Entry 2-309: October 31, 2014
The Milk Run Preview: The Forest of Hades
In the upcoming novel The Milk Run, much of the initial action takes place on the planet called Hades by its resident. Hades is the sixth planet out in the Nu2 Lupi system. It is right at the edge of the habitable zone surrounding the primary. As such, it is very cold much of the year.
The vegetation there has developed to protect itself from the cold. Instead of leaves, the entire trunks are coated with a photosynthetic surface. The trees are log-like to minimize exposure to the cold and maximize moisture retention. I gave you a first look but since then, in describing the action to Bruce, he pointed out that my original "Fortress of Solitude" design would be impractical to hide the Ice-Saberoo which has to leap out at unsuspecting victims.
So Bruce sketched out an alternate design for me which is so superior, I think I'll change the description of the forest to match his design rather than vice versa.
So thanks Bruce and here is your first look at the real forest of Hades:
Entry 2-310: November 1, 2014
All together now
In the universe of Rome's Revolution, much of the action takes place on distant worlds and far off solar systems. What I have never shown you are all the principal locations all at once. So here, for the first time, is a comprehensive star chart showing the relationship between the various worlds. You can click on the image to get a bigger view:
Earth, of course, is where we live and where the Vuduri live. It is location of the climax of both Rome's Revolution and Rome's Evolution.
Tabit is part of the constellation of Orion and this is where the whole thing starts. Deucado, of course, is the final home world of Rome and Rei and their children. Because of the mixture of the various races (Essessoni, Ibbrassati, Deucadons and Vuduri), Deucado is the most vibrant world and takes the lead on the advancement on mankind.
Helome, one of the two habitable worlds orbiting Alpha Centauri, is highlighted in both The Ark Lords and Rome's Evolution. Finally, Hades is the center of the upcoming novel The Milk Run. Don't get fooled by its apparent closeness to Helome. This is a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional universe. Nu2 Lupi is 48 light years from Earth. Helome is sort of "on the way" so Nu2 Lupi is only 43 light years from Helome. Tabit is in the opposite direction so when Aason must travel from Tabit to Nu2 Lupi, he has to cover the incredible distance of 68 light years. Thank goodness for the null fold X-drive otherwise it would take forever for him to rescue Lupe.
Entry 2-311: November 2, 2014
East is east, West is west
In the middle part of Rome's Revolution, Rei must fly Rome into the "Lion's Den" which is his fatalistic reference to the Vuduri compound. His hope is to convince them to apply their advanced medical knowledge and save Rome from succumbing to polyhydramnios. As Rome and Rei were leaving the secret Ibbrassati enclave, they were instructed to fly "East" until they got to the coast of Asquarti, the western continent.
But what does that mean, East? Well, east is where the sun rises. So if a planet is spinning counter-clockwise when viewed from the North Pole, the east is the way we think of east as in the East Coast. But what if a planet spins clockwise? What if the sun rises in the west and sets in the east?
The answer lies along the equator, not the poles. If you are in the sky and looking down at a planet, you have to choose one of the poles and call it the North Pole. So you pick the one such that as the planet rotates, the sun rises on the right hand side and sets on the left hand side. It doesn't matter otherwise. There is nothing critical as to whether the planet is rotating with its north pole "up" whatever that means.
So, the bottom line is, east is defined as where the sun rises, west is defined as where it sets. What you would do if the planet did not rotate, I haven't a clue. But I get to make this stuff up and so far, my imagined planets rotate so East is east, West is west.
Entry 2-312: November 3, 2014
The cover story
As you know, Rome was suffering from polyhydramnios in the beginning of Part 2 of Rome's Revolution. Rei had decided to fly them in the "Lion's Den" which was his code name for the Vuduri compound located somewhere along the east coast of Asquarti, the western continent of Deucado.
While Rome and Rei were fairly certain the Vuduri were going to kill them upon contact, just in case they survived, they needed a cover story that would not expose the secret Ibbrassati enclave hidden in the woods to the north of the village that would later come to be known as Ibbra City.
The situation was this: Rei was dressed in clothes normally worn by the Ibbrassati. They were flying in the Flying House. They needed to explain the absence of the Ark II in such a way that they didn't aid the Vuduri in finding it.
This is as much thought as Rome could put into it given her condition:
“What’s our cover story? How do we explain my clothes, you know? Everything?” Rei asked.
Rome thought about it for a moment. “We will say that the Ark crashed into the lake and sank to the bottom. We landed near the settlement and met just one man, Trabunel, and he gave you your clothes and told us how to get to the Vuduri compound.”
“OK,” Rei said. “But why did he give me these clothes?”
Eventually, Rei came up with a flimsy story as to why but in the end, it didn't matter. The Overmind already knew that the Ark had not been destroyed. It had decided to simply wait until the Essessoni came out to meet the Vuduri forces in the open. So the cover story didn't really cover anything.
