Ti, Au79

Contents

Copyright Page

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 5

Chapter 10

Chapter 15

Chapter 20

Chapter 26

Conclusion

Glossary

About the Author

Ti, Au79

Book Three of Seron Ti Series

by S. R. Jaborsky

All rights reserved

Copyright © February 11, 2019, S. R. Jaborsky

Cover Art Copyright © 2019, Charlotte Holley

Gypsy Shadow Publishing, LLC.

Lockhart, TX

www.gypsyshadow.com

Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.

No part of this book might be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to printing, file sharing, and email, without prior written permission from Gypsy Shadow Publishing, LLC.

ISBN: 978-1-61950-585-8

Published in the United States of America

First eBook Edition: March 29, 2019

Dedication

To Lisa and Shawn, Cheryl, Kenzie, Nikolai, Alecia and Dana for your help and support in my meager efforts. Love you all!

And of course, thank you to all of my readers and to those who appreciate the endless possibilities of Science Fiction.

Chapter One

The Encyclopedians began the enhancement of Earth sciences, a decision Seron Ti fought against, but to no avail. She quietly scrutinized the proposed enhancements from her dwelling on Dahr and lodged her unsuccessful protests, then returned to other matters of Dahr.

As the director emeritus of Off World Sciences of Dahr and still an active researcher in various fields, Seron Ti had personal access to unoccupied research vehicles to near and far space. One such vehicle she had deployed detected a mining vehicle far from any known Dahren outpost and observed that its trajectory was toward the Shear and not returning to Dahr. The vehicle’s path originated from a spent area previously used to transform the spew of a dark space anomaly into the material used on Dahr for information storage in most Dahren devices and systems. She chose not to share this information with the Encyclopedic Body. She knew her discovery would have meant endless debate and uncertain actions. Bureaucracy, she had discovered in her many Cosmotic Travels, was an endemic illness in many advanced societies. They would merely note a mining vehicle was active in the Ji-29-H asteroid fields.

Seron Ti decided to investigate. She deployed Seronvehicle and reported her actions as a journey to test the new experimental equipment she had installed in Seronvehicle, not an unusual action by the director emeritus of Off World Sciences and a Scientific who had designed much of the equipment used in Dahren vehicles.

The speed of Seronvehicle brought her to the abandoned asteroid mining area in two periods. She explored the area, strewn with the small asteroids transported there for mining purposes and the flotsam and jetsam of abandoned mining equipment. She scanned for movement and the identification signals broadcast by even the autonomous mining excavators. After nearly a period, an indicator at last alerted her of movement behind a large asteroid just out of visual range. Seronvehicle sped to the location and observed an autonomous mining vehicle moving slowly through the asteroid field. The vehicle emitted no identification signal and answered no digital hail. She approached the vehicle and did not recognize it as a configuration familiar to her. She approached within 900 doublepaces when an alarm sounded. The bubble sphere snapped on in time to block the bulk of a debilitating ether blast from a vehicle that should have no such weaponry. The main blast was diverted, but the remaining charge shut down various systems aboard Seronvehicle, including weaponry and the main drive. Seron Ti was relieved to find the bubble sphere remained engaged, but she was rendered motionless with no firepower. She awaited a second blast, but the mining vehicle slowly rotated away and engaged its drive. It was soon beyond her scanners, but its trajectory was toward the area of the Shear. That likely meant a path to Earth. Seron Ti could do nothing but await the recycling of her onboard systems. In the half period the recycling required, she contemplated what this encounter meant and what actions she would take.

Apprehension mingled with a certain felicitous anticipation, Seron Ti secretly prepared for yet another journey to that far-off world of previous studies that had proven a dangerous undertaking at times, while at others a source of accomplishment. And yes, had also led to introspection of a personal nature in the matters of heart and soul.

Allen Nesmith, Editorial Department

Worldwide Newsgroup, Earth

The growing controversy—some might say revolt—regarding the introduction of Dahren technology to Earth has reached even the most far flung areas of our planet. The sudden need for the metals niobium and tantalum used in the construction of various Dahren components allowed by the UN has caused countries like Somalia, where these metals exist in abundance and are mined, to become exceedingly wealthy. The influx of riches has caused widespread slavery for those who toil in the mines, and incredible wealth for those gangs that control the Somalian metals trade.

This is not to say Dahren advancements have not contributed greatly to life on Earth. Most cancers will have cures—or at least arresting treatments—within five years, so researchers in the medical field predict, and preventive medicines and procedures for Parkinson’s, various heart diseases, even arthritis and a plethora of other degenerative diseases have been or are in the process of being developed. Agricultural advances and limited weather control have tripled the output of Earthly grain and vegetable fields. Toned down Dahren weaponry and enhanced bodily protection have greatly enhanced law enforcement. Mortality of both police and perpetrator has been greatly reduced. However, Military advancements of the participating countries can only be a matter of conjecture. Of course, no government will admit to any endeavors with respect to extreme Dahren weaponry.

