CHAPTER 2

Bit by bit, human history continued to be rewritten as Ganymede's sensitive sensor package reached out and embraced Chiron. Koushik's accidental discovery of what was believed to be evidence left behind from an apparent Unity reactor overload was the spark that had set off almost manic activity aboard the ship.

Callum and Koushik, still in their sleeping garments, had been working relentlessly since their joint discovery. Other scientists and researchers quartered nearest to Koushik had been awakened by the noisy chatter during the early morning hours. As word of the Unity discovery rapidly spread throughout the ship it awoke even more.

Ironically, one of the last people to learn of the discovery was Dr. McKibben as no one dared wake her lest they receive a reprimand for not following her mandatory sleep order. When she entered the research bridge after a restful night of sleep she was startled to see the entire three-dozen-strong Ganymede research team working furiously, the rolling noise of voices and exclamations coming from every station. Scientists ran haphazardly from terminal to terminal as they compared data and cross-referenced figures. The energy and intensity was so unusual, Dr. McKibben wondered if Koushik had managed to clone himself thirty-five times overnight and set his creations loose on the bridge.

It didn't take long for Rhona to find out what all the commotion was about and it took less time for the scientist within her to begin feeding off the current that flowed through the bridge. Rhona had half-jokingly told Koushik that they would be making history in a big way. She never expected it to be of this magnitude. In fact, no one did; not even the Space Committee back on Earth.

The next few hours saw one discovery after another. The big question on everyone's mind was answered quickly: Chiron would indeed be capable of supporting human life - after overcoming a few obstacles. Chiron's gravity was heavier than Earth's, not totally unexpected since Chiron was a larger planet. To the scientists relief, they were also able confirm that while Chiron was a bit further from Alpha Centauri A than Earth was from Sol, it was brighter which helped offset the difference. As a result, anyone living on Chiron would receive nearly the same amount and intensity of sunlight as on Earth. Alpha Centauri B was too distant to be much of a factor though it too would give off light and heat. Proxima Centauri was basically a burned out hulk and would not be visible in Chiron's sky.

It was also ascertained that any future colonists would have to endure some tough challenges if they were to begin a new life here. Chiron's day-cycle was only eighteen hours long and it's year was longer than Earth's. The most sobering hurdle to clear, however, involved Chiron's atmosphere which was almost pure nitrogen with the remaining trace gases composed of carbon dioxide and oxygen. No human would be able to breathe Chiron's air for long unless they wore man-made breathing apparatuses. Extended exposure would be fatal.

And Ganymede sensors had only just begun peeling away the secrets of Chiron. When they entered orbit and began sending probes to the surface, even greater dangers to humans could be uncovered, serious enough to consider the mission a technical failure.

Chiron was habitable but it would be a tough life for the average human. The next few days would reveal if it would indeed be worth it.

Onto the bustling research bridge walked Ganymede's military commander, Rafael Ramirez. Tall, somewhat thin but very fit with piercing green eyes and the close cropped hair of a military man he was a rare visitor to research bridge. Usually remaining on the lower deck command bridge to give the scientists as much breathing room as possible to perform their tasks, he now found himself unable to resist observing the research crew as they performed their historic work. The scientists could be a tad touchy when it came to their work (a few simply didn't trust the military) and he did not want be the cause of any uneasiness.

Ramirez stood just inside the bridge entrance for several minutes listening to snippets of conversation which allowed him to create a vague picture of what was happening. He watched Dr. McKibben as she worked the bridge, more alive and vibrant now than last night, shuffling back and forth between the crew, pointing at holo-displays and questioning conclusions. Eventually, she registered Ramirez's presence, stopped in front of him, and saluted..not a requirement as they were of the same rank but not inappropriate either. Ramirez returned the salute.

"Busy day, Doctor?" he smiled.

"Quite," she answered, brushing back a troublesome strand of hair. "My apologies. I hope you weren't standing there too long."

Ramirez waved a hand in dismissal. "I was enjoying the show. By the way, what were you and Hendrix discussing just now? He seemed to be acting as though he had made some sort of breakthrough."

"He was running more detailed tests on Chiron's atmosphere. While long-term exposure to excess nitrogen won't be good for humans, it should be a godsend for Earth plants. With the high levels of nitrogen we suspect would be in the soil, I'd wager that plants could grow twice as large in half the time with some minor genetic tweaking, of course."

Ramirez nodded in mild astonishment. "So, we may have just solved the food problem then?"

"It's too soon to say, but the data supporting that hypothesis is strong. A few more tests and we should be more certain by the end of the day."

