Within the Universe
Thursday, November 11, 2004
Chapter 8 - Star
Drifting aimlessly on an elliptical path around a large galaxy, the star shone. It shone without fail from the first days after it had condensed enough to fuse hydrogen into helium, and would shine until the very day when all of its material had been fused into iron. The lifetime of the star was long, and it defined how long a galaxy would live too. The blue stars meant it was a younger galaxy, and the red ones meant it was older. This star was red, and tiny. Floating on the edge of its dying galaxy it glowed with persistance for over 20 billion years. Humanity would almost never find it however, as it was simply too dim to be found. Only an accident would lead to its discovery.
Around this star orbitted three small rocky worlds, far too cold to harbor life without extensive terraforming. They held many valuable resources like iron, cobalt, uranium, and aluminum. These resources could be used to build ships and power them. These resources would fall into the hands of the Universals, who would then ship them directly to Star's End. At Star's End, these resources were used to build new facilities and ships. Most of the resources were used to facilitate construction and improvement, but in a time of war, it was necessary to allocate the rest to constructing weapons. New technology allowed the creation of gamma weapons... emitters that instead of emitting normal light, fired intense beams of gamma radiation. These beams could only be stopped by immensely heavy armor, and were energetic enough to vaporize an unprotected human light-years away. These weapons were forbidden to be used on planets because of the unintended destruction they could cause.
The unbelievers managed to discover this technology as well, but were less inclined to protect life. Entire planets were baked with gamma beams, killing everything on them and irradiating them for generations afterwards. These weapons were truly weapons of massive destruction on a planetary scale. The unbelievers developed them to the point of being able to even bake entire solar systems, destroying all life existing in them. Star's End worked feverishly to develop a defensive shield to protect the outpost should it eventually be discovered and fired upon. Only with the advent of anti-particle weapons was a solution devised. Firing anti-gamma rays would neutralize gamma rays in an energetic explosion. Obviously the gamma rays needed to be intercepted far from Star's End... so defensive emitters were placed around the station a few light-years away. When gamma radiation was detected, these would immediately fire and prevent the station from becoming baked in the attack. Other conventional methods were being developed too. Extremely heavily armored bunkers were constructed in the inner-most areas of the station to protect personnel should a gamma ray attack be detected. Fortunately, they were never used...
Stations were put in orbit around the three planets of the dying star, and the each had portals to transport material back to Star's End. They were also protected by smaller versions of the shielding device used to prevent portal travel. It was fortunate that this technology never fell into the hands of the unbelievers, otherwise they would have likely developed one capable of eliminating portal travel throughout a significant portion of the known universe. The Universals kept this technology very well protected, only a few handful ever knew how to develop one, and they were all guarded and watched to prevent them from transmitting the data to unauthorized personnel.
Humanity was fighting a religious war, just as it had centuries earlier on Earth. This time the costs were much higher. Annihilation could result if either side seriously considered it as an option. As the unbelievers began to lose ground, they would consider this option, and work to build a doomsday device capable of collapsing the entire universe in upon itself. Holy wars had never changed... they had just gotten much bloodier. ¶ 10:15 PM 0 comments
Drifting aimlessly on an elliptical path around a large galaxy, the star shone. It shone without fail from the first days after it had condensed enough to fuse hydrogen into helium, and would shine until the very day when all of its material had been fused into iron. The lifetime of the star was long, and it defined how long a galaxy would live too. The blue stars meant it was a younger galaxy, and the red ones meant it was older. This star was red, and tiny. Floating on the edge of its dying galaxy it glowed with persistance for over 20 billion years. Humanity would almost never find it however, as it was simply too dim to be found. Only an accident would lead to its discovery.
Around this star orbitted three small rocky worlds, far too cold to harbor life without extensive terraforming. They held many valuable resources like iron, cobalt, uranium, and aluminum. These resources could be used to build ships and power them. These resources would fall into the hands of the Universals, who would then ship them directly to Star's End. At Star's End, these resources were used to build new facilities and ships. Most of the resources were used to facilitate construction and improvement, but in a time of war, it was necessary to allocate the rest to constructing weapons. New technology allowed the creation of gamma weapons... emitters that instead of emitting normal light, fired intense beams of gamma radiation. These beams could only be stopped by immensely heavy armor, and were energetic enough to vaporize an unprotected human light-years away. These weapons were forbidden to be used on planets because of the unintended destruction they could cause.
