[Growltigger]

FRONTIERS

2400 was probably the most significant year in all the long and troubled history of mankind. Ninety four per cent of the world's population watched the launching ceremony of the Federation's first 'starship'. The "Discovery" was a miracle of technological achievement, amassing one hundred and forty thousand tons of metal and alloy which represented the peak of human aspirations. Its crew of two hundred consisted of Earth's bravest and brightest people. Over 74 million people had applied to join Science Command's first starship, and humanity could afford to send its best scientists.

In reality, complex as it was, the Discovery was a simple design. Almost half of the vessel was ion engine and fuel tanks. Living quarters and research labs comprised only 20 per cent of the ship's mass. In addition, Discovery had installed a nuclear missile launcher and large silo. Science Command had been in uproar over this, demanding that the valuable space be used for additional labs and living quarters. It had been overruled by the Federation military. If Discovery met something hostile in the depths of space, Earth had to know about it, and Discovery must have the means to defend itself and get the knowledge back to Earth.

If ninety four per cent of the world's population watched Discovery's launch, almost ninety six per cent watched the launch of her sister ship, Endeavour. Endeavour was identical in design to Discovery.

On 17 March 2400, ninety nine per cent of the world watched the video relay from the gravity whirlpool between the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn, when Discovery made transit. The transit itself was an anticlimax. Most people expected a flash of light or heavenly choir, not simply that the Discovery just blink out of existence, as if she were never there. Nothing further was heard from Discovery, until she reappeared on 5 May 2400.

Not even the most pessimistic of Federation politicians could believe what Discovery had found. The gravity whirlpools were short cuts between solar systems. The transit had disorientated the crew and most of the machinery on the ship, but when they recovered, they found they were on the outer reaches of a system with a yellow star. Discovery had lain in space, scanning the new system. The astronomy staff on Discovery did not take long to work out where she was. The system was positively identified as Epsilon Eridani. There were 8 planetary bodies in the system, a rocky planet close to the sun, very similar to Mercury, two gas giants, one of which was larger than Jupiter, and three ice-cloaked planets on the outer reaches of the system.

But it was the other two inner planets that held Discovery's attention. These sparkled like sapphires in the telescopes of Discovery's astronomy section. The first was larger than Earth, and had a breathable oxygen atmosphere, if the gravity were 1.10 of Earth standard. Initial scans showed no intelligent life on the planet, but the crew could not believe the sheer scale of other life on it. The planet was a veritable garden of eden, alien plant life abounded but there were no fauna more highly advanced than the Terran equivalent of insects. The planet had two moons, one of which shone like the most expensive and lumiscient pearl. The captain of Discovery had a mythological inclination, and christened this world Tanith. The two moons were christened Diana and Artemis.

The second earth-like world was a glittering azure globe. Ocean covered ninety per cent of the planet, and the landmasses consisted of scattered archipelagos. This planet teemed with animal life, and the seas were filled with a fantastic array of creatures, from fish analogues to a hundred and fifty foot long hugely fanged shark equivalent. The captain of Discovery christened this planet Atlantis.

Perhaps the most significant discovery in the Eridani system was indications of a further gravity whirlpool on the fringes of the system. If the whirlpools were as common as they appeared, then this could mean that the whole galaxy was open to exploration by the Federation.

Whilst the Discovery was investing Epsilon Eridani, the Endeavour had boosted out of Earth orbit and was proceeding to the second gravity whirlpool in the Sol system. This whirlpool was located beyond the orbit of Pluto, and Endeavour took 3 months to reach it. Endeavour transitted only hours after Discovery returned with the news of the Eridani system.

Endeavour did not meet with the same success as Discovery. After it had recovered from the transit shock, it found itself on the edge of a binary star system, which was devoid of planetary bodies, but did have two huge asteroid fields. Astronomy identified the system as Wolf 354, and further identified a single gravity whirlpool located on the far side of the system, approximately 3 months cruise away for Endeavour at full speed. The captain of the Endeavour did not hesitate, and ordered his ship to head toward the second whirlpool.

By January 2402, the Terran Federation had explored two warp points (as the gravity whirlpools were named) out from the home system. Beyond Epsilon Eridani, Discovery had reached Tau Ceti, a white star with several planets, one of which was earth-like and heavily forested. This planet was christened Avalon. There were two new warp points in this system.

Endeavour had transitted the warp point in Wolf 354, and had reached Alpha Centauri. This system was blessed with two Earth-like planets, both of which had stunning crystal mountains and spectacular aurora borealis effects. These planets were named Asgard and Hermes. There were also two new warp points in this system.

The Discovery and Endeavour had returned to Earth, for much needed rest and recuperation, and also for the ships to be refitted with new solar panelling, which would harness sunlight and use this to augment the drives of the ships, and so extend their range.

In the meantime, Earth had finalised the plans for its new Nova class colony ships. These were huge vessels, twice the size of the Discovery and Endeavour, and capable of transporting 1 million colonists to the new worlds.

By January 2402, colonies had been established on Mars, Tanith, Atlantis, Avalon, Asgard and Hermes. Recognising the need to increase their shipyard facilities, the Federation government had also commissioned the production of huge space stations. Two of these five hundred thousand ton spaceyards now orbited Earth, the Vulcan and the Hephaestus, and were busy producing additional Nova class colony ships. Earth had also constructed a huge three hundred thousand ton cargo vessel, the Kyushu, which would be used to transport additional colonists to the new worlds. The cargo capacity of the Kyushu was incredible, and fully 200 million colonists could be carried to their new lives in the colonies.

The biggest shock for the colonists of Asgard was the discovery of buried alien cities beneath the ice caps of the northern pole. The survey teams could not believe the scale of what they found, huge wrecked cities located under the ice. The cities were dated as over 1,000 years old, and the inhabitants appeared humanoid. Something however had destroyed the cities, and the evidence that had been analysed indicated that whoever had lived in the cities, had been a war like race. An intact beam weapon was discovered in the wreckage. The weapon was light years ahead of Earth's own technological advances in this area, and initial research showed that its technology could be used to build new phased beam weaponry.

Federation Command, faced with the evidence of other life in the galaxy, and potentially hostile life at that, decided that Earth could not be caught unaware. Recent technological advances in metallurgy meant that starships of up to four hundred thousand tons could be constructed. Earth immediately embarked on a building programme for what was christened the "Agamemnon" class light cruiser. These huge vessels carried the latest sensor and electronic warfare technology earth could build, point defence weaponry aimed at destroying missiles fired at the ships, heavy armour and a battery of the new phased beam weaponry. If there were hostile aliens in the galaxy, then Earth was not going to be caught unprepared.
In January 2402, the Terran Federation Navy was formed. Three light cruisers, the Agamemnon, the Achilles and the Ajax were completed. The Menalaus, Hyperion and Prometheus were in the process of being built.

On 17 February 2402, the Discovery and the Endeavour boosted out of Earth orbit for exploration of the new warp points. These vessels would not return to Earth for many years, as new supply facilities had been built at Avalon and Asgard. The Federation had a galaxy to explore.

[ February 06, 2004, 15:22: Message edited by: Growltigger ]