Savage Worlds

Savage Worlds

Book 1 of the Saternis Chronicles

by Victor Travison

Smashwords edition copyright 2011

by Victor Travison

All rights reserved

License Notes:

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Please visit my website at http://victortravison.webs.com

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and events are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, locales or events is entirely coincidental.

Introduction

My science fiction stories are unique. While I, like other authors, do my best to ensure they contain no contradictions to known science, I go one step further. I also recognize God created the knowledge we hold dear, so we can better understand His world. Consequently, I do not relegate God to mere myth or mention as others do, but I write to let my Creator have a voice.

In Savage Worlds, I make Him an active Player instead of a benchwarmer. He is in charge of the words I write, rather than me tacking His name onto any old story. My respect for my Creator prevents me from accepting evolution as scientific fact, for no one has ever yet observed, measured, or proven this theory. Why should I embrace such a thing? This means I construct my stories using a different set of rules, rules foreign to most standard sci-fi offerings because they are founded on biblical principles.

For instance, I see aliens from other planets in the same light as aliens from other countries. Savage Worlds presents the underlying assumption that fictitious aliens are very much like ourselves—the same hopes, desires, dreams, and even general physical appearance. Not only would people from Zorane or Sutar be alien to Earth, if we Earthians visited their planets, we would be the aliens.

If on the chance aliens do exist, it’s safe to assume they, too, have been created in God’s image. They would also be marred with the same fallen nature, and in need of a Savior, a Bible, and a way to redemption. At the risk of seeming sacrilegious, I have included these elements in this book. I do not view it as presenting another christ or new gospel, but by bringing my fiction full circle, I’m making our faith ring true throughout the vast universe.

In addition, a study of prophetic writings—including Isaiah 11, Zechariah 14, and Revelation 20—is the basis for my protagonists hailing from the prophesied Millennial Kingdom. This would be a completely separate timeline from the temporal millennium which began about a decade ago.

Our story begins with the maiden voyage of the houseship Saternis, bringing the crew to planet Sutar, a world wracked by racial division and strife. Its theme is universal racial equality between planetary and interplanetary peoples. I base this on the simple fact God created all races and peoples in His image, regardless of where we live, our skin color, or the spiritual condition of our heart. He loves all of us equally and plays no favorites. The same Christ who died for one, died for all—if they will approach Him for the salvation of their souls.

This being the crew’s maiden voyage, you have to expect a learning curve at first, but planned future stories will show them more professional. Also, the alien names are very loosely based on Arabic, so they’re not as hard as they may appear. Just remember, the lone Q is always pronounced as K, and most plurals end with double A.

Here is an excerpt to give you an idea of what lies ahead, a glimpse into the need for healing on this fictitious world. Iban Izeni and his young son Baqi are the first Sutarians we meet.

[Iban said,] But I’ve heard the stories. Don’t you aliens come to lead us so we don’t destroy our planet? All I want you to do is enforce the ban against the Kyanians. Make the rebels stay where they belong.

Confused, Rachel looked down at Baqi, and at her sisters and brother-in-law.

Jael softly said, What’s he talking about?

Fondlo waved his palms to calm the farmer down. Sir … with all due respect, sir, think through what goes into an expedition like this. The technology, the hardware, the fuel, the training. Why would any race expend so much time and effort just to tell another race how to run their planet? Aren’t there local people to guide you?

Iban dropped to his knees. Please, you must help us. This conflict has split Sutar in half. If you have peace on your own planet, grant us a measure of it. Show us what we must do. Help us win this war!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1: To Explore Space

Chapter 2: Maiden Voyage

Chapter 3: Welcome to Sutar

Chapter 4: Field Trip

Chapter 5: Quibbling Sisters

Chapter 6: The Natives are Restless

Chapter 7: Governor Omaad’s Story

Chapter 8: Oliver’s Legacy

Chapter 9: The Truth Hurts

Chapter 10: Rachel in Love

Chapter 11: The Captain’s Quest

Chapter 12: The Sordid Life of Arbaqa

Chapter 13: A Friendly Fight?

