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  Taking only a few steps he then stopped, turning back to her slowly. "I really do feel much better - this has helped me feel much more . . . up." and he winked at her pointedly - then disappeared.

  Chapter One

  Hillary Station

  "This is simply stunning!" Craning her neck high, Regan looked out across the inner pipe. With a slow turn of her head she followed the last section of diamond glass as crew carefully placed and secured it, finally sealing off vacuum at the earthward end of the pipe. The dispersed sunlight she could see streaming in through the new and massive meter thick window sections reminded her of stained glass cathedral artworks she saw as a child - maybe we should have considered that? And immediately she corrected the thought - once fully developed the Orbital Central Park would have magnificent views through to Earth at one end and the moon at the other; best not to spoil it with permanent color.

  She squinted at the bright end to end light source she could see shining like a giant fluorescent tube and illuminating the entire inner pipe face. Dubbed Central Sun by the construction team it effectively created a new ceiling to the inner pipe and would forever now shine 'down' on to visitors to the park. Hundreds of workers could be seen on the new ground surface as they made the final adjustments to the gravity plate placement. It was clear from their progress the process of filling the lake could begin soon - I wish I'd made it bigger.

  An inside diameter of just one kilometer meant the pipe only allowed for an inner circumference of three thousand one hundred meters. It would always have been an uncomfortably curved surface had they tried to utilize all of the pipe’s inside face. Hilary's solution was to instead build a three million square meter Gravity Platform across one chord of the inner pipe, thus creating a large flat area for a ground park. Placing the new Central Sun Tube on the opposite inner face allowed light to stream directly down from above, forever now giving the pipe a top and bottom orientation, if only from the inside. They had called the new area Central Park, a nod to New York and the beautiful space there.

  The new park area measured three thousand meters long and nine hundred meters wide with a ceiling height at Central Sun of seven hundred meters. It would now be a huge open space with a lake, a twenty five meter swimming pool, grassed sports fields and extensive bush walks. Regan smiled, thinking of Hilary, the station AI. This was all to her master plan and while brilliant in conception, it would be even better when fully realized. Plus Hilary's changes had effectively created space for six new levels underground to expand into.

  "We couldn't have made it this fast without two things, Regan." Hayden Joyce, the Hillary Station Commissioner had given up craning to look at the work. His aging neck couldn't handle it and he quietly looked forward to the time when people forgot the strangeness of looking through these ceiling windows across the gap to tiny figures walking upside down in the distance. For one thing it would mean fewer injuries on station and less pressure on the hospital as a result.

  Regan was still looking up, taking in the forest of trees and shrubs which from this perspective jutted from the opposite wall. Most had been ferried in by Sherpa prior to closing the ends, a massive operation. The trees were the maximum height manageable by transport at around fifteen meters and once planted would create a veritable instant forest. They would be supplemented by the hundred and twenty meter monsters that Ham had freighted in one by one, crammed in the STEIN Traveler. The varieties included both exotics and New Zealand natives, Beech, Oaks, Pohutakawa, Rata, Tawa, to name just a few. There would even be a Redwood forest rapid grown over the next two years and the result would be a beautiful bush environment to calm the soul.

  Regan shook her head and looked back at Hayden, stretching her neck from side to side to work out the kinks.

  "Sorry Hayden, you were saying?"

  He smiled, "It's hard to take in isn't it? I was saying we couldn't have made this progress so quickly without two things, an AI of Hilary's capability of course, but also the people from Cora, credit where credit is due I say."

  She nodded, "They have been great value haven't they? Correct me if I'm wrong but there do seem to be more of them around than I remember."

  "You're not wrong; I don't think life in Siberia was a particularly attractive prospect to them, not when they started to hear how happy their friends were up here. We've had around one hundred of the group that originally chose to go home to Gliese instead apply to come up and work with us. Ham accepted seventy of them and I must say they've been great. They're all experienced working in weightless environments and with the machinery we use. It might not be their usual work mining asteroids but I can't fault them for their skill in space construction."

  "How long before we can be in the park, Hilary?" she asked, looking back up into the space and already thinking about running through the Redwoods.

  The reply emanated as if Hilary were standing beside them. "It will be two months all going well. As you can see, they're closing off the ends now and the inside flight deck screens are already down and sealed off. So from here we pressurize the inside, and then establish Earth normal atmosphere and gravity. Following that landscaping and planting can begin; it's going to be fun." She sounded excited.

  "Well, I'm delighted. Thank you both, you Hilary for your excellent project management and ideas, you Hayden for winning over the Corans so well. They trust you, and that's important."

  Hayden looked strangely at her. "I don't know how you do it Regan; you're always selling yourself short. Thank you for recognizing us but I have to say, the Corans think you're the bee's knees, is that the correct Kiwi expression?" He laughed.

  "I can't think why," she looked genuinely surprised.

  "Simple, they expected to be executed or locked up, and why wouldn't they, they were about to nuke our planet. Instead, you offered them an opportunity. More than that you recognized their needs as a people and offered them hope; it's not something their tribe had experienced for decades."

