Time seemed to accelerate as the date got closer. Everything was going well and that of course made both Max and Liz worry: they were waiting for the other shoe to drop. At the 6 month point, a problem came up: the other two planets in the Pegasus System informed Max that they were not able to produce enough food for their people. This had always been a problem on those two worlds, and they had had a low population as a result—until space flight became inexpensive. Then Granular and Antar started to export their food surplus. Even during the Civil war, Granular was able to take up the slack and maintain the shipments. Ever since the announcement about the Rogue Dwarf Star crash, programs had been started on both planets to increase their food production. Unfortunately, those programs had had only marginal success. Liz then looked at the scouting ships report and pointed out that one of the planets had an atmosphere close to the last two planets did—with a high methane content. Max then pulled one of the scout ships (they had all been back for R&R on Antar) from their looking for a planet to move to, and sent it to that planet to check it out thoroughly. Within a week, it reported that the planet appeared very fertile and should be able to yield a good crop. Max then agreed to assign 4 ships to transport people and equipment and anything else needed to start growing crops. He also agreed to see to it that the planets would receive enough food by buying it from earth to start with, and since it had been already shown that the settlements would all be net food exporters, it would be no problem to grow enough once all the settlements were up and running.
But outside of that, there were no other serious problems. Minor problems had cropped up as regards some of the settlements and the nations they were in. Cultural and religious differences did cause some disputes, but they were settled amicably. The fact that the settlements were already proving to be huge economic advantages ensured that most of the protests and problems were quickly handled.
More pleasant surprises came in the form of Rachel McLeod getting pregnant and having a son. Connor was truly over the moon, and Duncan flat out said he had never seen that much emotion ever from his kinsman. In honor of the mentor who had shaped him, the boy was named Juan. Connor hoped that Ramirez somehow knew. Liz was absolutely gooey over the baby, and Max realized that Liz really wanted more children. He would be happy with more as well but knew they had to wait until after the migration and things had settled down. Working together, the Granolith and Alex had finally come up with a way to block all the energy identified as having the most to do with the Quickening; by using a transmitter to basically white noise that energy, it was calculated that it would take 14-18 months for an immortal to lose his/her quickening. This was longer then on Antar as the Granolith had finally agreed with Liz that there was energy going to the quickening that it had not yet been able to detect and analyze. Its calculation showed that approximately 75% of the energy could be blocked—and that that would ensure the loss of the quickening as on Antar, only slower.
Days started to pass with lightning speed as the time of the last transportation got nearer and nearer. Reports from the new planet being used as a food farm were good—it now looked as if it would supply all that was needed and more. Max announced that 20 of the ships would be left to ensure a good food supply for the remaining planets. That was probably double what was needed, but Max felt that having a good supply of extras was something that was needed when you were talking about something that important.
At the 3 month mark, 60 million more were transported. It had been decided that with the extra ships available there would be two last big migrations. The last of the people would go at the 45 day mark. Max was pleased to notice that there was significantly less media coverage of the second to last movement. That showed that there was less interest and that more people just accepted it and went on with their lives. Most of the settlements were done; only the last 50 or so needed to be finished. It was expected that when the last came from Antar and Granular, their settlements would be done and waiting for them. Max and Liz and the rest of the Royals plus the senior government officials of both planets would leave at the 15 day mark via the Granolith. Once they were transported, then the Granolith would come itself. The Settlement outside of Roswell was done and mostly populated. The new Palace was centered around where the Pods had been, and the resting place for the Granolith was exactly as it was when it left. The full effect of the settlements were just beginning to be felt; the free energy and advanced agricultural and medical technology had already made their mark.
And then it was the day that all but a few were to leave. Max and Liz and Lord Lanar stood watching from their respective palaces as the ships left. Now only those refusing to leave and the royals and the senior government officials were left on both planets. Liz felt weird walking around outside of the palace looking at the deserted city. She and Max made one last effort to convince those staying to leave, but none would. They spent the next 30 days packing and walking around Antar one last time. Both felt sad at what was about to be lost but felt lucky that while they had been comfortable here; it was not like it was really home.
