Martha spoke back equally polite phrases, and Erda translated. In no time the two were exchanging news and information fairly rapidly. At the end of the session, Martha reported back to Andromeda.

“They live in caves in the mountains, and say they have their own technology which is very ancient. However, they are happy to learn from ours, and to exchange ideas. Most of them have no desire to travel in space, but there may be a few mad enough to do it. I’ve been invited to visit them in their homes.”

“Good – go for it. Learn what you can. When you’ve finished, contact Orion and we’ll come and pick you up. Cheri here can continue as liaison with the Homelanders.”

Martha seemed slightly taken aback at this, but smiled bravely and said “Will do, boss”

A few days later, when she returned, she described her experiences to the others.

“Their caves are amazing, full of beauty and sophistication. They showed me everything, and their technology is quite advanced – light, power, communications – but I think very ancient. They are happy to learn from us, but not keen to change their ancient ways or leave their caves for long.”

“Well done, Martha” said Andromeda, “Now we know of two other intelligent races – the holloo and the Trogi.”

“Don’t forget the unicorns of Armontiriath” said Cheri.

“Yes, they are intelligent, but in a different way. Technology interests them not at all, but they are highly empathetic. OK, three other intelligent races.”

As Orion lifted off from Homeland, Andromeda contacted Felix back on Armontiriath.

“When are you coming home?” he asked, “I’m missing you!”

“Soon, love. We have two more worlds to visit and then I’ll be back.”

“Take care, my darling”

“I will. Miss you too.”

 

 

 

Chapter 15

Orion was now heading out of the rough disc, centred on Earth, which contained all the worlds it had visited so far. The next mission was to find and contact the two planets colonised by the Asian States ship Avatar, which had headed Galactic North from Earth. Erda and Dan scanned a large number of likely systems with Dodo, and finally they found one which seemed to fit. As they approached, radio signals were detected.

“This is New Angkor, a very low density and low gravity world (0.8g), with 40% oceans, a mild climate and no real axial tilt and hence no seasons” reported Erda.

Having found the world, the formalities of making contact, landing, establishing diplomatic relations and so forth, went even more smoothly than usual, because of the gentle and polite nature of the colonists. Lifting into space again, the ship reverted to Armontiriath-standard gravity, and everyone felt the difference.

“I’m missing New Angkor already!” exclaimed Cheri, “I could bounce around like a rubber ball there – now I feel like a lump of lead.”

“You could always go and settle there” laughed Greta.

“No thanks – they’re all a bit quiet and polite. I don’t think I’d fit in at all.”

“That’s true” muttered Martha.

Heading further away from Earth, the second planet was found more easily, after another ten light-years. Erda reported again:

“This is Confucius, which is very Earth-like but with a heavy atmosphere constantly shrouded in clouds. High mountain plateaus are the areas where there are signs of colonisation.”

This time Greta piloted Orion gently down through the clouds, relying on DODO rather than visual information. They landed by a city on the shore of a large mountain lake, where the last two pods from Avatar had been landed. This time the locals seemed more suspicious of the newcomers, seeming to prefer to hide away under their clouds rather than engage with other worlds. It took all Andromeda’s diplomatic skills, allied with those of Martha and Cheri, to persuade them that there were benefits in making contact.

Eventually Orion was able to leave again, having concluded a successful first contact.

“Phew!” said Cheri, “That was a bit of a long-drawn-out affair.”

“I don’t think it helped that they’ve got a fairly patriarchal society, and they found it strange negotiating with females” commented Martha.

“They’re going to need to get used to it” added Andromeda.

Confucius was the last planet on their list to visit, so Greta happily turned the ship towards home and piled on speed. They began to travel through a comparatively empty region of space, with stars few and far between. Soon after entering this region, Andromeda began to feel unwell. She staggered to a couch in the recreation area and flopped on to it.

“What’s the matter?” asked Dan anxiously.

“I feel dizzy and sick and my head aches” she explained, “And it’s getting worse.”

They fetched the medical diagnosis kit and attached her to it, but Erda reported she could find nothing physically wrong with Andromeda.

“I feel a cold wind from the darkest depths of space blowing through my body and soul” she gasped, “Can’t you feel it?”

None of the others could, and they stood around where she lay, baffled and confused.

“The Wind that blows between the worlds, it cut him like a knife” quoted Martha suddenly.

“What?” asked the others.

“It’s a line from a poem by Rudyard Kipling in the 20^th century” she explained, “It’s called Tomlinson, and I learned it at school.”

“Kipling must have been out here, because he knew just what it feels like” gasped out Andromeda.

Greta went and pushed the ship’s speed to new record levels. Only when Orion fled out of the dark region into realms where bright stars again shone around the ship did Andromeda recover. Soon she was herself again, and the cold wind of space just a dark memory engraved on her brain. She went to bed and rested for almost 20 hours. When she awoke they were almost back to Armontiriath.

They landed at the space base, and when Andromeda stepped from Orion she was embraced passionately by Felix.

“Are you all right?” he enquired anxiously, “They said you’d been ill.”

“I’m OK now, it was just a temporary thing. Don’t make a fuss.”

“Come home to Armontirina with me now, love. I’ve missed you so much!”

“And I you … but I need to do things here, talk to people, stuff to arrange. I’ll come home tomorrow.”

Felix looked so downhearted that she took pity. Taking him firmly by the hand she marched him up the ramp and along the corridor to her cabin, locking the door firmly behind them. An hour later she emerged, slightly tousled, and headed into the base to catch up with what had been going on in her prolonged absence.

The following day she landed her aircar at Armontirina, and had a happy reunion with her family, and a re-reunion with Felix. Then she had a meeting with her father, and briefed him about the results of her visits to the other colony worlds.

“I think they’re all willing in principle to join together in a union of planets, and they understand the Earth problem. Most of them just need a bit of time to get their heads round the new technology and get used to visitors from other worlds.”

“Well, Andie” said Andreas, “You’ve achieved a lot and I’m impressed. But the next steps are up to you now. My responsibility is Armontiriath, and you’ve moved beyond a single world.”

“Fair enough. But I hope I can still count on your support?”

“Indeed you can. But I believe you were taken ill on the return flight?”

Andromeda described the strange experience she had undergone while in deep space, and her father looked thoughtful.

“Talk to your mother” he said, “She is from a wise race, and may understand what happened to you.”

So, a little later Andromeda was sitting down with Saardu and describing the cold wind that seemed to blow through her soul in the dark between the stars.

“Do you know what it was?” she asked, and her mother nodded slowly, “Come with me tomorrow, on Nebula, and I hope we may find the answer that you seek.”

She said no more, but gave her daughter a warm hug.

In the morning mother and daughter walked together to the south gate of the white city and found their unicorns waiting there – Nebula, with Saardu’s companion Heartstar. Andromeda embraced her unicorn and they exchanged feelings.

Gladness to be with you again, pride at how you have grown in spirit.

Delight in your presence, sorrow to have left you for so long.

Then the two women mounted up and headed south along the cliff-edge path towards the distant black tower of Dragon Rock. As they approached, Andromeda could see that the castle was living up to its name, for draped along the battlements was the black shape of a vast dragon – Mordagiar.

Waiting for them in front of the open gate of the castle was Ombal, wizard of Tamorg. They dismounted and greeted him. “I sent for him, for he may be able to help you” explained Saardu.

“Well met, Andromeda dal’Nostra” said the tall being, “Will you come with me?”

“I will” she said, and briefly pressing her cheek against Nebula’s, she turned away from her mother and the two unicorns and followed Ombal into the abandoned castle. They climbed the steps to the battlements where Mordagiar lay sprawled, and then Ombal began to pick his way up the dragon’s back to his central spiny ridge. Andromeda followed. As they approached, a portal suddenly opened in the vast creature’s body and the wizard disappeared inside. Andromeda followed.

Inside was a moderately-sized chamber with soft couches scattered about, lit by a gentle blue ambient illumination. Ombal uttered a syllable and suddenly the walls, floor and ceiling seemed to vanish, leaving a view all round of the land, sea and sky. He uttered another syllable and the dragon left the castle and shot upwards. Below her Andromeda could see the castle and the shore shrink and vanish. Soon they were in space and her home was just a small blue green ball, and then it was lost in the stars.

She tried to call Erda, but her earpiece was silent. Her wrist-pod was dark and failed to give her any signal.

“For this time you will be out of contact” said the wizard, “This is for you alone, not to be shared with others.”

“Where are we going?” she asked. Stars were flashing past, and she guessed they were travelling much faster than she had ever gone before.

“To my world. It is on the far side of the Galaxy, and the way is long in normal space. But we shall go another way.”

“How then?”

“You know that our Universe is the three-dimensional skin of a 4-dimensional sphere?”

“Indeed”

“If we move away from the Universe we can travel much faster in 4-space. Mordagiar has that ability. Watch.”

The view outside became completely black, with no hint of light. Ombal uttered another word and it cleared again, showing below them what seemed to be a shimmering surface which stretched to each side and before and behind, as far as could be seen. Embedded in it were points and swirls of light, which seemed to become further away as they appeared to rise away from the surface.

