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| Lpnet2-100 Lpnet2: The 4D Earth War Chapter One: Callisto Colony Two Chapter Two: To Amplexa and Tranqua Chapter Three: Asteroid Mining, Politics, and War Chapter Four: Return to Earth Chapter Five: A Friendly Reunion Chapter Six: The Last Outpost Chapter Seven: Air-strike in the Night Chapter Eight: The Temporal Connection Chapter Nine: The Temporal Intersection Chapter Ten: Reunion with Old Friends Chapter Eleven: Ideals for the Future Chapter Twelve: Stonedancer Grounded |
The 4D
Earth War
Chapter 16: Ion Trace to the West I learned from the AB4 records that the two Martians, EXO and XIK, were suspected of being much more than simple renegades, they were wanted criminals, and had committed countless acts of barbarism and heinous crimes throughout the Solar-system and the AB tem-lines. I considered the next logical step. According to AB4 data, the Martians had created a structure at the AB1 Earth’s 2990 AM intersection. The structure was constructed not simply as a way-station between AB lines, but as a permanent base from which to operate on Earth. It was, quite simply, the first Martian colony on Earth, and it was heavily guarded throughout the 2990 AM year, such that it would be secure at the intersection forever. When AB2 Tranqua became aware of it, after the AB1 Tranqua was destroyed, it tried to destroy it because it knew that Mars would manipulate AB1 Earth. The attempt failed and the Tranquan AB-transverser was lost forever, at the 2990 AM intersection on Earth. Apparently, there was only one real way to destroy a tranverser completely: At 2990 AM. It was possible to undo Martian manipulations by destroying it elsewhere, but as long as the original AB-transverser existed and was fully functional at 2990 AM, the ‘future’ could be manipulated by it. Destruction of the transverser at 2990 was complicated not simply by the fact that it was surrounded by a fortress, but because there was no way of knowing the ‘exact’ time of the original transversal. The exact time was a heavily guarded Martian secret. The AB intersection was a ‘phenomena’ that occurred not just for a minute, hour, or even a day, but for several months within the 2990 AM year. There was no precise hour or day that it occurred. So, even if Amalek and I went to the intersection, got through the Martian defenses, and destroyed the structure, there was only the slimmest chance that we’d catch it at the exact time of the original transversal. If we didn’t catch it then and there, at the exact time, it could still continue to manipulate Earth. The Tranquans of AB4 theorized that since it was next to impossible to destroy the Martian transverser at the ‘exact time’, the next best thing to do was to minimize Martian activities in the temporal dimension by catching them during their most vulnerable times and stopping them from doing what they did. In other words, if they couldn’t be stopped at the intersection, maybe they could be stopped at the earliest diamet. It was reasonable to assume that the ‘nuclear-winter’ of 21st century AB Earth was a result of the diametric events, which may have been caused by the Martians. It also followed that the temporal order of the diamets on the AB1 line were all somehow linked, in such a way that the latest diamets were dependant upon the diamets before them. Counter-Martian actions upon the earliest diamet could ‘prevent’ certain power- manipulations that eventually led to the following diamets, and inevitably, the nuclear war. The knowledge of the Tranquans provided, therefore, was the best possible solution for the problem. Amalek and I would hit them at the earliest possible diamet, then return to 2094 and see if it had prevented the nuclear winter. If the problem still existed we’d hit them at the next diamet on the line. If, upon return to 2094 the problem persisted, we’d operate on every diamet following as long as it stayed, or until it was solved. There was no way of knowing what might happen or how Earth’s history might be altered. Nevertheless, if AB1 Earth was to be saved, it had to be done. The earliest diamet was 2,000 BC, and its locus-point was Giza, Egypt. The first thing I thought of was the ‘Great Pyramid’. I wondered if the Great Pyramid was itself the locus- point, but before I could be sure I had to zero in on it at 2,000 BC. There were two things I had to do in 2094 before going to 2,000 BC Egypt. I had to dispose of the Martian transverser and meet Lisa for lunch at 1 pm. I arrived in 2094 at 11:25, just 8 minutes after the departure time. Apparently, the margin was in a direct relation with the amount of time spent in transversal, but I wasn’t about to try and understand the complex mathematics. I wondered what John had done with the Martian transverser and left Amalek to rest in the hanger, and went to look for him. I went to the bunker and found Al still hard at work in the garage. “Where’s John?” I said. “I thought he was with you?” Al replied. “Didn’t you take him with you in the Warbird?” “Yes,” I said, “but I sent him ahead home with the Martian vehicle we captured.” I wondered what had happened to him, and thought about going to look for him, just in case he had trouble flying it. “You captured a what?” Al said with surprise. Suddenly, we heard the blast of jet-brakes and a hiss of air. That had to be him, I realized. He must’ve decided to take a joy flight. Two minutes later, as I explained to Al how I’d captured the two Martians by surprise, John walked in. “Ron,” he said with surprise. “What the heck? How did you get here before me? Did you use trans-light-speed or something?” “Trans-light?” I echoed, and then I realized the truth. I had forgotten the fact that I’d flown back to the campus by way of AB4 Earth, and returned to the present after the fact. “Oh,” I said, carefully, not wanting to reveal the fact that the Warbird could traverse the temporal dimension. “Yes, I put it in high gear. I guess I must’ve passed over you.” “Ron,” Al said, “where’s this Martian vehicle?” “It’s right outside the bunker,” John said. “It’s a fantastic bird, and it’s got lasers, too.” “Well,” Al said, brushing off his hands, “this I got to see!” We went outside and admired the vehicle. It occurred to me that they’d probably expect to be able to use it, and I couldn’t see how I could refuse, under the circumstances. Elza had made it definite that the tem-engine must be disconnected permanently, and that there was probably a homing-device somewhere inside it. “You really made a great catch,” Al said to me, as John led him through the valve to the inside. I wondered what to tell them. If I was going to work on it, it had to be good. “There’s just one problem,” I said, joining them on the bridge. “The vehicle contains a homing-device, and possibly, a self-destruct. In other words, unless I get to work on it and remove certain components, it could be an invitation to more Martians or it could explode in our faces.” They both looked at me with suspense; suddenly cool, as I located the tem-engine to the left of the pilot station and ducked low beneath the console. “Uh, Ron,” Al said, “Unless you need me, I’ve got other things I should do.” “It’s alright,” I said, “I can handle it. No need in risking all our lives.” “Me too,” John said, “I’m supposed to meet Mary for lunch.” He followed Al out, and they let me do what had to be done. I disconnected the tem-engine and removed several vital components. That did it. One more Martian transverser out of the game. I knew that if I succeeded in stopping the Martians at a past diamet, the transverser would vanish out of the present. I couldn’t be sure of the time that might occur, sometime between one day and a month. However, what it meant was that it would be dangerous to fly, so I had to find some excuse for not letting John or any of the others fly it. |
Chapter Thirteen: Rebels in the Aftermath Chapter Fourteen: Temporal Relativity Chapter Fifteen: The Hand was Forced Chapter Sixteen: Ion Trace to the West Chapter Seventeen: A Warlord and an Evacuation |