Then the day came for everyone else to leave. Lord Lanar and his remaining people came to Antar on his private ship—it would be loaded aboard one of the transport ships and taken to earth as well. Liz looked up at the sky—you could just barely see the Rogue Dwarf—it was much more visible at night. She and Max had spent their last night sitting up and looking at the stars and especially the Rogue. It was beautiful to see—such a shame it was to cause so much trouble. The group, consisting of the Royals and their children, the Prime Minister and his cabinet, Lord Lanar and his senior officials, stood beside the Granolith. One last look around, and Max quietly said, "Granolith, transport us to earth." "As you wish, Your Majesty," the Granolith replied, and they were gone.
They materialized outside of the Crashdown—Liz wanted it this way since this was where it all started. The PM and his cabinet were taken by Limousine to the settlement. Lord Lanar and his people took Limousines to the Airport where the spare Air Force One was waiting to take them to Canada. Max and the rest went into the Crashdown to meet their families. It and the Station were closed that day. A few hours later, Limousines arrived to take them to the settlement and the new Royal Palace. The route was cordoned off by the State Police and National Guard troops. The last quarter mile to the settlement was secured by an honor guard from over 150 nations. Max and Liz were very pleased by this last evidence of how they all had been accepted. Max ordered the Limousine to stop while he and Liz got out and walked the last quarter mile acknowledging the Honor Guards individually. The rest of the convoy went into the settlement. This took almost an hour. They looked very well since Isabel had been the one to buy off on their outfits. Max in his Royal Robes and Liz in her best Ball Gown. He would bow to each honor guard while Liz curtsied, then raised her sword and saluted the Honor Guard. Max had quietly, and to Liz's great embarrassment, made it a Royal Decree that no one could wear a sword at an official ceremony except those that had proven themselves in battle with one. While Technically Max and Michael could also wear swords, both had made it clear that Liz was the only one that truly deserved the honor. It was not easy for Liz to curtsy and then salute with her sword, but she had steadily practiced for weeks.
There was a grand Ball in the New Royal Palace that night. Dignitaries and celebrities and over 50 heads of state attended. Liz danced with over 30 men and was pretty worn out. Max claimed so was he since he had to dodge all the women wanting to touch a real alien king. They had agreed that this first ball would be open to the general public. Within reason of course. Over 1000 attended. Luckily, the Ball Room was huge. Max had started it off with a short speech on how they were grateful for their new TEMPORARY home and that no one knew how long it would take to find a new world to move to.
After that, what came was, as Maria called it, the "Death Watch". The Granolith would stay until the last day and then leave so that the world could get a good look. Once it left, they would have to wait for the last ships to arrive that would be leaving at the same time to see any more since there was nothing else that could transmit over that distance at such speed. A few satellites would be there to record the last minutes of the two planets, and they would transmit it to the ships just before they engaged the hyper drive.
Most of the world was watching the last day as the Rogue got closer and closer. Antar would be first, then one day later Granular. As the Granolith lef,t the first effects of the Rogue were beginning to be felt as winds and tides began to go crazy and the planet began to heat up. Its last picture showed the fault lines of the planet begin to come apart as volcanoes and other natural forces began to react. The arrival of the Granolith was something of an anticlimax as it just appeared where it had been for 50 years before. Maria was of the opinion it was probably a good thing that the recent refugees could not see their planets destroyed right now—in 8 months when the last of the ships arrived, they would have settled down, and it would not be such a shock—and those on the ships would be in their settlements when they were woken up, and it would not be so bad since they would be busy settling in themselves.
Liz looked around at their rooms in the New Palace. Even though she had seen the designs and pictures of how it looked, it still took some getting used to. Isabel had shamelessly campaigned to be the interior decorator of the New Palace, and it showed. Definitely flashy and opulent, but Liz could not deny that Isabel had good taste. She wondered how long they would be there, how long would it take to find a new planet. She hoped it would be a few years—she wanted some less stressful times for a while.
The next few weeks were a little hectic as everyone settled in. There was still the last big wave to come, and right after that, the last few ships that left right at the end. Max was determined to have all the settlements done before the last refugees came. So far, there had not been any big problems—just the expected troubles of different cultures living side by side. And so far, the benefits had far outweighed the problems. The huge savings in energy and health care and increasing food production was having a major effect on the poorest countries. Many were climbing out of the abject poverty that, up until a year or so ago, had appeared to be permanent. Even the better developed countries were seeing great advantages. Siberia was beginning to boom for the first time in its history; the Outback was blossoming; and the Canadian Shield was showing real life.
