Suddenly, a shooting star appeared on the western sky. A meteorite? No, it was too close. The object disappeared behind a ridge a couple of kilometers west of the Stronghold. The light was still there, above the treetops, and then she felt the ground tremble. The light changed to a deeper hue, not moving anymore.
Maria’s jaw dropped. Something had… landed, she thought. And it wasn’t one of Havelar’s shuttles, that much she knew. She had to blink to make sure she wasn’t imagining things. When she opened her eyes, the light was still there, a deep orange hue above the trees, just a few kilometers away. As crazy as it seemed, something had landed.
She ran back toward the others and immediately saw the party hadn’t stopped the rest of them from seeing the phenomenon too. People were speaking loudly, and already they had all sorts of theories and possible explanations, from aliens to an attack from Fort Andrews. Through the commotion, she heard Tina Hammer bark commands: secure the inner perimeter and form up a team to protect those going to see what had happened. It looked completely disorganized though, and Maria looked at Kenneth, who was standing there looking just as confused as everyone else. Curiosity got the better of her though, and soon she was running through the woods, along with a hundred others, toward the mysterious light.
Almost half an hour later, Maria reached a clearing, and as she stepped out of the woods, she saw the spaceship. Looking closer, it appeared to be a small shuttle, not unlike their own. The design made it apparent though, that this was not one of the shuttles from the Exodus. Also, the low humming sound coming from the shuttle was completely different from the engines on their own shuttles. It sounded almost like a high-voltage electric fence. More people caught up to where she stood, and they all stopped by the edge of the clearing, waiting for what would happen next. Some were armed, but she got a feeling there would be no need of weapons. She looked around at the others and saw anticipation, fear, and uncertainty. She saw Tina standing close, staring intently at the shuttle, with Thomas Dunn right next to her. She met Thomas’s eyes, and he smiled uncertainly. She wanted nothing more than to go and stand by him at that moment. She had almost worked up the courage to go, when the shuttle let out a hissing sound and drew her attention.
On the side, a hatch opened slowly, letting out steam, covering whatever was inside. A few seconds later though, a helmeted figure about her height appeared in the opening.
“It looks like… it looks human,” someone said. A golden visor made it impossible to see inside the helmet, but everything about the way the figure moved, exiting the hatch and climbing down the retractable steps, looked human. The figure moved toward where she was standing, and stopped about ten meters away.
“It is human!” another one shouted from somewhere behind her. Then she noticed a patch on the left arm of its suit. It felt vaguely familiar. She looked closer, and although she couldn’t tell what it was, she was certain she’d seen it before. She’d seen it back on Earth. That would mean… Her reasoning was interrupted by someone shouting from her left somewhere.
“Guys! Look, it’s a flag!” A flash of recognition hit her. Of course, that was it. The Indian flag. It might be modified, as it didn’t quite look the same as she remembered, but she was confident it had to be some version of the Indian flag. She felt tears well up in the corners of her eyes. Everyone had taken for granted that they were the only ones who had made it off Earth in time. They had been wrong all along, and here, right in front of them, was the proof.
Now the golden visor slid up, revealing a dark, smiling face of a young man inside the protective glass. He kept his helmet on though, and as he spoke, the metallic voice of the helmet speaker sounded in perfect English, with the distinct accent of India.
“Greetings! My name is Rajiv Singh of the Indira Federation, and I am delighted to see that you arrived safely here, on your beautiful new homeworld.”
Chapter 14
TINA HAMMER
Tina poured their visitors another cup of tea, which seemed to please the Indian guest immensely.
“It’s been too long since I had a decent cup of tea,” he said. Rajiv Singh had turned out to be a likable fellow, and Tina was more than curious to hear his story. So far, it had mostly been polite phrases, and, of course, the shared joy of meeting a human being from Earth. The implications were obvious: the Exodus hadn’t been the only starship to successfully escape Earth back in 2084. She noticed Kenneth stirring, obviously impatient to gain some real knowledge as to what had happened. Thomas, always the joker, looked more at ease, waiting for the Indian to speak.
