Chapter 20
Planet ‘New Earth 8’, somewhere near Luyten’s Star.
There were countless ‘New Earths’ in this region of space, the result of a long ago attempt at colonization by the Earth Interstellar Navy’s Grand Expeditionary Fleet No. 4 on its third voyage. Colony shuttles had landed upon a score of worlds to establish outposts whilst the Fleet continued on. After unloading the colonists the shuttles intended to rejoin the Fleet on its return journey to Earth. (See Jane’s Fighting Ships of Space Exploration, 3rd edition; 4th Expeditionary Fleet 3rd voyage to Lutyen’s Star).
The Fleet had never returned and the colony shuttles awaited refuelling and re-provisioning in vain. The years passed easily for some colonies and human society thrived on New Earth 14 and 2 at a basic ‘Steam Age’ te
