Thanks for sharing that with me. Dude.
Interstellar Portals - World Building Original Fiction
- Thread starter USS Fardell
- Start date
i started writing my stories in 2010.....i started working on background stuff for Distant Shores in 2000.....
Part 8
Beyond the Verdean Portal I
In the ruins
Diego Gomes and a group of officers and crewmen from his ship approached the ruined city with caution. The ruins looked like nothing that many of them had ever seen.
They were now at a gateway, wondering what was inside.
“Should we go in captain?” one of the officer's asked.
“Absolutely! We have come this far. We cannot turn back now!” the Captain said. With that said, he went forwards through the gateway. The other officers and crewmembers then followed him through the gateway.
The road which they had been following immediately opened into a large square which, even though the jungle had largely taken over, looked magnificent. All about the square were carvings of various cultural scenes. They could aslo see writing in an unknown script (although they could recognise it as some sort of writing).
“This is amazing, it reminds me of some of those Roman ruins,” the captain said
.
“But that would mean that the Romans would have had been here?” another officer, Eduardo Tores said.
“No, if the Romans had been here, there would have been records of the formation,” the captain said.
A thought. “That idea is gone then, it would be a similar group of people. Maybe an Empire in the deeps of Africa,” Tores said.
“That may be possible,” the captain said.
They continued moving into the city, awed that the structures had survived the ravages of time and the invading jungle.
An hour later the group was near the centre of the city. Some crewmen pushed open a wide door to a large building, the large door groaning with long-unoiled hinges. Almost immediately there was an exclaimation of delight! The captain wandered over, wondering what it was that was found.
“What is it?” he asked.
“You have to see it for yourself” one of them said, and stepped aside to allow the captain to enter the building.
Then he saw it. “Gold!”
It was a veritable treasure trove, so much that it would take over a dozen voyages to take it all back to Portugal! 'We are going to need it if we are going to explore this new world as well as our own,' he thought.
To be continued.
Beyond the Verdean Portal I
In the ruins
Diego Gomes and a group of officers and crewmen from his ship approached the ruined city with caution. The ruins looked like nothing that many of them had ever seen.
They were now at a gateway, wondering what was inside.
“Should we go in captain?” one of the officer's asked.
“Absolutely! We have come this far. We cannot turn back now!” the Captain said. With that said, he went forwards through the gateway. The other officers and crewmembers then followed him through the gateway.
The road which they had been following immediately opened into a large square which, even though the jungle had largely taken over, looked magnificent. All about the square were carvings of various cultural scenes. They could aslo see writing in an unknown script (although they could recognise it as some sort of writing).
“This is amazing, it reminds me of some of those Roman ruins,” the captain said
.
“But that would mean that the Romans would have had been here?” another officer, Eduardo Tores said.
“No, if the Romans had been here, there would have been records of the formation,” the captain said.
A thought. “That idea is gone then, it would be a similar group of people. Maybe an Empire in the deeps of Africa,” Tores said.
“That may be possible,” the captain said.
They continued moving into the city, awed that the structures had survived the ravages of time and the invading jungle.
An hour later the group was near the centre of the city. Some crewmen pushed open a wide door to a large building, the large door groaning with long-unoiled hinges. Almost immediately there was an exclaimation of delight! The captain wandered over, wondering what it was that was found.
“What is it?” he asked.
“You have to see it for yourself” one of them said, and stepped aside to allow the captain to enter the building.
Then he saw it. “Gold!”
It was a veritable treasure trove, so much that it would take over a dozen voyages to take it all back to Portugal! 'We are going to need it if we are going to explore this new world as well as our own,' he thought.
To be continued.
Part 9 – Profile of World 000003
Names
Latin or Scientific Designation: Alpha Centauri A III
Common Name in most Commonly used Language: Sordah
Most commonly used language: Arabic
Earliest known habitation: 8000 BC or earlier
'European' Discovery: 1494
Earliest 'European' Colony: 1510 – New Instanbul (Ottoman)
Surface Area: 0.95 Earth areas
Year Length: 1 Earth year and 1 Earth month.
