xterra conspiracy - prologue

7/29/2019 XTERRA Conspiracy - Prologue

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Book One In

Ivis Bo Davis

www.hispubg.com

A division of HISpecialists, llc


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Copyright 2011 Ivis Bo Davis

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or

mechanical including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval systems without permission inwriting from both the copyright owner and the publisher. Inquiries should be addressed to HIS Publishing Group, P.O.

Box 12516, Dallas, TX 75225.

Published by HIS Publishing Group,

a Division of Human Improvement Specialists, llcContact: [email protected]

First edition

Contributing EditorsAlicia Lewis Treece, Colleen K. Ward, Elaine W. Davis, Jef Nolan, Robert Mathis, Robert F. Shields, MD, Susan

Djurkovic, and Libby York Stauder

Cover DesignCheryl Voris

Interior DesignStephanee Killen

All characters, businesses or other descriptions in this book are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons,

deceased or living is coincidental.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012900247

ISBN: 978-0-9850232-0-1

Printed and bound in the United States of America
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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INTRODUCING THE

CONSPIRACY

ESCAPE

Coming early 2012

DARK MATTER

Coming late 2013

TRANSFORMATION

Coming late 2014

Please visit our website atwww.ivisbodavis.com
http://www.ivisbodavis.com/http://www.ivisbodavis.com/http://www.ivisbodavis.com/http://www.ivisbodavis.com/


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DEDICATION

I dedicate this book to my beloved wife Elaine and to my sweet mother-in-law Colleen.

Without their ability to correct my grammar, the reader could never have understood that

what I wrote was what I meant to say.

I also dedicate this book to my wonderful young friend Alicia Lewis Treece, whose

delightful enthusiasm and encouragement inspired me to keep going and finish the work.

I would also like to recognize my friends Jef Nolan, Robert Mathis, Dr. Robert F. Shields,

and Susan Djurkovic, who contributed to this novel by editing the work and offering advice

while it was still a work in progress. I dont think there are many authors who succeed

without the care and support of their friends.

Finally, a heartfelt thank you to all of you who so graciously helped this dream become a

novel.


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PROLOGUE

The Earth sparkled in blue and white splendor, spinning slowly against the black,

diamond-studded velvet of space. Sixteen-year-old Todd Ward was floating in observation

lounge 12/36/3Q of the great interstellar colony ship Triznov. The big quartz view plate was

all that separated him from the cold vacuum of space. Todd marveled for the umpteenth

time at the beautiful planet below him and thought once more, It sure doesnt look like its

dying...

The overhead of the starships Command Bridge was magnificent. It was an absolute

non-reflective black and shaped like a huge inverted bowl, displaying a holographic, three -

dimensional map of space. It almost gave you the impression that there was a huge hole in

the ship and you were looking out into spacequite startling to anyone encountering it for

the first time. It provided a perfect representation of the ships position among the stars,

showing the previous course as a blue line from the after wall to the center of the display,

where a small, three-dimensional model of the ship was located. The projected course

appeared as a golden thread from the model ship to the forward wall. The crew

affectionately called it the Tank.

Oh, my God, Captainlook! the radar operator gasped, slapping his control panel and

dimming the Bridge lights. The room appeared to vanish in the darkness and every eye

looked upward at the Tank. A vast cloud of ragged asteroids tumbling through space began

to cascade out of the forward edge of the Tank. The radar operator zoomed in on its

location for a closer look. There were uncounted billions of them, many the sizes of

mountains, a virtual avalanche of ragged, deadly stones. The asteroid field had appeared

from nowhere out of the black depths of space... in the middle of an open void between the

stars where such a possibility was inconceivable. At their current velocity of near the speed

of light, it was directly in their path.

Distance and estimated time to contact? asked the captain.

The radar operator turned to his commanding officer and reported, his voice hoarse with

tension, Ah... one AU, or 150-million kilometers and eight minutes, thirty-one seconds to


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vector intersect, Sir.

Helm! barked the captain. Change course to 248.165.221. All engines to full

emergency power!

