Great North Road
T
IME
L
INE
2003:
Kane North injured by IED in Iraqi.
2004:
Kane receives honorable discharge from U.S. Army. Moves to Edinburgh. Uses family trust money to recruit geneticists. Cloning program begins.
2007:
Brant North born, first clone of Kane North successfully carried to term. Large number of mental and physical defects; lives three years.
2009:
Cicero North born. Severe learning difficulties, serious metabolic deficiency; lives to 2022.
2010:
Forrest North born. High spectrum autistic, lives to 2065.
2012:
Augustine, Bartram, and Constantine North born.
2027:
Wan Hi Chan presents his theory of trans-spacial connection
2029:
First “connection” made at Princetown, 800 meters across campus. USA forms National Interstellar Agency (NIA).
2030:
Europe forms European Trans-Space Bureau (ET-SB). China forms National Interstellar Transport Corporation (NITC). Russia, India, Israel, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Pacific Alliance, North African Coalition, Asian Federation—all create agencies to begin interstellar exploration programs
2031:
NIA opens connection to Earth’s moon.
2032–2038:
Various national test programs produce twelve trans-spacial connections across solar system. Gateway technology perfected.
2034:
Augustine, Bartram, and Constantine found Northumberland Interstellar Corp, using family corporate resources to fund gateway systems manufacture.
2039:
NITC opens gateway to Proxima Centauri. Age of interstellar exploration begins.
2041:
NIA opens New Washington for settlement.
2044:
NIA opens gateway to Orleans.
2044:
ET-SB opens New Brussels for settlement to EU citizens.
2045:
India opens gateway to Kolhapur.
2045:
NITC opens gateways to Taiyuan and Wuchow.
2047:
Russia opens gateway to Nova Petersburg.
2047:
Israel opens gateway to Ramla.
2047:
U.S. senate expanded to take in ten new states from new worlds. Passes Federal Independent Landowner Act. Enforced off-Earth settlement of all long-term welfare recipients.
2048:
Japan opens gateway to New Tokyo.
2048:
France opens gateway to Rouen; French citizens only.
2048:
Earth economy stalling due to investment shift to new planets.
2049:
Germany opens gateway to Odessa; German citizens only.
2049:
USA passes illegals dispersal bill. All illegal immigrants in original states on Earth deported to the territories on new U.S. planets.
2049:
Saudi Arabia opens Riyadh for settlement; Muslims only.
2050:
ET-SB opens Minisa for ‘all’ Grande Europe citizens. Subsidized immigration begins for unemployed, later developing to ‘opportunity immigration’ policy, transporting millions of poor and jobless out of GE states on Earth.
2051:
Northumberland Interstellar opens gateway to Sirius star system, discovers earth-giant planet, named St. Libra. Cleared for human immigration.
2052:
Brazil opens gateway to Sao Jeroni.
2052:
North African gateway to Accra.
2053:
First bioil algaepaddies established on St. Libra. Start of bioil export to Earth. Massive investment into St. Libra algaepaddies begins, establishment of Eight Great bioil companies in addition to NI.
2055:
The Independencies founded on St. Libra; constant mid-level immigration by GE dissidents and other political refugees from across Earth.
2055–2070:
Establishment of seven more human-settled worlds. Earth’s population in decline; its economy contracts. Enforced exodus programs of jobless instituted by most nations.
2063:
Kane North dies, age eighty-three.
2083:
Rumour of True Jerusalem, reached via a secret gateway from Ramla.
2087:
Constantine North and Bartram North resign their directorships of Northumberland Interstellar. Company resources redistributed. The bulk remains with Augustine.
2088:
Constantine North launches Jupiter habitat; 8,000 tons of cybernetic manufacturing equipment, and a 3,000-ton mineral/chemical refinery all delivered to asteroid in Jupiter orbit via Newcastle gateway, plus 25,000-ton life-support hostel. Several hundred supporters and all C Norths follow him there.
2089:
Town of Abellia established on St. Libra by Bartram. Bartram founds North Biogenetic Institute, begins serious research into human regeneration/rejuvenation.