“What’s that?” asked Andromeda, leaning forward fascinated by the spectacle.

“It is our universe, which we have now left. Of course, we 3-dimensional beings cannot really see objects in 4-space, so it’s really a simulation of reality in a way we can comprehend. Now look up.”

Above her Andromeda could see blackness, but studded within it were points of light, some brighter, some fainter. “Those are other universes?” she guessed.

“Indeed. Some very like our own, and others unbelievably different.”

“Have you visited them?”

“Once, a long time ago. Now look down again – we are passing over our Galaxy.”

The image below showed the vast spiral disc of stars which held all the worlds she knew in one tiny corner, shrunken so she could see both sides in one glance. They were travelling at unimaginable speeds across the centre of it, and as she watched it grew steadily larger as they appeared to be descending to meet it again. In a few minutes they were plunging back into three-dimensional normal space on the far side of the Galaxy. The view changed again, and the lights of stars and nebulae shone all round them.

The black dragon approached a star, and around it circled a single small planet, Tamorg. It was covered in jagged mountains, and on one of the tallest stood a grey castle. Mordagiar landed on a wide platform built on the battlements, and Ombal led the way out of the portal and down the dragon’s back, along the battlements and through a wide doorway into the castle. A cold wind blew across the ramparts as Andromeda hurried after him.

Ahead lay a wide doorway, which opened silently as they approached. In the dim lighting inside stood a strange figure. It was about as tall as a human, with a number of shot walking appendages clustered around the base of its dull green body, and several grasping manipulators spaced about the rest of its torso. There were no eyes or obvious sense organs, but it was clearly aware of their approach.

“What is it?” whispered Andromeda.

“A yermu” came the reply.

“But what is it?”, but there was no reply and she was left to guess if the creature was a robot, or organic, or some strange amalgam. It began to head off down the corridor in front of them and Ombal indicated she should follow, while he came behand. The portal to the open air slid shut behind then.

The passageways in that castle were not straight, but twisted and turned like arteries in a living body, branching and combining in a bewildering fashion. Finally the yermu led them out into a spacious chamber, with curving walls and ceiling but a relatively flat floor. It was lit by diffuse blueish light, and some couches were scattered about.

“Sit” said the wizard, “Will you take a drink?”

Another of the yermu approached carrying two flasks, and hand one to Andromeda. She sipped it cautiously. She decided it was good, if rather spicy, and took a longer sip.

“What now?” she asked, “Are you going to explain to me about the cold wind I felt? Is that why you’ve brought me to the far side of the Galaxy?”

“Indeed. It is easier here, and I don’t want to attract attention to Armontiriath, which has remained hidden for so long. You know that your mother is a member of an ancient race. Long ago they were the pre-eminent race of the Galaxy, and had settled throughout its volume. For long ages there was peace and prosperity.”

“Then what happened?”

“As you have seen, our Universe is but the thin three-dimensional skin on an expanding four-dimensional bubble of energy. Within that four-sphere lies a Power, whose nature we do not fully know. Except that it seems to dislike the life which exists upon its surface, when it becomes too active. At the height of the Galactic golden age it suddenly burst forth, with strange and overwhelming mental powers, which the living races could not withstand.

“At that time I came into being, in an attempt to use vynoshki to fight the sudden onslaught. I travelled beyond our Universe to find new means to oppose it, and had only limited success. A portion of your mother’s race were hidden from the menace on the planet Armontiriath, but the rest of the intelligent life in the Galaxy was laid waste. Then the alien Power withdrew, and left us to lick our wounds.

“In time new intelligent races evolved, and now the Galaxy is filling again with sentient life – but I fear we may once more attract the attention of that which destroyed the earlier species.”

“What of the cold wind I felt between the stars? Why was I the only one who felt it?”

“That is a remnant of the mental weapon which was used against us. Where the stars are thin it still lingers. Your descent from your mother’s people lets you feel it when newer races cannot. I can help you to protect yourself against its effects.”

“How?”

“Using your vynoshki talent. Come, stand up and I will show you.”

Andromeda got to her feet and one of the yermu glided up and took the empty flask from her, and she stood facing the wizard. Looking into her eyes he told her which of the doors in her mind to open, and how to spread the energy hidden there around her like a shield. She did as she was told, and felt the field of mental power surrounding her.

“How do I know it will work against the cold wind?”

“It will work, I can tell. It may protect you from other perils as well, I believe.”

Andromeda released the shield and thanked the wizard, and began to ask more questions, but he held up his hand to silence her.

“One thing only I will tell you – in you and your heirs there is some hope.”

“What hope?”

“Your mother’s race was great and powerful, but could not stand against what assaulted them. But their blood mixed with that of the human race can bring new strength, I think.”

“What’s so special about humanity?”

“They are aggressive, quarrelsome and not particularly intelligent, as species go. But they have one great strength: they are determined fighters, and very stubborn. That could become very useful in the years to come. But they need to be led by someone like you and your children, hybrids to combine the features of both races.”

“That’s rather a scary responsibility” said the princess.

“You can cope, I’m sure. Now it’s time to take you back home, I think.”

A yermu led them back through the maze of passages to the battlements and the waiting dragon. The journey back to the other side of the Galaxy was a swift as before, and they emerged from four-space not far above the surface of Armontiriath. Mordagiar descended to the black castle of Dragon Rock, and perched there while Andromeda said thank you and farewell to the Wizard of Tamorg.

“Farewell” he said, “We shall meet again, I believe.”

He turned and re-entered the chamber on the dragon’s back, and Andromeda descended to the courtyard. The shadow of Mordagiar’s great wings fell on her briefly as he soared into the sky and vanished back into space. She walked out of the open castle gates; the sun was heading towards the western sea behind her, on the evening of the same day that she had left. In the distance she could see the figure of Nebula galloping towards her.

The voice of Erda suddenly sounded in her ear. “Where have you been?”

“Nowhere that concerns you, my friend. You pride yourself on being all-knowing, but this is a secret I have to keep from you, I’m afraid.”

“Humph!” grunted the sentient software, in the grumpiest voice Andromeda had ever heard her use.

 

 

Chapter 16

Things started happening faster and faster after that. Felicity returned from her first trip in Egeria, excited about the new worlds she and her team had discovered. A new ship, Hermes, was ready for her, bigger, faster and better equipped. She and her team of planetary specialists soon shipped out in her, with Ollie as captain. Andromeda suspected that Felicity and Ollie were becoming very close.

The shipyard at New Warsaw was becoming increasing busy, putting together a variety of spacecraft for private or government owners. Wandering round it with Angelo one day, Andromeda saw a strange new design taking shape. It was basically disc-shaped, with strange protuberances at one end, and odd turrets sticking out in various places.

“What in the world is that going to be?” she asked.

“It’s a special commission from a team at Armontirina University” replied the space base manager, “They call it Millennium Falcon. Ask your husband – he’s part of the consortium.”

When Andromeda flew back home to Armontirina that evening, she gently accosted her husband and asked what was going on.

“Well, you know I belong to this group at the university called the Classic SF Society?” he responded.

“Yes, you’re all keen on what was called ‘science fiction’ back in the 20^th and 21^st centuries. So?”

“There’s this series of what they called ‘films’ from that era – kind of two-dimensional stereocasts – called ‘Star Wars’, and we’re all big fans.”

“Yes?”

“Well, there’s this iconic spacecraft in all the films called Millennium Falcon, and we decided to club together to build a replica. I hope you don’t have a problem with that.”

“Why should I have a problem? Use your money how you will. Actually, I’m glad people are starting to build spacecraft of all sorts of designs – the basic cylinder shape gets rather boring. Do you want to show me some of these ‘films’?”

“Gladly. We can watch them in bed.”

So later on the princess and the professor sat up together in bed with a bottle of Catanian wine and watched a couple of antique films together.

“What do you think?” asked Felix.

“Fascinating” said his wife, “These old guys certainly had a rich imagination, even if the technology was a bit wonky.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it” said Felix, “Now ….”

“Hey! Mind my wine!”

So a few weeks later the grand maiden voyage party for Millennium Falcon was attended by a glittering crowd in costume, including Andromeda dressed as Princess Leia. She had covered her brown skin with white make-up and hidden her red hair under an elaborate black wig, and escorted her husband, dressed as Han Solo, up the ramp into the brand-new ship. The interior was thronged with people in all manner of weird costumes, representing characters from the ‘films’.

Andromeda had persuaded her father to attend, dressed as Darth Vader, and he seemed to enjoy striding around booming out “Turn to the Dark Side, my son!” to all and sundry. Even Erda was present, animating both the C3PO and R2D2 droids, and a number of other mechanical beings as well.

They were given a tour of the ship, and then it went up for its maiden flight, touring the planets of the local system for a couple of hours before returning to the new spaceport at Armontirina. Felix made a brief speech, in which he announced that Millennium Falcon was not just a toy for a bunch of old SF geeks, but would be put to use ferrying exchange students and academics from university to university among the colony worlds. By the time the ship landed and the party finally wound down, Andromeda’s make-up was wearing off. She took off the heavy wig and let her long auburn hair cascade back down around her shoulders as they walked back to the palace.