Course laid in at 248.165.221, Captain. All engines at full emergency power! answered

helmsman. The immense colony ship rotated her attitude gracefully to the new course as

her massive engines blazed to full power. She now powered through space 120-degreesagainst and away from her previous course. This had two effects: her incredible forward

speed began to slow, and she accelerated perpendicular to her former course toward the

nearest outer edge of the asteroid field. It was the perfect commandthe absolute best

shot they had. At their speed, the ships progress toward the deadly phenomenon could not

possibly stop in the little time available, even at maximum thrust, but the maneuver gave

them more time to flee sideways around it. The captain was trying to avoid a cosmic

shotgun blast... aimed directly at them.

Computer, analyze the asteroid field size, density, speed, and direction, and then

determine our statistical possibility of navigating past or through it without significant

damage to the ship.Aye, Captain... analysis in progress, came the computers immediate response.

Captain, our chances of collision avoidance are less than two-percent.

Emergency computer navigation override! commanded the captain. Find the optimum

way through or around that mess. Recalculate and implement course corrections as

required!

Emergency computer navigation override enabled, Captain, the computer answered.

Course corrections implemented. The new course has added fifty-eight seconds before the

point of impact. Our size and velocity preclude us from dipping and dodging our way

through the asteroid field like a small ship could, Captain. Theres just no way to avoid a

collision. The field is at the extreme edge of my radar, but according to current data, it looksas big as the entire orbit of Earth in an elliptic ovoid or roughly the shape of an American

football. Its estimated average density is three objects per cubic kilometer. In total, the

approximate mass of these asteroids is about eight times that of Earths Sun. It would

appear that this debris is the result of a solar explosion some billions of years ago that sent

the remains of its shattered planets on this trajectory. The field is moving at a speed of

eighty-five-thousand kilometers per hour diagonally across our current course. At this

distance, confirmation of asteroid population and density for objects less than one-hundred

cubic meters is not possible. However, using our current data, the statistical probability of

navigating through or around the field is three-point-eight-seven-percent and diminishing

rapidly, Sir. Then, the computer added almost as an afterthought, Even with our newcourse vectored in, Sir.

The color of the captains face faded to a ghastly shade of gray.

Were dead! gasped one of the bridge crew.

Shall I inform the crew and colonists, Sir? the ships executive officer asked,

attempting to hide his anxiety.

Absolutely not, mister! snapped the captain. This information does not leave this


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bridge! I will not go to my death with the terror of twenty -eight-thousand helpless people on

my conscience! Then, with a quiet and resigned sadness, he added, Let them die in

peace.

The XO nodded, Aye, aye, Sir.

Idiots! Morons! Mindless politicians! Theyve killed us! Major Kathleen Davis spat in

outrage. What in the world were they thinking? How could they even consider sending acolony ship into space without weapons for our defense? If we had them, we would at least

have a chance of blasting our way through this... this... this interstellar minefield!

The color returned to the stern face of the captain and he smiled, his eyes sad. Angry

outbursts will not alter our current situation, Major, he reproved in a gentle tone as he

glanced over at his furious communications officer. Update and launch a data probe.

Program it to record the events of the next half hour, and transmit the data to Earth. Maybe

this will cause the United Nations to reconsider the wisdom of sending out colony ships

without defensive capability!

The captains calm demeanor caused Kathleen to swallow her own angst. She regained

her professional composure, bent to her console and rapidly programmed the data probe.Seconds later, the tiny rocket-bodied probe blasted out of its launch tube, its sensors active

and recording as it accelerated at five-hundred gravities back along the course of the ship

toward Earth. As the little probe began its long journey, Kathleen straightened, turned again

to her captain and as their eyes locked, reported quietly, Probe launched, Sir, and it... it has

been a great honor and a privilege serving under you, Captain.

Thank you, Major, he said, smiling at her, then around the room, the honor has been

mine. He turned his attention to the main view screen and the Bridge crew watched in

fascinated horror as the size of the approaching rocks grew in the Tank. They were

completely unaware of the low wail that increased in volume and pitch to an ear-splitting

shriek of mindless terror as the immense colony ship rushed toward its final destiny with amountainous asteroid easily a hundred times its size.

The great ship and the tumbling basalt mountain slammed into one another in the silent

depths of space. In less than a second, the ship, everyone aboard, and the entire mass of

the asteroid converted from matter into plasma energy, becoming for a moment a brilliant

new sun in the blackness of space.