The unbelievers managed to discover this technology as well, but were less inclined to protect life. Entire planets were baked with gamma beams, killing everything on them and irradiating them for generations afterwards. These weapons were truly weapons of massive destruction on a planetary scale. The unbelievers developed them to the point of being able to even bake entire solar systems, destroying all life existing in them. Star's End worked feverishly to develop a defensive shield to protect the outpost should it eventually be discovered and fired upon. Only with the advent of anti-particle weapons was a solution devised. Firing anti-gamma rays would neutralize gamma rays in an energetic explosion. Obviously the gamma rays needed to be intercepted far from Star's End... so defensive emitters were placed around the station a few light-years away. When gamma radiation was detected, these would immediately fire and prevent the station from becoming baked in the attack. Other conventional methods were being developed too. Extremely heavily armored bunkers were constructed in the inner-most areas of the station to protect personnel should a gamma ray attack be detected. Fortunately, they were never used...
Stations were put in orbit around the three planets of the dying star, and the each had portals to transport material back to Star's End. They were also protected by smaller versions of the shielding device used to prevent portal travel. It was fortunate that this technology never fell into the hands of the unbelievers, otherwise they would have likely developed one capable of eliminating portal travel throughout a significant portion of the known universe. The Universals kept this technology very well protected, only a few handful ever knew how to develop one, and they were all guarded and watched to prevent them from transmitting the data to unauthorized personnel.
Humanity was fighting a religious war, just as it had centuries earlier on Earth. This time the costs were much higher. Annihilation could result if either side seriously considered it as an option. As the unbelievers began to lose ground, they would consider this option, and work to build a doomsday device capable of collapsing the entire universe in upon itself. Holy wars had never changed... they had just gotten much bloodier. ¶ 10:15 PM 0 comments
Sunday, November 07, 2004
Chapter 7 - Gaia
On the otherside of the Milky Way galaxy was a planet that resembled that of Earth. It had an atmosphere similar, and organisms that were transplanted from Earth thrived in the new environment. This newly discovered planet would soon become the resting stop for humanity. Many would come from all over the universe to view the beauty known as Gaia. Even planets that had undergone terraforming weren't as majestic and capable of supporting life as Gaia was. In all respects, life should have developed there instead of Earth itself.
The mountains were majestic, and easily rose above Mt. Everest. To climb these mountains would nearly take space suits as they rose so high into the atmosphere. Gaia was also a larger planet than Earth. Somehow, it managed to remain a rocky planet even though it's diameter was nearly twice that of Earth's. These mountains could be seen from many, many miles away. All who saw them would not be able to forget what they looked like, rising high into the atmosphere.
Gaia soon grew to have many lucious jungles as the plant life transplanted from Earth took hold and began to grow at a tremendous pace. Within fifty years most of the planet had life of some form. Within the oceans other life took hold after they were transplanted. Endangered species were also transferred to Gaia after it was deemed safe. They were able to thrive again as the planet had not been tainted by centuries of pollution. Only small villas and tourist hotels were located on Gaia, as well as thousands of automated farms, capable of feeding billions of people around the universe. Soon a new portal was transferred to Gaia so that shipments wouldn't need to be redirected through Earth before reaching their final destination.
Gaia truly was a one of a kind planet. No other in the entire universe was a lucious. There were many that were similar to Earth, however. They were quickly inhabited and soon humanity's population broke two hundred billion people. Technology advancements and social changes were always changing. Each planet had its own customs, but fortunately it wasn't until the Great War between the unbelievers and the Universals that any armed conflicts took place using portal travel. It would be then that all new atrocities would be inflicted on humanity acrossed the universe; mostly by the unbelievers, but even the Universals committed significant infractions on occasion... mostly by accident.
Gaia stayed firmly within the control of the unbelievers throughout the war. The Universals deemed it unnecessary to taint such a planet with war, so no attempt was made to capture it. The unbelievers soon garrisoned troops there, as they believed that the Universals would not attack them there. They were correct, and soon most of the unbeliever military force was garrisoned on or above Gaia. Not even Earth had as many troops or garrisons allocated to it. It would almost be easier to conquer Earth, and go right around the Gaian military force. Eventually that day would come... but first, the Universals needed to find their leader.