***

Despite his passion for ancient SF, Felix had not been idle in his work at the university. He was developing further sentient software, with slightly different personalities for the different planets.

“Each is like Erda, but has their own personality to suit them for a variant culture” he explained to Andromeda one day, “The one called Chin is designed for the more oriental culture of Confucius, whereas I have tailored Bjorn to be slightly more Viking, to suit the people on Thor.”

Erda chipped in. “But each is still connected to the others, and to me, through the instantaneous DICS communication system. Thus we can come together and share one mind, though with different personalities.”

“Sounds rather theological” said Andromeda, “But the different planets all seem happy with the sentient software they’ve received, so it’s an impressive piece of work.”

In fact, despite their many differences in culture, geography and climate and the distances between them, the planets were beginning to feel united in spirit and more confident about the future. This was greatly helped by all the new technology they had received. They were all now building spaceships, and there was a growing traffic in people, goods and ideas from planet to planet. The sentient software was helping each world to organise its society, fight crime and improve life for all its citizens.

Felix was often away in Millennium Falcon, giving seminars and courses in universities on other worlds. Meanwhile, Andromeda was more often at home on Armontiriath managing all the different strands of the increasingly complex interactions between the worlds. Orion was still out travelling between planets, taking her young corps of diplomats to talk to the leaders of each colony. They were beginning to float the idea of a united league of colony worlds.

In the middle of all this, Alexis’ wife Eva gave birth to a son, whom they named Antares. He had brown skin and auburn hair, and looked more like his aunt than either of his parents. Andreas was delighted, and Saardu went into cooing grandmother mode like any human granny.

“Your turn next, Andromeda?” she said.

“Not yet, mother – too much to do.”

But secretly Andromeda was delighted with her new nephew, and vowed to herself to start her own family as soon as possible.

Felicity and her team came back in Hermes, excited about all the new planets they had surveyed. As soon as they landed she came to report to Andromeda.

“We’ve found eight new human-habitable planets without need of terraforming, and ten more that could be made habitable with a moderate degree of engineering. In addition, one of the human-habitable worlds has an indigenous intelligent life-form – we have made first contact and agreed no colonisation but we can have a small trading post there to maintain contact.”

“Brilliant! How far out did you survey?”

“We’ve looked at everything with about a 30 light-year radius of Earth. Next we need to extend it to a 50 light-year radius. Once the new ship is ready we can go out with two crews – I’ve trained up some good people now, enough to crew two ships.”

“Excellent! You’ll let me have a full report?”

“Erda’s getting it ready now. You’ll have it soon. By the way, I’m getting married.”

“Ollie?”

“Of course.”

“Congratulations! Of course, I sometimes wonder if this whole space business is just a kind of glorified marriage bureau.”

After his sister’s wedding went off successfully, Felix stood with his wife on the terrace of the Prince’s palace in Armontirina watching the sunset. He raised his glass in a toast.

“Here’s to Dr Felicity Rose Brown Petersen!” he said.

“And to Captain Oliver Winston Brown Petersen” responded Andromeda, as they clinked glasses.

“Tell me, my love” he asked, “Are you free tomorrow?”

“I can be – why do you ask?”

“How would you like to come to a hussade game with me?”

“What in the Galaxy is hussade?”

“It’s a game which is becoming popular throughout the colony worlds. It’s based on some SF stories by an author called Jack Vance, back in the 20^th century.”

“I should have known it. How is this game played?”

“Come and see tomorrow. A team from Columbus is visiting Armontiriath and are playing a friendly match against our local team, the Armontirina Unicorns. You’ll find it fun – it’s quite different from any other game you’ve seen.”

“That I can believe. OK, I’m on – but you buy the popcorn.”

The following morning Felix escorted his wife to a new stadium which had been erected on the eastern outskirts of Armontirina, on the banks of the Silver River. He led her to a comfortable box, high up with an excellent view of the whole arena. Most of the space below was taken up by a vast tank of water, with narrow walkways crossing it in a grid pattern. She saw a number of trapezes, clearly arranged to allow players to swing across from one walkway to another where the gap was too wide to jump. At each end was a wide platform with a small raised dais.

“Fascinating” she said, “How is the game played?”

“You’ll see, my love. Today we have an interplanetary match, between our own Armontirina Unicorns and the Columban Cougars, who are visiting us on a planetary tour.”

“So the game is being played on several worlds?”

“Indeed. It began on Columbus, then spread to Homeland, Titania, Nova Roma, and here on Armontiriath. It’s also starting up on Zemlaya and New Angkor. It’s called cultural diffusion, and it’s because of the new ability to communicate instantly between worlds, which you introduced. Anyway, here come the teams.”

The teams marched into the stadium from each end. The Unicorns were dressed in uniforms of black and gold, with masks that covered the head, bearing a single golden horn. Behind them came a tall dark-haired girl with a black cloak that covered her body and had a large gold ring hanging down the front. The players each had a padded club about a metre long. The Cougars wore red and yellow uniforms with masks in the shape of a snarling cat-like being. Behind them came a young woman with blonde hair, wearing a white cloak with the same golden ring in front.

“Those are the sheirls” explained Felix, “They embody the courage and dynamic energy of their team. If one of the opposing side lays hand on the ring, then her team must pay over a ransom. This can happen twice.”

“And the third time?”

“The ring is pulled, the cloak falls away, and the sheirl is revealed in all her nakedness.”

“I see. And the two men with the short cloaks over their uniforms?”

“They are the captains of the two teams. The pillars by which they stand are called the hange, and they can control the movement of their team by shouting commands, providing the light on the hange is green. Once it becomes red, they must remain silent. The lights change every 20 seconds. Also, they cannot move more than two metres away from their hange or it immediately turns red.”

“I see. Your Jack Vance must have had a very strange mind to have come up with this game.”

“Perhaps. But they’re about to start.”

The stadium by now had filled with spectators, and the two teams had moved into positions at each end of the web of walkways above the tank. A referee was sitting on a high seat at the side of the tank and instructing the teams about how he wanted the game to be played. He fell silent and there was a brief pause.

Then the Unicorns’ hange flashed green and their captain began to shout coded commands. The front row of Unicorns dashed forward, and engaged the opposition, some using the trapezes to leap over wide stretched of water. Padded clubs were wielded and men began to splash into the water. They had to wade back to their home base in order to climb out and rejoin the game. Then the Unicorns’ hange went red and the other turned green and the Cougar captain began to shout commands.

Play went on like this for a while, with masked players surging up and down the walkways, feinting and trying to find a clear way through to the other team’s sheirl, and to prevent the opposition reaching theirs. The two sheirls stood motionless at each end, pretending an indifference to the play that they probably did not feel.

At last one of the Unicorns managed to slip past the defence, jump on to the dais and put his hand on the gold ring of the Cougars’ sheirl. A whistle blew and play stopped. The disgruntled Cougar captain went up to the Unicorn captain and handed over a token to represent the ransom to be paid.

“You see” explained Felix, “The Cougars are from a higher-gravity world and therefore stronger than our men, but clumsier on our lighter world. That’s why we should beat them.”

“You should use a pseudo-gravity field to even the odds in interplanetary matches” commented Andromeda.

“We’ll ned to think about that” answered her husband, “Look – play’s restarting”

Again a moving jumble of players running, leaping, falling into the water. In less time than before a Unicorn’s hand was on the ring of the Cougars’ sheirl, and again a ransom token was paid. But the third time there was no ransom, and a solemn fanfare sounded. The Unicorn yanked on the ring and the white cloak fell away, revealing the sheirl’s nakedness. She blushed and trembled and tried to cover herself with her hands.

“She seems bothered by her nakedness” commented Andromeda.

“The North Americans retained a nudity taboo long after the rest of us lost it, and it still exists on Columbus. This is the first game their team has lost, so it probably came as a shock.”

The Cougars led their naked sheirl from the stadium, while the Unicorns carried theirs shoulder-high round the outside of the tank in a victory parade.

“Did you enjoy that?” asked Felix as they prepared to leave.

“It was interesting, but I hope there will soon be women’s teams with male sheirls. Otherwise it seems very sexist.”

“I’m sure that will happen, though it may take a little longer.”

After the match, in the intervals between her other activities, Andromeda began to make enquiries about setting up a women’s hussade team. She soon found there were other women in Armontirina who felt the same, and were in the process of forming a team. She promised to sponsor them, and play when she was free. In New Warsaw there was also a developing interest among women in the game, and soon the formation of a women’s hussade league was well under way.

But before she could play herself, Andromeda was approached by Felix to take part in a men’s game.

“The Unicorns need a sheirl” he explained, “There’s a key match against the New Warsaw Vampires tomorrow, and their sheirl has dropped out. Having the princess on their side would really inspire them.”

“I wanted to play” she said, “But in a more active role.”

“But the sheirl is the heart of the team, the focus of their courage, the inspiration of their daring. It’s really the most important role.”

