[OOC][PLOT] Galaxy Building (Where we make Magrathea look like small potatoes)

[robkelk]

Unless we have access to intergalactic craft, we're confined to the Milky Way no matter how old this universe is.

Since there was some distaste at having a Lensman Arms Race, we probably won't have Lensman (or Skylark, which was even worse) - and "Doc" Smith is the only writer that I can recall who put fast intergalactic travel into his stories.

(And if so, does that mean we have billions of years of starlight on its way here, with no stars to have generated it?)

I am reminded of a trope.

The Jerkass Gods approach: Yeah, the evidence is there. But God or Satan placed it there as a Mind Screw or a test.
...
The Lampshade Hanging approach: God did put the ancient-looking dinosaur skeletons there and everything, but didn't mean anything by it. He was simply decorating His creation!