  "Regan," Hilary joined the discussion, "The people of Cora are not so different to you, and they've heard that you started from nothing; that's something they respect. As young people they face the same issues as your young. Scarce resources, too much negativism and pessimism about the future, and leadership that preaches one thing while doing another. They know they were sent here to take something that wasn't theirs and they were beaten fair and square. Then, instead of being rightly judged they find you giving them offers of partnership. Your language is all about working together, leveraging skills, providing for families and new beginnings. None of them have forgotten the moment when you spoke to them on the flight deck of the Behemoth; in the middle of their terror you brought hope. To them you're a savior."

  Regan just shook her head. "It's too much. Look, I'm just grateful - communicate that to them, will you."

  She left them to it, walking back down the pipe corridor toward the Stein compound. Nothing like some time with Jared to bring me down to Earth!

  [How are they going over there Ham?] She subbed, thinking about the team working over on the Behemoth.

  [They're doing well; young Aaron is on to it. That warship will be sprinting interstellar before you know it.]

  [Regan . . . Leah and Marin are on their way back now with the Senior Coran Officer and he wants to talk with you personally, no one else. Leah thinks it might be important.]

  [Have you checked him out?]

  There was a pause before he responded and even subbing she could tell he was annoyed at the question, [No - I thought it would be more interesting to ignore the knife . . . of course I've checked him out, seriously, would I let anyone near my backup?]

  She smiled, [How long before they get here?]

  [Thirty minutes, and they did want to eat; I suggest they go straight to the mess . . .]

  Hilary, ever helpful, burst in to the conversation. [I'll organize something for them Ham, leave it to me. And Regan - there is a matter to deal with regarding the American shuttles.]
/>   [Exotic matter I suppose?] Regan strode on smiling inwardly.

  [How did you guess?]

  [It had to happen, what do you have in mind Hilary?]

  [The President wants to talk to you; I can set up a meeting for early this afternoon?]

  [Do it, and thank you. Your plans for the park are stunning - I love them.]

  [I hoped you would, and it will be such a help to the general stress levels here. The park might seem big now but once we develop the full Orbital, well . . . I have plans, let's leave it at that for now.]

  [I'll look forward to our next executive meeting.] Regan arrived at the compound door and paused there.

  [So . . . prepare me Ham, what are you and Jared up to in there?]

  [What are you suggesting?] His mock offence was obvious. [I have only that boy's long term development in mind, you know that.]

  [Sooo . . .?]

  [We're doing some computer work.]

  She paused before padding the door control. [And that means . . .]

  [He's exploring the world.]

  [Where Ham, where is he exploring?]

  He didn't answer . . .

  [Ham . . .]

  [Well, they have tried to nuke us three times!]

  [Russia?]

  [He's very inventive you know, came up with the idea all on his own.]

  [And the idea was . . . ?]

  [Well, put it like this, if they ever try to push that red button, it won't work.]

  She smiled and padded the door.

  [He's like a young Mozart you know . . . it's just that his interests are in other fields.]

  [Are those interests his or yours, my friend?]

  [I can't say I've noticed any difference in our interests.] Ham radiated innocence.

  As she entered the lounge a happy Jared came out of the study so Regan sat on the couch and patted the seat beside her. He slid up and crossed his arms smugly.

  "And what have you been up to, my boy?" She rustled his hair, much to his annoyance.

  "I've saved you mom."

  "Have you? Well, thank you very much, and how did you do that?"

  "They won't be able to missile you - because I've misled them!"He laughed at his own little joke.

  "Tell me more my young guardian."

  "It's so simple, when they try to shoot their missiles they won't work." He sat forward and turned to look at her very excited. "I thought I could lie down over the barrel so when they fire the missile and it doesn't work it will embarrass them."

  "Hmm . . . but when the doors open over the missile, won't you just fall through?"

  He considered that for a moment. "Are they pointed, the missiles?"

  "More rounded on the end I think."

  "Hmm, that doesn't sound too bad . . . they'll still be embarrassed."

  "I'm sure they will." She grabbed his hands and pulled them to her chest, "Now, what do you want to do for your birthday - you're five now, come on, anything!"

  His eyes widened with excitement. "I want to fire a gun!"

  Somewhat deflated, she nevertheless controlled her reaction. "Well, we'll need to talk to Marin then. He's the only one with a big gun around here."

  Jared, never one to stay in a single place for long, slipped away quickly with a look that telegraphed he was a boy with a purpose.

  As Regan reclined in the entrance garden she relaxed and mentally scanned the pipe, her ability to roam cyberspace growing better by the day. She could see Kevin and Mary with Hayden consulting over China's arrival on the Hillary Step. Some issue over expectations of support seemed to be dominating the boring discussion. The twins were with Jean in the Hillary restaurant section having lunch. Jared was already back with Ham in the office; he had concerns, that there might be other buttons. She mused on that for a while. How would the constant threats on her life affect him? Kutch was working with Hilary on the central processors and plans for expansion to her envisaged full Orbital. Outside the pipe the two huge new fabricators continued the process of pumping out sections, girders and gravitation plates.