Entry 2-313: November 4, 2014
Rome can lie
As we learned early on in Rome's Revolution, the Vuduri did not really have the capacity to lie. How can you tell a lie when everybody is looking inside your head and already knows the truth?
It turns out though that the Vuduri can hide things and are reasonably proficient in keeping secrets. But lying, no way. So when Rome and Rei were on their way to the Vuduri compound, Rei was shocked to find out that Rome was able to lie with the best of them. Here is the exchange. Pegus, the leader of the Vuduri, was so astounded that Rome and Rei would put themselves out in the open, he had to ask why:
“Why are you coming here?” the man demanded hoarsely in Vuduri. “Surely you know we must kill you for possession of illegal technology.”
“Why would you kill us? I know you know from Captain Ursay’s reports who we are and why we are here,” said Rome angrily. “This ship was a gift of the Vuduri and we are now returning it to its rightful owners. It is hardly an offense worthy of death.”
Rei was stunned at Rome’s words. He had not thought of this tack.
Rome continued. “In addition, I am with child. I will need medical supervision. I do not know if the child will be connected but if he is, I want the child integrated into the Overmind here. That is your way. You would not take that opportunity away from a newborn. We need your help. It is that simple. You need not do anything hasty. After all,” Rome said, “you can always kill us later.”
“Where are the Erklirte?” the man demanded.
“The Ark was destroyed upon reentry. It sunk to the bottom of the lake. This tug is the only thing that survived.”
Rei looked as his wife, lying with the best of them. He was impressed.
“Very well,” said the man. “The fighters will escort you to our compound. Do not try anything foolhardy or we will be forced to shoot and I promise you we will not miss.”
“You heard the man,” Rome said in English, sotto voce. “Follow the fighters and no fooling around.”
“Yes, ma’am!” Rei said. “You are pretty awesome, you know.”
“Yes, I am,” she replied. She closed her eyes and put her hands on her stomach. “I wish this would stop.
”
“Soon, honey, soon.”
So Rei's ability to kid might be a good thing but Rome learning how to lie? I'm still not sure about that.
Entry 2-314: November 5, 2014
Landing strips
Many times I have been accused of skimping on physical description at least in the world of Rome's Revolution. This is because I am so anxious to get to the story, the action, that I don't want to bog down the writing with excessive description.
As such, my landing strips are always the same. Vuduri starships and airships all run on EG Lifters so they all takeoff and land vertically. There is no need for runways. They always park their vehicles along the buildings and their flying craft along the edge of the runway. Here is the dopiest block diagram but it gets the point across:
This layout was exactly the same when Rome and Rei landed in the Vuduri compound in the middle part of Rome's Revolution. It was also the same at the end of that book as well as the secret Darwin Base we encountered at the end of The Ark Lords.
It was also the same when Rei and Rome returned to Helome in Rome's Evolution. The only difference in that book is the Vuduri had built a research complex on the outskirts of the landing area.
The only time I truly deviated from this master (read lazy) plan was for the University of Deucado. MINIMCOM built his own private landing strip and he did it his way. This was the place where we met Junior, the first starship born, not built.
Entry 2-315: November 6, 2014
The Vuduri Palace
In Part 2 of Rome's Revolution, Rei and Rome are escorted by the Vuduri into the main building within their compound on the eastern short of Asquarti. However, unlike standard Vuduri architecture which is plain, unadorned, white aerogel, this particular building is opulent, if not decadent. Here is the original paragraph describing it:
The vehicle drove around to a side entrance and a landing pad where it settled in. Covering the area was an overhang that reminded Rei of a carport. The guards got out and indicated that Rei and Rome were to follow them. The doorway opened up and more guards came out of the building and created a phalanx around them and escorted them inside. Rei observed the architecture as they entered. The doorway itself had ornate carvings on the cornices and as they entered, the foyer was paved with a shiny stone resembling marble.
The opulence of the edifice was astounding. Rei could not think of it in any other terms but a palace. There was artwork on the walls, archways and rooms everywhere. There were couches, chairs, even a mirror. They didn’t have time to gawk, though. More men came up to take over the escort detail but they were dressed in outfits far more ostentatious than those worn by the soldiers from the outside.
“Soge-ma,” grunted one of the palace guard and he walked forward through a set of double doors into a large ballroom. Rei craned his neck to look around him, at the high domed ceiling. He could have sworn it was inlaid with gold. He also noted there were stained glass windows all around. The trappings made no sense. They made the hall look almost like a church sanctuary. They traversed the entire distance and exited using a door at the far end. On the other side, they encountered two more guards who opened up another set of doors and then they entered a room that had to be an office, just a very well appointed one.
So what's the deal? Why would the Vuduri who don't pay any attention to style or luxury build something straight out of a European castle? Pegus' explanation was terse and cruel at the same time:
Rei looked around him. “OK. So what’s with all the statues and plants and stuff. This isn’t anything like I expected of the Vuduri. You guys don’t care about art. What’s going on?”
