History of the Galaxy II

[Unknown_Enemy]

2400.4

Cardinal Pytralia was sweating. Raising from his chair, he saluted the inner council of Cardinals, His Holiness Vixen VIII, then started to speak.

“Your Holiness, brothers, sisters,
I have asked for this session of the inner council to bring you some dire news. As you all know, our former homeworld's states send our ancestors here from 6 to 8 centuries ago, but only after undergoing the bio modifications that enabled them to survive on an ice world. We all know that these modifications were only partially successful, resulting in a climate adaptation of our body to the dreadful cold that lies here, but resulting also in the shortening of our life span to 80 years and what is commonly called the Small Death. The Small Death is a reVersion of our genetical code which results in weakening our Ice adaptation, while not allowing a Tyrean to sustain high temperatures of 30°C or more. Following the release of the Genetical Commission's archives, the biological Department made the following discoveries : people not afflicted with Small Death in their families see their life span reducing quickly. Should the present tendencies be confirmed, our life expectancies should top around 30 years in just 7 centuries from now. Considering the time a Tyrian needs to grow-up and learn, we will not be able to maintain an advanced civilization based on technology. At the moment, all our people seem be subject to this, except those infected by Small Death for unknown reasons. But worse, this finding lead us to investigations which proved that some of the flora we brought here mutated with the local bio-stock and has strengthened the shortening life span process. It appears that ....”
His Holiness raised from his chair and interrupted the cardinal,
“Brothers, sisters,
Please remember the cult back on Tyrian III, 6 centuries ago. Remember them hunted and condemned. Remember them banished here to be forgotten by all. That was only 2 years before the Armageddon. Remember that what may appears today as a disaster may result tomorrow in our salvation. You may resume Cardinal Pytralia.”
.....
3 hours later
.....

“... Therefore, it is the decision of the inner council that domed colony shall be created as soon as possible on other worlds, and that full priority will be given to the families presenting the more important risks of Small Death....”

I am his Holiness Vixen VIII, elected by the inner council to lead the Tyrean. I am the leader of a dying specie.

“... Exploration ships shall be built and sent to other systems to find suitable worlds....”

I am fully aware of what we are, we are an unachieved social experiment. Send a bunch of criminals to a harsh world, where they will have to work hard just to barely survive, and in a few centuries they should have evolved in a small and honest agricultural world. That was the goal of our presence here.

“... full priority to massive transport system will be given once a valuable new homeworld has been discovered....”

The experiment was a success, almost a miracle. But they betrayed us by committing mass suicide. They betrayed us by messing the bio modifications. They betrayed us by destroying our homeworld. May they freeze in hell.

“... complete evacuation of this world shall be set as main goal of the Churches....”

The Churches. What a joke. Is there really some Gods somewhere ? I wonder. The Churches are no more than convenient tools. They were the easiest tool which allowed our group to escape the soon to be dead Tyrian III. They are the most convenient tool to control the population, to have them unknowingly concentrated on the Long Road.

“... the main goal of leaving the planet shall be kept secret as long as we are not ready to migrate....”

Our people are not strong enough to accept the hidden truth. They are not strong enough to accept what they are. They are not strong enough to accept what they could be.

“...research in terra-formation shall begin immediately to ensure no new colonies will meet the problems we face now....”

I will not betray my people. I will not fail them.

[ October 01, 2002, 13:27: Message edited by: Unknown_Enemy ]

[sachmo]

Invexus Corporation

Mike Leetch took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, and then allowed himself time for a yawn and a stretch. He and his staff had been pouring over the mounds data that Invexus Explorer had beamed back after surviving the trip thru the wormhole. Leetch admitted that while he had been cautiously optimistic that the engineering of the ship would allow it to survive the trip thru hyperspace, he was as surprised as everyone else when Captain Bromley beamed his greetings back from the Kornephoros system. Since that day, Bromley and his crew had broadcast back to Cherek all sorts of readings, pictures, and data. While every bit of this information would be put to good use, it was quickly discovered that Leetch’s staff would need more resources just to sift thru it all and put it to the most efficient use possible. Word came down directly from Board Chairman Hartnell himself that the Space Research Division was to have access to anything and everything that they needed to get the job done. The next day, every wish Leetch had ever asked for had been granted. The department’s staff grew to twice its original size virtually overnight. They were given every piece of equipment he had ever requested. They were getting a brand new complex built for them, and the best news of all was the Mike Leetch was going to be project lead. That meant a huge raise and a chance in the spotlight. If they preformed well, who knew how high he could rise? However, being the golden boy for the company was a two edged sword. The Board Chairman wanted to begin remote mining asteroids as soon as possible. Leetch gathered his best men with him and began preliminary work on the issue. Projections had the project being completed in just over five years. Leetch knew better than to go to the Board Chairman with this estimate, and so he began the unenviable task of begging, borrowing and stealing resource he could to cut down the research time. In the meantime some useful discoveries had already been made. The stability of the hull of the Explorer had allowed an ingenious young scientist to design a dome that would fit over a colony, allowing Cherekians to colonize rock planets with atmospheres that would normally be toxic to them. This little gem bought Leetch and his people a little more time to figure out how to deliver a five year project in half the time.

