Page 217 - The Chronicles Ser2 (6-10)

Universe. But Clown’s… That’s another matter altogether. The Meme is present in all cultures; from
the creation myths to the end of time predictions. Somewhere in there is a Clown.” He said to junior
Archivist Menia Flagg.
“You know it would make a fascinating Thesis subject for a Study Group at the Academy; you should
put you theories forward” she said in response. Lance thought about that and decided then and
there that he’d contact his old Tutor Maximillian Hrung. He was Chair of Occasional Studies at the

Thule Academy Franchise on Mervia 7; An Untharan colony in same sector as Vega. Max had once
done a study of the Criminal Elements, including the Assassins Foundation in the Sonoran Trust.
They had a Clown division. A weird bunch of creeps; who left their victims with carved smiles on
their faces, and they dressed appropriately too. It might just spark an interest in the old joker. He
laughed and explained what he’d just thought about to Menia and she roared with laughter. Ron
Land the Chief Archivist for Lunaris walked in and announced
“We’ve just had confirmation that our schedule has been extended. A survey team has found the
building once known as Fort Knox!!” he seemed genuinely ecstatic about that. Groans came from
most of those present. But Lance couldn’t believe his luck…

Dagnor; T’luha, Leeson and Midas were going over the ships planned itinerary for the
expedition. There were some last minute changes that had been proposed for the Endeavour to take
into account. A course correction needed to be made as a star; near to the planned course to Pan,
had shown signs of becoming unstable, The data had come from the probe sent to the Third Galaxy.
It had taken longer than expected to decrypt. The signal had suffered heavily from distortion due to
the gravity waves being pulsed from the star. It meant that they would arrive later than scheduled
“We’ll have to make sure the fleet don’t get fouled up in the distortions when they drop out of our
Fold Wake!” T’luha said. Midas agreed.
“The only other thing I can see to worry about in that region is the debris field from the destruction
of a rogue planet. It is right across the intended path of the third arm of the flight” Midas added.
“That’s the arm of the fleet that doesn’t have the heavy shielding, the Science Survey Mission. I
suppose we could leave a… No wait T’luha; didn’t you say Hubris had discovered a compact Warp
field generator on his return to the study group on She’brakda?” Dagnor asked
“I see where you’re headed. We could modify it to create a sort of static Warp shell around that part
of the flight nearest to the debris field” she replied almost immediately. During this interchange
Leeson had stood back and watched the interplay of the three senior officers. He had his
Counsellor’s hat on, now he needed to change to the other hat; the one of Science Officer.
“If I may interject” He said “There is another solution. Correct me if I’m wrong T’luha, but doesn’t
the Field the ship generates to “Fold” space protrude ahead of the ship?” he asked. T’luha looked
openly amazed
“You’re right. I see now. Dagnor; Midas our Science officer has just given us a much easier
solution…”She said in reply and went on to explain. “The “field” that Leeson is referring to is a
subsidiary effect of folding space on itself to “drag” the ship in the direction you want to head. With
the aid of the field the “folded” space wraps around the ship and unfolds behind. If we approach
from the right angle the debris field would be moved around and behind the ship. If we arrange for
that exit from the fold at our rear to be coexistent with one of the gravity pulses and distortions; a
sort of tunnel would be created that the other ships to pass safely through. It would mean that we’d