There was a huge celebration with music and dancing and neither expected that kind of welcome. But there was much to celebrate that day, and everyone needed it after such a difficult winter.
Later that evening, Syra contacted Hannah and the crew on the Caldiron Ranch with some disturbing news or predictions. Either way, everyone sat and listened quietly as Syra spoke.
My dear friends of Caldiron Ranch, thank you all for everything that you have done to save as many people as you could. You have done an excellent job in giving them the tools they need to survive or at least a better chance of it now because of all of you and your efforts.
Our Zhian Sphere has made a dire prediction, and we need all of you to prepare for a trip to Earth II where you can make a difference in a new world.
It is going to be very dangerous for any of you to stay behind now, so please, prepare to pack everything you have at the ranch and we will send the Ark Royal for your rescue soon.
Syra had given them all the details of the expected earthquakes in the western states and their possible locations. Plus, the worst hurricane season on record for the eastern and southernmost states was no doubt going to destroy the east coast all the way down and around Florida, the Gulf of Mexico to Texas and Mexico.
There was simply no way anyone could change the events predicted, and those that occupied this area would not budge. Syra felt they had done all that they could do. There would be no more warnings given.
As soon as Syra signed off, everyone went straight to work to pack everything in sight.
The acting president moved to the Yellowstone Settlement One, and that was the new governing body’s location and everyone there embraced the concept.
Every day Hannah worked to direct this great exodus from Earth.
She had never seen Earth II, but she trusted Syra and proceeded to work as fast as she could. Directing the packing and preparing seven days a week and did not take any time off. No one did.
Ellead started delivering as much Zhian technology as his cargo bay could hold to the four camps. Cynthia and Bart were in charge of that operation.
If the Zhian Sphere’s prediction pans out, the Caldiron Ranch would be in the direct path of a very big earthquake and everything that Syra had worked for would be gone. No one could take any chances.
The San Andreas fault lines were of great concern and the ranch was just too close to it and the danger was ever present.
With at least 16 states across the U.S. having the highest risk, California was already showing signs one was brewing.
Even though the ranch was located east of the state of Nevada and almost in Utah, they would not go unscathed. Each day, they could feel shakes beneath their feet and fear filled the hearts of everyone on the ranch.
The Com center would be the last thing removed and that would not happen until the Ark Royal landed for the rescue of the residents of the Caldiron Ranch.
Until then, everyone worked to remove everything off the ranch and to relocate it to four camps of Settlement One, Two, Three and the Appalachian Retreat.
All the technology on the Caldiron Ranch was divvied up among the four camps and each had equal and fair portions of the technology according to their needs.
This kept both Cynthia and Bart busy with little time to relax. There were times neither thought they would finish in time. Especially since three hurricanes were barreling towards the east coast.
For this reason, the Appalachian Retreat received the first load of supplies based on need and location.
But not a single person on the Caldiron Ranch was eager to leave. They still wanted to fight to save as many lives as they could as things in the U.S. worsened.
But all of them knew one thing for certain, staying meant endangering their own lives and time was running out faster than they could keep up.
Hannah had once predicted it would take about 10 years before society would break down to a point there would be no return to life as everyone had known it.
That was the day she had moved on Caldiron Ranch to continue her cause.
It had been nearly seven years since that day, and she had seen her prediction unfold before her eyes.
Leaving Earth, though, made her feel like she was letting everyone down. But there was nothing else she nor any of them could do to make a difference.
Ellead had just finished his last transport of equipment and the ranch was starting to look deserted.
The shields were only around the immediate area of the ranch house and a few buildings.
Hannah contacted Syra back on Earth II and notified her, they were ready for the Ark Royal any day now.
The next day the Ark Royal arrived, and Captain Zee stepped foot on the ranch for the first time in a long time and was stunned at how empty it now looked.
Several dozen service bots proceeded to the ranch house to remove everything that was not nailed down, so to speak. Then on to the generator house and the garage and storage buildings.
By the next morning, nothing was on the grounds of any use to them or anyone else. With everyone now aboard the Ark Royal, the captain suggested they do final flyover from the Caldiron Ranch to the four camps everyone had worked so hard to set up.
But by the time they got a few hundred miles from the retreat camp, the hurricanes had already made it too dangerous to be in the air and the captain gave the orders to head to the wormhole, now!
Everyone watched from their ports how the Earth got smaller than there was nothing to see but long stretches of light spiraling outside their view.
Feeling completely disoriented, and this being their first ride aboard the Ark Royal, they simply closed their eyes. This not only made it easier, but their equilibrium also came back, and they felt much better.
The captain said over the com system, “Please take a look out your viewer windows now!”
They did and were caught breathless as they entered Earth II’s space. The streaks of light were now stand-a-lone star’s blinking all around them.