"Excellent. Then we may have solved a food supply problem." He gestured toward Koushik and Callum. The two men were working animatedly at Koushik's terminal, both grinning like children on Christmas morning. "How are our two superstars doing?"

"They haven't stopped. I had no idea our medical doctor was such a passionate scientist. Maybe I should have recruited him for my team."

Ramirez chuckled. "Doctor, I know circumstances are quite extraordinary today but I need you to make sure Mr. Cook doesn't burn himself out working with your team. Technically he is a civilian and the regs make it clear he's not allowed access to the research bridge unless it's a critical medical emergency."

"Understood. I'll make sure to send him home."

"Thank you, Doctor." Salutes were exchanged, Rhona began to walk away, then abruptly stopped and turned back toward him.

"I almost forgot to ask if you've sent a report off to Command yet?"

"About three hours ago. I expect to hear back from them in about half an hour. Of course, that depends on how long it will take them to recover from the shock."

Rhona's face turned serious. "What do you think they'll do?"

Worried what the military will do, Rhona? At this point, I can't say I blame you.

Ramirez took a deep breath before answering. "I've heard it said that progress is impossible without change and you can bet a lot of minds back home are definitely being changed right now."

Rhona simply stared at him, eager for an answer...any answer.

"Your guess is as good as mine."

He saluted her and walked out.

Three and a half hours later

The freeze-dried hot coffee that Ramirez had waited so long to open in celebration of this day grew cold as he and the six other military officers waited in his quarters for SciCom's reply transmission to arrive. He paced, lost in thought while the rest relaxed in soft chairs scattered around the room. The air was filled with an excited, nervous tension, each officer pondering what decisions Command would make. Ramirez glanced at the bulkhead chronometer as he passed by it for what seemed like the tenth time.

"They're really late," he muttered.

Ramirez made another trip around the room then sat down in front of his terminal, pushing his cold coffee aside. His fingers absently tapped the arm of his chair as he traded glances at the floor and the chronometer.

"I wonder if they'll let us land some eggheads on Chiron." The southern lilt of chief engineer Jeremy 'Skeets' Maulbeck broke the silence.

Ramirez raised an eyebrow. "How, Jeremy? We don't have anything capable of landing on the planet except the probes. This is a scientific research vessel, remember?"

Jeremy dismissed Ramirez's comment with a wave of a hand. "That's all bunk, Commander. Bean counters help write the specs but engineers don't pay any attention to them data dumps. I could fly one of them life pods through Chiron's atmo and land that sucker anywhere you please. This is big stuff, Commander. I betcha they'll consider any suggestion we give 'em even if it seems crazy."

It was a typical Jeremy response. SciCom agents were interested in keeping their creations viable and in one piece but far too many military engineers wanted to push the limits of the technology to show what could really be done.

"Even if the pods could do what you claim I'm fairly certain they weren't designed to perform that way," Ramirez countered. "If something went wrong that would leave us less one life pod and several valuable crew members; and even if we could get our people to Chiron safely how would we get them back?"

Jeremy shrugged. "Just thinkin' out loud, sir. I could figger out somethin', though."

Ramirez said nothing else, preferring to let the conversation drop.

Emmons, the logistics officer, spoke up. "Command must have a multitude of contingency plans ready to go. They'd be foolish if they didn't. The instant this information gets out the entire planet is going to want to know when colonization permits are going to be passed out, regardless of how breathable Chiron's atmosphere is. If Command comes across as ill-prepared or hesitant…well, that's a lot of face to lose regarding the biggest discovery in human history."

"Damn right," Jeremy responded. This is gonna open up a whole slew of new startup projects and technologies; ship design, colonization techs, applied physics, and what have you. If Command was smart they at least allocated resources before we left just to be sure. I got a couple of buddies working in Command R&D who've gone dark the past couple of months. Not too surprisin' but that's a long stretch for them."

Emmons nodded thoughtfully. "Interesting. They could be focusing on a potential breakthrough."

"Or they may have simply been transferred to a new project," Ramirez interjected. "Command always has a lot of irons in the fire. Either way, I'd be careful. R&D is controlled by some of the highest members of the Science and Military branches which makes them very tight lipped and extremely paranoid. If they get a hint of outsiders taking an interest in their work then those people get transferred out. You get a different job assignment. You and your family get moved far, far away. If you think the scientists we have on this ship are overly protective then you haven't come up against a SciCom R&D operative."