Chapter 14: Hazmun’s Nightmare

Chapter 15: April Goes to College

Chapter 16: The Quiet Rebel

Chapter 17: Snipers

Chapter 18: Battle in the Sky

Chapter 19: Mountain Passage

Chapter 20: Look Who’s Coming to Supper

Chapter 21: Trizta in Orbit

Chapter 22: Set the Prisoners Free

Chapter 23: Shuttlepod Vacation

Chapter 24: When Two Equals One

Chapter 25: Unlikely Friends

Chapter 26: Deep Frieses

Chapter 27: Friend or Foe?

Chapter 28: Open to Debate

Chapter 29: A Tragic End

Chapter 30: The Clannet Grows

Chapter 1

To Explore Space

I can’t believe it! I just can’t believe it!

My goodness, said Paul’s wife Mariat beside him. Is all of that for us?

Paul Riegel gazed out the limousine windows at the massive parking lot and the usual array of cars, trucks, and vans. Nearest the terminal stood a flock of SUVs with antennas and dishes sprouting from the roofs, and an alphabet soup of large numerals and letters painted on each side. Just inside the plate glass terminal doors and windows, a massive crowd milled about in tight spaces.

I hate large crowds, said another daughter, Jael. Glancing back, he saw her leaning on her husband’s chest, while Oliver stroked her tan kinky hair. At the same time, he watched the terminal come closer, and couldn’t help but smile.

Rachel sounded more ecstatic. I can’t believe it! I just can’t believe it!

You’d think we were here to do a rock concert or something, said his eldest son Doniel, grimly.

It’s much bigger than that, you know, said Paul. Aren’t you excited?

Of course … but I’m also a little nervous.

Me, too, said April quietly behind him.

You’ve all had two years of correspondence courses and training in what outer space is like. I’m sure you’ll do just fine.

As the limo pulled in front of the terminal doors, people inside jumped up and down more frenetically. Even from inside the car, Paul could hear their muffled screams. Immediately in front of the doors, the backs of law enforcers in deep blue spread their arms to keep people from rushing outside.

Maintaining order was practically the only job law enforcers were called on to do these days. Before this era of total peace and righteousness began, guards and policemen would literally put their lives on the line to protect the citizenry. But today, in a worldwide society lacking crime and major traffic violations, their job was much easier.

The chauffeur parked along the red-painted curb, where a scarlet carpet stretched from the curb and into the building. He climbed out and virtually stood at attention as he opened the door, allowing Paul Riegel to get out first. His family followed. Mariat hung on his elbow like a debutante, Doniel trailed them, and his other four children and his son-in-law brought up the rear. People screamed and pointed. Many of them snapped cameras through the panes. Jael clung to her husband’s arm.

Approaching the doors, Paul saw guards ushering the crowd behind a double row of cordons, and the carpet continued between the barriers. No sooner did the doorman let them in than the adulation became deafening. Hands with notepads extended in hopes of autographs. Cordless microphones with station logos mingled among the outstretched arms. Reporters tried to ask questions, but the Riegels had been instructed not to answer before they reached the platform. Samuel, Paul’s youngest, raised his arms as though he had won a prize fight. Doniel’s ingratiating grin greeted the crowds. April and Rachel kept wiping away happy tears.

At the platform, two steps above the floor, Paul waited with his family to be introduced. Jacob Brownstone, the president of Fleet Control, walked up to the podium and the garden of mikes. He held up his large hands, summoning the crowd to be silent.

Friends and brothers, in Fleet Control and throughout the earth, it has long been man’s dream to reach toward the stars and see what else is out there. Today we are making history. For the first time, we have the technology to send the first family into outer space, beyond this solar system!

Cheers and applause resounded through the terminal. Cameras whirred and flashed. Guards in front of the Riegels stood at attention.

Again Brownstone held up his hands. I know … He waited till the adulation settled down a little more before he continued. "I know that I, for one, have always wanted to find life elsewhere besides Earth, a vision I share with Captain Paul Riegel here. But I never thought I’d be involved with making it happen.