“Oh that,” Pegus gave him a slight smile. “We have determined that the outward appearance of wealth and luxury has the most damaging effect on the morale of the mandasurte. It keeps them more tractable.”
Remember, the whole point of Deucado was to keep the Ibbrassati in place until the asteroid came and wiped them all out. Sweet, huh?
Entry 2-316: November 7, 2014
Aason was always different
As I have mentioned before, at the beginning of Part 2 of Rome's Revolution, Rome is suffering from polyhydramnios which is an excess of fluid in the womb. Aason, Rome and Rei's unborn son, is the first of his kind, a blend of Essessoni and Vuduri. His genetic structure is complex and his mental abilities are very strong. In fact, it is his unique abilities which save the Earth from destruction by the Stareaters.
We get the very first hint that Aason is different long before we meet him and learn about him. When Rei and Rome flew into the "Lion's Den" - the Vuduri compound on the eastern shore of Asquarti - the Vuduri elect not to kill her because she is bearing a child which should be a welcome addition to the Overmind there.
However, Pegus, the leader of the Vuduri on Deucado, notices right away that Aason is not what he appears. Here is that exchange:
Pegus stood up and walked around to where Rei and Rome were standing. He waved his hand over Rome’s abdomen and nodded.
“There is a resonance. The baby has active PPT transceivers,” said Pegus. “I can feel a connection but it is limited in scope. It is not normal. Your child is trying to connect but he is not able to merge with our Overmind. I am permitted to inform you that we detected his confusion long before you got here. I can sense that he needs his mother to explain to him what is happening. Without that, we believe he and you will most likely die. That is assuming we allow you to live.”
“What do you mean?” asked Rei. “What are you saying?”
“To save the child, we need to reconnect the woman to our samanda,” Pegus replied. “Then she will be able to interact with the child and we can see about allowing her to give birth.”
“NO!” Rei shouted. “There has to be another way.”
Rome turned to him. “Pegus is right. I need to connect to our baby. It will be OK.”
Later we come to find out that the Overmind of Deucado has been trying to elicit information from Aason well before Rome and Rei ever arrive at Deucado. Aason is completely up to the task of rebuffing the bodiless entity.
This skill actually saves his life in the upcoming novel entitled The Milk Run when he encounters a being who claims he is God. However, for that scene, you'll have to wait until the book comes out.
Entry 2-317: November 8, 2014
Rome can lie in her head, too
A few days back, I posted an article showing that Rome learned to lie in the novel Rome's Revolution. However, this skill is not just verbal. Rome has learned to lie in her head, as well. What, you ask? Why would a person need to learn how to lie in their head? They would if there were someone, or something, listening in. Like the Overmind.
Yesterday, I showed you that both Pegus and Rome had concluded that reconnecting Rome to the samanda (the seed of the Overmind) was the only thing that could save her (and Aason's) life. Rei had a big problem with that. Here is that brief conversation:
Rome tried to take a deep breath but her intake was ragged. Her breathing had the same quality to it that happens after someone had been crying for a long time. Only Rome was not crying. “Rei, it will only be temporary. Only until the baby is born. Then I will cast myself out.” She exhaled sharply.
“No, that’s not what I mean,” Rei said in hushed tones. “As soon as you connect, they’ll know where the Ark is. They’ll kill my people. And yours. They’ll know where your…”
“No, they will not,” Rome said, cutting him off. “They will only see that the Ark was destroyed and that we are alone. Just as we agreed.”
“But that still doesn’t explain my clothes,” Rei whispered. “It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that we met up with the Ibbrassati. They will know this right away. Honey, it’ll be a disaster.”
She reached up and put her hand on his cheek. “Mau emir, many times I say to you that I trust you. Now I am asking you to trust me. Trust your wife. I know what I am doing.”
Rei looked down at those dark, glowing eyes. He knew that when it came to her, he had no will. He melted just looking at them.
“All right, sweetheart. I love you. Do what you have to.”
She stood up on her toes and Rei bent over and they kissed. “I will always love you,” she said.
Of course she loved him. Why phrase it that way? Why did Rome say that she would always love Rei? How is that even relevant? Why was there ever a question about it? Very curious. More on that tomorrow.
Entry 2-318: November 9, 2014
Going undercover
Yesterday, I gave you a short scene from Part 2 of Rome's Revolution which took place just before Rome was reconnected to the Overmind of Deucado. Rome told Rei she would always love him but as I emphasized to you in that article, there was no need to point that out. It was never called into question. So what's up? Why would Rome say such an odd thing right at that point in time?
We have to go back a little ways and realize that Rome was completely naive about the universe growing up. She only knew what her parents and the Overmind had told her. It wasn't until her assignment to the star base on Tabit that she was allowed to experience novel things without pre-assigned values. And, of course, she met Rei.