“Whatever. OK, I’ll make a deal – I’ll be sheirl for the Unicorns if you’ll play the role for the Armontirina Angels’ first game.”

“Deal!”

So the following morning Andromeda travelled to New Warsaw, to the hussade stadium on the west side of the city, and found herself standing on the dais behind the Armontirina Unicorns, naked under her black cloak, red hair flowing over her shoulders. The Vampires were uniformed in black with startling fanged masks, and soon after the start of play she found one of them grasping her gold ring. Ransom was paid, and the Unicorns fought back well, several times almost reaching the Vampires’ red-cloaked sheirl. But again it was Andromeda’s turn to feel the hand on her ring.

Play continued, and after a very strenuous bout most of the players on both sides had ended up in the tank. A lone Vampire leapt on to the dais and grasped her ring for the third time. She smiled at him as he pulled the ring and her cloak fell away. Andromeda raised her arms and turned round on the dais for all to see. Then she dived into the tank below. The Unicorns cheered, and then they quickly stripped off their masks and uniforms and joined her in the water.

After the Vampires had processed round the stadium with their sheirl, the Unicorns climbed out of the water and also did a procession with Andromeda on their shoulders, all naked and dripping. That began a tradition on Armontiriath for the losing side in future games.

Afterwards, Felix grumbled “You’re not taking this seriously!”

“It’s only a game – how seriously am I supposed to take it?”

All the same, he agreed to be sheirl for the Angels when they played the New Warsaw Witches. With Andromeda as captain the Angels won, and he kept his clothes and dignity. Andromeda was away for their next game, against the Catania She-Cats, and that time he lost his cloak and his dignity, being paraded around the stadium naked and dripping on the shoulders of the team.

***

After that Andromeda had little time for hussade, as her diplomatic efforts were bearing fruit, and the idea of a Union of Planets had been agreed in principle by the other colony worlds. The first meeting was scheduled to take place on Thor, as being more central and accessible than Armontiriath. The diplomatic team from Armontiriath travelled to Thor in Millennium Falcon, with Felix as captain. When they reached Thor they noticed extreme changes had taken place to the capital, Sigurdhavn. It now floated ten metres above the unstable terrain, tethered in place by a few cables and supported by a vast platform held up by a pseudo-gravity field.

The space port was on a smaller platform nearby, and they were met on landing by Mira Evansson, President of Thor. “Welcome back to Thor!” she said, “As you can see, we’ve made good use of the new pseudo-gravity technology you brought us.”

In the distance a volcano was spewing forth a plume of smoke, and as they moved to the official aircar the ground below shook with a short earthquake.

“We’ve moved the location of Sigurdhavn twice already” explained Mira, “It’s much simpler now – we just untether and manoeuvre the city to a new place, less seismically active. It may be time to move it again.”

“How do you manage for growing food?” asked Felix as they flew the short distance to the city.

“We use the most fertile and seismically stable areas for farming, and have begun to develop some floating farms on platforms as well. We’ve also started to import food from other worlds where agriculture is more straightforward, while we focus on engineering and manufacture. We’ve developed a thriving spaceship construction business.”

They were put down at the Presidential Complex in the centre of the floating city, and shown to quarters there. The big conference was due to start the next day, and they had the rest of Sigurdhavn’s afternoon to explore the city, before a big banquet in the evening. Andromeda was impressed at the changes in the city since her last visit. Gone were the temporary structures built to resist the frequent earthquakes, and instead impressive glass and metal towers rose up from the city’s hovering base. There was a park, with native flora and fauna and a wide lake for boating and swimming.

After the banquet, alone in their suite, Felix asked “Why do they stay here, on such a hostile world? There are others they could move to, much easier to live on.”

“They enjoy the excitement of living here, and would be bored on a tamer planet, I guess.”

The next morning the first meeting of the United Planets was held in the Valhalla Hall of the Presidential complex. Andromeda attended with her two roving ambassadors, Martha Trebukla and Cheri Smith. They wore black tunics with the flag of Armontiriath on the front, and Andromeda wore a black cap on top of her auburn hair, with the dragon symbol of her people on the top. Her intention was to impress, and this she achieved. No more the naked sheirl cavorting in the hussade tank; now she was playing the princess to the full.

Delegations from all the colony worlds were there: Thor, Romulus, Remus, Poseidon, Columbus, Nova Roma, Homeland, Titania, Concepcion, New Angkor and Confucius. As well as humans there were representatives of other sentient races, the holloo and the trogi. Andromeda stated that the unicorns of Armontiriath were also sentient, but could only communicate emotionally, not verbally, and she would represent them.

The meeting lasted all morning, and broke for a swift lunch. Afterwards they came back and agreed a constitution for the United Planets, based largely on the venerable Declaration of Human Rights, formed centuries before on Earth.

“But” said Andromeda, “It must apply not just to humans but to all sentient beings – unicorns, trogi, holloo, and whoever else we encounter. In addition, we should extend it to sentient beings without bodies like ours – I mean to the sentient software which is so valuable to us on our separate worlds.”

There was a little discussion about the latter point, but eventually it was agreed unanimously.

“Thanks, Andromeda” whispered Erda in her ear.

The next motion that was agreed unanimously was that each planet should have its own government, subject to the provisions of the constitution. After that Hernando Gomez, Prime Citizen of Romulus, raised an important issue.

“The constitution is very good, but how do we know that each planet will adhere to it? And how do we arrange interplanetary affairs, and our relations with other worlds outside the United Planets? I think especially of Earth.”

“The Prime Citizen is correct” stated Kurt Olsen, President of Homeland, “the UP needs an executive arm, to deal with all these matters. Otherwise it becomes meaningless.”

This was rapidly agreed, and then the question was raised of who was to lead this executive arm. At this point all eyes turned to Andromeda. Kurt Olsen said what was in all their minds.

“Princess Andromeda dal’Nostra has provided us with the technology we need and has brought us all together. She is the right person to lead the executive arm of the United Planets.”

Again this was agreed unanimously, and she stood up to accept their appointment. “As Convenor of the United Planets I will lead your executive arm, uphold the constitution and maintain smooth relationships between the planets. I shall need funds, personnel and ships to do this, if you agree.”

When the conference broke up Andromeda had been voted a budget and a quota of staff from each planet. As they left the Valhalla Hall, Cheri looked impressed. “Wow! That was some meeting. I think you got everything you could want.”

“I got a load more work, that’s for sure. They agreed to everything more easily than I expected.”

“That’s because of you” said Martha, “You have a force of personality that is hard to resist. I don’t know quite how you do it, boss, but when you set out to achieve something there’s not much can stop you.”

Andromeda smiled and bowed ironically, but privately wondered if there was something inside her from her mother’s people, some aspect of vynoshki, that helped her to achieve her goals.

Back at the suite in the palace she took off the impressive garments and dressed in a simple tunic and trousers. When Felix came back he found her sitting on the bed, staring into space and mulling over all that had to be done.

“How did it go?” he asked, kissing her, and she told him all that had taken place.

“Wow! Good work! You’re going to be busy from here on.”

“Tell me about it! How was your day?”

“I’ve been talking to old Professor Hertberg. He’s been busy, as usual, and has some pretty exciting stuff he wants to show us.”

“Good grief, whatever has the old genius been up to now? I suppose we’d better go and see.”

“I’ve arranged for us to go and see him tomorrow, on the Svalberg University platform. Meanwhile, You’d better get some rest – I expect you’re pretty tired.”

“Not that tired!”

 

 

Chapter 17

The following morning Andromeda and Felix set off in an aircar to Svalberg University, on a floating platform about 100 kilometres north of Sigurdshavn. They wondered at the rugged and broken landscape they flew over, with frequent volcanoes to be seen on either side. Their pilot guided them skilfully between the most dangerous zones, until they spied a large lake ahead. The university hovered over the southern shore of the lake, close to the ruins of its original foundation.

On the landing field two figures were waiting – the professor and a tall slim woman of middle years with short blonde hair. When Andromeda stepped from the aircar the professor embraced her warmly, and she introduced him to Felix.

“We spoke yesterday” said Professor Hertberg, “when I invited you to come and see what we’ve been getting up to here. This is Sigrid Guntersson, Professor of Physics here. She also happens to be my wife.”

There were greetings all round, and Andromeda said “I see you’ve recovered completely from your bullet wound, then”

“Indeed, thanks to the doctors here – and to you for keeping me alive till we got here.”

“I suppose you won’t be returning to Armontiriath now?”

“We will come and visit, but this is Sigrid’s home – and mine too, now. We’ve been doing some marvellous things here – you must come inside and see.”

As they walked towards the entrance of the university, Professor Hertberg filled them in on what had happened since Egeria left Thor.

“While I was recovering in hospital I heard that there was some really impressive physics going on here. I got in touch, and Sigrid came to visit me in one of the early aircars they built. When I was fully recovered I flew out here to work with her, and, well, things developed. Both scientifically and emotionally, if you see what I mean.”

Privately Andromeda was surprised that the professor’s mind could be tempted away from his theories long enough to develop any emotional attachment, but stranger things had happened.

“So what have you come up with now, between you?” asked Felix.