Therefore, without further ado, I am very proud … to introduce to you … the first explorers in outer space … He allowed a longer pause before he shouted: Mr. and Mrs. Paul Riegel and family!

Deafening applause and foot stomping came with the cheers as Paul led his clan onto the platform. His wife took her place behind him, and the rest formed an arch behind the parents. One by one he introduced his family, ending with Oliver and Jael Friese.

I’m not sure yet what position all of us will serve on board, he said, but I do know Oliver has trained to be our ship’s engineer. The rest will have to find their own little niche as we work with the various functions. Does anyone have a question?

A myriad of hands flew up, so Paul chose one near the front. Captain Riegel, surely you realize you’re venturing outside of the Kingdom. Don’t you need a doctor on board? After all, you might encounter some kind of disease out there.

We are fully aware of the dangers, sir. One member of the family from Zorane we’ll be traveling with has had medical experience, but we don’t expect to use her much. We intend to take every precaution to keep ourselves healthy and fit. That’s why our houseship is equipped with a gymnasium below decks, one room designed as a small clinic, and a medicine room next door to it. And we’ll have analyzers and sensors to tell us whether any harmful disease exists on some alien planet. Yes, in the back.

Speaking of your houseship, said a woman, I understand it can exceed many times the speed of light. Could you elaborate, Captain?

"Certainly. Simply put, between the Zoranian fuel Tectethylane and the starlight we gather in our solar receptors, the Saternis can double her previous velocity every time we shift higher. So at light one we’ll do just under the speed of light; at light two, twice; at light three, four times; at light four, eight times; and so on. At our fastest, light ten, we can travel five hundred and twelve times light speed."

Amazed murmurs and whistles responded.

But sir, doesn’t that put a strain on the ship’s structure?

Not really, because Zorane’s advanced design technology has found a way to divert structural stress back into the engines for more power. Of course, after light ten there’s a limit to how well it works. But we can safely make the trip from here to Zorane in about three days.

"Three days? said another man. Come on, that’s better than a four-light-year journey."

"Nevertheless, I’ve seen the specs myself. Thanks to the combined technologies of Earth and Zorane, the houseship Saternis is one magnificent machine."

A babble of questions came his way, but Paul chose a man toward the middle. Captain, what about space particles like neutrinos and debris? Going as fast as you say, surely even the most minute particle can penetrate your ship like a laser through butter.

Good question, sir. We have confirmed there are not as many neutrinos as people in the past assumed, and what few do exist are easily handled. On minimum power, our protector shields can absorb any minor impact. Anything of significant size like a meteor, on the other hand, will set off an alarm so we can circumvent it in time. I will appoint a bridge patrol to make sure someone is there to handle it.

More questions sounded, but Mr. Brownstone touched his ear and rushed between the pioneers and the reporters. Excuse me, Captain. He waved his hands till all commotion ceased.

I have an announcement for the Paul Riegel family. He turned toward them. "I don’t know if you’re interested or not, but … the houseship Saternis has just locked into orbit. An envoy will meet you at concourse B-6."

B-6? said Rachel.

Let’s go! said April.

They led the rush to the airfield and quickly found the arch. Paul gazed into the brilliant azure sky, as did his family and the onlookers, straining to see something resembling an aircraft. Rising murmurs behind him alerted Paul the crowd spotted something. Cameras trained into the sky. Glints of metal between two clouds caught his attention.

Rachel and April jumped about excitedly. There they are, there they are!

As the craft descended, Paul made out two spiraling bullet shapes, which fit the description he’d heard of shuttlepods. Three backswept wings accented each pod, and a thruster tip extended behind each: two wings on the sides and one on top. In the upper half of the plane-like nose cone, a trapezoid viewplate tapered narrower on top, and smaller rounded windows marked both sides. Small blue thrusters left a hazy wake. One pod sported a painted numeral 2 between its hatch and lateral wing, while a 4 emblazoned the other. Both pods settled on airjets and landed about ten yards ahead, facing right.