“We have a great Darjeeling on Dehlia, but the manufacturers have taken on the bad habit of blending it with a native plant, which leaves it with a just a hint of decent tea, but nothing like the real thing. To make more money, you see,” he explained. Tina nodded politely, while Kenneth looked like he was about to burst with curiosity. It was Thomas who finally managed to break through the niceties, when he asked how many the Indians had managed to save. Rajiv Singh grew solemn, as if wondering where to start.
“Yes, we managed to save a few, although fewer than we hoped for…” He paused, and started to tell the story of the Indian starship program.
“We, or I should say they, started the program about the same time as you did. Early on, it was decided that it would be a well-guarded secret, although rumors spread fast. It soon became clear that India couldn’t do it all by itself. So the Indian government went into negotiations with the Japanese, the Koreans, and a mixed group of private investors. And the close ties to the British secured their cooperation as well. I guess the British played several horses, which turned out to be a smart move.” He smiled briefly, while Tina, Kenneth, and Thomas sat waiting for him to continue.
“In the end, the coalition sent three starships, totaling around two thousand two hundred people.” He paused and sipped from his cup before he set it aside and continued.
“One of the ships had an accident en route, which damaged their magnetic sail. They are probably still floating out there somewhere, and we can only assume they are lost forever. It is one of the mysteries of our civilization, even today…” Rajiv Singh stopped himself, as if he’d said something wrong, and Tina wondered what it was. He just shook his head lightly and went on.
“I believe my words raise a lot of questions, but don’t worry, you will have all the answers you seek, and perhaps everything will be clearer to you as the story of my people is told.” He smiled, seeming almost proud.
“Well, where was I… Yes, the remaining ships… The two ships that remained reached their destination without further incident, with some fifteen hundred passengers. Our ships used similar technology to yours, but managed to bump up the speed even more. Some might say by accident. You see, we had several candidate destinations, and the final decision was made by the captain of the first ship, the ISS Mahatma Gandhi, several years into the journey. First of all, we never ruled out Alpha Centauri, being the closest star to the Sun, even though it didn’t seem the most likely candidate. So we went there first, to see if we could make a new home on one of the stone planets there. It took us twenty-two years, managing about the same speed as you did at the time.” The Aurorans nodded their mutual understanding. The discovery of Nemesis, the dead twin star to the sun, had increased the possible speed from 10 to almost 35 percent of light speed. They had all heard the concepts and the theory, and in the end they had lived it, although most of them were in deep cryo sleep by the time they passed the newly discovered star. Tina was puzzled by something though; Rajiv had said the Indian starships managed to bump up speed even more. She didn’t have to wait for an explanation though, as Rajiv went on to tell his story.
“When we approached the system, it became apparent that the planets there were unsuitable for human habitation. So we moved on, but not before using the gravitational pull of Alpha Centauri A to increase velocity even more. Since you had gone in a direct route from Nemesis to the Cancri system, you never passed close eno
ugh to draw upon the gravity well of Alpha Centauri. Our ships, however, got close enough to gain an immense pull that cut the rest of our journey time in more than half. We arrived at Dehlia in 2143, exactly sixty years after leaving Earth orbit.
“But… But that would make you…” Tina said, dumbfounded. Rajiv Singh nodded, smiling.
“Yes, that is correct. I was born on Dehlia, fourth planet out from Helios B, our primary star, 16.2 light years away from Aurora. My parents are also native Dehlians, as are my grandparents. My great grandparents came on the ships from Earth more than a hundred years ago.” Tina was stunned. First of all, that would mean that the population of Dehlia was probably somewhere above ten thousand by now, possibly closer to fifteen or even twenty. Second, it meant that Dehlia was an established society. And the most amazing thing of all, as evidenced by Rajiv Singh’s being here, Dehlia had already moved past the all eggs-in-one-basket situation. He seemed to understand their surprise, and laughed softly.