“Well, when I heard that Wilhelm was in hospital here on Thor, I had to go and visit him” Sigrid responded, “News had spread about his research, and pseudo-gravity and so forth, so I was keen to meet him. I’d been working on theories of space, time and matter, so as soon as he was well enough we put our heads together and came up with some new ideas about anti-matter.”

Wilhelm continued “She almost kidnapped me and brought me to the university here – at that time it was a load of fragile structures on the shore of the lake. We put my theories and hers together and came up with a method of generating anti-matter. Our collaboration was such a success that we decided to carry it on by getting married!”

“When we demonstrated that the combined theory worked and we were able to produce anti-matter for the first time it was a really exciting day for us” went on Sigrid, “Since then we’ve been working with the engineers her to produce some practical application.”

“So what have you got to show us?” enquired Andromeda.

“Come through her and I’ll give you some ideas” said Sigrid, leading the way through a door into a long room. Near the door was a large cylindrical case of armoured glass with a softly glowing sphere suspended in the centre of it.

“The sphere is a pseudo-gravity zone which keeps the air away from the anti-matter” explained Professor Hertberg, “We have discovered how to make such zone emit light so it is possible to see their outline. In the centre of the sphere a minute fragment of anti-matter is suspended. See what happens when we turn off the protective zone.”

He flicked a switch and the glowing sphere vanished. Instantly there was a loud explosion from the centre of the case which rocked the room and made the watchers’ ears ring.

“The air rushed into the centre and combined with the anti-matter there to produce pure energy” explained Sigrid, “The anti-matter is created by rotating particles of matter through a particular dimension – I can show you the maths if you like.”

“No thanks” laughed Andromeda, “I’ll take your word for it. So what are the practical applications of this effect?”

“Mainly weapons so far” admitted Sigrid, “We believe we could mount an anti-matter generator in a spaceship and create particles of it outside the hull which could then be accelerated away at vast multiples of light-speed. It would be quite deadly.”

“Indeed. You interest me greatly.”

“Meanwhile” said Wilhelm, “We have something more personal.” He picked up a short black cylinder from a nearby bench. It had a number of controls on it, and he flicked one of them. A glowing rod of light about a metre long sprang up from the end.

“The rod you see is made of anti-matter particles contained in a pseudo-gravity field, like in the sphere you just saw. It keeps air molecules away from it, but if we strike it against something solid …”

He moved down the room to where a number of vertical steel rods of different lengths were embedded in concrete blocks. He swung the light rod against one of these; there was a bright flash and the top 15 centimetres was sliced cleanly off and fell to the floor with a clang.

“Good grief!” shouted Felix, “You’ve invented the light-sabre!”

“What’s he talking about?” demanded Wilhelm.

“He’s referring to an ancient series of science fiction moving pictures” explained Andromeda, “Heroes and villains used to fight duels using exactly those weapons.”

“Not much use for duelling, I’m afraid” said Sigrid, picking up another identical weapon and activating it. She swung it to make contact with the glowing rod on Wilhelm’s weapon, but the two beams passed harmlessly through each other. She switched hers off and indicated for Wilhelm to do the same.

“The anti-matter beams cannot affect each other, only matter” she explained, “But the rod can be lengthened or shortened as desired. And it can be used as a distance weapon – look!”

She walked a little way down the room. At the far end was a large block of concrete with a crude target painted on it, and pitted with blackened holes. She pointed the black handle at it and pressed another control. A bolt of fire flew from the end and exploded against the target, digging yet another pit.

“Fascinating!” said Andromeda, “I need to get some of these – they’ll do well for impressing the people of Earth.”

“They scare the hell out of me” muttered Felix.

***

On their return voyage to Armontiriath, Andromeda took Millennium Falcon on a detour through the empty region where she had felt the cold wind. As its first tendrils touched her mind, she went into vynoshki, wrapping the protective shield that Ombal had taught her round her soul. Inside she felt no ill effects and the rest of the journey passed smoothly.

Back home, Felix returned to his work at Armontirina University but Andromeda did not stay on the planet long. Soon she was heading back to Thor with Orion to start the business of setting up the United Planets Executive. She had chosen Thor as the base because of its relatively central location, and because she did not want to be accused of favouring her home world. She set up a temporary headquarters in a building close to the Presidential Palace, and the next few weeks became a blur of activity.

A whistlestop tour of the other planets enabled offices to be set up on each, and staff to be recruited to fill the important posts in the organisation. As Chief of Staff she appointed Claudio Alianza, a short balding man from Titania who proved himself highly effective in getting the executive up and running from scratch.

After a few weeks things were well enough in hand for her to turn her attention to the pressing problem of Earth, and she had several long consultations with Erda about her plans. She also spoke to Kali Patel, who had joined her from Armontiriath as Chief Engineer of the new Executive. She confirmed that it would be possible to modify Orion’s pseudo-gravity shield to absorb radio waves, making her undetectable by Earth’s space radar systems.

Meanwhile Wilhelm and Sigrid Hertberg had developed a prototype antimatter generator and Kali worked on installing it in Orion. While the ship was in the Sigurdshavn spaceport it also had the new emblem of the United Planets painted on its bows: a twelve-pointed golden starburst, with discs of different hues at the end of each ray – crimson, light green, yellow, cerulean, ochre, viridian, orange, umber, grey, tan, pink and russet; around the outside were twelve silver stars.

Once the refit was complete, Andromeda took Orion out for a proving flight, with Greta as pilot and a crew including Dan, Kali, Wilhelm and Sigrid. They set course for a nearby system with no habitable planets but a large asteroid belt. Once there, they selected a small target asteroid about a kilometre across and powered up the antimatter generator.

“Acquire target” ordered Andromeda, and Dan lined up the asteroid on his DODO screen. In practice, Erda carried out all the tracking and aiming computations for the firing process, but a human selected the target and gave the firing command.

“Target acquired”

“Initiate” was the next command, and a small piece of antimatter appeared alongside the ship just outside its pseudo-gravity shield.

“Fire!”, and a powerful impulse sent it hurtling at many times light-speed at the unfortunate rock. The telescope showed a brilliant flash and a large crater on the asteroid’s surface. Further shots with successively larger and faster particles of antimatter resulted in the rock being blown to pieces. After that, Andromeda ordered that they cruise through the system at ever-greater speeds, to test the effectiveness of the aiming algorithms, and a number of small asteroids were blasted to bits before she was satisfied that the weapons system was 100% effective.

“It works well on harmless asteroids” she said, “Let’s hope we never have to use it on living targets. Well done everybody.”

“Where now, boss?” asked Greta, “Back to Thor?”

“No. Set course for Earth.”

There were gasps of surprise throughout the control room.

“Surely you’re not going to use the weapon on Earth?” asked Sigrid.

“No, Sigrid – not now and not ever. The second part of this mission is secret, but perhaps more deadly than your antimatter weapon. For now, I want no-one on Earth or in the United Planets to know what we’re up to.”

Orion turned its nose towards Earth’s sun, and several hours later was cruising into the system past the human colony on Jupiter’s moon Ganymede. They had slowed to only a few times light-speed, and the anti-radar cloaking system was operating. The ship slowed again as it passed the orbit of Mars, and as it neared Earth it was crawling along at well below light-speed.

Andromeda asked Erda to display the planet’s geostationary communications satellites on the screen, and they appeared as a necklace of bright lights around the blue-green globe.

“Pick one and take us there” she ordered Greta, and slowly Orion crept up on the satellite, until it filled the screen, its giant dish aerial pointing steadily towards the planet. The ship stopped about a hundred metres away, and Kali climbed into her spacesuit.

“Do you want me to come with you?” asked Andromeda.

“No thanks, boss, I’m good.” She went through the airlock and they could see her figure jetting across the short distance to the satellite, which dwarfed her. She reached an access hatch and took a tool from her belt and opened it. Then taking a small black box from her belt she reached inside and placed it carefully, before closing the hatch and jetting back. When Kali re-entered the control room she spoke to Erda: “How does it seem, Erda?”

“Seems good, Kali. I’m getting in there now.”

“What’s going on?” asked Wilhelm, “What was that device?”

“It’s a tap into Earth’s communications systems, with a DICS link so Erda can download herself into the whole of their electronic network” explained Andromeda, “We need to install a couple more, as backups.”

Orion moved a third of the way round the orbit and the procedure was repeated, and again at yet another satellite. By the time that was done, Erda was reporting that she had reached the central communications system and was infiltrating herself into every other system on the planet.

“Nobody’s noticed me yet” she reported, “I don’t think there’s much chance they will spot my presence in their system.”

“Stay low and don’t do anything, just gather information” said Andromeda, “By the way, there seems to be some construction work going on in lower orbit – a series of big new satellites are being built. Can you find out what those are in aid of?”

“Will do”

“Thanks, Erda. OK, let’s sneak off back home. Our work here is done – for now.”

***

Time passed, and the United Planets Executive developed its presence on each of the planets. A new head office was built on Thor, with its own floating platform some twenty kilometres from Sigurdshavn. It had its own extensive space base, with black ships assembling from different worlds. They were each equipped with antimatter weapons and sent off to the nearby uninhabited system (now dubbed the ‘Firing Range System’) to practise their use.

