For generations, the Xrans labored on many fronts to identify a way to survival. Their scientists led the way, constantly improving their understanding of astronomy and astrophysics – celestial mechanics in particular. Manufacturers developed new manufacturing techniques and new and improved uses for raw materials – particularly the components required to strengthen the materials. Politicians and other government officials worked tirelessly to keep the Xrans’ “eye on the ball” of the importance and urgency of finding a safe passage to the orb (Earth) that was growing daily in the Xran sky. And finally church officials continued their efforts to convert non-believers (that Xra would soon be vaporized by the orb's atmosphere). Mainly the non-believers were ensconced in a denial mode inside the Great Cavern at the center of the asteroid.
Over many generations a ‘descent concept’ was developed. Although, the Xran race was becoming quite advanced, there was no atmosphere on Xra to test aerodynamic landing vehicles, and, even if one was developed, no material to shield such craft from the heat of entry into the orb’s atmosphere was able to be developed. Projections were that none would be developed before the asteroid was expected to plunge to its demise into the orb’s atmosphere.
Over its life, Xra had attracted four moons into orbit around her. My idea for an asteroid having a moon came from the discovery recently of the asteroid, Ida, where astronomers found a moon revolving around her. This was a new concept for most of us and I thought it would be an exciting side-bar to the story.
As Xra's scientists' development of the science of celestial mechanics progressed, it could be estimated that the moons – one-by-one, would fall into the orb’s atmosphere before Xra itself. It was further calculated that the moons would generally hold up for three-quarters the way to the orb’s surface when they would disintegrate. After continued study, it was determined that the atmosphere immediately in back of the falling moon would be cool enough to protect Xran craft from the disintegrating heat of entry. As long as the craft, powered only by anti-gravitation mechanics, stayed in the appropriate positions behind the falling moon, their otherwise inadequate heat shields would do the rest. When the moon finally broke up completely, the craft would be able to make it the rest of the way to the orb with the materials of current heat resistance technology.
I decided at this point in the story to concentrate on the first group (of eventually four groups) of aliens landing safely on the orb. The balance of the alien population on Xra would come down later as the other three moons descended into the atmosphere. Because of a gravitational anomaly of the asteroid, now with one less moon, Xra moves into a higher orbit around the orb. The result is that the remaining moons will not descend to the orb immediately as projected, but would be delayed one-hundred years before the next moon drops into the atmosphere. The remaining Xran population, having readied themselves for immediate descent to orb, revolt against the scientists and politicians for raising then dashing their hopes. Most of the remaining population now feels that the first group died and the experiment to reach the orb ended in disaster. Most of them revert to the Great Cavern at the center of Xra to join the rest of the original non-believers (in the cataclysmic end of Xra).
Xra’s Great Cavern will appear throughout the story and is an important characteristic of Xra as the politics of the coming disaster closes in on the asteroid. The cavern stays at the forefront of the battle between the believing Xra surface dwellers and the non-believing cavern dwellers. Much political and religious power is brought to bear on both groups. Although there is little communication by design between the orb and the orbiting group, it is a citizen of the orb that finally helps break the Xran log-jam of philosophical contention in an interesting way with an intricate long term plan.
Meanwhile the first descent group does, in fact, land safely on the orb with a minimum of casualties. To protect themselves from the unknown dangers of the orb's surface, the original twenty descent vehicles tunnel their way one-hundred feet below the orb's surface, gather together, and begin the study of the planet – its flora and fauna - and man.