“Yes, it has got to be a lot to take in. Well, the story of our homeworld wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t tell you that we had our rough patches back in the first decades. There was even a period of violence, which would have destroyed us all if we hadn’t found a way to work together. Remember, it wasn’t just Indians that landed on Dehlia, but also Japanese, Koreans, British, and even a few from other countries. And although most were upper class or middle class, there were serious disagreements on what kind of society Dehlia should be. But in the end, we managed to find a way through, as former enemies formed powerful friendships. Dehlia slowly rebuilt, and became better for its common experiences.” Tina noticed Kenneth nodding, and again she felt both relieved and confident that they had chosen the right person to be their leader.
“We are now a harmonious, democratic planetary society, and about the time my parents were born, Dehlia started expanding its reach. Now, the Indira Federation consists of Dehlia, by far the largest, and then three smaller colonies in the Helios B system, which are slowly becoming more and more self-sufficient. I even learned of our latest addition to the Federation, while en route to Aurora. Less than ten years old now, a colony of six hundred men and women in the neighboring Porthio system, almost four light years out from Dehlia itself has been established.” That made Thomas burst into laughter, earning a confused look from the Indian.
“I’m sorry, I just… This is so great! In a hundred years, your people have built a well-functioning democracy, and expanded not just throughout your own star system, but beyond it as well. I’m just… stunned,” he said.
“What is your role in all this?” Kenneth suddenly said.
“I am an ambassador,” Rajiv answered, with a hint of pride in his voice.
“It is probably confusing to you Earthborn,” he continued.
“I’ve read a lot of Earth history, and I guess ambassadors back on Earth were a whole different lot… My role is unlike what you would be used to though. As an ambassador, I have a small starship complete with cryo cells and a shuttle, as you’ve already seen. The journey from Dehlia to Aurora took me almost twenty years, and it is my first mission outside the Helios B system. So I’ve had a lot of time to study, even though I slept through much of it,” he said, grinning.
“As an ambassador, I need to be a trained pilot. I have a decent level of technical skills, and I know several relevant languages.” Tina leaned forward, but he continued, leaving her to ponder what he had meant by “relevant languages.”
“I also speak on behalf of the Indira Federation, and basically I am here to help you in whatever manner I can.” Kenneth smiled, and thanked him.
“God knows we can use all the help we can get… I guess you’ve read all about what our country had turned into before we left Earth… Well, the governor and his people are trying to make Aurora into the very same, which is why we escaped to this sanctuary.” Rajiv went silent for a moment, and Tina wondered what he was holding back. Still, he was here, bringing news that humanity was alive and well in other parts of the universe. What could possibly be better? She meant to ask more about his mission, but Thomas beat her to it.
“So, Mr. Singh, can you, or will you help us in our struggle?” Rajiv waited for a moment, and Tina again got the feeling that he was being too careful with his choice of words.
“Yes, I am here to help,” he finally answered. “But not in the manner that you might hope. Aurora is, after all, your world, not ours. If there is one thing we have learned from the history of Earth, it is that everyone should be able to decide their own fate, to choose their own path, so to speak.” He gave them an encouraging smile, as if to tell them he felt their disappointment.
“You must resolve this yourselves, as we did, years ago. But I am here to tell our story, and it is one that I mean to tell your governor as well. I will show you a better way, and then the decision will be yours, to take my advice or not. Your choices will determine the way in which we will cooperate in the future,” he said. Tina nodded, as did Kenneth. They knew what he meant, and it was the only right way. Thomas didn’t seem too happy about it, but Tina knew he would understand as well, in time. This was their world, which made it their responsibility. Rajiv had brought them the best news they’d had since coming to Aurora, and yet, for all his wonderful tales, he had brought them no closer to resolving their internal conflicts.