After 30 months of amassing information on their new equipment, Paul was fascinated to watch them in action. The astonished crowd gasped as each pod’s nose cone split in half. The upper noseplate slid into a slot above, revealing a row of headlamps that wrapped the top, while the lower noseplate retracted below a plate-glass windshield. When the wings sank into the hull, their outer edges rested flush. At the same moment, a pair of minitreads appeared below it, lifting the vehicle a few inches off its runners.

So that’s what landtreads look like, said an awed Samuel behind Paul. I’ve seen the latest diagrams on those by telecomp.

Paul could scarcely keep his own eyes off the technology. Yes, I understand they can turn in any direction in tight spaces. They’ll probably demonstrate that for us, too.

Both landtreads virtually glided on minitreads toward the right and stopped. Each rounded cubic body pivoted a quarter turn on its chassis to face the fence. A second pair of treads touched down while the first pair retracted. The vehicles moved forward a few yards, and when one side ran over a slight rise in the pavement, the tread on the other side extended to keep the vehicle level. Again they paused, turned left in the same manner, and parked in front of the Riegels.

The landtread hatches slid aside, and a lean, handsome young man climbed out of each. At first glance they appeared to be twins, except one had dark hair and the other blond. They wore shiny golden yellow uniform slacks with a pullover top, and an ochre bodice widened at the shoulders and hips. A four-inch ochre clannet belt bound their waist, containing several tools: vials, pouches, and a holster. Both young men grinned at all the attention on them.

Since he had spoken to all of the Zoranian family by interspatial telecomp, Paul recognized them immediately. He stepped forward with an extended hand, while jet noises continued around them.

You must be Midik Urzer, and Nytom.

Yes, Captain, said the brunet Midik, shaking his hand. "It’s a pleasure meeting you in person at last. The telecomp pictures of you do not do you justice. Climb aboard and we’ll shuttle you back to the houseship Saternis."

Soon all eight piled into the landtreads, and the Urzer brothers took the controls. As he and his wife settled in front with Nytom, Paul’s sons sat in two of the three rear seats, in front of several metallic storage cabinets.

Nytom turned partway around to speak to Sam and Doniel. If you’ve never flown up in a shuttlepod before, your first experience can be startling. That’s because we won’t be just ascending into the air like an airplane. We’ll actually be leaving the atmosphere.

He flipped the transform switch, and Paul felt the vibration surround him. He watched the noseplates close off the outside world, leaving only the trapezoid viewplate in front. From inside, the viewplate and the landtread windshield appeared about the same size and shape. Then came a subtle whoosh with the sensation of rising. Paul watched the ground outside drop away. When the thrusters kicked in, he heard them rumble behind him.

This is so cool! cried Sam, thrilled at the ride.

We have to spiral through the atmosphere, said Nytom. The change in air pressure would be overwhelming if we went straight up.

How fast can this baby go? asked Doniel.

As fast as any jet in the atmosphere, and up to half a light speed in space.

As the blue sky outside gradually turned to black, Mariat pointed out the viewplate. Is that our houseship?

Yes, ma’am, said Nytom. Coming in for redock.

At first indistinct, the image soon coalesced into a long insectine craft with pincers at stern. Nytom approached it from starboard, then Paul could see that the pincers were a fairly flat, U-shaped nacelle atop the stern. Its inner curve held a few smaller thrusters for guidance, and at each terminal a booster unit boasted three propel jets.

Below the nacelle, an unused pod nose cone protruded from the sternmost hull below, while two empty docking ports toward bow waited to receive them. Forward of stern a neck section extended, about two decks high.

We call this section the midships, said Nytom, as he cruised the pod past it toward bow. We understand that in your language, ‘midships’ usually refers to the middle horizontal decks of a seagoing vessel, but we’ve adapted it for the middle section. In the same way, the stempost is usually the beam that goes up a ship’s prow, but here, the extension below the bow is called the stempost.

It was a more prominent feature below than it was above, which tapered into the slight upper bulge. The bow’s shape was roughly a diamond, but shorter in the back; it gave the offhand impression of either a lizard’s head, or an ant’s face.