Yet the terrified shriek continued unabated. The door burst open, slamming loudly but

unnoticed against the wall. A ghostly apparition flew into the bedroom, lit only with pale

moonlight, and pounced upon the terrified, screaming child writhing in his bed.

Todd, honeywake up, baby. Its only a dream,Pam said comfortingly as she pulled

the tense, shivering and sweat-soaked body of her only child into her arms. Todds fathersnapped on the light as he followed his wife into the room. Eight -year-old Todd was jolted

into a terrified and confused wakefulness, his scream slowly diminishing to wracking sobs.

Its all right, baby, Mamas here, she cooed soothingly.

Mama! An asteroid destroyed the colony ship! Everybody died! All the people! All the

animals! Everybody died, Mama! Everybody! Todds small body heaved with sobs.

Sssh, baby, its okay. It was just a dream, Pam purred, holding her sons damp head to


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her shoulder and patting him tenderly with her hand.

Its okay, son, were here, Ed reached out and pushed Todds sweat -dampened hair

away from his forehead.

Daddy! They could not protect their ship! They had no weapons, no missilesno way

to stop the asteroids! Todd gasped fearfully, reliving the very real horror of his dream.

Its okay, honey, its okay. It was just a dream. The ship wasnt destroyed, and nobodydied, Pam continued stroking his head and holding him close.

But, Mama! Todd sobbed, his voice still trembling. What if it was not just a dream?

What if it is going to happen?

Pam looked up at her husband, concern etched deeply in eyes that pleaded silently,

What can I tell him?

Eds expression communicated that he understood her unasked questionand he didnt

like the only answer they had to give, either. It was the same recurring nightmare, and

neither Todd nor his parents had slept a full night for weeks. They would eventually get past

the fear that held their child in its grasp, but right now, they were all nearing exhaustion.

Todd, maybe we can find some way to fix that before the colony ship launches, his dadsaid soothingly. There's still time to find a way to protect ourselves.

Todd nodded and wrapped his arms more tightly around the slim figure of his mother,

burying his head in her shoulder. It would take a long time to calm his terrified heart before

he could relax and return to what promised to be an uneasy sleep.

Ed, hes so young! Hes only eight... arent we pushing him too hard? Pam asked her

husband after Todd had finally gone back to sleep. She poured two cups of coffee and set

one down on the kitchen table in front of Ed. She leveled her green eyes at him, waiting forhis answer.

Ed shook his head and picked up the coffee with both hands, warming them on the hot

mug. I know hes young, sweetie, but were running out of time. I really dont think were

pushing him too hard... its just a difficult concept for him to swallow. Shucks, its a hard idea

forme...and Im no child!

Pam remained standing, stirring cream and sugar into her coffee. She didnt like it bitter.

She was that way as a person, too. I dont doubt he has the capacity. Hes just so little...

and so... afraid.

Hell outgrow that, he said quietly as he lifted his mug and took a careful sip. Slowly,

the corners of his mouth curled upward into a tired grin. Look, Todd is strong. Hes strongerthan you or me. Hell make it. All we need to do is gently nudge him in the right direction.

On June 15, 1970, a young research scientist named Jeremiah Swaggs decided to

measure and record the magnetic field density surrounding planet Earth. The research was


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a mild curiosity, a personal interest. He would check for field density variations using a

planetary magnetometer, a simple and highly accurate instrument. Twice daily for ten years,

he kept a hand-written log of his findings. By then, a personal computer invented by a

California youth made it possible to automate the logging process, and all he had to do was

check the system occasionally to ensure that it was still functioning and change the data

storage disks.A decade later, the now-prominent scientist took a sabbatical to pursue his interest in

magnetic field density studies. He carefully entered the data from his early hand -written log

and then imported the data into the record of his new computer. With the speed of the new

system, it didnt take a year to interpret the results. It took only moments to calculate and

print out the data that he had accumulated over twenty years in a simple graphand

another two seconds for the pit of Jerrys stomach to register shock, his mind reeling in

horror. The Earth was dying!

