Threshold

Something i've been working on; a plot for a TV series maybe. See what you think.

Prologue
The Iversson Threshold was first discovered by Professor Ian Iversson of the University of Edinburgh; noted physicist and environmental scientist late in the summer of 2042 while participating in an ongoing project for the university’s climate control program (File 69432/18xx).

While monitoring some very delicate measuring equipment onboard a converted RC-190 flying close to the magnetic north pole, he noticed some anomalous energy readings. After examination of the information back at base camp it was noticed that there were heavy wave and particle fluctuations in the higher energy bands and very much to his surprise antiprotons – a theoretical impossibility. After checking and double-checking all the equipment on board the aircraft the mission was flown again with the same resulting readings – at an altitude of 98, 000m there was an area approximately 407m in diameter and roughly circular in formation that defied the known laws of science. Air density readings in this circular area dropped to almost zero while gamma radiation levels increased to 10 times background. Equipment also detected the presence of antiprotons and another unidentified high-energy particle. And yet the phenomenon emitted no visible light, neither did it appear to absorb any.

Within days of confirmation of the phenomenon the World senate moved a team of dedicated scientists into the university base-camp to study the anomaly. Because of his academic background professor Iversson was asked to join the team.

It was seventeen months later when the final analysis of the anomaly was presented to the Senate science council. The phenomenon appeared to be a weakening in the boundaries between our space time and another unknown region. It did not appear to be growing and the energy levels in and around the anomaly appeared to be stable. The unknown particle detected was excitedly and titularly identified as a Tachyon – the theoretical particle that could only exist at faster than the speed of light. The conclusion was that it was some form of artificial gateway into another domain and that it had existed since at least before recorded history since its construction would have had global climatic and electromagnetic affects. How it was created, by who or indeed when remained unknown. Naturally the research team wanted funding from the science council to examine ways of passing through ‘Iversson’s Threshold’ to find out and explore what lay beyond.

With some dissenting voices the council agreed to a limited project to this end. It took nearly eight years of test and experimentation before the research team found the key to unlock the threshold – a directed electromagnetic pulse with an oscillating wave form. By projecting such a pulse a robot sensor drone was able to cross the threshold and enter into the unknown domain. Unfortunately shear forces at the cross over point tore the probe apart before any useful data could be retrieved. At this stage the project funding had been expended.

Chapter I
Kyr blinked the sweat from his eyes but didn’t slow his run through the dimly lit passages; they were close behind – but no closer than he wanted them to be. Though there were three of them, all intent on killing him, he showed no sign of fear but rather a grim confidence. The tunnel he was in widened into one of the mining caverns; perhaps a hundred meters long and half that wide, the roof soaring into the gloom above. He stopped his run, turning to face the opening he had just exited and waited. He could already hear them approaching. He glanced up at the walkways anchored to the cavern wall above and the guards that watched expectantly. They wouldn’t interfere, he knew; once you were convicted and sent to the penal colonies you ceased to exist as a human being. Life expectancy in the penal colonies was measured in months, not years.
Kyr had been at Mars penal one for six years, five months terran, that was one of the reasons why the Uranians didn’t worry him. They weren’t the first to try for the million globals bounty on his head. That was another reason why they didn’t worry him.
They came rushing out of the tunnel and without waiting Kyr was among them; they were fast – born at one of the mining colonies on Uranus with 132% gravity (artificial) – the 87% gravity (artificial) in the Martian penal colonies gave them a decided advantage in both speed and strength over normal humans. Kyr, however wasn’t a normal human.
A wicked clothes-line hammered into one of their throats; somersaulting him off of his feet where he lay; his face purpling. Kyr dodged a second clubbing blow; grabbing the arm he flipped up and over his assailant flicking out with his free hand in a blow that sent his opponent stumbling back. The third Uranian was fast, even as he landed a blow hammered into his face drawing a bloody line across his cheek bone. He let the force of the blow spin him using the momentum to launch a hammering back fist that dislocated his opponents jaw. He stepped quickly back, assessing the situation; one of them was dead the other would be unable to continue the fight but the third was climbing unsteadily to his feet in his hand he held a bore spike; seventy two inches of steel alloy weighing almost thirty kilos. Kyr’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
“Alright, break it up.”
To Kyr’s and the Uranian’s amazement six guards, all armed with stunners had appeared on the floor of the cavern and were moving purposely toward them. Kyr relaxed; the stunners weren’t lethal but they could damage the nervous system and the guards weren’t shy about using them when it suited them. The Uranian wasn’t in such an accommodating mood he hefted the bore spike and lunged at Kyr; six stunners fired simultaneously and he dropped as if pole axed.
The guard captain approached Kyr somewhat nervously; he was well aware of his reputation.
“You’ve got a visitor. Get yourself cleaned up and up to administration.”
Kyr stared at him; visitor? He hadn’t had a visitor since he’d been convicted.
“Who?” He asked coldly.
“Get up to administration and you’ll find out.” The captain snapped in return then seeing something in Kyr’s look stepped quickly back – five stunners were all pointed at him.
A brief smile touched Kyr’s lips and he turned and allowed himself to be escorted by the nervous guards to the administration complex.