The conversation quieted again. After a time, Ramirez's wandering thoughts began settling on Emmons and of the infidelity which Rhona had informed him of last night. He wondered who the other crew member was...

...and quickly shook it out of his thoughts chiding himself for traveling down that path. That was for another time. Today was about something much bigger and vastly more important. This was the mission they had been sent to do and he should be focusing on that instead of ship scuttlebutt. Emmons was a good, thorough officer. His military career spanned over a decade and his rise in rank was methodical and purposeful. He was a tad aloof and his voice never seemed to waver from its moderately quiet tones which made some wonder if he ever got angry about anything. Ramirez thought him a wise choice for logistics officer but efforts to crack Emmons' seemingly impenetrable personal bubble had been elusive even after serving together for two years.

Ramirez's terminal began to chime. They had finally received Command's response to his initial report. Faces became stoic and the atmosphere in room became one of cool professionalism.

Ramirez touched his desk keypad and the terminal expanded his holodisplay to five times its normal size. The display shimmered and a virtual visage of Wesley Garland, Chief of the Space Committee and Supreme Mission Commander, appeared floating above the assembly. Though his face seemed to be a perfect mask of professional indifference, all could see the smile behind his small, squinted eyes.

"Commander Garland, Ganymede project Commander, replying transmission 2219.3.27 from Commander Ramirez." Garland looked down as if addressing the officers themselves, though everyone knew the transmission had been recorded hours ago. Still, everyone thought it a nice personal touch.

"Gentlemen, I must begin by expressing my sincere and humble congratulations on your historic discovery. Words alone are impossible for me to convey Command's sheer delight concerning your initial report and our infinite gratitude regarding the personal sacrifices all of you have made in order to make this incredible journey possible. The crew of Ganymede will forever be remembered as the very first to discard centuries of speculation and prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that there is indeed a future for mankind in the cosmos. Again, the entire Ganymede crew has my most heartfelt gratitude and congratulations."

The officers had indeed sacrificed a great deal to undertake this mission, one that their anxious families regarded as unnecessarily risky. Now they would all be remembered as heroes not just by their families and peers but by the entire world.

"Now, gentlemen, let us get to the business at hand. As all of you undoubtedly noticed my reply transmission was late in arriving. That was due to crucial decisions that needed to be made quickly on our end regarding how to best proceed."

Emmons nodded. He had guessed right.

"Of course you will all receive transcripts of everything Command is planning to do and I welcome any suggestions or modifications to said plans as you deem necessary. However, please understand these recommendations will be subject to alteration, often drastically so, as Ganymede continues to send us reports."

Everyone nodded in understanding.

"It is very important that we try to make the best decisions possible now. That means many decisions will not be popular ones, but it is vital to our long term success that we build the proper foundation towards future endeavors. Again, I emphasize that certain ideas and methods will be rejected and that egos will be bruised, but we must always be conscious of our larger, ultimate goal: to ensure the future of mankind on this new world and possibly, with a lot of hard work and a bit of luck, other worlds as well."

The officers traded glances. Commander Garland made them realize for the first time Chiron could be a stepping stone to further human expansion; that Chiron was a beginning instead of an ending.

Garland glanced away as if accessing information. He "looked" at everyone again before continuing.

"Gentlemen, I have just been given permission to relay to all of you recently declassified information regarding the space program. SciCom scientists have not been idle since Ganymede left nearly two years ago."

"About two months before your departure, our researchers were making positive strides in spacecraft propulsion technologies, ship drives even faster than the F.T.L.'s Ganymede currently operates with. New breakthroughs in spacecraft construction were already underway before your launch, as you well know, and I believe you will be pleased at the end result. But it's this new propulsion system that has really made us proud. It's no surprise that we're calling it 'hyperdrive'".

More glances and raised eyebrows passed between the officers.

"Hyperdrive tech is much faster, efficient, and stable than F.T.L.," he continued. "All information will be made available to you after our meeting, but what I can tell you is that hyperdrive is over eight times faster than our current propulsion systems. That means your twenty month trip from Earth to Chiron can now be done in slightly over two months. Commander Ramirez, I'm sorry to inform you that Ganymede has been made obsolete."

Garland's comment was meant as a bit of humorous ribbing. Jeremy, the closest to Ramirez, watched a multitude of emotions flash across his commander's face and one of them was definitely not humor.