Rotational period: 19.5 Earth hours.
Axial Tilting: 15.1 %
Sattelites and orbital periods: 3 (1st 7 Earth days, 2nd 21 Earth days and 3rd 63 Earth days)
Sattelite masses: 1st 0.3 Lunar masses. 2nd 0.7 Lunar masses and 3rd 1.43 Lunar masses.
Atmospheric pressure at Sea level: 1.45 that of Earth.
Note: Planet is near the inner edge of Alpha Centauri A's habitability zone.
Names of the Continents: Northern Hemisphere; East to West: New Mahgreb, New Anatolia, Bol Thala and Iamaltia.
Southern Hemisphere: Twantinal. The 3 large subcontinental landmasses are (west to east) Iotolia, New Arabia and Styxia.
General Ecological Profile:
Oceans: There is no direct oceanic link from Earth to Sordah. However many oceanic forms of life are familiar. And given the global temperatures of this planet, most of the oceanic life is tropical. As with most other worlds, cetaceans are common.
The Eastern regions of New Anatolia and the Northern regions of New Mahgreb are similar to African tropical regions. Savannah and Rainforests abound. Most, if not all, African animals and plants can be found here. Elephants, Giraffes and other megafauna are on average bigger as they have adapted to the slightly lower gravity of Sordah.
In the Central region of New Anatolia is the Banarael Platau, a temperate region practically inaccessible (until the 20th Century) from elsewhere in New Anatolia. The inland sea on the platau is filled with fish and aquatic reptiles (including Ithyosaurs...) The land animals and plants are based on South American fauna and flora. (Including Megasloths, Rodent Megafauna and Armadillos)
The western region of New Anatolia is similar to its eastern side.
Bol Thala and Iamaltia make up a single ecological region, that is based on European derived species. Many insectivores abound here, even in the eastern deserts of Iamaltia. These continents are tropical as well.
The southern regions of New Mahgreb are in the Torrid Zone that extends 15° to either side of Sordah's equator. (with the exception of high altitude areas which are continguous with the tropical zone in the north of the continent.) The areas in the Torrid Zone are desert where only very hardy plants and invertebrates (mostly insects and arachnids) can survive.
Twantinal has a mostly Australia-like ecology. Marsupials and Monotremes are very common. Eucalyptus and Acacia trees dominate its western rainforests.
Iotolia, New Arabia and Styxia make up a single ecological region, that is based on North America-like flora and fauna.
http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr193/Brenorenz/Sordah.png
Names
Latin or Scientific Designation: Alpha Centauri A III
Common Name in most Commonly used Language: Sordah
Most commonly used language: Arabic
Earliest known habitation: 8000 BC or earlier
'European' Discovery: 1494
Earliest 'European' Colony: 1510 – New Instanbul (Ottoman)
Surface Area: 0.95 Earth areas
Year Length: 1 Earth year and 1 Earth month.
Rotational period: 19.5 Earth hours.
Axial Tilting: 15.1 %
Sattelites and orbital periods: 3 (1st 7 Earth days, 2nd 21 Earth days and 3rd 63 Earth days)
Sattelite masses: 1st 0.3 Lunar masses. 2nd 0.7 Lunar masses and 3rd 1.43 Lunar masses.
Atmospheric pressure at Sea level: 1.45 that of Earth.
Note: Planet is near the inner edge of Alpha Centauri A's habitability zone.
Names of the Continents: Northern Hemisphere; East to West: New Mahgreb, New Anatolia, Bol Thala and Iamaltia.
Southern Hemisphere: Twantinal. The 3 large subcontinental landmasses are (west to east) Iotolia, New Arabia and Styxia.
General Ecological Profile:
Oceans: There is no direct oceanic link from Earth to Sordah. However many oceanic forms of life are familiar. And given the global temperatures of this planet, most of the oceanic life is tropical. As with most other worlds, cetaceans are common.