Just ahead Earth II came in to view and the captain reminded them to enjoy the view.
They could see Earth II’s sun in the distance, and all her moons in the heavens. Cynthia looked over at her husband Bart and asked, “Is this real, or did we die and are just being transported to heaven?”
“Oh, my darling wife, it’s real! I have seen the visuals of Earth II for years since I started working for Syra and then Hannah.”
Hannah caught herself squeezing Charles’ hand so tight, she noticed he had white knuckles and then she released his hand and put her nose to the window to get a full and spectacular view of Earth II.
As they approached Earth II, the captain made mention of the different land masses and oceans below. He noted that the Zhianites and Earths humans had only been on the planet less than 30 years now, so they were seeing a very young new world before their very eyes.
Everyone marveled at the beautiful sandy beaches, then the mountains and valleys that reminded them of Earth and that was the moment everyone aboard the Ark Royal felt at home.
The captain told everyone to look below, they were just about to land at the Central Command Center that was once called Settlement One.
To one side in the distance, he pointed out the City of Allieah and the City of Arteemus. These two cities were named after Syra’s parents and in honor of them.
The Ark Royal landed some distance away because she took up most of a large field outside the center.
Everyone was notified that it would be a while before anyone could disembark while they waited for their transportation.
Ellead was now free to leave the cargo bay and would be used to transport the Ark Royal’s passengers to the greetings center to meet Syra and her family and be formally introduced as the newest residents of Earth II.
Thousands turned out for the celebration and as usual, the music and food were plenty.
Ellead took his passengers to the landing area assigned him and they disembarked
his ship and were escorted to the seating area to sit and wait for Syra to arrive.
A notice was sent that Syra and her family was arriving aboard Sheevah, Syra’s private ship, and would be on stage momentarily.
The evening celebrations were well underway and then there was complete silence as Syra approached the stage with her husband the infamous James Caldiron by her side.
Hannah was thrilled to see the great James Caldiron, father of President Zachary Caldiron, and Syra. The woman she had heard about most of her life was real and standing right in front of her.
Syra, the first alien female to make herself known to man and yet was rejected, had done so much for Earth.
To one side of James was his son, Zach and wife and children.
To the other side were Zoey, Zach’s twin and daughter of Syra and James with her husband and children.
Syra stepped forward and began her welcoming speech.
Dearest Hannah and Charles, Cynthia, and Bart; welcome to Earth II. I wish to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your efforts in trying to save mankind. You have done well.
Thank you to each and every member of these two couples’ teams for what you have done and none of you have left Earth without losses. You have all made great sacrifices and have lived and witnessed some very difficult times on Earth.
Unfortunately, Earth has many great perils ahead and all we can do is monitor through our visuals.
If any of those that reside in the four camps decides Earth is just too dangerous and want to relocate to Earth II, a new mission will be assigned to Hannah and Charles, Cynthia and Bart.
Should the day come that would be the greatest rescue of all time because it would be done under the direst conditions and more dangerous than anyone really knows. Even loss of life is a great possibility. But we will address that day, should it ever come to pass.
There are no words of gratitude that can possibly express my love and appreciation for you and all your efforts. But I can welcome you to Earth II and I intend to embrace each one of you before this day is done.
So please, join us in this grand celebration in honor of each of you that are seated here today. Without you, Earth II would not be the grand place it is and flourishing with life.
Thank you all, Syra.
For the rest of the day, it was dancing and chatting with different people, some from Earth and some from the planet Zhian. One thing for certain, all were the happiest folks Cynthia and Hannah had ever seen in their lifetimes.
“My darling Cynthia, you have not had your martini today,” Bart said with a hint of a smile.
“Who has time for that stuff, I’ve got a whole new world to get to know my love!” Cynthia replied.
Hannah and Charles had never really started a relationship although everyone who knew them expected them to.
They both were just simply too much alike. They liked fighting for a cause and putting all their heart body and soul into it until they won. Then, they’d move on to something else, both always driven by some motivation or another. Many had guessed that now that they were on Earth II, with no rallying cries or causes, they’d probably find time for love.
Everyone was tired and moved to an area of temporary housing while theirs was under construction. It was customary to design your own housing, and it was made to your liking. This would be something that would happen very soon.
Every day for the next week, the new residents of Earth II were taken for tours of the beaches, the mountains and valleys and the cities and were almost overwhelmed at how far a new world had come is such a short time.
They had left their homeworld behind them, but none were very happy about it. Their hearts were broken that they had worked so hard and yet society on Earth was broken and virtually unfixable.
Then Syra called a meeting with Hannah and Charles, Cynthia and Bart to the Central Command Center.
Once inside, they took their assigned seats and Syra asked them to hold one moment while the visuals were loading from Earth.