After a long period of silence, Rajiv spoke again.
“We shall talk more later, but now I have to get back to the shuttle, to report back to Dehlia. There are, however, issues that need to be discussed. I believe that when you hear everything I have to tell you, you will find a way to make peace with your governor. Your future depends on it.” And with that, he rose to his feet and left out the door, leaving Tina, Kenneth and Thomas with more questions than answers.
MARIA SOLIS
Maria stood a hilltop above what had once been Port Hammer, staring out across the Trickler. The sunlight still glittered on the ice-covered river, but all around it the snow was melting, turning into slush. Spring was creeping up on them, and she wondered what that would mean to the war. After the attacks on the enemy patrols, in which her father had been captured, both sides seemed to be waiting for the other to make the next move. Now, perhaps that next move had been made, and she wondered whether that was such a smart move after all.
In the distance, she could see the smoke from Fort Andrews. The mission must have been a success. Thomas and his team had left two days ago, to blow up the warehouse where they made the poison gas. She could only imagine the damages, the dead workers who probably had no wish to be there in the first place. She wondered about her friends, those who had stayed behind when she had to flee with Geena and Kenneth. Tori, the embodiment of practicality, and Sophie, too entwined in the Havelar administration to see things from a different side, and Jeremiah... She missed the professor fiercely, her friend and mentor through so many years. Sadness was a feeling she knew well these days, and she felt it for all the victims of this conflict. It sometimes seemed the human tendency toward violence had no limits, even when struggling to do good.
Thomas was a good man. She had known that from the first time they met. But he had been, and sometimes still was, an enigma. There were so many unanswered questions, and he had been scheming and double scheming for so long, it seemed as if he sometimes struggled with telling truth from lies himself. But he had this streak of compassion, which she sometimes could only feel a hint of, that said that he cared. Deeply. She wondered if, when all this was over, there could be something to build from between them. It was nothing but a gut feeling, but she vowed to herself that once he came back, she would sit down and talk to him. Really talk, this time.
The war wasn’t her only reason to grieve. They had found her father a week ago, or rather what remained of him. They said he must have frozen to death, and then animals and time had taken their toll. She had been spared the sight, as Thomas had identified him instead. Ramon Solis had then been buried where they fo
und him, deep in the woods beside a creek flowing through the Stronghold valley. She had visited his grave twice, laying down winter flowers and saying goodbye to the man who had fallen from the greatest heights to the deepest bottom. He was considered a war criminal by most, and without the trial, his name would forever be tarnished. It made no difference to her, as she would always love him no matter what, but she knew he would have wanted to prove his innocence. Yes, he had made a bad decision, standing by Havelar out of friendship, but she knew in her heart that he had told the truth; the massacre on the Trickler was someone else’s doing.
Rajiv Singh had been with them for more than a month now, and spent his time talking to people, answering all kinds of questions that they had, and sometimes sharing small snippets of knowledge that surprised everyone. There were times when he spent the entire evening with Kenneth and Tina, and Thomas would more often than not be in there with them. When they came out, their faces looked serious, but so far not a word had come out about what they were discussing. Still, Rajiv’s presence reminded her that there were more survivors out there who had gone through similar strife and come out of it better and wiser. The Indira Federation was proof of that, from everything she’d heard. His presence also reminded her of the questions she knew she’d never find answers to, such as what had happened to the ones left behind on Earth. Whenever she thought about that, she looked up at the sky, and every time she had to remind herself that there was nothing to see, even on a clear night. The sun was invisible to them, just as Earth was nothing but a memory now.
No, it was right here that they needed to create and build and discover, and make the choices of what kind of world this should be. This was where they needed to make their future, and Rajiv’s message had been that no one could make it for them. So, facing the smoke from Fort Andrews, she bit her lip. This was their world, and somehow they had to make it right. No one would save them, or come to their aid, and before there could be peace, they had to fight those who were trying to oppress them, whatever the cost.
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