"The good news is you will all be returning home much sooner than we had anticipated. Your expected four year round trip has been trimmed back dramatically thanks to hyperdrive. Our spacecraft designers and engineers continue to work diligently and construction of new spacecraft prototypes has already begun. In fact, our flagship hyperdrive design is nearly ready and we plan to test it by coming to Chiron and bringing you home with her. There is no reason why you shouldn't all be home in six months - barring any unforeseen mishaps, of course. Until then, you are under orders to continue your exploration of the planet until further notice."

There were murmurs of approval all around the room and even Ramirez could not help but smile.

"So, gentlemen, that's everything I have for you. Again, all information has already been uploaded and should arrive soon after the completion of my transmission. On behalf of the entire Space Committee, I thank you all for your efforts. End trans."

Garland's image quickly faded away and the holodisplay shrunk down to its original size.

Jeremy clapped his hands together loudly and rubbed them with delight. "I knew it! They're comin' to pick us up! I can't wait to see what this new ship's got in her guts!"

Ramirez looked at his chief engineer. "So this hyperdrive was the big secret, eh?"

Jeremy shrugged. "I guess so, sir."

"You guess?"

"Sir, I admit knowin' that Command was working on something," Jeremy answered sincerely, "but I swear to both you and the good Lord I had no idea what that 'something' was though I kinda had an idea."

Jeremy rubbed his face with a hand and let out a long breath. "I tell you what, though. I didn't expect anythin' like this. This hyperdrive sure changes things."

"A lot of change in a very short amount of time." Ramirez leaned back and rubbed the base of his neck, massaging a creeping tension. "I wonder if we'll even recognize home when we get back."

He tried to find some comfort in what he had told Dr. McKibben.

Progress is impossible without change.

Ship log entry
Rafael Ramirez
Commander
Research vessel
Ganymede
Day 544

We've been in Chiron high orbit for nearly twenty hours. Cartography and Signals have just completed mapping the planet. Three of twenty Ganymede probes have been dropped to the surface. Initial probe data should be arriving shortly.

Both science team and command staff are extremely hopeful that our probes will bring back workable data regarding what appear to be a number of abandoned settlements of various sizes and construction scattered over the surface. Computerized image enhancements of these structures leave little doubt that there were indeed Unity survivors who successfully landed on Chiron. What has happened to them since is unknown.

What is clear is that despite what Commander Garland stated in his transmission, it appears that Ganymede will not be the first to prove that humans can make a life for themselves on another planet. The Unity has beaten us to it.

Ramirez ended his log entry and quickly walked to the command bridge eager for an update.

"Sitrep?"

"We should be receiving probe-trans in less than five, Commander," answered Emmons. "Probe Four launched at 1426. Probe Five go for launch at 1435. Probes Six through Twenty all show green."

Technical Officer Myers, reported "Solar wavelengths nominal. Centauri's A and B show no signs of intense solar flaring. Probe data should come through free and clear."

"Good." Ramirez walked over to his terminal and activated the comm. "Dr. McKibben. We'll be receiving our first probe transmissions in less than five minutes. We'll need you at your command station within three. Acknowledge."

A brief pause, then McKibben responded. "Very good. I'll be there."

A few moments later the science officer's command bridge station came alive. The terminal and several holodisplays blinked on as Rhona began the computer transfer from the research bridge.

"All right," Ramirez said to no one in particular. "Let's do what we came here to do,"

/o\

"My God."

Rhona attempted to make sense of the flood of images and raw information that seemed to scroll endlessly on her screens. Her breathing was slight, her eyes flittering from one display to another.

Except for the occasional whispered comment, the Ganymede crew was unusually quiet as details of Unity's human settlements on Chiron made its way through terminal after terminal. Ganymede's central mainframe computer, nicknamed "Gort" by the crew, efficiently auto-archived the information.

Probe One, controlled remotely by one of the researchers, floated five feet off the surface of Chiron near the outskirts of a large settlement, its powerful gravity neutralizing emitters holding it in position. The probes high resolution imaging system was focused on a sprawl of low to medium height buildings of many shapes and sizes about three hundred yards away.

Despite being stained with the red dirt of Chiron and completely devoid of life, the small settlement seemed to have been functional and even comfortable at one time. Near the settlement center was a sleek, thirty meter glass topped tower. Few of the glass panes remained intact.

The probe moved through the outskirts and toward a long line of rubble that seemed to mark boundaries of the settlement. Rhona suddenly slapped the comm button on her terminal.

"Probe One, hold! Give me a slow rotation to port."

Ramirez walked over to Rhona's station. She pointed at the ground on the virtual display as he approached.

"There was a huge wall here at one time. It looks like it may have collapsed on itself," she said in a tone not entirely convinced.

