Dyson Alpha
Names: Dyson AlphaDyson PairDyson starDyson AAlphaDyson systemDyson Alpha star system
First appears in Book 1: Pandora's Star, chapter 2 (ONE)
Appearances
What you know
Book 1: Pandora's Star
- Ch 2Dyson Alpha is a K-type star 1,240 light-years from Gralmond whose visible light vanished instantly, now emitting only infrared, suggesting an enveloping force field rather than a built solid shell.
- Ch 3News of Dyson Alpha's enclosure by a barrier broke publicly, with Dudley Bose interviewed; Paula checked that Elvin's message predated Bose's confirmation.
- Ch 3Adam has his e-butler search news for items concerning Dyson Alpha.
- Ch 6Bose discovered an envelopment event at Dyson Alpha, prompting CST to build a starship to go there.
- Ch 14The barrier around the Dyson star is believed by the Guardians to contain a great evil.
- Ch 15Dyson Alpha is a star enclosed by a barrier, about twenty-five light-years from the ship's position at the start of the passage.
- Ch 21The Conway and StAsaph were to scan the inner system for wormhole activity and attempt contact; the Langharne stayed back in hyperspace to gather data.
Book 2: Judas Unchained
- Ch 3Home system of the Primes, once contained by a barrier that has since come down for unknown reasons.
- Ch 12Morton says the navy must now nova Dyson Alpha, MorningLightMountain's home star, as the only remaining solution.
- Ch 19Dyson Alpha has three solid planets, two gas giants and the Dark Fortress.
- Ch 20The speaker was the last thing to escape from Dyson Alpha.
Connections
- part ofDyson Pair
- includesAlpha Major
- containsDyson aliens
- containsDark Fortress
Key moments
- Book 1 · Ch 2Dyson Alpha vanishes
Dudley Bose watches Dyson Alpha vanish from his telescope in under a heartbeat, but sensors were not active. Sensors later show only an infrared signature, implying instantaneous envelopment.
- Book 1 · Ch 15Second Chance emerges near Dyson Alpha
Wilson's ship exits hyperspace in interstellar space, and sensor modules survey Dyson Alpha's barrier at progressively closer stages, finding no threats and little new information.
- Book 1 · Ch 15Hysradar sweep and approach to the barrier
At one light-month the crew uses hysradar, which is reflected like a mirror, then jumps to one million km above the barrier's equator and learns wormholes cannot penetrate it.
- Book 1 · Ch 15The barrier vanishes
Dyson Alpha's barrier loses cohesion and disappears as the Second Chance approaches, revealing a civilized, heavily colonized system and a changed Dark Fortress. Oscar fears something knows they are there.
- Book 1 · Ch 15Dyson squadrons fight
The crew observes a large battle between two Dyson squadrons using nuclear missiles and gamma lasers; Oscar urges leaving, but Wilson refuses.
- Book 1 · Ch 15Cautious contact plan and approach
Wilson authorizes a minimum-emission investigation of an abandoned wreck or habitat, with the ship on combat alert. The Second Chance crosses the old barrier line and heads for a chosen rock.
- Book 1 · Ch 21Scoutships reach Dyson Alpha
After seventy-two days the three scoutships halt half a light-year out, find clear space, and the Conway and StAsaph proceed in while the Langharne waits and gathers data. They detect powerful wormhole activity.
- Book 1 · Ch 21MorningLightMountain builds wormholes
Using Bose's memories, MorningLightMountain develops wormhole generators, links its settlements and builds a huge interstellar wormhole, spotting the approaching human ships three weeks after it began operating.
- Book 1 · Ch 21Fake Dudley call and flight
MorningLightMountain impersonates Dudley Bose to lure the humans, but the Bose memories break out and shout a warning. Kime orders the scoutships to scatter and flee.
- Book 2 · Ch 17Hijacking of the Charybdis
Ozzie seizes command of the frigate through the SIsubroutine, leaves the dock with Mark aboard and heads for Dyson Alpha at FTL.
- Book 2 · Ch 19Scylla nears Dyson Alpha
Nigel readies the nova bomb and neutron lasers as Scylla closes on Charybdis near Dyson Alpha.
- Book 2 · Ch 19Flare bomb hits the Dark Fortress
Ozzie's flare bomb flashes at the Dark Fortress; afterwards Dyson Alpha's light and MorningLightMountain's signals vanish and the crews head home.
- Book 2 · Ch 20Plan to change MorningLightMountain
The speaker, who escaped Dyson Alpha, decides to stay with MorningLightMountain and slip new questions into its thoughts to teach it tolerance. The speaker expects this to take centuries, and the other party promises to return in a few hundred years to check progress.