Nytom flew Pod Two around the bow and back toward stern, to let the Riegels have a close look at their new home. Now back at the starboard flanks, he tooled into the foremost docking port at stern, shaped like the cross-section of the shuttlepod’s stern. With a 180° turn, he backed in, using the digital monitor to gauge the procedure. The pod locked in place with a mild jolt. Then came the familiar subdued hiss of escaping air, and a narrow passage directly behind the pilot opened automatically.

Follow me through the accessway, Nytom said, standing at a slight stoop under the low ceiling.

He ducked through the short passage and his palm pressed the doorframe. The first hatch rose, and the second automatically dropped behind it, into the deck. Inside the chamber, Paul spotted five more hatches flanking it: two on this side and three opposite them.

We are standing in the pod deck, said Nytom, sweeping his arm across the expanse. Down there toward our left, you see the entrance to our landing bay. On our right is one of the two quicklifts which connect both decks; the other is at the opposite end of that corridor. Follow me up the quicklift now. No more than six at a time.

As soon as everyone reassembled above decks, Nytom led them down the midships corridor, flanked by several open doors and a few closed ones. They showed several game rooms on the right and other rooms on the left. Two of the closed doors toward stern carried pictographs of a pill and a capsule on one, and a stethoscope on the other. Two more bore the standard symbols for men and women on bathroom doors. Forward of them, another door featured a crystallized blue cross.

This one is our chapel, said Midik, gesturing toward it. When the cross symbol is red, you know not to enter without pushing this button, which rings a soft chime inside. But when it’s blue, like now, it means the chapel is empty.

Good idea, said Doniel, nodding. Our private quarters below decks should be equipped with those.

Midik grinned. They are.

At the end of the hall, they came upon a section where the corridor widened into a roughly oval shape. Both doors on each side stood open; thus Paul realized they had reached the sternward half of the houseship’s bow.

Nytom said, "Here we have our major rooms, just like in a regular house, which also have their own nomenclature. We may use standard shipboard terms for everything else, but we call this craft a house-ship for a reason. Therefore, we use worldbound terms for our living quarters, so starting on our left there’s the dining room, with a kitchen behind it …"

Oh, I want to see that, said Mariat.

On the other side we have the living room or parlor toward bow, which can also serve as a conference room—in case the captain wishes to discuss missions with his crew. Sternward of it we have the video room, reserved for electronic games of all kinds, plus private booths for visual media. All along the starboard flank are other rooms where you can play chess, table tennis, cards, plus various Zoranian games which we brought along.

A good way to respect both cultures, said Paul with a grin.

April said, When I communicated with Xida by telecomp, she said something about having a sun room or a sauna at home, that she visited sometimes. She thought they were going to install one on board, so where is it?

Just behind the video room. My sister would not come with us unless she could bring her sauna, so they did the next best thing.

She sounds neat, said Rachel. When do we meet her?

Right now, Rachel, if you’ll come this way.

The double doors whisked open at Nytom’s approach. Contrasted with the house-like rooms they’d just seen, the tour entered a startlingly unhomey sight, yet oddly Paul felt right at home. The viewscreen dominating the far wall displayed Earth’s curvature and the star-spangled blackness beyond. The control panel in front of the screen angled ten degrees between each station.

On the left end of the console arch sat a blonde woman whose hairstyle featured a chignon with ponytail. A slight young girl with short blonde hair sat at the opposite end, and both turned to stare at the Riegel clan. The large chair on a platform behind swiveled about, revealing a man with a boyish face and thick jet-black hair. Paul recognized him from his telecomp photo, so he greeted him first.

Fondlo! Good to see you in person at long last.

The man smiled and shook his hand. Yes, Captain, likewise. He stood and gestured into the chair. I believe this is your seat.

Thanks. He settled into the padding, swiveling back and forth. Ah, this feels nice. And this bridge is so roomy. These lovely ladies would be your wife Prokta, and your daughter Xida, I take it.

You take it right.

While Rachel and April rushed down the step to greet Xida, Mariat, and Jael cornered Prokta to show them the kitchen, and Oliver and Midik left to see the engines with Samuel in tow. Both families