Erda reported to Andromeda that she had completely infiltrated Earth’s systems, without being detected. She reported that the eight new satellites being built were intended as a space defence, following Andromeda’s previous visit to Earth which had made its rulers exceedingly nervous. They were being equipped with laser cannons and thermonuclear rockets, in an attempt to ward off further incursions from space.

“Brilliant!” commented Andromeda.

“What do you mean?” asked Erda.

“They’ll be no threat to us, but they’ll make excellent targets. Are they going to be unmanned?”

“Oh yes, they’ll be unmanned and controlled electronically.”

“In other words, in principle by you. Anything else to report? What about the Ur-Mafia?”

“They have their tentacles all through Earth’s governments, and they have links with a number of extreme right-wing and totalitarian groups. I’m deep into their systems, but have been watching rather than acting, as you instructed.”

“Can you begin to move against them, carefully without being detected?”

“I can put glitches in their financial systems, disrupt their communications, give anonymous tip-offs to law enforcement, that kind of thing. It’ll all look like bad luck – I’ve got their software systems, including virus detection and security, completely under my control.”

“That’s great, Erda. Do what you can to soften them up before we strike.”

While her electronic fifth column was working on Earth, Andromeda was preparing her fleet for action, as well as ensuring that the United Planets Executive was fully functioning on each world. Each planet was being left to run its own affairs, except when there was a violation of the constitution’s guarantees of rights for all sentient beings. Cases were mostly being dealt with at a local level, but occasionally more serious disputes came to be sorted out at the central headquarters.

A Central Tribunal was set up, with judges from the different worlds, to adjudicate in these cases. After some initial uncertainties, the system seemed to be working well, and it was possible for Andromeda and her team to focus on the coming campaign against Earth.

Regular updates from Erda showed that she was having a serious impact on the Ur-Mafia and its allies. Its finances were in turmoil and its influence was waning, and many key people had been arrested. Still there was no suspicion that this was enemy action rather than bad luck.

Finally Andromeda decided that the time for action had come. She ordered her fleet of 24 ships into space and joined them in Orion.

“No more waiting” she announced to the fleet, “Let’s go to Earth!”

 

 

 

Chapter 18

The United Planets expeditionary fleet headed for Earth. Admiral of the fleet was Tanya Grant, one-time member of the police force on Pod’s Landing, Poseidon, and now a senior officer in the UP space force. As they headed into the system which held humanity’s home, Erda gave them an update.

“There is political turmoil on Earth, as usual, and the Ur-Mafia have suffered a number of unexpected losses. The space defence system is fully operational and they are nervously expecting an attack from space at any time.”

“Let’s not disappoint them, then” said Andromeda, “Admiral – take us to Earth!”

The invaders swiftly passed the outer planets, and then the orbit of Mars, and took up position just outside the orbit of the moon, spreading out to surround the unsuspecting planet. Andromeda contacted Erda.

“The defence satellites – they’re still unmanned?”

“Yes – completely unmanned and under my control.”

“If we destroy them, will that harm you?”

“Yes – in the same way that cutting your toenails harms you.”

“OK – let’s give them a show. Initiate Operation Trojan Horse!”

At that instant Erda seized control of all the planet’s communications systems. Every TV screen, every wrist-pad, every computer and mobile device, showed nothing but an image of Andromeda as she spoke to the people of Earth.

“People of Earth! I am Princess Andromeda dal’Nostra, Convenor of the United Planets. I have come with unstoppable force to put an end to the corrupt and incompetent rule that you have suffered for so long, and to end the power of the Ur-Mafia and other evil organisations that have blighted humanity’s home world. We in the colony worlds have escaped from all that, and now we bring to you peace, stability and justice.

“To show we are serious, we will now destroy the satellites your governments have built to defend against attack from space.”

As she spoke, Tanya gave the order and a bolt of antimatter was fired at one of the defensive satellites. On their screens the population below could see the satellite explode in a vast fireball, and those on the ground below could see it suddenly erupt in the sky. The ships of the UP fleet took turns in destroying one after another, each being shown graphically to the whole world.

A frantic radio call came through from Hernando Karnovsky, President of the United World Federation, and was broadcast to the billions below.

“Dal’Nostra! What are you doing? Stop it at once!”

“There’s no stopping and no going back to how things were, Hernando. You need to understand that you cannot fight us. We control space and have weapons more powerful than you can imagine. As well, we have complete control of all your systems – we can shut down everything you have except the air you breathe.”

“What do you want from us?”

“An end to corrupt governments and the power of criminal organisations. Submission to the constitution of the United Planets, based on the Universal Declaration of the Rights of all Sentient Beings. Peace, justice, all that kind of stuff. Nothing complicated, Hernando.”

“Nonsense! We’re not giving in to you just because you’ve managed to blow up a few of our satellites!”

“That’s not all we can do, Hernando. Until you agree to our terms, we will cut off all communications and all transport on Earth – except for emergencies and life-threatening situations. No more TV or phones, no more internet. Planes are grounded, cars won’t run, ships won’t sail. Banks are closed, and no-one can pay for anything. Think how much people are going to like that.”

“But once you give in, we can give you so much more. Unlimited power, easy travel, spaceflight. Anyone who wants to can travel to a new world – we’ve found dozens just waiting to be settled. Give up your pride and stubbornness and enter a new age, Hernando.”

“You’re bluffing! You can’t do that!”

“I just did. Goodbye, Hernando.”

Andromeda’s promises came true on Earth. All that was broadcast was a video showing life on the United Planets and how good it would be for the people of Earth once they joined. Phone calls and transport were for emergency use only, at Erda’s discretion. After a day there were crowds in every city, demanding their government put an end to the situation. After a day and a half there was another call from the UWF government. Iris Miller appeared on the screen.

“Hello, Iris – where’s Hernando?”

“He had a bit of a breakdown, I’m afraid. I’m Acting President now. We want a deal.”

“The only deal we’re offering is surrender – accept our terms and agree to abide by our constitution.”

“All right, all right – you win. Just call off your electronic blockade and we’ll sign whatever you want.”

“Fine. Be ready for us at 9.00 am your local time in Sahara City. We’ll see you then.”

Andromeda broke the connection and told Erda to lift the blockade of Earth’s communications. She also gave commands to each of her ship’s captains, and they all moved down towards the planet below. Each ship went to hover in the sky above its designated major city, with Orion moving to a position a hundred metres above Sahara City. The city dwellers of Earth looked up to see the black ships poised above them, and wondered what would happen next.

In the morning an aircar emerged from Orion and descended to the main square in front of the Tower of the Sun which housed the UWF government. In the centre of the square was a large sculpture of stainless steel, showing people of all different races holding up a globe of the Earth.

“This is Unity Square” announced Erda in Andromeda’s ear, “The sculpture is the Statue of Unity by the famous sculptor Ariana Kolpek.”

“Thanks for the info, Erda. Now let’s get this show on the road.”

She emerged from the aircar with Cheri and Martha beside her. Andromeda was wearing black trousers and a black tunic with the emblem of the United Planets emblazoned on the front. She had a black cloak and wore the dragon-crowned helmet of Armontiriath, and at her belt she carried a light-sabre – de-activated.

The other two also wore black and had light-sabres, and behind them came the honour guard of six, also in black and bearing tall staffs. At the tip of each staff a short rod of antimatter glowed. Awaiting them on the steps of the portico was a harassed-looking Acting President with other dignitaries, and a guard of men in military uniforms with firearms. Andromeda marched majestically up the steps to meet her, followed by her entourage. The aircar rose into the sky and returned to Orion.

“Welcome, Andromeda” said Iris, trying to smile.

“I am Princess Andromeda dal’Nostra, Convenor of the United Planets, and I am here to accept your surrender to our terms. Lead us inside, if you will.”

“Certainly, at once, this way …” The Acting President scurried ahead of the group down a short hall and into a stately chamber with a large oval table, around which were sat a number of men and women. As Andromeda walked into the chamber, with her assistants and guards behind her, the jewel round her neck began to send frantic signals of danger. One of the men rose from his seat. He was wearing military uniform and had a short black beard and a furious expression on his face.

“Is this the woman who dares to dictate terms to the government of Earth?” he shouted, “Let her die then!” He produced a handgun and fired it at Andromeda.

Somehow, at the same instant, her subconscious mind must have thrown her into a vynoshki state, for a time stasis blanketed all but her. As if in a dream, she moved round the table, seeing all the others there frozen like statues. The bullet from the gun hung suspended above the centre of the table. She drew her light-sabre and activated it. When she reached the place where the bearded man stood, gun extended, she brought the glowing bar of antimatter down on its barrel.

At that instant the stasis was ended. The gun exploded violently and the man shrieked in pain and fear. The bullet smashed a glass panel by the entrance. The others round the table reacted in shock, horror and dismay. Andromeda held the glowing bar of the light-sabre centimetres from the man’s face.