¶ 11:36 PM 0 comments
On the otherside of the Milky Way galaxy was a planet that resembled that of Earth. It had an atmosphere similar, and organisms that were transplanted from Earth thrived in the new environment. This newly discovered planet would soon become the resting stop for humanity. Many would come from all over the universe to view the beauty known as Gaia. Even planets that had undergone terraforming weren't as majestic and capable of supporting life as Gaia was. In all respects, life should have developed there instead of Earth itself.
The mountains were majestic, and easily rose above Mt. Everest. To climb these mountains would nearly take space suits as they rose so high into the atmosphere. Gaia was also a larger planet than Earth. Somehow, it managed to remain a rocky planet even though it's diameter was nearly twice that of Earth's. These mountains could be seen from many, many miles away. All who saw them would not be able to forget what they looked like, rising high into the atmosphere.
Gaia soon grew to have many lucious jungles as the plant life transplanted from Earth took hold and began to grow at a tremendous pace. Within fifty years most of the planet had life of some form. Within the oceans other life took hold after they were transplanted. Endangered species were also transferred to Gaia after it was deemed safe. They were able to thrive again as the planet had not been tainted by centuries of pollution. Only small villas and tourist hotels were located on Gaia, as well as thousands of automated farms, capable of feeding billions of people around the universe. Soon a new portal was transferred to Gaia so that shipments wouldn't need to be redirected through Earth before reaching their final destination.
Gaia truly was a one of a kind planet. No other in the entire universe was a lucious. There were many that were similar to Earth, however. They were quickly inhabited and soon humanity's population broke two hundred billion people. Technology advancements and social changes were always changing. Each planet had its own customs, but fortunately it wasn't until the Great War between the unbelievers and the Universals that any armed conflicts took place using portal travel. It would be then that all new atrocities would be inflicted on humanity acrossed the universe; mostly by the unbelievers, but even the Universals committed significant infractions on occasion... mostly by accident.
Gaia stayed firmly within the control of the unbelievers throughout the war. The Universals deemed it unnecessary to taint such a planet with war, so no attempt was made to capture it. The unbelievers soon garrisoned troops there, as they believed that the Universals would not attack them there. They were correct, and soon most of the unbeliever military force was garrisoned on or above Gaia. Not even Earth had as many troops or garrisons allocated to it. It would almost be easier to conquer Earth, and go right around the Gaian military force. Eventually that day would come... but first, the Universals needed to find their leader.
¶ 11:36 PM 0 comments
Saturday, November 06, 2004
Chapter 6 - Multiverse
As it had been theorized by some of humanity's greatest minds, there was more than one universe. Unfortunately, as was proven with portal travel, it was impossible to reach the others because of the fundamental differences between each universe. This is what restricted humanity, it was impossible to go outside the universe they had been born in. Any attempt to lead to instant disintegration as particles from one universe reacted with those of another.
Other than that, the multiverse was not significantly different from humanity's own universe. In fact, some of the universes were almost exactly similar. Only minor differences set them apart from humanity's. In a way, calling one universe humanity's was incorrect, because humanity existed in one form or another in many of the universes. In some, there were other alien races as well. Obviously, with infinite instances, infinite different variations could occur. In one universe, it might be as little as a person wearing a red shirt instead of a blue shirt, or something much bigger, like the Milky Way galaxy not existing in any form... or stars being oppositely colored according to how hot their surface temperature was.
One thing that did stay the same in all the universes, was the fact that humanity could never escape out of one into another. Nearly all tried at one point, but could not. Each was stuck in their own respective universe and timeline. Some surmised that this was possibly a good thing, others began to believe that they were the only universe in existence. Whatever the case, no two identical people from different universes would ever be able to meet. Time travel on the otherhand, would be possible under the right conditions.
The multiverse, always was, and always would be, in existance. An entire universe could collapse upon itself, but the multiverse would always be. Once a universe collapsed upon itself, a new one would be born in a flash of light and heat to take its place. Conservation of mass and energy was always a factor. Even if all the universes collapsed upon themselves at a single point in time, it would do nothing to the multiverse. They would simply birth new universes to take their place. Time was irrelevant in the multiverse. Attempts to breach the universe and simply travel into the multiverse were impossible as well, since no object could exist in the void. Space in the multiverse was entirely black. No light existed. The multiverse did not have light, as it did not have stars. It had so many dimensions it would be impossible to exist in it as a three-dimensional object. It would simply cease to exist on materialization.