The probe continued its slow turn.

"Hold. Okay, move forward, toward the tower."

As the probe began moving again, more details of the settlement came into view. Many above ground tunnels, some torn open and exposed, radiated outward from the tower like spokes on a wheel. Large circular tent-like structures dotted the landscape around the tower, the durable material torn open exposing the metal bracing.

She touched the display screen at different points. "Look at the ground, at those craters. Erosion forces at work?"

Ramirez moved his head a bit closer to the display. "I don't believe so. They look more like impact craters to me."

Rhona looked at him. "From space? There is a small asteroid cluster about thirty light minutes away from Chiron."

"No, I don't think so. These impacts are in close groups. Meteor strikes would be much bigger and messier." He straightened feeling a slight chill. "In my opinion, they look like mortar or artillery impacts."

Rhona saw little reason to doubt Ramirez's disturbing assumption. She stared at the tattered buildings, the rubble and the pock marked ground, her face a mask. "That may explain the uniformity of the collapsed wall. It may have been systematically demolished."

Images of the settlement continued to float across the screens. As the probe got closer to the tower, blast marks and chipped stone could be seen along its length rising nearly to its apex.

"Hold," Rhona said quickly. "There's something above the tower entrance. Let's see it."

The probe maneuvered and boosted itself to reveal an emblem carved into the stone above the opening that led into the tower.

"Well, I'll be," Rhona murmured.

"That looks like the old United Nations insignia," Ramirez said.

Rhona nodded. "It appears so, though it's obviously been modified somewhat."

The emblem was similar to the one used in the mid-twenty first century, composed of a flattened projection of Earth enclosed by two olive branches; but this emblem had done away with the Earth continents. In their place were two starbursts, one larger than the other, with a smaller one on the opposite side. The three stars were set in a roughly triangular pattern.

Rhona reached out and "touched" the virtual image as if she could run her fingers over the low relief carving and feel the stone itself.

"Those larger star bursts must represent Centauri's A and B and the smaller one must be Chrion."

"A new United Nations for a new Earth," Ramirez said. "Whoever was in charge of building this place was quite the idealist. From the looks of this settlement, though, idealism only got them so far."

Rhona looked up from her display and Ramirez could see the gears turning in her mind.

"Realism always trumps idealism," Ramirez concluded. "I wonder what those people would think if they knew the old United Nations has been dissolved?"

Rhona paused, then touched a control enabling a sound dampening field around their immediate area so they could continue to converse without the rest of the bridge crew listening in. The field allowed sound in but not out. Ramirez wasn't surprised. He already knew where this was going.

"The goals of the United Nations were quite noble," Rhona began. "It was created in the belief...the hope...that humanity could set aside differences and work together for the common good. And idealists are always needed. Their passion is what pushes inevitable and necessary change."

"I'm aware of what the United Nations stated charter was," Ramirez replied. "but I've read the history. The UN died because idealism and common sense was sacrificed to the altar of politics. What else could be said about an organization created to protect human rights allowing autocracies and repressive governments s a voice shaping those rights? You have to find the irony amusing on a certain level."

Rhona frowned at his cynicism. "The UN was not a perfect organization. Of course reforms had to be made over the years in the quest for global representation, but it was a compassionate attempt to give voice to millions who would otherwise not have had one. It worked hard to protect peace and to ensure all nations worked together to solve problems which unfortunately still exist today."

"Intentions aren't results," Ramirez snickered. "You can't improve the security of the hen house by changing one set of foxes to another, reformed set of foxes. And these UN 'rights'...rights are not granted by men or organizations like the UN whose rights, if I understand it, were limited by law. Rights are not privileges that are handed out when convenient and then taken away when not." He shook his head at the absurdity of it all. "Back then, I would've been interested to see how far my rights would have gone had I criticized the United Nations. Not very far, I'm sure."

Rhona's expression cooled. "Your right about it being your interpretation. Remember the Seven Minute War between Pakistan and India? The UN acted decisively in the aftermath and probably saved millions of lives. At that moment your repressively influenced organization united under a common cause despite their past failings. It is possible, Rafe."

Ramirez pursed his lips. "That's true. Extreme crisis can bring out the best in people. But it's not in our nature, Doctor. If it were, why the need for something like a United Nations in the first place?"

Rhona opened her mouth to respond but a report from Myers interrupted their conversation.

"Probe Two has just gone online, sir. All systems green."

Rhona touched a control and images of the somber but proud remnants of the United Nations settlement disappeared.