Board Chairman Hartnell sat down at the head of the conference table. Gathered in this room were his closest advisors and department heads. The discovery of the domed colonies had been a huge boost to Hartnell’s plans. Initially, he had been a bit disappointed when Captain Bromley had failed to find a world with an Oxygen atmosphere in Kornephoros. The domed communities would allow quick colonization of a number of previously unusable worlds, including two in their own system. Already, a colony ship had been constructed, and was making ready to depart for Aecupus IV, the closest planet in the universe to Cherek. The planet would be used as a research colony. However, the long-term goals of the corporation, and of the Cherek people, needed to be discussed. That is what this meeting was about.

“Good afternoon, everyone” Hartnell said.
Everyone returned his salutation. They all seemed eager to get into the meeting.
“Alright people, here is where we stand. Mister Kilibreu has his Research and Development division working on interpreting the data we have gathered from Invexus Explorer. As most of you know, it has already paid off in the development of domed habitats, and we are well on our way to putting the first Cherek community on another world!”
Mike Kilibreu smiled as applause broke out in the conference room.
“Also, Fleet Services has done an excellent job of getting our first colony ship put together in three months. The hard work by Dana Wallace and her people has made our first colonization efforts a reality.”
Again applause broke out. Dana smiled shyly, then blushed when Hartnell gave her a quick wink.
“Every one of you should be proud of the work they have done. Because of you, Invexus is reaching out and spanning the galaxy. Your hard work and dedication is helping to secure the future for the Cherek people.”
More applause.
Hartnell held up his hands.
“This is only the beginning. We cannot harvest these new fruits of prosperity without fear of consequence. There are…others whom we may have to compete with.”
Gasps ran around the table, except for the few who had been privy to this information already.
“Captain Bromley recovered a bit of data that has been kept secret until now. During the first week of their stay in Kornephoros, Invexus Explorer picked up a very faint transmission from parts unknown. We still do not know much about this transmission, but we do know it was created by a sentient race.”
After a few moments of silence, everyone tried to speak at once. Hartnell asked for silence, and it was given, but he could see the uncertainty in their eyes.
“We have taken steps to deal with anyone, or anything, we come into contact with. To protect the interests of the Invexus Corporation, and to protect the Cherek race, we have created the Invexus Security Fleet. We will begin construction of armed capital ships that will be used to protect our facilities and people around the galaxy. Hopefully, it will be a force we will not need to use, but I gather everyone will feel better knowing that it exists.”
That brought some nervous laughter.
“I can’t say when, or even if, we will encounter this race, or any other race for that matter. If and when we do, my feeling is that we will be able to get along peacefully with them, and hopefully learn and grow as a people from the experience. We are standing on the brink of a new era, everyone, and Invexus will lead the way into the light.”

[Captain Kwok]

Juprup Federation News

2400.4

The second of five orbital stations, Construp B, was completed in orbit ahead of schedule much to the delight of the Juprup Space Agency. Administrator Poodak of the Agency commented "We've learned a great deal of information from the construction of the first station and it has really allowed us to improve the process. I believe the increasingly modular design of the orbital stations will continue to push this project faster than anticipated."

The first colony ship, Colorup 0001, is nearing completion. Speaker Kwok has announced plans to officially launch the ship next month to its destination, New Juprup. With the announcement, the first colonists began to be placed into their stasis chambers that will sustain them for the next few months.

