CHAPTER 7

Oscar's Wormhole Operation

Focus Characters: Oscar Monroe, Dermet Shalar, Wilson Kime
Location(s): Merredin, the CST exploratory division base
Core Narrative: Oscar Monroe, the Operations Director, oversees the recommissioning of a wormhole generator on Merredin, a planet that serves as a junction world for phase three space in the Commonwealth. After a 15-month overhaul, the wormhole is successfully activated, and Oscar's team begins to explore the planet AFR98-2B, a potential new world. The team discovers a planet with a stable geology, a standard oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere, and a high water vapor content, making it a promising candidate for human habitation. However, they soon encounter a native plant species that secretes acid, which poses a threat to the team's safety. The team is forced to retreat and begin a more thorough investigation of the planet's flora and fauna.
Broader Implications: The discovery of the acid-secreting plant species raises concerns about the planet's habitability and the potential risks of encountering hostile native life.

Focus Characters: Oscar Monroe, Wilson Kime
Location(s): Anshun, the starship project complex
Core Narrative: Oscar meets with Wilson Kime, the captain of the starship Second Chance, to discuss the crew selection process for the mission. Wilson is impressed by Oscar's skills and experience and offers him the position of executive officer on the starship. Oscar accepts the offer, and they begin to discuss the crew selection process, including the selection of McClain Gilbert as the forward crew leader.
Broader Implications: Oscar's appointment as executive officer on the starship marks a significant development in the narrative, as he will play a key role in the mission's success and will be involved in the crew selection process.

Focus Characters: Wilson Kime, James Timothy Halgarth
Location(s): Far Away, the Research Institute
Core Narrative: Wilson Kime, the captain of the starship Second Chance, conducts a unisphere conference with James Timothy Halgarth, the director of the Research Institute on Far Away. Halgarth discusses the Institute's research on the Marie Celeste, an alien starship that arrived on Far Away, and provides information on the ship's technology and capabilities. Wilson asks Halgarth about the possibility of the Marie Celeste being connected to the Dyson Pair, but Halgarth is skeptical and believes that the two are unrelated.
Broader Implications: The conversation between Wilson and Halgarth provides insight into the mystery surrounding the Marie Celeste and its connection to the Dyson Pair, and raises questions about the nature of the alien technology and its implications for human understanding.

Focus Characters: Dudley Bose, Wendy Bose, Dean, Vice President
Location(s): Gralmond, the university
Core Narrative: Dudley Bose is appointed as a full professor at the university on Gralmond, a significant achievement in his career. He delivers a speech thanking the university and expressing his commitment to the mission to unravel the mystery of the Dyson Pair. Wendy Bose, his wife, is present at the ceremony and is proud of Dudley's achievement.
Broader Implications: Dudley's appointment as full professor marks a significant development in the narrative, as he will play a key role in the mission to unravel the mystery of the Dyson Pair and will be involved in the selection of the crew for the starship Second Chance.

Focus Characters: Dudley Bose, Brad
Location(s): Gralmond, the university reception
Core Narrative: Dudley is interviewed by Brad, a reporter from Earle News, about his career and the astronomy department on Gralmond. Dudley discusses his research on the Dyson Pair and his appointment as full professor. Brad asks questions about the department's funding and Dudley's relationship with the Cox Educational charity.
Broader Implications: The interview between Dudley and Brad provides insight into Dudley's career and his relationship with the Cox Educational charity, and raises questions about the nature of the charity's involvement in the astronomy department.

Focus Characters: Dudley Bose, Wendy Bose, Constable Brampton
Location(s): Gralmond, Dudley's home
Core Narrative: Dudley's home is broken into, and his memory is dumped from his house array. The police are called, and Dudley and his wife Wendy return home to find the police investigating the break-in. Dudley's memory is stolen, and the police are unable to recover it.
Broader Implications: The break-in and theft of Dudley's memory raise concerns about the security of his research and the potential consequences of the theft.