The Eastern regions of New Anatolia and the Northern regions of New Mahgreb are similar to African tropical regions. Savannah and Rainforests abound. Most, if not all, African animals and plants can be found here. Elephants, Giraffes and other megafauna are on average bigger as they have adapted to the slightly lower gravity of Sordah.
In the Central region of New Anatolia is the Banarael Platau, a temperate region practically inaccessible (until the 20th Century) from elsewhere in New Anatolia. The inland sea on the platau is filled with fish and aquatic reptiles (including Ithyosaurs...) The land animals and plants are based on South American fauna and flora. (Including Megasloths, Rodent Megafauna and Armadillos)
The western region of New Anatolia is similar to its eastern side.
Bol Thala and Iamaltia make up a single ecological region, that is based on European derived species. Many insectivores abound here, even in the eastern deserts of Iamaltia. These continents are tropical as well.
The southern regions of New Mahgreb are in the Torrid Zone that extends 15° to either side of Sordah's equator. (with the exception of high altitude areas which are continguous with the tropical zone in the north of the continent.) The areas in the Torrid Zone are desert where only very hardy plants and invertebrates (mostly insects and arachnids) can survive.
Twantinal has a mostly Australia-like ecology. Marsupials and Monotremes are very common. Eucalyptus and Acacia trees dominate its western rainforests.
Iotolia, New Arabia and Styxia make up a single ecological region, that is based on North America-like flora and fauna.
http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr193/Brenorenz/Sordah.png
Part 10 – Profile of a Colony in 1920 – Halapana
Colony Name: Halapana
Basic Location Details: Located in the southern hemisphere of Delta Geminorum IV 'Drakia Nova', 58.2 light years from Earth.
Minimum travelling distance from Europe: 2 Portals, 110000 kilometres.
Colony of: Kingdom of France.
Discovered: 1568; by Danish explorers.
First colonised: 1607, by New Greece.
Transferred to French control: 1743
Self governing status: 1784
Responsible for colonies further out: 1851
Form of Government: A federal democracy
Population in 1920: 11,352,000
Main exports in 1920: Fish, timber, grains, literature
Languages spoken: French, Halapanan Greek, Indiginous languages.
http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr193/Brenorenz/Halapana.png
Colony Name: Halapana
Basic Location Details: Located in the southern hemisphere of Delta Geminorum IV 'Drakia Nova', 58.2 light years from Earth.
Minimum travelling distance from Europe: 2 Portals, 110000 kilometres.
Colony of: Kingdom of France.
Discovered: 1568; by Danish explorers.
First colonised: 1607, by New Greece.
Transferred to French control: 1743
Self governing status: 1784
Responsible for colonies further out: 1851
Form of Government: A federal democracy
Population in 1920: 11,352,000
Main exports in 1920: Fish, timber, grains, literature
Languages spoken: French, Halapanan Greek, Indiginous languages.
http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr193/Brenorenz/Halapana.png
Part 11 – The Exhibition of Valtalea
9 January 2009 (Terran Gregorian Date) 7 March 232 (Local Post Discovery Date)
National Museum of Orillua, Caboto, Caboto state, Orillua (Located on the continent of Nova Italia on Zeta Canceris V 'Xanveris' 83.4 light years from Earth)
A Secondary School group had arrived at the Museum for a guided tour. They were there for the Exhibition of Valtalea which had arrived at the Museum for that month.
Isabella Lambelini, a Postgraduate student on work experience at the Museum, walked towards the lobby where the school group was waiting.
“Welcome to the National Museum. Please follow me to the Exhibition Wing where the Exhibition of Valtalea is on display”
The school group followed Lambelini to the Exhibition Wing, passing through other areas of the museum devoted to the history of Orillua, other nations on Nova Italia, of Xanveris in general and of nations on the other side of portals close to Orillua. They also passed through areas devoted to the cultures of those regions as well.
Finally they arrived in the Exhibition Wing.
“Welcome to the Exhibition of Valtalea,” Lambelini said. One of the students raised their hands.
“Yes?” Lambelini asked.
“What is the importance of this Exhibition?” he asked.
