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"Horizon Zero"

Development

• Capt. Paul Chandler and the other astronauts remain fugitives with a Taelon shuttle at their disposal.
• The astronauts send back to the Liberation pictures of the Taelon homeship and a Taelon colony, both on the far side of the moon.

Backstory

William Boone

• Boone is a former Army Ranger.

Lili Marquette

• Lili is a Marine pilot who trained on F-22’s at Valdosta, Georgia. She flew with Paul Chandler.

Jonathan Doors

• Doors has suspected that the Taelon homeship was in orbit on the far side of the moon.

The Taelons

• Agenda on Earth
  
  • Da’an tells the astronauts that “the Companions do not dictate public policy,” which is something of an equivocation.
  • The Taelons are seeking excellent pilots for an inter-dimensional space travel program to other galaxies.
  • Da’an: “The interconnection of human and Taelon needs is complex. It is necessary than in some endeavors, short-term sacrifice may be required to achieve the long-term goal of an enhanced life for both our races.”
  • Da’an to the Synod: Perhaps it is time to share with [humanity] that part of the truth which they can comprehend. We could present or activities in a way that could be accepted.” It seems likely that Da’an is referring to the Taelon homeship and colony.
• Technology
  
  • While human physics only recognizes twelve dimensions, Taelon physics recognizes sixteen.
  • Shuttle: The shuttle’s inter-dimensional drive uses one of the four additional Taelon dimensions to crumple three-dimensional space, allowing the shuttle to move between points where the crumples meet. The navigation system is programmed by Taelon engineers not to allow travel outside Earth’s atmosphere, a measure designed to prevent humans from reaching space. The shuttle also has antigravity capabilities. The shuttle can travel at least 20 miles/second, as Captain Hart says the shuttle traverses 400 miles in 20 seconds. This is 3.2 times faster than in ”Decision.”

Miscellaneous

• President Thompson, at the urging of the Taelon Synod, cancelled the joint U.S.-British-German manned mission to Mars. However, after Chandler and his compatriots steal the shuttle, they do in fact become the first humans to set foot on the Red Planet. The mission was run by IASA (perhaps an acronym for International Aeronautics and Space Administration).
• Earth sent the Vespucci probe to Pluto, which landed successfully, although its mission was terminated prematurely by the government according to Chandler. The probe was likely named for the Portuguese explorer Amerigo Vespucci for whom North and South America were named.
• After the Companions’ arrival, the United States military was downsized, and many military bases, including the base in Valdosta, Georgia, were closed.