He verified the calibration and accuracy of his instrument and rechecked his

programming parameters. Using a new scientific tool called the Internet, he expanded his

database by incorporating records from sensors all over the globe and then recalculated.The data was accurate, the program worked flawlessly, and the computer was a fast

personal model more than adequate for the task. His conclusion was correct. The magnetic

field, or magnetosphere, surrounding Earth was rapidly diminishing. And with it, he was

convinced, the very life of the planet.

So, what does the magnetic field density have to do with life on Earth anyway? He

considered rationally. Would it affect life processes, and how? Jerry knew that the

electromagnetic, or EM, field protected Earth from incineration by the sun's intense

radiation, moderating it to the warm glow that warmed the planet and allowed life to prosper.

Without the shield of the magnetosphere, Earth would be defenseless against the nuclear

fires of solar radiation and its surface would literally burn. He also knew that all living thingsgenerated their own electromagnetic field. When that field stopped, so did the life in the

living thing. If the magnetic force generated by planet Earth stopped, would it, in turn, stop

the electromagnetic field in all living things? If the planet died, wouldnt everything on it die

also?

Jerry spent the rest of the night writing a new computer program that would produce

more than a graph representing magnetic field density over time. This program evaluated all

the data to determine the fluctuating periodic rate of decay of the field density, complete

with time/density projections, and it generated a series of graphs for several key locations

around the globe.

The sun was coming up to shine on the eastern face of the Colorado mountains whenJerry pressed the Enter key to run the analysis program. It was a fast computer, although at

that particular moment he didnt appreciate the fact. He made a new pot of coffee,

scratched his stubbled jaw, and poured himself a fresh cup. His printer began to chatter.

Jerry? Why on Earth are you calling at... uh... 6:48 on Sunday morning? Art Singleton

growled sleepily, struggling to focus his eyes on his alarm clock. Dont you know that the

chair of environmental studies needs his beauty rest? A close friend and Jerrys brilliant


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college roommate, he was momentarily baffled by this intrusion into his carefully guarded

rest.

Too trueparticularly in your case, but I need you to look at something, Art, and Ill buy

your breakfast, he added quickly to insure Arts agreement to meet. Howd you like

chicken-fried steak and eggs with a side of biscuits and gravy at the Breakfast Shack over

on I-70?Art was suddenly wide awake. Jerry was so tight with money that he neveroffered to

spring for a drink, much less a meal. Whats wrong, Jer?

Ive made a dreadful discovery, Art, and its important enough to wake you up on a

Sunday morning. Ill meet you there in an hour, and Ill pay for anything you order!

Uh, okay, Art yawned, now more intrigued than annoyed. Ill be there. Jerry wasnt an

emotional guy. Something very interesting was chewing on him to get him this riled up.

Okay, thanks, Art... I think. See you there.

Art sat up, looked warily at the silent phone in his hand, then glanced longingly back at

his rapidly cooling pillow, swung his legs off the bed, and shuffled off to the bathroom.

The remaining bites of his steak lay forgotten in a pool of congealing gravy as Art looked

up from the printout and searched the eyes of his friend. Jerry was a meticulously careful

researcher, and Art seriously doubted the possibility of error.

Jerry, if I understand your data, the Earths magnetic field is diminishing and has a half-

life of fourteen-hundred years. This means that every fourteen-hundred years, the density of

the planetary magnetic field is reduced by one-half. Your data also shows that this loss of

field density is accelerating. Am I correct so far?

Yes, Jerry replied simply, taking another sip of coffee and peering blearily over the rimof his cup.

According to this, the decay of the Earths EM field has already reached a critical point.

Your theory also includes a statement that the health and reproduction of all living things is,

in some manner, dependent upon planetary magnetic density. Your conclusion is that the

current trend of species extinction is caused, at least in part, by the reduction in the Earths

magnetic field density, and as the field continues to diminish, incidents of extinction will

grow not to mention that as the EM shield around the planet reduces, radiation will

increase... with devastating results. Art looked up at Jerry over the little square Santa

glasses perched precariously on the end of his sharp nose. His wife had purchased them

for him as a gift when his arms got too short to read easily.Jerry nodded solemnly as Art continued. The questions are: When did this begin, and

what caused it? Just how weak is the magnetic field as opposed to optimum strength? What

are the past and current effects it is having on the life of this planet? What are the

anticipated effects and the future impact? How long will it be before the field strength

reduction has a significant impact on the ability of Earth to sustain life? What, if anything,

can we do to prevent further degradation? Finally, what can be done immediately to reduce


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its impact?