“This Exhibition is important because it contains examples of the most advanced abandoned technology found to date. Computer scientists believe that many of the artefacts associated with the exhibition are optical computers. However despite best efforts many believe that we are centuries away from reverse engineering this technology,” Lambelini said.
“Is there any other reason why it is important?” another student asked.
“Yes. It has anthropological value because other artefacts found with the optical computing devices give information about the culture of the advanced civilisation that left these artefacts left behind,” Lambelini said.
One of the students read a plaque that stood nearby. “The Valtalea archaeological field was discovered on the Terran Gregorian date of the 12th of March 1968, by the New Netherlandic explorer Manfred van Heerden upon sailing into a previously unknown harbour on the recently discovered continent of Delta Taritia on the planet Dar Carassola.”
Isabella came over. “That is essentially correct. However due to the remoteness of that area, Archaeological research in the area did not begin until 1973. The advanced technological artefacts were not discovered until a year later,” she said.
She then guided the students around the Exhibition, with many of them looking at the various artefacts with great interst.
9 January 2009 (Terran Gregorian Date) 7 March 232 (Local Post Discovery Date)
National Museum of Orillua, Caboto, Caboto state, Orillua (Located on the continent of Nova Italia on Zeta Canceris V 'Xanveris' 83.4 light years from Earth)
A Secondary School group had arrived at the Museum for a guided tour. They were there for the Exhibition of Valtalea which had arrived at the Museum for that month.
Isabella Lambelini, a Postgraduate student on work experience at the Museum, walked towards the lobby where the school group was waiting.
“Welcome to the National Museum. Please follow me to the Exhibition Wing where the Exhibition of Valtalea is on display”
The school group followed Lambelini to the Exhibition Wing, passing through other areas of the museum devoted to the history of Orillua, other nations on Nova Italia, of Xanveris in general and of nations on the other side of portals close to Orillua. They also passed through areas devoted to the cultures of those regions as well.
Finally they arrived in the Exhibition Wing.
“Welcome to the Exhibition of Valtalea,” Lambelini said. One of the students raised their hands.
“Yes?” Lambelini asked.
“What is the importance of this Exhibition?” he asked.
“This Exhibition is important because it contains examples of the most advanced abandoned technology found to date. Computer scientists believe that many of the artefacts associated with the exhibition are optical computers. However despite best efforts many believe that we are centuries away from reverse engineering this technology,” Lambelini said.
“Is there any other reason why it is important?” another student asked.
“Yes. It has anthropological value because other artefacts found with the optical computing devices give information about the culture of the advanced civilisation that left these artefacts left behind,” Lambelini said.
One of the students read a plaque that stood nearby. “The Valtalea archaeological field was discovered on the Terran Gregorian date of the 12th of March 1968, by the New Netherlandic explorer Manfred van Heerden upon sailing into a previously unknown harbour on the recently discovered continent of Delta Taritia on the planet Dar Carassola.”
Isabella came over. “That is essentially correct. However due to the remoteness of that area, Archaeological research in the area did not begin until 1973. The advanced technological artefacts were not discovered until a year later,” she said.
She then guided the students around the Exhibition, with many of them looking at the various artefacts with great interst.
Part 12 – The Semaphore (From Gaellie Var to Senieda)
The Ambassador's message to the Diplomatic Minister of Senieda, containing a transcript of his discussion with Etashi regarding the hiring of his company of mercenaries to help against the 'Espanyol' and the K!hosi, was delivered to the Embassy's Semaphore tower.
Then the cryptographer on duty re-wrote the message into that week's code.
The original message is filed away next to the rest of that days dispatches for later permanent storage elsewhere.
The encrypted version is then taken over to the dispatch officers.
The dispatch officer then adds the destination and origin to the message, in preparation to send it.
[[To: Foreign Ministry in Senieda
From: Seniedan Embassy in Gaellie Var
Body of Message]]
He then brought the message to the dispatch panel and flashed the 'Prepare for message' signal.
The receiving station flashed the 'ready for message' signal in response.
The dispatch officer then began to manipulate the signal levers, which moved the boards on the tower above, sending the message to the receiving station.