2400.5

The launch of the Colorup 0001 was watched by over one billion Juprup citizens today. Speaker Kwok set the ship in motion toward it's destination New Juprup, approximately 5 sectors away. The colony ship is expected to arrive next month where preparations to construct the first Juprup habitation on another world will begin immediately. The small blue planet which shares much of the same characteristics as Juprup Prime has been the centre of much study over the Last sixty years. It is believed the planet will become the home to over a billion Juprup over the next ten years.

[geoschmo]

2400.0

One of the stars is falling.

That was the first thought that flashed through the Hive mind at the streak of light that cut through the night sky on the dark side of the planet. A star was falling. This was quickly dismissed as illogical as the Hive knew full well that the stars were light years away and couldn’t fall to the ground. And the stars were much larger than the planet on which the Hive lived, and would have consumed it had it been that close. The Hive also knew that if the streak of light it had seen had been a result of some far away star it would have been traveling at tremendous speeds. Speeds that were beyond the laws of physics that the hive was just recently learning from its hosts memories.

No, this was not a star, but a meteor. The Hive studied a great many memories over the next few moments and learned all it could about meteors. They were small bits of rock and ice that entered the atmosphere many times every day. But most of these were too small or too fast to see, or fell on the day side of the planet and were washed out by the bright light of the nearby star the hosts called Laxes.

Every few months the Hive learned one of these meteors fell that was large enough to survive the heat of reentry and actually crashed to the ground and became a meteorite. And every few hundred years the Hive learned one came to ground that was very large indeed and left a noticeable crater in the ground.

And the Hive kept learning from the hosts. For this was a very interesting topic, and the Hive was very curious. The hosts had also been very curious. One of the things they had been the most curious about was their own origins. And one of the things they learned, and in turn taught to the Hive was that every few million years a meteorite landed that was very large indeed. Large enough to change the climate around the entire planet. And large enough to cause widespread extinction of species.

For the first time the Hive felt concerned for it’s safety. This planet may not be a safe place for the entire hive to exist. If a single large rock could cause the end of the Hive. This could not be allowed the Hive thought.

The hosts had this concern as well the Hive learned. But they were many separate beings, and not all of them agreed that the problem was a serious one. Most of them were more concerned with there own personal comfort then they were for the existence of their entire race. So they thought much about the problem, and they talked much about the problem, but had done little to plan for it other than to build some telescopes and attempt to count the millions of rocks that were sharing their planets orbit around the star Laxes.

The Hive did not share their concern for the comfort of the individual hosts bodies. At least not to the extent that it would risk the death of the entire Hive. So it decided to do something. It decided that some of the Hive would leave the planet. There were several planets also orbiting Laxes on which structures could be built that would support the host bodies that the Hive needed to survive. The hosts had actually begun the process of designing these structures or “domes” as they called them looking towards the far distant future when they would finally agree amongst themselves enough to go there. So the Hive began to build a ship. A ship that would carry some host bodies and go to one of these worlds. The hosts had a name for it. They called it a colony.

The Hive decided to build a colony.

[capnq]

"That was a fine meal," Davdi commented, licking a stray splash of itega sauce from the corner of his mouth.

"I knew you'd like this place," Gurse replied. "They've only been open for a few weeks, so word of mouth hasn't driven up the reservations fee yet."

"I don't know how you manage to find the time to check out so many new restaurants, Retla. Especially with the second colony ship due to launch in a month."

"We learned a lot building the prototype; the work is going a lot more smoothly on this one. I wish I could say the same about ticket sales."

"That's understandable," Davdi agreed. "We never expected the 'Second Chance' campaign to draw as many entries as 'New World, New Life' did, but it's still on pace to fill the available berths. People simply aren't as eager to colonize a planet that they can't breathe the air on."

"That's exactly what I wanted to discuss with you," Gurse grinned. "I've got a proposal to deal with that."

"I knew this wasn't just a friendly dinner invitation!" Davdi laughed. "What's your pitch?"

"Have you heard anything about Soctu Timho's latest research results?" Gurse asked.

"Can't say that I have. I leave R&D work to the people who have the patience for it."

"Well, Doctor Timho has gotten some intriguing results from his deep space probes. They picked up an unusual gravitational anomaly near the edge of the system. He's convinced that it's an opening into some kind of hyperdimensional tunnel that will allow interstellar travel!"

Davdi's eyes bulged in surprise. "Interstellar? If he's right, there could be other colonizable planets out there!"

"Exactly! And some of them could even have breathable atmospheres! But we'll need to design and build an exploration ship to verify that they're there, first. And for that, I need your authorization to reallocate part of the construction budget."