“Who are you?” she demanded, “And why do you seek to bring violence to these peace talks?”

The man only stuttered. Erda spoke in Andromeda’s ear “This is General Alfonso Carnago, Supremissimo of the South American League. He has a long history of poor anger management.”

Andromeda de-activated her light-sabre and gestured to the UWF guards nearby to take the man away. “Get his hand treated, and then arrest him” she ordered, taking a seat at the end of the table. Cheri and Martha sat down each side of her, and her guards ranged themselves behind, alert for any further signs of trouble.

“Now” she said, “If no-one else has any objections to these proceedings, we shall continue. Please note that everything said and done here is being broadcast to the world, so nothing is done in secret. We have sent you the full text of our constitution, which you have agreed to adhere to. I will pass this tablet round the table and you will each say ‘I agree’ and place your thumbprint on the tablet.”

Cowed, the members of the High Council of the United World Federation passed the tablet round and did as they were told. When it got back to Andromeda she spoke again.

“However, in accordance with the ancient history and traditions of the home world, we have also prepared a document for you all to sign in the old-fashioned way. Will each of you come up here and sign your name with pen and ink at the foot of this paper.”

Martha produced a rolled-up document and a pen, smoothed it out and waited. Slowly each of the erstwhile masters of Earth came up and signed. Only once did Martha catch a low murmur of “I’m surprised she didn’t want it signed in blood”.

At the end of this part of the ceremony Andromeda announced “Earth is now part of the United Planets. It will keep its own choice of government, subject to the principles of the constitution and adherence to these will be overseen by the United Planets Executive. Welcome to our community!”

At that moment she felt another danger signal from her mother’s jewel, and in her ear Erda spoke urgently: “There’s problem outside – armed men invading the square!”

“Good grief!” exclaimed Andromeda, as she turned and strode back through the entrance hall with her guards. From the top step she could see armed men in red and yellow uniforms moving across Unity Square, and a large hover-tank was also advancing with them. One man with a loudspeaker began to shout “Traitors to Earth! Outsiders and invaders! Come out – surrender or be destroyed!”

“Who’s that?” asked Andromeda.

“That’s Philip Swingman, one of the sons of Albert Swingman whom your father destroyed on Armontiriath. He’s the leader of the last remnants of latter-day Totalists. I was trying to track him, but he went underground.”

The men in red and yellow had nearly reached the foot of the steps, and raised their weapons threateningly. Andromeda drew and activated her light-sabre and prepared to go into the vynoshki state again. Her guards lowered their staffs and aimed them at those below.

At that instant there was a loud noise from the sky above, and the black dragon Mordagiar appeared, wings outspread. As the Totalist forces gaped, he settled on the portico of the building. For a moment there was a breathless hush, and then some of the troops opened fire with their weapons on the dragon.

Mordagiar stretched out his long neck and unleashed a bolt of blazing plasma into the square. It struck the Statue of Unity and melted it into a twisted mass of metal, glowing red-hot. The men standing nearby scuttled away from it in panic.

Ombal appeared on the dragon’s back. He raised a hand and said a single word, and all the weapons in the Totalists’ hands melted like chocolate near a fire. The hover-tank slumped into a formless shape. Swingman’s men flung their useless weapons away as if they had been bitten by them, and many raised their hands in surrender.

Andromeda strode down the steps into the square. She walked past Swingman and up to the melted hover-tank, from inside which were coming knocking noises and cried for help. She thrust the point of her light-sabre into the metal and cut a rough hole around the hatch. The metal fell on to the pavement with a loud clang, and a relieved face peered out. The five-man crew climbed carefully out from the ruined machine and stood around looking sheepish.

UWF guards and police had arrived in the square and were beginning to arrest the demoralised Totalists. Swingman tried to bolt for it, but one of Andromeda’s guards blocked his path with his blazing staff, and he allowed himself to be led away.

Ombal left the dragon’s back and floated gently down into the square, and walked over to Andromeda.

“You didn’t need to come” she complained, “I had it all under control.”

“Perhaps” said the wizard, “You could have out-fought them, but people would have died. It’s better this way – no-one died, and your enemies were humiliated. And your people needed to see that you have powerful forces at your disposal, if you are going to rule them.”

“Rule? Who said anything about ruling?”

“Your people need to be ruled – if not by you, by whom? Farewell for now.” Ombal floated back up to the dragon’s back. Soon after Mordagiar took off again, circled Sahara City three times, and then vanished.

“Erda, did you get all that?” asked Andromeda.

“Yes, everything has been recorded and is being played back on every channel. I believe the people of Earth know that things have changed.”

Iris Miller, even more harassed than before, hurried down the steps towards Andromeda, followed by the rest of the Council. She began to utter disjointed apologies, but Andromeda waved them away.

“Make sure that everyone connected with this attempted coup is arrested, as well as the leaders of the Ur-Mafia and all others who are threatening the peace and stability of this world. Full details will be in your police computers. I will return to my ship now, but tomorrow will be a new beginning.”

Back on Orion, Andromeda consulted with her team.

“That didn’t go as planned” she said, “but I think we got the result we wanted. What next?”

“You need to take control” said Martha, “You’re the only one who can sort out this world.”

“Me, or the United Planets? There’s nothing special about me.”

“Yes there is” exclaimed Cheri, “Without you none of this would have happened!”

“I didn’t do the science for the space drive, or to create sentient software like Erda. Others did all the difficult stuff.”

“But you pulled it all together” asserted Martha, “You gave the leadership. Now you need to take control.”

“Very well” said Andromeda, “As Convenor of the United Planets I will …”

“Convenor is a lousy title” broke in Cheri, “You need something to show control, command, respect. Think of another title – am I not right, Erda?”

“Indeed you are” said Erda, “My assessment of the mood of the people of Earth is that they long for someone to take command and sort out the mess they’re in. The title needs to reflect that.”

“OK. Any suggestions, everyone?”

“Lord Protector”

“Supreme President”

“Emperor”

“I like Emperor” mused Andromeda, “It has a ring to it. Andromeda dal’Nostra, Emperor of Earth and Convenor of the United Planets. Will the people stand for it?”

“At present, they’ll stand for whatever you say” assured Erda.

“Right. Let’s do it.”

So the people of Earth were informed that they had a new Emperor, to oversee their governments and ensure they adhered to the constitution and the principles of the Declaration of the Rights of all Sentient Beings. Dazed by the turn of events, there were few protests, and the UWF Council accepted their new overlord with remarkably few grumbles. With the declaration of the Empire came promises of unlimited power, space travel, and new worlds to settle.

At the same time the Ur-Mafia and other criminal organisations found their finances frozen and their doings exposed to the security forces of each continent. Their power crumbled like sandcastles at high tide, and the news of the arrests and trials began to dominate the news.

***

An Earth year later the Empire was firmly established. The coronation had taken place in Sahara City, with a grand processional from the Memorial to the Innocent Dead at the entrance to the city, between the tower blocks on the Grand Avenue, to Unity Square. Andromeda and her guards rode on elaborate aircars so they were clearly seen by the cheering crowds, and the host of dignitaries from Earth and the other planets rode behind on less grand aircars.

Andromeda had wanted to ride on Nebula, but that individual had steadfastly refused to leave Armontiriath, so they had parted with love and respect. Felix rode beside her, in full academic regalia, and all her most loyal friends and supporters rode immediately behind. They halted at the melted Statue of Unity, and she remembered the dragon’s fire on that critical day. There had been a move to have it restored, but she had said to leave it as a memorial to those events.

On the opposite side of the square to the Tower of the Sun was Peace Hall, with a gigantic glittering dome sparkling in the desert sun. They dismounted from the aircars and processed inside, to the vast auditorium where the ceremony was to take place. Andromeda wore her black robes and cloak, but her head was bare. On the front of her tunic was the new emblem of the Empire of Earth – the same as that for the United Planets, but at the centre of the starburst was an image of Earth seen from the South Pole, all blue and white.

Andromeda took the oath to uphold the constitution and protect all the people of the Empire, human and otherwise, and the gold starburst crown was placed on her auburn hair by two people – Iris Miller, representing Earth, and Mira Evansson, President of Thor, representing the United Planets.

Later there was a grand banquet, and speeches, and when it was all nearly over Andromeda turned to her husband and muttered “I think this flim-flam is nearly over, thank goodness. There’s plenty of work to be done.”

“Yes” he replied, “But the flim-flam is important. The whole world needs a show, and to see who’s in charge now.”

“Congratulations, You Imperial Majesty” said Mira, “You’re now the most important woman there’s ever been.”

“The most important human being” emphasised Iris from the other side.

“Cut out the ‘Your Imperial Majesty’, except on highly formal occasions – I’m still Andromeda. But you know, I’m not really a human being. My mother is from an alien race, so I’m only half human.”

“Maybe that’s the secret” said Iris, “We humans aren’t very good at governing ourselves, so perhaps we need someone who isn’t 100% human to do it for us!”

“By the way” asked Mira, “Where are your parents? Did they not want to come to see you crowned?”