The boards on the tower convey the message by colour and position, with colour and position representing each symbol of the Semaphore Code.
The receiving officer in the next station printed the message on paper as he saw each symbol present itself at the Seniedan Embassy Station. When the message was complete he placed it on the (crankpowered) conveyer belt, which moved it to the dispatch station, where the dispatch process would be repeated. Once the message is sent, the paper is sent down to recycling where the message would be removed and the paper readied to be used again.
And so this process would repeat all the way to Senieda.
Due to the geography of the portal the Semaphore line has to spiral out of the city: like so...
The semaphore line then links to the Main Circle Diplomatic Semaphore Line that runs around Gaellie Var. Given the nature of the geography of the city, only the diplomatic line actually runs into the city. The Commercial and Personal Semaphore lines do not run in the city. Instead they terminate at various points around the City Walls, and couriers then take the messages to the City's post offices. Or to the Commercial and Personal Lines on the other side of the Portal.
The Seniedan message travelled around the Circle Line to the south of Gaellie Var. The message then changes routes from the Gaellie Var Main Circle Line to the Gaetal Ialt North-South Main Line, which runs southwards from Gaellie Var to the southern end of the Gaetal Ialt continent.
From the Seniedan Embassy to this switch point the message has taken 40 minutes. Transit times, of course, vary depending on the length of the message. From here on it will be faster, as the North-South Main line transits mostly flat plains to the south of Gaellie Var, with only slightly rolling landscape.
The next station, 4 miles southwards, marks the southern boundary of the City State of Gaellie Var. The NSML then running into the territory of the Republic of Rea Palla, a mostly rural staunch ally of Gaellie Var and supplier of a sizable amount of the City State's food supply. (Though the city certainly produces at least some of its own food, and imports food from a variety of other sources.)
The NSML continues to the south, taking another 6 minutes to pass by the eponymous capital town of Rea Palla, alongside a paved road wide enough for 2 chariots to pass each other with room to spare. Another 10 minutes and 50 miles later the NSML passes from Rea Palla to the League of Moutarian Principalities, a loose alliance of states that squable amoung themselves at some times and pretend to be the successor state to a successor state of Gaellie Var's former Empire. (Not all of the states are Principalities either)
The message continues through the LMP, reaching the other side of the troubled League two hours later. The southern frontier of the League of Moutarian Principalities also marks the southern edge of the Northern Gaetal Ialt Plains, which give way to the foothills of the Ketalet Mountain Range. To the south of the LMP lies many small independent trading communities. The Semaphore Lines continue along ridges and sometimes from hill top to hill top and when in the range proper from ridge to ridge. (With the road winding between hills and passing through ridges in tunnels.) Through the mountain range the NSML crosses other Semaphore Lines.
The message takes 1 hour and 30 minutes to cross the mountain range, reaching the plains on the other side.
The message passes through the Taevelis Protectorate, a neutral nation, on the plains. It then passes through the Wicatis Kingdom and the Taleidea Republic before reaching the western border of Senieda, 6 hours after leaving the Embassy.
The message changes lines to the Gaetal Ialt Main Southern Line.
The message takes another 10 minutes to arrive at the Seniedan capital.
The message switches from the GIMSL to the Seniedan capital's main diplomatic line and arrives at the Foreign Ministry as night is falling.
The receiving officer writes down the message as he sees it come in. He then takes it over to the cryptographer who decodes the message. The undecoded message is sent to storage whilst the decoded version is sent to the foreign minister.
Here is a map of the route from Gaellie Var to Senieda.
http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr193/Brenorenz/GallieVar-Senieda.png
The Ambassador's message to the Diplomatic Minister of Senieda, containing a transcript of his discussion with Etashi regarding the hiring of his company of mercenaries to help against the 'Espanyol' and the K!hosi, was delivered to the Embassy's Semaphore tower.
Then the cryptographer on duty re-wrote the message into that week's code.
The original message is filed away next to the rest of that days dispatches for later permanent storage elsewhere.
The encrypted version is then taken over to the dispatch officers.