Images from Probe Two, about two hundred kilometers to the southwest of Probe One, revealed a settlement more rugged and practical compared to its UN counterpart. The structures were smaller, functional with sharper edges. A huge banner, tattered but mostly intact, fell from the top of the tallest building in the settlement center. A hexagon emblem with a downward graphic arrow piercing the inside was embroidered on it.

"Impressive regalia," Ramirez said with a hint of admiration. "I would deduce from the structures and that banner that these were a very proud and hardy people. Wouldn't you say, Doctor?"

Rhona glanced up at Ramirez, who had a measured look about him. She was uncertain whether he was genuinely moved or if he was toying with her.

"I'm no archeologist, but the settlement does have a certain air of...intimidation about it. The large banner gives it quite a martial flair." She grinned. "It was probably settled by a bunch of militant realists, wouldn't you say?"

"Possibly," Ramirez smirked, then bent closer to her and said, "As you know, doctor, militaries fight wars so there can be peace."

Rhona shot Ramirez an indignant glare. Ramirez merely stared back at her, then winked. She gave Ramirez a sidelong stare as she turned back toward her terminal.

"You're going to pay dearly for that remark," Rhona grumbled.

"I'm sorry, you said something?"

Rhona raised her voice and said, "I said we'll discuss it later, Commander."

Rhona and Ramirez had had many friendly but heated debates during their voyage to Chiron about the dichotomic tendencies of man; that man was an aggressive creature, always leaning toward conflict with himself and nature; or that man was a benevolent creature, capable of doing incredibly good things if unhindered by external negative impulses.

Oh, yes. He's going to pay for that one later.

The last of the Ganymede probes reached Chiron's surface two and a half hours later. The crew continued to get an eyeful. Gort, the central mainframe, had stalled more than once as it struggled to quickly archive torrents of probe data.

As the hours had gone by other bases and outposts were revealed in greater detail. Human settlements were scattered all over Chiron's three main continents. The heaviest concentrations were located in the large central continent. These central continent settlements were almost fully developed and quite modern.

Ganymede scientists had uncovered six unique construction characteristics of Chiron's dormant settlements and labeled then accordingly.

The "UN style" settlements in the middle of the center continent and the "bunker style" southwest of them were among the first to be so designated.

A group of settlements to the northwest were constructed in the "natural style" since those settlements utilized the environment of Chiron itself, set into towering natural rock formations and hills.

To the northeast were chic, lavish settlements that seemed to sparkle in the sunlight. These were dubbed "Morgan style" because nearly all of the buildings sported a triangular logo with the name "Morgan" underneath.

Set into the mountains of the southeast were the settlements of the "Galileo style", so named because the most prominent buildings were towering cylinders topped with golden domes and large telescopic observatories.

The eastern continent also contained many settlements but these were uniformly underdeveloped and primitive. The continent itself was mostly barren and desert-like which, scientists guessed, may have helped attribute to their anemic state. The largest settlement, however, contained a single magnificent structure of tall spires, stained glass, and flying buttresses. Thin, wooden doors, fifty feet in height, pointed the way into the sanctuary. Inlaid above the main entrance was a massive, circular emblem containing a cross. The glittering, imposing structure seemed to rise from the midst of the dusty, ramshackle buildings that surrounded it, painting both an ethereal and paradoxical picture. Deducing the area to be some sort of religious center or culture, the scientists half-jokingly classified the structures under the "pilgrim style".

The western continent was mostly empty. The great swath of unused land puzzled the scientists, but the mystery had been solved by the hard working Dr. Mitra who was temporarily in charge of the research bridge. On a hunch, he ordered two of the probes operating on the western continent to switch from visual mode to ground penetrating sonar. Immediately, computerized images revealed a spider web of underground tunnels of all shapes and sizes scattered over several hundred kilometers. The five underground settlements were all connected by long singular tunnels so as to allow movement back and forth between them. It was an awesome display of subterranean engineering. The scientists simply referred to them as "the tunnels".

Seven distinct structure characteristics, which strongly implied seven distinct human cultures, had been created on this new world. Most of scientists were too busy gorging themselves on Gort's seemingly endless streams of probe data to properly digest the significance.

But Ramirez, Rhona and most of the military officers were beginning to piece together a troubling picture. Earth humans had built these structures; they had lived and thrived in them for a time; there was strong evidence that violent conflicts had taken place; and now the entire planet seemed completely devoid of human life.

They wondered whether the conflicts of generations past had been brought with Unity and deposited on this new world.