However, what has become the overwhelming use for AGOT? Gamers! The game console manufacturers were quick to see AGOT potential, and the agreement that no person or corporation could hold patents on Dahren technology left the door wide open for games to be developed using thought transfer to control multiple boards and far-away virtual vistas with nothing more than a disciplined imagination and whim. Profits for those manufacturers are astounding.

Near light speed space travel for Earthly astronauts will be attained soon but the secrets of Shears and Hypershears will remain hidden, as our Dahren visitors believe in allowing those of us of Earth to discover such multi-dimensional space/time portals using our own skills and sciences with only signposts being offered to guide our endeavors.

National cooperation between differing nations is heartening, but concerns have been whispered that one government or another is contemplating which Dahren technology will give them the edge, whatever that edge might be, and tensions in certain military quarters seem to be heightened. It is no secret that the next major skirmish on Earth will be quite different from any in the past.

That’s it, Megan, Nesmith said as he glanced up from his laptop.

Okay, Allen. I would like to see more of an emphasis on what Dahren weaponry could cause between countries if tensions turn to actions. What weaponry would be used? What are the chances of terrorists getting hold of Dahren weaponry? What about space? Could someone quietly throw a satellite up there to burn holes through our brains? began Nagle after hearing the unfinished draft of Nesmith’s editorial to appear in Worldwide Newsgroup print, broadcast and online outlets. Comments?" she at last asked.

Megan Nagle, CEO of Worldwide Newsgroup, presided as the editors of various Worldwide publications and media news services sat in a semi-circle about the large table or appeared on screens projected from far flung offices. From this apex, Nagle piloted the juggernaut that is Worldwide Newsgroup.

Our lack of information on what weaponry might be in development by any given government is a hindrance to even elementary speculation on what direction militarists might be taking, Nesmith said, eliciting no response from her staff. Our investigators have not heard anything? No new aircraft spotted? No armies sporting new hand-held weaponry? No reports of odd procurement of rare materials by governments or weapon producers? Nagle asked, to no one in particular.

Silence.

Nagle looked through the bifocal part of her glasses, preferring the old-fashioned lenses to the latest medical procedures to correct vision impairment. She studied a screen in front of her for a few moments and then looked up at her editors. With her customary calm and usual demeanor, she asked, "What the hell am I paying you folks for? Anything? Nobody has anything?"

There is speculation that the food rations used by Dahren Travelers on their extended journeys will be adapted for use by the Australian Army, began Paul Littlefield of Worldwide Science. Freshness and nutrition can be preserved through any environment for periods of time extending through centuries.

Silence. Littlefield looked down and nervously shuffled the notes in front of him.

Nagle rose and slowly walked to the far end of the room. Her Garavani business attire glove-fit her lissome frame and belied her fifty-plus years. She peered out of the window at the New York skyline as the sun streaked off the top of the Chrysler building.

Ladies and gentlemen, there was a time when our news organization could boast it was first, factual and final in news gathering and reporting, Nagle said, still gazing at the humming city below. She suddenly turned and faced her staff. I ask for hard news on the military utilization of Dahren weaponry and am offered a breaking report from Mr. Littlefield that would best be suited for the epicurean section of a second-rate rag! What in the hell have your investigative teams been doing? Does a reporter exist in your various departments with the personal resources to get one word out of our military? Out of any military?

State says our embassies will soon be powered by a modified Dahren thermal drive that will provide electricity indefinitely, ending the threat of power being disrupted by feed to the embassy from outside sources, said John Crawly of the State Department beat.

Is that verified, Mr. Crawly?

It is, Megan, beamed Crawly. Being an employee of better than fifteen years, Crawly was allowed to use her first name.

You have a secondary source verification? she inquired.

Certainly, the editor replied. He rose and approached Nagle with his report.

Photos?

We can use stock pics of a small Dahren thermal drive.

Excellent, she said. Gather all of that together… and shove it up your ass.

Not fazed by Nagle’s not-unusual demonstrativeness, Crawly threw the report on the table and continued. Look, Megan, we have been trying to crack into Defense and State but this isn’t like the past. We have no friends on the inside anymore. Since the Dahrens arrived two years ago, security has been tighter than an LA facelift. Electronically, it is suspected, but not confirmed, that the DoD is experimenting with AGOT and developing it for field use. State is using electronic communication masking that we have never seen before, and no one shares a spoken word with reporters. All we have is standard press release stuff.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Worldwide will not rely on generic press releases. I want news! And it appears I need to prod you into action. I have it on good authority that the reason you get nothing from the defense contractors is because they are constructing no Dahren defensive or offensive devices." She let that sink in a moment.

I find that hard to believe, Ms. Nagle, Littlefield said.