"You'll have the paperwork on your desk by tomorrow. Have the waiter bring another round of BLARG, and we'll drink a toast to the future."

[Gimboid]

"Kurasa o houyousuru" [Translation - Embrace the darkness]
Old saying of the Mahatsuhito clan

Several months had past since the first vanguard of the Imperium had left the shelter of the homeworld and travelled to distant planets to form new colonies and outPosts under the direction of the best agents of the Mahatsuhito clan.

The unexpected find of interspacial rifts that allowed inter-system travel had been a boon for the Imperium and what had initially been a minor expedition had become an all consuming passion for the Katana Imperium. Only those at the highest ranks of the shogunates and in the palace had been informed of the vast opportunities that were up for the taking out in the vastness of space, yet even those who knew little were willing to join in the grand drama that was unfolding.

______________________________________________
==============================================

Her resolve had not wavered in this new era, and Kaneko had been satisfied that the reigns of power were still firmly in her grasp. The new colonies would be as all the other territories, mere extensions of the power that flowed through the palace, as it should be.

Still, the concept of warp points leading to totally unexplored areas of space had excited Kaneko like never before. New realms to control, new planets to exploit and untold power flowing back to the Imperium. Her name would be forever remembered in the clan for bringing this wealth to her race. A smirk appeared on her face for just a moment as that thought struck her. It was quickly washed away by the serious look that adorned her visage like a suit of armor. Noone must be able to understand her motives she reminded herself, the only person that could be trusted was Kaneko. Her power came from living in the shadows, to shroud the truth was to stay alive.

[Dead Meat]

"To write history one must be more than a man, since the author who holds the pen of this great justiciary should be free from all pre-occupation of interest, or of vanity."
Napoleon Bonaparte, 1769-1821

Timeline of the Terran Confederation

2028:
The United Nations, lead by the United States, begins work on terraforming Mars and Venus. Mars will be terraformed by using recently discovered water trapped in the polar ice caps. By causing a greenhouse effect, they hope to melt the ice and improve the environment to something suitable for Humans. A plan using microbes on Venus is thought up by the “think tanks” in the U.N.. Both ideas caused much concern with the other members of the U.N., nonetheless the plan proceeds on schedule and in 2043, two shuttles are launched, one carrying a large nuclear warhead to hopefully cause a chain-reaction on Mars. The other is sent to Venus with modified microbes. But no one knows how long it would take before the planets where ready. People soon forgot about it and the programs funding is cut.

2060:
The Middle Eastern League (MEL) is formed. While the Alliance is meant to make peace in the region, there is still conflict between the member nations. Though the League does bring benefits to its members, mainly income and weapons. The African nations are slowly brought into the League, either through peaceful negotiations or “negotiations” of another kind.

2068:
The Middle Eastern League withdraws from the United Nations. Seeing the League as a threat the United States, United Kingdom, and other NATO members, they ratify the NATO treaty to allow other nation the chance to join. Both Russia and China (which now controls all of the Asian, India and Pakistan) refuse to join; however the nations of South America, Japan and the Oceanic Nations (Australia, New Zealand, and the islands North of them) join. The United Nations is disbanded.

2070:
Tensions between the Middle Eastern League and a new alliance between China and Russia have sparked a new cold war, which turns into a hot war this time. Peace is broken when the Russian-Chinese Alliance (RCA) President is assassinated by an unknown Middle Eastern fraction. The RCA moves quickly against the Middle Eastern League to secure oil and fleet bases. RCA losses are heavy thanks the League’s new weapons and training. However the League cannot hold out against the millions of RCA troops and conscripts indefinitely, Russian and Chinese troops reach the Suez Canal by early winter 2075. Israel and Turkey are not attacked for fears of bring NATO on the League’s side.

However the Alliance’s supply lines are stretched thin and loses have meant that the RCA must pause in its attack into Africa. This gives time for the League’s retreating troops, who in February 2076 launch a nuclear counter attack against the RCA holding the Suez Canal and break though with little restance. NATO and the RCA are appalled by the use of nuclear weapons. The RCA however dose not respond in kind against the League. League is able to reclaim Saudi Arabia and Jordan by 2085 but things settle into an uneasy stalemate as RCA reinforcements and NATO missile defense arrive on the front lines, but are unable to make any gains. The MEL launches two more nuclear attacks in 2099 and again in February 2100. NATO’s Depleted Uranium Satellite (DUS) based cannons stop all of the first attack, but was unable to stop all of the second attack. Five missiles got into rang of their intended targets. This time though, the targets where not military, and landed on heavily populated cities. The Russian-Chinese Alliance, appalled at the nearly 100 million dead, wounded and missing, launched their own strikes against the MEL who had only ground bases missile defenses.