This barrier meant one thing... life would always go on somewhere, and it was not a unique occurence, at least, outside of a single universe. Anything was possible in the multiversal plane... ¶ 10:35 PM 0 comments
As it had been theorized by some of humanity's greatest minds, there was more than one universe. Unfortunately, as was proven with portal travel, it was impossible to reach the others because of the fundamental differences between each universe. This is what restricted humanity, it was impossible to go outside the universe they had been born in. Any attempt to lead to instant disintegration as particles from one universe reacted with those of another.
Other than that, the multiverse was not significantly different from humanity's own universe. In fact, some of the universes were almost exactly similar. Only minor differences set them apart from humanity's. In a way, calling one universe humanity's was incorrect, because humanity existed in one form or another in many of the universes. In some, there were other alien races as well. Obviously, with infinite instances, infinite different variations could occur. In one universe, it might be as little as a person wearing a red shirt instead of a blue shirt, or something much bigger, like the Milky Way galaxy not existing in any form... or stars being oppositely colored according to how hot their surface temperature was.
One thing that did stay the same in all the universes, was the fact that humanity could never escape out of one into another. Nearly all tried at one point, but could not. Each was stuck in their own respective universe and timeline. Some surmised that this was possibly a good thing, others began to believe that they were the only universe in existence. Whatever the case, no two identical people from different universes would ever be able to meet. Time travel on the otherhand, would be possible under the right conditions.
The multiverse, always was, and always would be, in existance. An entire universe could collapse upon itself, but the multiverse would always be. Once a universe collapsed upon itself, a new one would be born in a flash of light and heat to take its place. Conservation of mass and energy was always a factor. Even if all the universes collapsed upon themselves at a single point in time, it would do nothing to the multiverse. They would simply birth new universes to take their place. Time was irrelevant in the multiverse. Attempts to breach the universe and simply travel into the multiverse were impossible as well, since no object could exist in the void. Space in the multiverse was entirely black. No light existed. The multiverse did not have light, as it did not have stars. It had so many dimensions it would be impossible to exist in it as a three-dimensional object. It would simply cease to exist on materialization.
This barrier meant one thing... life would always go on somewhere, and it was not a unique occurence, at least, outside of a single universe. Anything was possible in the multiversal plane... ¶ 10:35 PM 0 comments
Chapter 5 - (cont'd)
Star's End became the largest most powerful space station ever designed and constructed. Once the portal inhibitor was in place, most advanced research and ship construction took place at Star's End since it would be impossible to send spies in to view ongoing activities. Higher level military personnel and the leadership of the Universals also lived on the station, protected from assassination via portal. This inhibitor field also prevented conventional targetting systems from detecting the station as it orbited the Milky Way. It was literally a stealthified space station, impossible to detect until you were almost on top of it.
With enhancements to the inhibitor, it could prevent portal tesselations within a two light-year radius, more than enough to prevent any manned ship from reaching the station (at their top speed, it would take them seventy years to reach it, long enough for them to be detected and destroyed).
The other state-of-the-art capability of the station was an enhanced particle cannon. Capable of hitting pinpoint objects light years away, it was the other reason why no ships ever attempted to reach the station via normal travel. They would easily be fried long before they could enter detection range with their own weapons. Supplies came via portal travel when the inhibitor field was shut down, only for a few minutes at a time to prevent any attempts to portal in while it was down. Food, liquids, materials, and other goods were brought into a cargo holding area outside the station. Hydroponics bays were soon constructed to lessen the need for food shipments; the station could remain self-sufficient for up to three years if necessary...
¶ 2:52 PM 0 comments
Star's End became the largest most powerful space station ever designed and constructed. Once the portal inhibitor was in place, most advanced research and ship construction took place at Star's End since it would be impossible to send spies in to view ongoing activities. Higher level military personnel and the leadership of the Universals also lived on the station, protected from assassination via portal. This inhibitor field also prevented conventional targetting systems from detecting the station as it orbited the Milky Way. It was literally a stealthified space station, impossible to detect until you were almost on top of it.
With enhancements to the inhibitor, it could prevent portal tesselations within a two light-year radius, more than enough to prevent any manned ship from reaching the station (at their top speed, it would take them seventy years to reach it, long enough for them to be detected and destroyed).