At least the United States seems to be upholding the UN resolutions to refrain from developing weaponry based on Dahren technology. However, we are not naive enough to believe that experimenting or at the least examinations of Dahren technology outside of what the Dahrens and the UN have allowed us is not taking place on our planet, Nagle said.

She returned to her chair and manipulated controls in the armrest. A projected virtual screen appeared above and behind her. Footage obviously recorded at a great distance from the camera lens flashed onto the screen. Large buildings in a circular formation surrounded a huge windowless building. Small domes glinted in various areas of the grounds. Figures traversed the grounds between the buildings and domes. Masses of solar collectors and a half dozen wind turbines some distance from the actual grounds of the complex stood out. On the central building, the words PolyHedron Corp, and under that 3-D Fabricators shown in ten-foot-tall lettering.

That’s PolyHedron’s factory in the Mojave! Bob Jordan, Business editor, said. We did a story on them maybe a year ago. They’re completely solar, geothermal and suspected Dahren-drive powered, since no power lines run into the complex. Employees and their families live on-site. It’s a city, in reality, with shopping areas, theaters and recreational parks under those smaller domes. They specialize in advanced 3-D printing and construction and have contracts with NASA, various medical concerns; a fair amount of work with automotive and consumer manufacturers—basically anyone who wants highly intricate and large numbers of widgets and gizmos quickly. And no one gets in without multiple clearances provided by rigid company security. No reporter has ever set foot past the front offices in the complex.

Nagle stopped the video and left it frozen on the facility for all to study. They use ABS and PLA plastics? Nagle asked.

Yes, Jordan replied, realizing Nagle had done some homework. And nylon and epoxy resins, he added.

What do you know about fused powders containing metals? she said.

That substance is used by advanced printers more or less experimentally for now. Lasers are used to fuse the mixture, Science editor Littlefield answered.

Could they be using such materials at PolyHedron? she asked.

It’s possible, was the response.

Nagle rose and walked the length of the conference table, turned and slowly walked up the opposite side.

"I have it, again on good authority, that 3-D printing has advanced more rapidly than is generally known. Indeed, designs and programming can be sent over the AGOT system directly from written design or human thought to the machines and solid metallic objects of varying size can then be generated on the printers. Does that surprise any of you?" Nagle said.

Nothing surprises me since the arrival of the Dahren Techs, said Littlefield, his voice quiet and flat.

Further, we have determined that very little plastic is delivered to PolyHedron, little in relationship to the size of the facility, Nagle began as she picked up a sheet of paper from notes in front of her on the table. PolyHedron has placed orders for niobium and tantalum, she said as she glanced over her bifocals toward Nesmith, acknowledging his earlier references to those metals. Also orders for various nanometals, alpha-beta titanium alloys, hexagonal close-packed metals and other materials whose pronunciations I will not attempt. What does that suggest to any of you?

Silence.

Observe the screen, she said as all eyes focused on the screen behind her. She again started the projection.

Watch the area to the rear of the complex, she said.

A few seconds passed, and then a fuzzy object appeared on the screen rising on the horizon in the background. It slowly ascended and made a sudden move to the right—a few inches on the screen, but obviously miles away in reality. The object came to a complete standstill in the sky. The camera operator activated a telephoto lens, but all that appeared was a very grainy outline of a multi-sphered object with no propeller, engine or wing discernable. A slight mist seemed to envelop the object at times of acceleration. The object then darted straight up and out of the camera’s range. As the camera operator tried to find the object in the sky, two jeep-like vehicles appeared below, coming toward the camera at great speed, clouds of dust and sand behind them. The camera focused on the jeeps and the video ended.

Comments? she asked.

Similar to the tri-sphere configuration of a Dahren craft, Aakil Kori, Aviation and Electronics Technology editor, said. But the vid is too indistinct to be sure. Certainly moves like a tri-sphere Dahren machine. What does the person who shot the vid say?

We have had no contact with him since we received the video, she answered after some hesitation. As you know, any and all Dahren craft on Earth are under UN security and can be used only by Dahrens with a flight plan from point A to point B, flown not in excess of Mach 1, and accompanied by military aircraft. No Dahren flight clearances have been issued for the Mojave desert. Also by UN Edict, no private contractor is to build a Dahren craft. This video seems to contradict one or more of these agreed-to decrees.

How did we receive the vid? asked Kori.

We received it through a simple encrypted email sent from a notebook in real time. There is also a gnatcam video that was damaged in transmission. We are trying to repair and enhance that video. The GPS signal ended soon after the video ends.

Not good, said Kori.

No, was all that Nagle said.

Nat-cam? asked Cathy Riley of the Photographic Arts department, newly promoted and eager to contribute.

A newly developed device created with the assistance of Dahren technology, Nagle began. She touched the controls in the armrest and the screen dissolved into a 3-D revolving view of a sleek, gray tubular