The first of many earthquakes on the west coast had already started and the Caldiron ranch house was the first thing to collapse, then all the buildings were gone.
But that was not what got to them the most; it was the loss of lives across California, Nevada and several other states which got the brunt of it.
Even though this quake was not as bad as expected, it caused widespread damage.
There would be no repairs to the roads nor buildings and this was the biggest issue and had been for several years. All in the room knew there would never be a Caldiron Ranch again.
The Zach Caldiron Monument had been moved from the White House to Settlement One where the new rising government was now working hard to reestablish its presence.
The first three hurricanes at the beginning of hurricane season did the most damage to the coastlines and had occurred just after the quake in California.
Syra explained to each of them that there really was nothing they could have done about the current events back on Earth and to please concentrate on setting up their new residents.
The sooner they got settled in, the quicker they would be ready to head back to Earth should the time come for another rescue.
Syra reminded them that no one was more qualified than these four people who had left Earth during these troubled times.
To keep everyone’s minds off the troubles on Earth, Syra kept them busy designing their new residences and moving into them.
Each was assigned a job at the Central Command Center but not expected to report to duty for several months while they got settled in.
The entire crew of the Caldiron Ranch chose to have their homes next to each other. They had spent so much time together, they were just too used to each other to separate now. That included Hannah and Charles who quickly became neighbors living one door down from each other in the city of Allieah.
Cynthia and Bart settled into a cottage-type home in that section of the same city but started spending their days exploring Earth II with Ellead.
Today, Cynthia and Bart wanted to explore the mountainous area north of the Central Command Center which was about 50 miles from the center.
Ellead was there to answer any questions they had, and Cynthia asked, “If worse comes to worst, couldn’t we transport one camp at a time from Earth and move them to the mountains here?”
“No one has suggested that to Syra yet because they have been so busy building up the two cities here,” Ellead replied. He also added, “Each city has its own government set up and a leader. I suppose that would work here in the mountains just as easily.”
“What about safety for a new camp here, would there be the same protections Settlement One, Two and Three have?” Bart asked.
“I suppose if the Ark Royal were to bring each settlement in its entirety, there would be no need to build a new camp, only to reconstruct it,” Ellead replied.
Ellead went on to add, “There simply aren’t enough resources to pull off building a new city right now, but if everything and everyone was brought from each camp, it just might work!”
They rode the entire mountains looking for the perfect spot to relocate the Appalachian Retreat, which was in harm’s way right now with the hurricanes pounding the east coast.
Soon they would be in grave danger from the high winds, rains, and mudslides in the area.
On the way back to their cottage, Cynthia could not help but feel this was the right thing to do.
“If the residents of the Appalachian Retreat felt threated, and they knew they could live here, they would, I truly believe that!” Cynthia stated very strongly and promised Bart she would bring this up to Syra once enough research was done to show they could successfully move the camp to Earth II.
The other three camps had Zhian technologies, so they were safer from the elements natural or manmade. This would be the case Cynthia would use when she pitched her idea to Syra.
The next day they went back to the mountains t
o take a ride on the ridge and see the area from that point of view and not from the sky.
A waterfall was noted and a large flat area running for miles on the top of the mountain which would be a great place to build the new retreat.
With the water flowing freely, good soil for planting and space for reconstructing their retreat, it would be perfect.
But Cynthia knew that this would be one of her greatest feats to achieve if she were to succeed! There would be an awful lot of planning, but she needed Syra’s blessing first.
With all the blueprints of the ridge complex completed, she was ready to meet with Syra.
At dinner that night, Cynthia was so excited, Bart had never seen her so full of life.
“Now, don’t get your hopes up to high honey, she could turn you down you,” Bart said.
But Cynthia couldn’t even think about a “no” answer right now and she replied, “Please, think positive thoughts for me, honey.”
“I will, I promise sweetheart,” Bart replied.
Then the visuals came on and it was the Central Command Center calling for a conference call now. Cynthia and Bart reported present and shortly thereafter, Hannah and Charles announced they were present, and the rest of the Caldiron Ranch crew were now present and accounted for.
Syra came online and announced that very high hurricane winds had hit the retreat and they were afraid the buildings wouldn’t take much more.
Already, hundreds of people had found the retreat moving inland to get away from the storms, and they were now battling for control of it. Ammunition was well stocked, but several had died from the fighting as well as from the damage from the most recent hurricane.
It was believed by the residents of the retreat that many of those fighting for control of the retreat were donors to the reverend because some of them knew too much about the property.
Some were suspected to have been on the property before because they knew their way around and may have been part of the original crew who cleared the land.
“I realize this is a lot to ask of you since you have only been on Earth II a few weeks now, but these people may die if we don’t at least attempt to rescue them,” Syra said.
The Chronicles of Syra Omnibus Page 38