The dispatch officer then adds the destination and origin to the message, in preparation to send it.
[[To: Foreign Ministry in Senieda
From: Seniedan Embassy in Gaellie Var
Body of Message]]
He then brought the message to the dispatch panel and flashed the 'Prepare for message' signal.
The receiving station flashed the 'ready for message' signal in response.
The dispatch officer then began to manipulate the signal levers, which moved the boards on the tower above, sending the message to the receiving station.
The boards on the tower convey the message by colour and position, with colour and position representing each symbol of the Semaphore Code.
The receiving officer in the next station printed the message on paper as he saw each symbol present itself at the Seniedan Embassy Station. When the message was complete he placed it on the (crankpowered) conveyer belt, which moved it to the dispatch station, where the dispatch process would be repeated. Once the message is sent, the paper is sent down to recycling where the message would be removed and the paper readied to be used again.
And so this process would repeat all the way to Senieda.
Due to the geography of the portal the Semaphore line has to spiral out of the city: like so...
The semaphore line then links to the Main Circle Diplomatic Semaphore Line that runs around Gaellie Var. Given the nature of the geography of the city, only the diplomatic line actually runs into the city. The Commercial and Personal Semaphore lines do not run in the city. Instead they terminate at various points around the City Walls, and couriers then take the messages to the City's post offices. Or to the Commercial and Personal Lines on the other side of the Portal.
The Seniedan message travelled around the Circle Line to the south of Gaellie Var. The message then changes routes from the Gaellie Var Main Circle Line to the Gaetal Ialt North-South Main Line, which runs southwards from Gaellie Var to the southern end of the Gaetal Ialt continent.
From the Seniedan Embassy to this switch point the message has taken 40 minutes. Transit times, of course, vary depending on the length of the message. From here on it will be faster, as the North-South Main line transits mostly flat plains to the south of Gaellie Var, with only slightly rolling landscape.
The next station, 4 miles southwards, marks the southern boundary of the City State of Gaellie Var. The NSML then running into the territory of the Republic of Rea Palla, a mostly rural staunch ally of Gaellie Var and supplier of a sizable amount of the City State's food supply. (Though the city certainly produces at least some of its own food, and imports food from a variety of other sources.)
The NSML continues to the south, taking another 6 minutes to pass by the eponymous capital town of Rea Palla, alongside a paved road wide enough for 2 chariots to pass each other with room to spare. Another 10 minutes and 50 miles later the NSML passes from Rea Palla to the League of Moutarian Principalities, a loose alliance of states that squable amoung themselves at some times and pretend to be the successor state to a successor state of Gaellie Var's former Empire. (Not all of the states are Principalities either)
The message continues through the LMP, reaching the other side of the troubled League two hours later. The southern frontier of the League of Moutarian Principalities also marks the southern edge of the Northern Gaetal Ialt Plains, which give way to the foothills of the Ketalet Mountain Range. To the south of the LMP lies many small independent trading communities. The Semaphore Lines continue along ridges and sometimes from hill top to hill top and when in the range proper from ridge to ridge. (With the road winding between hills and passing through ridges in tunnels.) Through the mountain range the NSML crosses other Semaphore Lines.
The message takes 1 hour and 30 minutes to cross the mountain range, reaching the plains on the other side.
The message passes through the Taevelis Protectorate, a neutral nation, on the plains. It then passes through the Wicatis Kingdom and the Taleidea Republic before reaching the western border of Senieda, 6 hours after leaving the Embassy.
The message changes lines to the Gaetal Ialt Main Southern Line.
The message takes another 10 minutes to arrive at the Seniedan capital.
The message switches from the GIMSL to the Seniedan capital's main diplomatic line and arrives at the Foreign Ministry as night is falling.
The receiving officer writes down the message as he sees it come in. He then takes it over to the cryptographer who decodes the message. The undecoded message is sent to storage whilst the decoded version is sent to the foreign minister.
Here is a map of the route from Gaellie Var to Senieda.
http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr193/Brenorenz/GallieVar-Senieda.png