  From her position she watched a small group walk up from the flight decks. The surprisingly young Coran officer walked in the center beside Aaron and looked nervous. Leah and the now hirsute Marin walked on either side of the pair. Looking at Marin and his already shoulder length dark hair she unconsciously combed fingers through her own short crop, enjoying the feeling and the fresh look. Like Leah she had kept the cut short, not too dramatic a change and she liked it, very practical.

  [Marin.] She subbed him privately.

  [Hi babe.] He didn't break stride but she delighted to see his immediate smile.

  [Forgive me, I know you're probably watching out for this but none of the Cora group is actually working with Aaron on the ship are they?]

  [Don't worry, none of them are even allowed in engineering while he's there. No, it's a mystery to them that we have anyone who can even understand the drive, none of them can.]

  [Hilary has lunch coming in here for our meeting but perhaps Aaron might prefer taking a break, maybe Leah could take him up to the cafe? The Coran business probably won't involve him anyway.]

  [I'll check, see you soon.]

  She didn't follow their conversation, her thoughts instead shifting to the afternoon call with President Johnston. She knew what it would be about, exotic matter, the magic bean as Ham had once called it and the limiting factor in their plans. Of course the Americans would need a power source for their shuttles, based as they were on the Coran drives and so would every other nation looking to establish a space presence. Thus far, however, they had been unable to establish a source of the elements required anywhere in the solar system. They didn't really need a special reason to return to Gliese but the shortage of insertion ready cores gave them compelling motivation to do it soon.

  At the sound of doors opening she stood and waited for them to enter. Only Marin and the Coran officer appeared and she gestured, guiding them through to the lounge, noting Marin placed himself between them as they passed.

  [He worries you?] She subbed.

  [Just careful.] Marin smiled.

  They took seats opposite each other and for a while just looked across the space, each waiting for the other to speak. Marin broke the impasse.

  "Regan, this is Officer Cora, he was fourth in line to the Behemoth throne so to speak. He now finds himself the most senior officer following the unfortunate demise of his superiors."

  She smiled across at the young man, disarmingly warm. "Cora? An interesting name . . . does that mean . . ." She hesitated, hoping he would fill the gap.

  "Yes Mistress," he looked almost apologetic. "I am a Cora, of the founding family and I am here more by favor than ability. I am ashamed to say I'm just a junior in the hierarchy at home. Please be assured, I have no great influence, nor do I hold any grudge."

  "You wished to speak with me, Cora. What can be so important that it could not be discussed with my partner Ham?" She became serious, her eyes boring into the man and he shifted uncomfortably. Marin, with lightning speed placed one hand firmly on his arm; the message was clear.

  He looked down at the hand and swallowed. "Please accept my apologies Mistress; my nerves get the better of me. I simply wanted to meet you and share the feelings of the crew, and to pass on a warning."

  "A warning - you must enlighten me." She shifted forward confidently.

  "Not a warning about us Mistress, most of the crew are behind you and the son of Mariner." He looked at Marin and nodded in acknowledgement. "My warning is about Beria and what may come to pass." He was sitting forward, suddenly most earnest.

  Marin bristled at just the mention of Beria's name and Regan lifted one hand, giving him pause. He sat back without speaking.

  "Tell me more, Commander Cora."

  "Beria has the ear of my uncle, the Emperor, and she is fixated on revenge. You know she will not go away."

  "Yes, this we do know Commander, but I sense you have something else to report.
"

  "Yes Mistress, I reviewed the actions of my superiors prior to their . . . demise. Commander Merryl's orders were abhorrent and you must believe the crew would never have supported them had they known. But my review also found an issue of great concern. Soon after arrival Tech Officer Terrin sent back a drone to Cora with the Commander’s report as is normal practice. At home they would have expected three more drones to arrive in the time since the first one, one for every three of your months at most."

  She nodded. "So you expect they'll be concerned nothing has arrived since that first one. . ." she nodded for him to continue.

  "What do I think?" He concentrated for a moment. "It has been nine months since they would have received that first report. They would wait for a while, allowing for delay on the second, after all anything could have happened to the ship. They would then consider whether the Behemoth was already on the way back, or whether a drone was damaged in transit, all the reasons why there might be delay. But eventually they will face the inevitable, that something has happened to the ship. Then they will consider all the possibilities, and their next action. If the ship has not returned then is it damaged, or destroyed? If it is damaged, do we go in rescue?" He looked up, embarrassed. "In that case under normal circumstances I would say probably not, they wouldn't come to rescue as they do not value the lives, merely the task." He paused, uncomfortable with what he was saying.

  "But in this case you think they will act differently?" She probed further.

  "Mistress, I have seen the original orders; my uncle is expansionist . . . he wants to build an empire. And, of course there is the matter of Beria's bitterness, they may well come regardless of what might have happened and if they assume the vessel has been destroyed they will come in strength." He didn't look happy.

  "Thank you Commander Cora, of course we have known questions would be raised and at some point they would respond. The question was whether we would return to Gliese before they came here; it's a conundrum. We needed to make sure we were prepared for defense here in case we passed them in transit, particularly with what I have in mind." She looked pensive until Ham interrupted.