Your projections suggest an initial estimate of significant damage to life on Earth

already, and less than two-hundred-fifty years until human survival will be imperiled. So,

according to you, were in trouble already.

Jerrys body and mind were tired and tense. I believe the evidence indicates life

processes are already seriously suffering from the effects of reduced magnetic field density.This last generation of man has seen an unparalleled increase in genetic disorders, as well

as radical increases in occurrences of once-rare cancers and discovery of new diseases,

not to mention extinction levels. If this is even a contributing cause, were already in serious

trouble... and its only going to get worse. I suppose how much worse and how fastare the

real questions.

I guess wed better get busy, Jer. If your conclusions are anywhere near accurate, then

we need to act as quickly as possible. We need to verify your data with independent

research worldwide and bring in many other fields of research as well. Once my department

verifies the accuracy of your data, you will have to publish. If the Earth dies, we may die

with it, so it looks like we may need to start looking for a way to save the Earth or locatesome fresh real estate.

Over the next twenty years, research proved the source of the problem. The Earths

outer core is a twenty-two-hundred-kilometer-thick liquid nickel-iron pool spinning around

the solid twelve-hundred-fifty-kilometer-diameter inner core. Because the Earth rotates, the

outer core spins around the stationary inner core, which, like a massive generator, causes

the Earth's magnetism. The source of the problem was a change of the shape of the inner

core.The inner core was cooling at an increasingly rapid rate. The liquid outer core was

solidifying in uneven clumps on the surface of the solid inner core, producing mountainous

formations on the surface. These uneven deposits soared as much as a kilometer high and

resulted in two complementary problems. First, as the inner core became increasingly

uneven, the resulting friction between the inner and outer cores began to cause the once-

stationary inner core to spin. As the rotation of the solid inner core increased, the effect was

like slowing down a power generator. The reduction in speed differential caused a reduction

in the magnetic force generated by the planets core. Secondly, the unevenness of the

surface caused swirling vortexes to form in the outer core. These vortexes produced

disruptions in the magnetic field, which, in turn, opened significant holes in the Earthselectromagnetic field. These proliferating disruptions of the magnetic pool had added to the

problem over millennia, until the motor that drove the protective magnetosphere began to

fail.

October 1991. The science project of a young Japanese student confirmed the worst -

case scenario. The Space Shuttle Endeavor carried four-dozen quail eggs, carefully

insulated against all vibration, into orbit. Scientists fertilized each set of four eggs on


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sequential days prior to launch, except for the first set. The last set of unfertilized eggs

received manual fertilization after arriving in orbit. When the eggs came back to Earth, each

was carefully tested and encouraged to hatch. Every egg fertilized less than five days had

died. Scientists in the laboratories at Colorado State University proved that mitosis, or

primary cell division, could not occur in a low-density magnetic environment. Of all the

chicks that survived, most had genetic disorders. Very few of the embryos were developingnormally. Many tests were run to validate the experiment, including using live birds in the

Space Station. They all had the same result. The implications were staggering.

May 1998. Environmental researchers worldwide were increasingly concerned with the

evidence that many known animal species had recently become extinct and that the

process appeared to be speeding up. The revelation that the decay of the Earths magnetic

field was a contributing cause was devastating because there was no way to stop it. Worse

yet, the deterioration of the Earths magnetic field was accelerating in a nonlinear

progression. The scientific community finally accepted with certainty that the Earth and

every living thing on it would die, and all of mans current technology would be unable to

prevent it.July 2052. A research team at the U.S. National Nuclear Propulsion Laboratories

successfully verified a wild theory first proposed by the early electronics genius, Nikolai

Tesla. By precisely matching the vibrational frequency of an atom, it would disintegrate,

releasing all the vast power contained in the atomic bond. They expected the first test to be

inconclusive. However, the resulting explosion devastated two square kilometers of prime

New Mexico landscape. The research computers were data linked with central computers in

Washington, DC, and the test data survived, though the researchers and their facility did

not. Mankind now had the means to create an engine powerful enough to drive them to the

stars.