2100:
After the exchange of nuclear weapons both sides where unable, nor willing, to continue the war. The death toll from the 30 Year War had caused nearly 500 million dead or wounded. The famine, radiation sickness and other means would kill another 50 million in a decade. A cease-fire was order (and would be enforced if need be) by NATO in 2100 after the RCA launched its reprisal attack. A peace treaty was singed on April 2003; each side would be allowed to keep any land (or what remained of it) taken during the war.

2163:
Tensions had eased sense the 30 Year War to where the 3 Super Powers had stared working together on joint projects. One of these projects was the exploration of the solar system. While the United States had used Ion Engines in the late 1990s and early 2000, it wasn’t until 2163 when the Canadians discovered a new and improved Ion Engine. This improved engine was not only faster, lighter and cheaper, it also provided much more thrust. Space was now in easy reach.

2165:
Exploration of the Solar system was complete. Families relocated, governments worked together, mankind prospered. The moon was fully colonized on 2175 and became a short of international territory. No one nation had full rights to it; all owned an equal share. Small settlements started popping up on the moons of Jupiter and Saturn around this time. All seemed to be going well, their seemed no reason for anything to be different. No one had any reason to think that all that would change.

Sense the moon was an international territory, weapons where not permitted to be built or brought in. All weapon research was banded. The police forces used non-lethal weapons to keep peace if needed. One nation however got around this rule by researching a new power supply to replace the old nuclear power planets used on the moon. It is not know which government or corporation was developing this Tectonic Power Supply, but on December 2179 something went wrong. One second all was peaceful, the next, Earth’s moon was simply a growing ball of plasma and rock which rained down on its bigger brother.

2190:
In the end, after the falling rock destroyed cities, after the tsunamis sweep away homes and families, after starvation and disease tore through the survivors, only a little more than 1 billion people remained on earth.

But Humanity had recovered quickly from what is called the Lunaris Caducum. Some countries where harder hit than other some, like the countries of the Oceania, where completely destroyed. Countries that where once considered Super Powers where now dependent on others to help feed their population. One country, however, stood out among the new Super Powers.

2200 to 2350:
One of these new Super Powers was the Confederation of Canada. Least hit by the Global tsunamis and used to harsh living condition, they quickly help those in the United States whose infrastructure and food supply was destroyed. If the Confederation of Canada could quickly get the farmlands and high-tech factories of the Unites States up to speed they themselfs would stand a chance of surviving. By 2215 enough food and goods where coming out of the now Canadian lead United States and South America that they started exporting supplies to other countries through out the world.

In 2225 The Confederation of Canada’s influence reach throughout the Globe. People where feed by food grown in South America, clothed by textiles made in The United States, and lived in cities that we built with money from others.

In 2256 much of the world was like it was before the Lunaris Caducum ("Death of the Moon"). Humanity was once again a high-tech society thanks to the research and school programs that the Canadians had developed. But Canada once against started to take a back seat in its roll that it played. While some nation once again started to explore space. Canada was content to offer help when needed. The United States started once again to assert its self. They sent mission to explore the old colonies of Earth. There was no need to visit the colonies in the outer planets though, for those had long ago died off when support from Earth stopped, all that remained of them where the domed building and computer banks.

But then a discovery was made in 2303. A report from one of the Middle Eastern nations said that both Mars and Venus where suitable for living. In fact they where near earthlike conditions. It seemed to good to be true everyone wanted an equal claim on the new planets and all agreed to do so. But old habits died hard. With the possibility of two new worlds to be colonized fighting broke out between the 3 major Power Blocks and their satellite in 2305.

While this time no one used nuclear weapons millions still died in the fierce fighting. It seemed however that while the Canadians where once content to stay out of things, they had not been idle. While the other super powers where fighting over land they have never been to, the Confederation of Canada had been building up its military, and making great gains in research. On 2349 Canada flexed its muscles, it told the various nations that they must stop their attacks. That the ways of the past where no longer acceptable for dealing with their problems, mankind should no longer be separated but united, such as they where during the Lunaris Caducum.