The other state-of-the-art capability of the station was an enhanced particle cannon. Capable of hitting pinpoint objects light years away, it was the other reason why no ships ever attempted to reach the station via normal travel. They would easily be fried long before they could enter detection range with their own weapons. Supplies came via portal travel when the inhibitor field was shut down, only for a few minutes at a time to prevent any attempts to portal in while it was down. Food, liquids, materials, and other goods were brought into a cargo holding area outside the station. Hydroponics bays were soon constructed to lessen the need for food shipments; the station could remain self-sufficient for up to three years if necessary...
¶ 2:52 PM 0 comments
Friday, November 05, 2004
Chapter 5 - The Edge of the Milky Way
Once the edge of the known universe, the outskirts of the Milky Way trickled away into nothingness. Although other galaxies had been discovered in the 19th and 20th centuries, it was never thought possible that someone would be able to reach them. The edge of the Milky Way was the the beginning of true "space". With no stars dotting the void, the distance appeared to be infinite.
Using the largest portal developed, mankind constructed a massive space station right on the outskirts of the Milky Way. Parts were transported from Earth orbit right to the construction zone. In less than ten years, a space station capable of housing eight hundred-thousand people was finished and operational. Using fusion cells powered by deutrium and tritium, available from H20, the station could run on a bucket of heavy water for months.
The Station, named Project Star's End, was constructed as a research station to locate potentially viable stars to visit. It would also come to house the most advanced portal ever developed, capable of transporting much larger vessels anywhere in the universe. Research was performed on all types of materials discovered on the edge of the Milky Way, as well as psychological research on human beings living outside the galactic rim.
Star's End orbited the Milky Way at around .1 light years an hour. It would easily take many generations for it to orbit the Milky Way, but by this time humanity had become a bit more patient, afterall, the galaxy would be around for many, many billions of years. It was unlikely that humans would even exist at that time, and if they did they would have probably transformed into something unrecognizable as being human.
When the war between the Unbelievers and Universals began, Star's End switched hands several times before coming firmly in the grasp of the Universals. Using gravitic warping, it was possible to prevent unexpected parties from teleporting into the area of the station. Anyone attempting to portal in would be flung to any possible location in the Universe. That was on a good day... they could also be flung into the Multiverse, ensuring instant death as they emerged from the portal. Star's End was the only place to have this advanced portal shielding. Not even Earth or the Universal's home planet were protected in this way. Eventually the Universal's leadership would move to Star's End, and enhance the position by turning it command center and bunker should the homeworld ever be overrun by Unbelievers.
This fact would make the Universals synonymous with the outer space, beyond the edge of the Milky Way... ¶ 2:00 AM 0 comments
Once the edge of the known universe, the outskirts of the Milky Way trickled away into nothingness. Although other galaxies had been discovered in the 19th and 20th centuries, it was never thought possible that someone would be able to reach them. The edge of the Milky Way was the the beginning of true "space". With no stars dotting the void, the distance appeared to be infinite.
Using the largest portal developed, mankind constructed a massive space station right on the outskirts of the Milky Way. Parts were transported from Earth orbit right to the construction zone. In less than ten years, a space station capable of housing eight hundred-thousand people was finished and operational. Using fusion cells powered by deutrium and tritium, available from H20, the station could run on a bucket of heavy water for months.
The Station, named Project Star's End, was constructed as a research station to locate potentially viable stars to visit. It would also come to house the most advanced portal ever developed, capable of transporting much larger vessels anywhere in the universe. Research was performed on all types of materials discovered on the edge of the Milky Way, as well as psychological research on human beings living outside the galactic rim.
Star's End orbited the Milky Way at around .1 light years an hour. It would easily take many generations for it to orbit the Milky Way, but by this time humanity had become a bit more patient, afterall, the galaxy would be around for many, many billions of years. It was unlikely that humans would even exist at that time, and if they did they would have probably transformed into something unrecognizable as being human.
When the war between the Unbelievers and Universals began, Star's End switched hands several times before coming firmly in the grasp of the Universals. Using gravitic warping, it was possible to prevent unexpected parties from teleporting into the area of the station. Anyone attempting to portal in would be flung to any possible location in the Universe. That was on a good day... they could also be flung into the Multiverse, ensuring instant death as they emerged from the portal. Star's End was the only place to have this advanced portal shielding. Not even Earth or the Universal's home planet were protected in this way. Eventually the Universal's leadership would move to Star's End, and enhance the position by turning it command center and bunker should the homeworld ever be overrun by Unbelievers.
This fact would make the Universals synonymous with the outer space, beyond the edge of the Milky Way... ¶ 2:00 AM 0 comments