November 2053. New test results confirmed that the most stable element useful for fuelin a subatomic power generator was copper, cheap and plentiful. The resulting energy

release was powerful, clean, and non-radioactive. Dubbed the copper drive, mankind had

their engine. It was time to look for a new home and put to the test Mr. Albert Einsteins

great Theory of Relativity.

January 2064. Time and Space Magazine reported that astronomy had become the

foremost science of the new millennium. The brightest minds of planet Earth scoured the

heavens for evidence of living planets. Scientists quickly discovered there were far fewer

planets in our galaxy than was previously thought. Fewer yet held evidence of having any

kind of atmosphere, much less one that would support life.

April 2075. The most sophisticated package of instrumentation ever assembled soaredskyward under the power of the new copper drive. It was complete with a powerful eighth-

generation Hubble Space Telescope and equipped with dual megawatt tight beam radio

transmitters. Created to search the stars for habitable planets,Project Hope was the most

massive international cooperative scientific effort ever undertaken. The probes would seek

the nearest potentially useful stars within a limited cone of possibilities. Using its vast array

of instruments, it could number the planets surrounding each star and examine each for


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habitable characteristics: size, solar distance, radiation spectrum and density, water,

breathable atmosphere, magnetic density, gravitational strength, ore deposits, evidence of

life, and many other specifics. The probes would transmit the research data records for

each planet back to Earth. As a precautionary measure, the probe would accumulate a final

comprehensive report on each star system, transmit the data repeatedly, and then launch a

small data capsule on a specified trajectory toward Earth. The probe would continue on itsjourney, collecting information on new star systems as it went. They had launched the first

of fifty interstellar research probes and with it, the hopes of the entire population of man.

July 2098. In an altogether too-public vote, the United Nations passed a resolution

prohibiting the arming of all space ships with military weapons and, further, it denied the

opportunity to colonize to all veterans, military personnel, and their families. Simply stated,

the colony ships were required to leave Earth completely bereft of military escort and

without personnel who had the experience to arm them after they launched. The decision

was based on the idealistic belief that humankind should not export war to the universe. The

irate demands of the majority of world citizens bitterly opposed to the decision went

unheard. The fury of this dangerous majority was a rising tide that threatened world politicalstability, but the politicians refused to listen. This was another classic example of politicians

forcing unwanted policy on their constituents. Todd Ward was not the only one who suffered

terrifying dreams, nor his parents the only ones who lost sleep, as a result of the U.N.s

Unarmed Colonist decision. The world was becoming a pressure cooker without a

pressure relief valve.

February 2100. After fifty years of unparalleled international cooperation, planning, and

construction, Deep Space Vehicle Triznov, the worlds first interstellar colony starship and

known affectionately throughout the world simply as the Ark, was only a month away from

her scheduled launch date. The U.N. named her after the first commanding officer of the

United Nations lunar colony. General Isaac Triznovs common sense and creative geniusspared the lives of everyone on that first base on several occasions, so his example of

dedication, preparedness, and perseverance became the de facto standard for space

exploration. The designers of the ship wanted everyone aboard to remember General

Triznovs diligence and to carry on in his tradition. Nothing less than the very future of

humanity was at stake.

The Ark was immense. She was saucer shaped, a kilometer-and-a-half in diameter, with

eighty decks and a bit more than one-thousand meters in height. Vastly larger than thepyramids, she was by far the greatest engineering feat ever created by man. Far too huge

to be built accurately in Earths massive gravity, or even on the Moon, they built her, along

with her five sister ships, in orbit fifty kilometers above the surface of the Moon. This orbit

placed them above the poisonous Van Allen Radiation Belt, but they were close enough for

easy access from the Moon. The launch date of the Arkdubbed Acceleration Day (A.D.)

was firmly scheduled for March 4, 2100. The human race would march forth on that date...


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out into space and to the stars beyond. Her crew and the peoples of Earth were busily

completing last-minute details. Meanwhile, as launch celebrations were planned on a

colossal planetwide scale, an international undercurrent of fear gnawed at the billions who,

by sheer necessity, would be left behind to die.

xterra conspiracy - prologue

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