“Not really – I think they want Armontiriath to sink back into obscurity again, though they sent all their love and best wishes. My brother Alexis is here somewhere, though Eva and their son have stayed at home. As for me, I don’t belong to Armontiriath anymore, but to all the planets. It’s going to take a little getting used to.”

Felix held her hand on the table, and after a moment she cheered up and smiled at those around her.

After the coronation the work of establishing the Empire began in earnest. Andromeda began to appoint Knights of the Empire, whose task was to maintain the constitution and see it was being adhered to. They set up offices on each planet and on every part of Earth, and were greatly helped in the work by Erda and her fellow sentient programs.

On Earth the Ur-Mafia and many other organised gangs and totalitarian organisations had been thoroughly smashed, and many members arrested. The building of power generators and spaceships mushroomed, and colonists were beginning to be ferried out to some of the Earth-like worlds which had been discovered by Felicity and her team. One of these was designated as a planet of exile, where hardcore members of the Ur-Mafia and the Totalists were sent to build colonies from the ground up.

A new base for the Empire’s administration was being built on an artificial island in the Mediterranean, but meanwhile it occupied a tower block in Sahara City, close to Unity Square. Felix had left his job at Armontirina University, and was temporarily continuing his studies at Sahara City University.

One year after the successful invasion of Earth, Andromeda and Felix had a quiet dinner together in their apartment overlooking Sahara City. At the end of the meal, she took her husband’s hand.

“It’s time” she said.

“Time for what?”

“To produce an heir to the Empire. Are you ready for that?”

“Ready whenever you are, your Emperorship!”

Chapter 19
A great many years later, the Emperor of Earth sat in her room in the topmost pinnacle of the Imperial Complex on the artificial island of Starburst. From the panoramic windows all round she could look out on the Mediterranean Sea. To the south, the coast of Africa was a shadow on the horizon, and to the northwest Sicily could dimly be made out. She rose and went to the western window and looked down over the towering edifice that was her palace and office, home to hundreds of workers in the Imperial service, and nerve centre of the system that kept dozens of worlds peaceful and safe.

Looking out and down, she could see the broad expanse of the spaceport, where ships from different planets were constantly coming and going. Aircars from all over Earth were also shuttling to and from, landing at pads all across the complex. She could see one of the beaches that ringed the island, where the personnel could relax, and a nearby amusement park and theatre complex for their recreation.

Andromeda sat at her desk again. Above the desk a hologram appeared – the head of a mature woman with greying hair. It was Erda, the sentient software which underpinned the entire Imperial system.

“Your son will be here soon” she said, “Are you still sure you want to do this?”

“Of course, Erda. Just give me a few minutes. I’m remembering.”

The hologram vanished. The Emperor sat and thought back over the long years since her childhood. Apart from Erda, all her companions from those early exciting times were gone. Professor Hertberg had won the Nobel Prize for Physics before he died, and many years later Robert Brady had won the same prize. But now she alone was left of those she had worked with in those years.

Her father Andreas had died, and Alexis was now Prince of Armontiriath. Her mother, Saardu, had left Armontirina and gone back to her own people. Hardest of all to bear, Felix had died a few years before, and now she was alone apart from her children.

Felicity had retired from searching for unexplored worlds, and gone to Mars to work on making that planet habitable. When she died, her daughter Felicia had taken over the task. Only last year Andromeda had awarded her the title ‘Count of Mars’ in reward for the work she was doing. Her current project was to put a vast done over a great expanse of the Martian landscape to enclose a theme park called ‘Barsoom’, where visitors could enjoy themselves in the imaginary world of Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Several other sentient races had been brought into the Empire’s fold, and the boundary of human exploration had expanded to over 100 light-years from Earth. She remembered the many official tours of the planets she had made and the excitement of setting foot on a new world for the first time and meeting the people there. She smiled inwardly at the times she had been sheirl for the Imperial Dragons hussade team, especially the time they won the Interplanetary Championship on Poseidon.

Erda appeared again. “Alexander is here now.”

“Tell him to come in.”

A door slid open and her son appeared in the doorway. He was slim, medium height, with his mother’s auburn hair but lighter skin colour. Andromeda stood up and went and hugged him.

“Why have you called me, Mother?”

“It’s time, Alexander my son.”

“I see. Are you sure?”

“It’s time for me to lay down the starburst crown, and for you to take it up. I’m old now, and want to go home.”

“You still look pretty good to me, you know.”

“My husband and all my friends have gone, so I think that’s a good definition of old. It’s time for your generation to take over. The Empire is in good shape, so now I pass it on to you.”

“Very well, Mother, as you wish. Does Amanda know?”

“I spoke to her by DICS just now. You know she’s leading an expedition rimwards, trying to find any trace of the starship Europa that disappeared out that way. She knows what’s happening, and sends you her blessing.”

“I’m glad – I may need all the blessing I can get. You’re gong to be a tough act to follow.”

“You’ll do fine. You’re a dal’Nostra, and a bit other than simply human. Don’t forget the vynoshki skills I taught you.”

“I won’t”

“Give my love to Tanzella and the kids. I will miss you all, but you don’t need your old mother looking over your shoulder while you’re getting the hang of things.”

“You’re probably right. Goodbye, Mother.”

They embraced again. Then Andromeda spoke to Erda, whose hologram appeared once more.

“Erda. Broadcast my farewell message to all the worlds, and announce that Alexander Felix Brown dal’Nostra is now Emperor of Earth and Convenor of the United Planets.”

“At once, your Imperial Majesty”

“Just ‘Andromeda’ now”

“At once, Andromeda.”

Alexander went and sat at the desk, and his mother turned and went out through the door, into the lift which took her down a dozen or more floors of the great edifice. The door opened and she stepped out into a short corridor which led out on to a small landing platform jutting out from the side of the building. A small spaceship was there, black with the arms of Armontiriath on the side. The hatch was open and she stepped into the cockpit and the door closed.

She was alone in the ship, and she sat in the pilot’s seat and powered it up. Gently she took the controls and flew straight up through the clouds into the familiar dark of space. She released the controls.

“Erda, take me home” she said, and sat back and closed her eyes as the moved at full acceleration in the direction of Armontiriath.

***

As the small ship landed at Armontirina spaceport, a unicorn trotted up and waited till the hatch opened and Andromeda stepped out. She flung her arms round her old friend’s neck. Her nephew Antares also appeared with some others to greet her, but Andromeda insisted on riding Nebula into the city and up to the palace.

Alexis was there to meet her. He looked old and admitted it was about time he stepped down and let Antares assume the duties of Prince of Armontiriath. Antares’ sister Ariadne was away on an expedition to explore the uninhabited western continent, but his young son Amrad was there to hug his grandmother. They had a quiet family dinner together, and then Andromeda went up to her old room in the palace.

Soon after she got there, Erda suddenly spoke from her wrist-pad “Andromeda, there’s an urgent message from your son.”

“Good grief, already? Put him through.”

Alexander’s face appeared as a hologram. “Mother, I thought you should know. We’ve had an urgent message from the Imperial exploration ship Nemo, out 200 light-years hubwards. Shall I play it for you?”

“Go ahead.”

The hologram changed, and the face of a young black woman appeared, with a very earnest look on her face.

“This is Captain Maria Elkhorn of the Imperial exploration ship Nemo, exploring deep space in the direction of the Galactic centre. We were heading into a new star system when we were suddenly attacked by a large number of unknown ships who fired on us without warning. Fortunately our pseudo-gravity shield absorbed most of the shots and we received little damage. We believe they were firing matter, not antimatter.

We fired back, and destroyed a number of them, but they kept coming in increasing numbers. We retreated at full speed and managed to leave them behind. But they attacked us without warning or provocation, and I felt I should warn the Empire as a matter of urgency that we have a potentially dangerous situation out here.”

The captain’s image vanished, to be replaced by Alexander once more.

“You can see you picked a good time to quit and leave me in charge, Mother” he said, “We appear to be in a war – but not one we’ve asked for.”

“What have you done?”

“I’ve sent as many ships as I can out to join Nemo, to keep an eye on the situation but not engage in combat unless necessary. We’re stepping up our ship-building programme and designing faster, better-armed ships for fighting.”

“You need to tell the people what’s happening”

“I’ve got a broadcast lined up shortly. I’ll tell them what the threat is, but try not to cause panic. We know nothing about these potential attackers, and until we do we need to be alert and prepared, but not over-react.”

“I wish you well, my son. I’m sure you will handle this crisis competently. I’m sorry it’s come upon you so soon, but I trust you to look after the Empire. I’ll be leaving tomorrow.”

“Where are you going?”

“To follow my mother, up the slopes of the secret mountain, to join her in the halls of her people.”

“In that case, farewell. I love you, Mother”

“I love you, Alexander.” The connection was broken.

In the early morning Andromeda dressed in simple trousers and tunic, said a farewell to Erda and divested herself of her wrist-pad and other communication equipment. She went out to the courtyard where her grandson Amrad was waiting with Nebula. They embraced, and she mounted the unicorn and rode out of the gate.

They followed the Silver River to the edge of the forest, and then rode on uphill to the slopes of the secret mountain and her final homecoming.