active region of human space, near the center of that one cone of
human expansion that led into what was to become Union space. But those were
ancient colonies, dating well before the Act of Unification, and they were all
destroyed in the early years of the war. It has always been a remote region of
the Republic.”
“Remote?” Consherra asked. “It is almost off the
chart.”
“That is hardly surprising,” Valthyrra commented. “We know
that the Republic was struggling to survive in those days. When Terra was lost,
they withdrew to their major colonies that had not been ravaged by the war,
those most remote from Union space. I would guess that Terra herself would lie
somewhat nearer to the heart of the present Republic, and deeper in from the
regions of Union space.”
“My thoughts exactly,” Theralda agreed, continuing this duel of
the data processors. “Of course, Home Base was later severely damaged in
an attack by a Union assault force that had wandered upon its secret location
entirely by chance. That led to the destruction of the computer libraries that
held a considerable amount of this old but no longer important information,
such as the location of former major worlds like Terra and Alameda. And yet,
while those worlds were abandoned for reasons that even I cannot guess, I do know that the evacuation was sudden and quick, and that the Union never
completely destroyed them or attempted to hold or plunder them.”
“They were unlivable,” Keflyn reminded them needlessly.
“Exactly,” Theralda agreed. “But we now know the probable
location of the planet Alameda, and somewhere on that world may still exist
important clues for finding Terra herself.”
“Yes, a brilliant deduction,” Valthyrra approved.
“Thank you very much,” she responded amiably, turning her camera
pod toward the Methryn’s probe and dipping her lenses as if taking a bow.
“Now I do not expect such clues to be obvious, unfortunately. I recall no
record of the climate of Alameda before it was abandoned, but it is now a
mountainous, heavily forested world just recovering from a long, hard ice age,
with great sheets of continental glaciers still in retreat. It is really too
cold for human habitation, but has since been settled as a Feldenneh
colony.”
“Feldenneh?” Velmeran asked, surprised. The Feldenneh was a race
feral in appearance, long-lived, and intelligent, but not very populous, quiet
and very peaceful in nature. They had no sympathies for the Union, but their
home world and colonies were within Union space and so subject to its dictates.
“That makes this a Union-held colony by default.”
“Yes, but there is no Union representation, diplomatic or military, on
the planet,” Theralda explained. “The colony was only settled in
the past decade, and there is still only the one, main settlement. The
Feldenneh are not great explorers, which would explain why they have not found
traces of any previous settlement.”
“That and the effects of heavy glaciation,” Valthyrra added.
“Continental glaciers can sweep away the ruins of even extensive modern
civilizations in a relatively short amount of geologic time.”
“A most astute observation,” Theralda approved.
“You are most gracious,” Valthyrra purred with delight, dipping
her own armored camera pod.
“Oh, enough!” Velmeran exclaimed, smiling. “You two are
incorrigible. It seems to me that we have discovered this lead only just in
time. If there are any remaining ruins, the Union would know about it soon
enough. I suppose that you have not been there yourself.”
“No, we dare not,” Theralda agreed. “The presence of a
Starwolf carrier, or Starwolves in general, would call undue attention to
this planet. I would not care to have to fight the Union for possession of this
world, once they learn of its importance. And above all else, I would not have
them discover the location of Terra before us.”
“Yes, that is what I have to do!”
human expansion that led into what was to become Union space. But those were
ancient colonies, dating well before the Act of Unification, and they were all
destroyed in the early years of the war. It has always been a remote region of
the Republic.”
“Remote?” Consherra asked. “It is almost off the
chart.”
“That is hardly surprising,” Valthyrra commented. “We know
that the Republic was struggling to survive in those days. When Terra was lost,
they withdrew to their major colonies that had not been ravaged by the war,
those most remote from Union space. I would guess that Terra herself would lie
somewhat nearer to the heart of the present Republic, and deeper in from the
regions of Union space.”
“My thoughts exactly,” Theralda agreed, continuing this duel of
the data processors. “Of course, Home Base was later severely damaged in
an attack by a Union assault force that had wandered upon its secret location
entirely by chance. That led to the destruction of the computer libraries that
held a considerable amount of this old but no longer important information,
such as the location of former major worlds like Terra and Alameda. And yet,
while those worlds were abandoned for reasons that even I cannot guess, I do know that the evacuation was sudden and quick, and that the Union never
completely destroyed them or attempted to hold or plunder them.”
“They were unlivable,” Keflyn reminded them needlessly.
“Exactly,” Theralda agreed. “But we now know the probable
location of the planet Alameda, and somewhere on that world may still exist
important clues for finding Terra herself.”
“Yes, a brilliant deduction,” Valthyrra approved.
“Thank you very much,” she responded amiably, turning her camera
pod toward the Methryn’s probe and dipping her lenses as if taking a bow.
“Now I do not expect such clues to be obvious, unfortunately. I recall no
record of the climate of Alameda before it was abandoned, but it is now a
mountainous, heavily forested world just recovering from a long, hard ice age,
with great sheets of continental glaciers still in retreat. It is really too
cold for human habitation, but has since been settled as a Feldenneh
colony.”
“Feldenneh?” Velmeran asked, surprised. The Feldenneh was a race
feral in appearance, long-lived, and intelligent, but not very populous, quiet
and very peaceful in nature. They had no sympathies for the Union, but their
home world and colonies were within Union space and so subject to its dictates.
“That makes this a Union-held colony by default.”
“Yes, but there is no Union representation, diplomatic or military, on
the planet,” Theralda explained. “The colony was only settled in
the past decade, and there is still only the one, main settlement. The
Feldenneh are not great explorers, which would explain why they have not found
traces of any previous settlement.”
“That and the effects of heavy glaciation,” Valthyrra added.
“Continental glaciers can sweep away the ruins of even extensive modern
civilizations in a relatively short amount of geologic time.”
“A most astute observation,” Theralda approved.
“You are most gracious,” Valthyrra purred with delight, dipping
her own armored camera pod.
“Oh, enough!” Velmeran exclaimed, smiling. “You two are
incorrigible. It seems to me that we have discovered this lead only just in
time. If there are any remaining ruins, the Union would know about it soon
enough. I suppose that you have not been there yourself.”
“No, we dare not,” Theralda agreed. “The presence of a
Starwolf carrier, or Starwolves in general, would call undue attention to
this planet. I would not care to have to fight the Union for possession of this
world, once they learn of its importance. And above all else, I would not have
them discover the location of Terra before us.”
“Yes, that is what I have to do!”
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