But the most noticeable changes were happening out in space. The first stations on Mars had been finished, and the first ones in the asteroid belt had been started. The processing plants were almost done, and the first asteroids were already on their way. The ones that could be transported whole had been chosen first—this supply would last for a couple of years before the need to start breaking them up came around. The ships that had been used for transportation were now being stationed around Mars, waiting to start taking loads of high quality ore to Earth. There was talk of establishing iron smelters and other plants of that type on the Moon; though there were questions about how much an effect the much lighter gravity of the Moon would have on the processing and pouring of raw materials into useable items; all the ore from the asteroid belt in Pegasus had been taken to the planets or processed in orbital stations that had full gravity. Experiments were being made to see if that would be a problem; if it could be beaten, then the gradual removal of all such plants to the moon was in the foreseeable future. If the highly polluting plants of that type could be removed from Earth, it would be a good deal for all.
The impact of all the new technology now available was having a huge impact on the world, if only gradually becoming apparent. The solar power plants and the fusion reactors were revolutionizing those areas; the rapid replacement of coal and gas power plants would soon have a large impact on pollution, especially in the developing countries. Once those plants came on line, electricity became much cheaper and more reliable. Less noticeable but equally important was the replacement of transformers and power substations with cheaper and smaller versions that had no nasty hazardous components. It would take a couple of years, but new transmitters that would send the power to distribution centers without the need for wire would also make for big changes. A huge amount would be saved by not having to replace and repair lines and towers.
The advances in medical technology was also just starting to be felt. Scanners that put x-ray machines and even MRI's to shame were beginning to spread around the planet. There would no longer be the need for expensive blood and tissue tests and biopsy's and the like; and the genetic repair of faulty DNA would stop many diseases such as MS and Cancer; and genetic faults that led to other diseases such as heart disease and diabetes and the like would be stopped before the children were even born. And for those who already had the diseases, there were many that could be cured by advanced gene therapy and operating techniques that were as advanced as modern Earth medicine was over the Middle Ages.
Most immediately apparent was the agricultural advances. Soil like in the Outback that had never been productive at all were now showing respectable yields. And marginal soil elsewhere were producing the same yields that top farmland had shown before. And the top rated soils were coming up with crops that were almost unbelievable: yields of 300 bushels an acre in Corn and Wheat and soybeans and others. Max had promised that excess crops that found no buyers nearby would be transported free of charge to places in the world that still needed it. Anti gravity equipped shuttles the size of a dozen river barges could move food from one side of the world to another in less than 2 hours. These ships, powered by fusion reactors, cost literally pennies to operate.
The impact of technology would soon permeate everyday life. Already more shuttles were being built to go along with the 150 that had come from Antar. Larger ones were being designed that would take the place of super tankers and container ships. Though the supertankers would only be needed for a few more years as the need for oil shrank drastically. Goods and materials could then be transported worldwide in hours instead of days and weeks.
Some leaders and others were worried about the turmoil, both economic and social that all these advances coming so close together would have. Others felt that society would adjust just as it had to all the previous advances. The skeptics pointed out that never had so many hit together like these would. But all agreed that nothing was going to stop it—just how to cope with it.
Max and Liz stood looking out their bedroom window at the mountains up close that they had seen all their lives. The Palace, unlike the rest of the buildings, was only 5 stories tall and right at the apex of the settlement, so there was nothing blocking the view of the surrounding country side. One other advance was that of building technology and design; while Antar was (or had been) fairly benign as regards violent storms and earthquakes and the like, Granular had been just about as active as Earth was. So buildings that were earthquake and tornado and the like proof had been built for many years. Though few had been built as tall as the settlement buildings, and none were as tall as some of Earth's skyscrapers. But the basic designs were there for modification. That would soon change more of Earth's day to day living.
Liz rested her head on Max's shoulder. "Well, one cannot say the last six years were exactly boring, can you?"
Max smiled. It had not been often that they had time to just sit back and enjoy life. "No, but right now, I could take boring for say, 6 months or so."
Liz wrinkled her nose. "Well maybe 3 months. More than that, and I would either go up the wall or take my sword and go headhunter hunting."
"OK, three months it is."