2092:
Zanthswarm on Accra.
2093:
Accra evacuated, gateway closed. Estimated human deaths: 8.2 million.
2093:
Formation of Human Defence Alliance (HDA) to defend human race from the Zanth.
2094:
Brinkelle North born.
2095:
Large-scale transtellar financial instability as HDA budget approved. Bioil price increasing, reducing consumption. Markets falling.
2096–2111:
Transtellar recession, affecting all worlds
2111:
Northumberland Interstellar–led cartel releases glut of low-price bioil, bankrupting many futures market speculators. Stability returns to bioil market. Transtellar share prices start to rise again.
2119:
Zanthswarm on New Florida. Evacuation declared successful, deaths estimated at 108,000.
2119:
Transtellar market downturn lasts until 2123—officially not a recession.
2121:
Bartram North and his household slaughtered. Angela Tramelo convicted of mass murder, receives life sentence.
T
HE 2143
S
T.
L
IBRA
N
ORTHERN
G
EOGENETIC
E
XPEDITION
Charmonique Passam:
vice commissioner for the Grande Europe Bureau of alien evaluation.
Griffin Toyne:
major, HDA, head of expedition security
Camp Wukang
Vance Elston:
colonel, Alien Intelligence Agency (AIA), camp commander
Antrinell Viana:
captain, AIA, executive officer
Administration
Jaysukhlal “Jay” Chomik
Norman Sliwinska
Forster Wardele
Bastian North:
observer
GE Legion squad
Pablo Botin:
lieutenant
Raddon:
sergeant
Paresh Evitts:
corporal
Hiron:
corporal
Privates
Mohammed Anwar
Atyeo
Ramon Beaken
DiRito
Leora Fawkes
Dave Guzman
Hanrahan
Gillian Kowalski
Omar Mihambo
Marty O’Riley
Peace-Davis
Audrie Sleath
Josh Justic
Xenobiology team
Angela Tramelo:
civilian adviser
Marvin Trambi
Roarke Kulwinder
Tamisha Smith
Miya
Smara Jacka
Iyel
Esther Coombes
Camm Montoto
Zhao
Pilots
Lorelei:
CV-47 Swallow
Garrick:
CV -47 Swallow
Juan-Fernando:
CT -606D
Ravi Hendrik:
CT -606D Berlin, ex–Thunderthorn SF-100 pilot
AAV flight team
Ken Schmitt:
chief
Davinia Beirne:
technician
Chris Fiadeiro:
technician
Mackay:
technician
Medical
Dr Tamika Coniff
Mark Chitty:
paramedic
Juanitar Sakur:
paramedic
Engineering Teams
Helicopters
Tork Ericson
Erius
Camp systems
Olrg Dorchev
Dean Creshaun
Lance
Ground vehicles
Leif Davdia
Darwin Sworowski
Microfacture
Karizma Wadhai
Ophelia Troy
General support personnel
Luther Katzen:
supervisor
Madeleine Hoque
Fuller Owusu
Lulu MacNamara
Winn Melia
Newcastle police
Sidney Hurst:
detective
Royce O’Rouke:
chief constable
Ian Lanagin:
detective, surveillance specialist
Eva Saeland:
visual interpretation constable
Ralph Srevens:
special investigator, AIA
Abner North:
detective, forensic specialist
Ari North:
constable, data management specialist
Aldred North:
Northumberland Interstellar security director, legal liaison
Hayfa Fullerton:
detective, gang task force
Kaneesha Saeed:
detective, retired, chief of gang crime office
Tilly Lewis:
Northern Forensics, Grade-A team manager
Chloe Healy:
O’Rouke’s media officer
Saul Howard:
surfer and store owner, St Libra
C
ONTENTS
S
UNDAY
J
ANUARY 13, 2143
As midnight approached, the wild neon colors of the borealis storm came shimmering through the soft snow falling gently across Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. It was as if nature were partying along with the rest of the city, providing a jade-and-carmine light show far more elegant than any of the fireworks that had been bursting sporadically above the rooftops since Friday.