They did not listen; Canada enforced its policy instead. In little more than a week, they had destroyed the armies of North American League. Within a month they had defeated all of the opposition.

On 2350 the Earth had only one undisputed super power: The Confederation of Canada. Canada’s hope became Earth hope.

2355 to 2400:
Clean up of the Final war was complete. The Power blocks of old where still allowed to keep governing their people, yet where not allowed to keep a military, only police officers to keep the peace. Protection from their neighbors would be guaranteed by another, for a new government was being formed. Hundreds of years ago the United Nations helped enforced peace between nations, however their where many problems with it. This was to change.

In 2360 the Confederation of Canada made an announcement; it no longer existed. Instead it became the Terran Confederation. The Terran Confederation would enforce the peace on Earth. It would however not be a dictator ship. The President would have his or her job for life, but the governments of Earth and its colonies would have am equal, but limited say. "Together", the new President of the Terran Confederation said, "Humanity would grow and would expand to the stars."

Now forty years after the founding of the Terran Confederation, and the death of its first President, Humanity was ready to leave Earth.

[ October 02, 2002, 00:56: Message edited by: Dead Meat ]

[geoschmo]

2400.2

The Colony ship was almost ready to go. The Last group of hosts headed for the new colony were taking off in orbital shuttles now. The hosts taking care of the assembly work in orbit were finishing up on the colony ship at the same time. Soon the engines would fire and the vessel would leave orbit and head for the nearest suitable planet in the system.

The ship was of a class that the hosts already had designed, but never built. They had not been able to cooperate long enough to do so, but that was not a problem anymore. The Hive had ended all such counterproductive squabbling.

The Hive had made some modifications to the engines however. The hosts had intended to use simple chemical fueled reaction rockets which were very slow. The ships would have taken several months to reach the planet, and extra space would have been required for fuel, meaning the colony would have required regular transport visits with manpower, goods and supplies for several years.

The theory behind ion engines the Hive designed had been known by the hosts for some time. But the Hive had concentrated the collective mental capacity of thousands of physicists and worked out the formulas needed in a matter of weeks. The extra power and decreased fuel requirements meant the ship could carry enough hosts and supplies that the new colony would be self sufficient as soon as it landed.

The Hive watched as the ship moved away from the planet. And after the ship was no longer visible from the planet, the Hive watched the planet recede into the distance from its vantage point inside the ship. Several hours into the trip however something unusual happened. The ship disappeared.

The Hive searched and searched its mind and could no longer sense the hosts inside the colony ship. For a moment the Hive thought there must have been some malfunction that had destroyed the ship. Although even that should have produced some momentary feeling of pain or confusion, as the Hive knew immediately when some accident happened to one of the host bodies on the planet. This time though it was as if a light switch had been turned out and instantly 34 million host minds were disconnected from the Hive.

Quickly the Hive directed some hosts to turn the telescopes from searching for approaching meteors to searching for the colony ship. Soon it was located, and fortunately did not appear to be damaged. In fact it appeared to be returning to the home planet under full power. Some time later the Hive could sense the minds on board again. Again it was as if a light switch had been flipped. One moment the minds were gone, the next they were there again. And the minds on board the ship described the exact same events from their perspective.

Over the next few days the Hive directed the colony ship to go out and back again several times. What it determined was that the loss of connection occurred at exactly the same distance from the home planet. It also did not matter which direction the colony ship traveled in.

The Hive searched its hosts memories for any clues to what could be occurring. It located some memories of the Last days before the Hive became self aware. Some host medical researchers struggling to stop the spread of the “contamination” had discovered the mental link between the hosts after they awoke from their sleep.

They had been unable to interfere with this link, but they had theorized that it may be possible to break the link if enough distance were put between hosts. The hosts doctors had been unable to test this theory, but the Hive had apparently proven it to be a fact.

For a time the Hive considered whether this would prevent the colonization of the other planets in the system. The hosts on the ship could function independently of the Hive, but this would make cooperation between the planets impossible.

The Hive searched it’s memories for possible solutions, and came up with one that did work, however imperfectly. Prior to being joined by the Hive, the hosts had communicated with each other by verbal communication. This was only effective for a few hundred meters, so they had devised technological methods for sending their voices over great distances by modulating them on very high frequency electromagnetic carrier waves. This technology they called “radio” had been in general use by the hosts. The Hive had not had a conscious knowledge of it before now because it was simply not needed on the planet itself.

As it turned out the Colony ship the Hive had already built already had these radio devices on board it. They had been built because they were in the design specifications, but the Hive had not bothered to learn what they were used for since they were apparently unnecessary for the operation of the ship.

The Hive instructed a host body on the ship, and later on the colony, and one on the home planet to remain in constant radio contact with each other and communicate verbally all the events going on of importance at either end. It was very inefficient, and slow. But the Hive adapted. And in a way it did not feel quite so alone any more. For in effect the Hive was now two Hives.

[Captain Kwok]

Juprup Federation News

2400.6

The Colorup 0001 arrived at New Juprup delivering 34M new colonists and all the materials needed to build a self-sufficient colony. The majority of the colonists however, will be remaining in stasis for another few months until housing and other infrastructure is completed. Speaker Kwok has planned to visit the first Juprup colony in a few months along with another batch of colonists.

2400.7

The JFS Enoki was successfully launched from Construp B earlier this month. The 150kT ship is fully functional and has already completed its shakedown cruise. The Enoki will now embark on a month long journey to the northern warp point and will be making the first voyage through at that time.

[Jmenschenfresser]

Chapter 1--Part 1
2400.0
-------------------------
GOTH & FERISS
-------------------------
Goth is the only known sentient artificial intelligence. It is owned by the Sa'ah. The fact that it seems to possess self-awareness is known only to a few.
Feriss is the Programmeer of Goth and from the tribe of Sa'ah.

--Negative. Food production unable to maintain equilibrium. Storage and rations for 34 million Heru enormous. Two colony ships not viable.
--Are you sure?
--Same question with same variables produces same answer.
--Should have known. But we are only talking two or three months worth of food.
--Negative, Programmeer. Enough food must be taken to allot for the 34 million for over a year...year and two months to be exact. The colonists will need food while they terraform the land and learn to provide for themselves. Perhaps even more foodstuffs will be sent. Now calculate that you are harvesting and storing food for 34 million in one month's time for 12 months. Calculates to enough food for 408 million Heru for one month.
--****. I didn't think of it in those terms.
--I did. Which essentially accounts for one fifth of total food output on the homeworld.
--I see. Do you feel up to a question of preference? I know they are difficult for you.
--I am always hoping to expand my programming.
--Using the word 'hope?' I'm impressed.
--Thank you, Programmeer.
--Several lords of the Sa'ah are looking for ways in which you might help them gain an advantage. I have tried to explain to you the vunerable situation you are in. Some of them are impressed by your skills and personality. The demonstration we ran the other day did a great deal for your cause. However, some of the lords are more impressed by what you can do for them, rather than what you are. All recognize that you could be the Sa'ah's single great advantage in gaining ground on the other tribes. So my question, or rather our question is, and it is a two part question: Can you see a way or tactic in which you might be most helpful to the Sa'ah, and also, and this is the preference part, what would you like to do to help us.
--Am I part of the Sa'ah tribe, Programmeer?
--Uh...no.
--Would it be illogical to ask for an induction into the tribe?
--I don't understand. Why is it important to you to belong to the tribe? Are you capable of loyalty? Such a thing would be asked, and proof might be requested.
--Loyalty. It would be easy for me to write a global program that would forever restrain me from certain, treasonous actions. You could verify the program.
--True. But why do you want to join?
--Membership is survival. I know that, Programmeer. Unless I am seen by everyone involved that I am Sa'ah. I will always be a computer.
--I will relay this conversation to the lords and request that you be accepted. They will eventually agree, I think. It is in their best interest to have your full confidence...or rather be fully confident in you.
--As to your question, my talents are limited only by memory, speed and connections. For starters, if you find a way to connect me to the other tribal mainframes, it might be possible to know everything they know. Would I be kicked for saying that the Sa'ah were weak, Programmeer?
--Probably.
--Then I shall say they are understaffed.
--Better but clinical.
--Then I shall say they are impoverished.
--Oppressed.
--Oppressed, then. Undoubtedly, if the Sa'ah are to flourish in space we must build our knowledge rather than building our might. I consider us extremely lucky we received even the one ship for now from the Overlord and the Circle. I've read all the transmissions.
--Spying?
--Yes, spying. The Sa'ah must learn to spy.
--You mean, you must learn to spy.
--Hopefully that is the same difference.
--****, Goth, they may make you a lord if you keep talking.

[ October 03, 2002, 16:54: Message edited by: Jmenschenfresser ]