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[Infinities] Genesis.......
[Infinities] Genesis.......
#1
One possible consequence of the Lun mission to Arcadia.

Quote:"Captains Log, Date: 12/02/2025.

USS Virgil Grissom remains in polar orbit of planet Earth conducting final calibration tests of our modified sensor array. Installation and commision of the array has been completed two days ahead of schedule. Doctors Katsuragi assures me that the modifications will be functional in time for our scheduled survey of Arcadia in two weeks time. "


Captain Lutjens set the PADD down on the armrest of his chair, letting it upload to the ship's master computer. The bridge of the big Gagarin-class ship was closer in feel to the cockpit of he airliners he'd flown in another career - slightly larger with enough space for a couple of extra crewmembers, but still small and snug compared to the spacious Trek ideal.

Beside him, the science specialist, Doctor Katsuragi of the Tsoukalos Institute for Extraterrestrial archeology. Technically an acting Lieutenant, it entitled him to the traditional blue-shirt, while exempting him from the usual starfleet grooming requirements. The Japanese man's hair and beard grew wild, the good Doctor preferring to spend his time preparing for the greatest mission of his life, than on personal grooming.

His head was down, buried in a computer console as his fingers flashed across a touchpad.

Lutjens took the time to survey his ship, operating mostly under the automatic supervision of it's Mind. Pilot and Navigator stations were locked and idle, as was the communications station to his left. The crew were otherwise busy with final preparations. Earth orbit was a safe harbour.

Lutjens became aware of strange emptiness encroaching on his bridge, an absence that defied explanation. He scanned around, taking a few squirming heartbeats to realise that Katsuragi had stopped typing.

"That's funny," said the doctor in that mildly curious tone that heralded all the greatest of scientific discoveries.

"what is?"

System error, Lutjens had already concluded. Instrument failure was the bane of all scientists. Especially prototype instruments. It had to be a malfunction. It just had to be...

"I'm getting a Tannhauser signature, Captain. It's coming from Earth."

The man didn't believe it himself. It couldn't be possible.

"What?" This all but confirmed it as a malfunction. "I thought you'd ironed out all the bugs. Check your gear."

Katsuragi already busied himself at his sensor controls, working at speeds that'd make an android jealous. Lutjens found himself staring out at the blue ocean rolling past above his craft, a thousand possibilities sparking in the back of his mind, even as he braced himself for the disappointment.

"Confirmed," said Katsuragi, placing is palm softly against the side of his head as he drew in a deep, long breath. "Antarctica, about five kilometres South of Mount Markham, on the surface, beneath the ice-sheet." His eyes were wide as he turned to face Lutjens. "It's there Captain. I'm certain of it."

His breath was shaking.

"Another gate..."

Ever the scientist, Lutjens searched for the simplest explanation, and now that equipment failure had been ruled out, that left only one possibility. A gate between Earth and the Moon certainly matched the pattern... maybe intact gates were the exception, rather than the rule.

"I'm not sure..." Answered Katsuragi. "It's just a signature."

Feeling the hand of history weigh down upon his shoulder, fully aware of the certainty that his name would forever be associated with what was, by any accounts, something big and important, something that changed the history of Earth and potentially that of humanity entirely. He said the only thing a ship-Captain could say at a time like that....

"Oh bugger me."

Tagged as infinities. I just thought it'd be an interesting conclusion - especially for the implications. I'd rather it *not* be a gate. Automated ancient alien terraforming device that went inert after detecting an existing biosphere would be my first idea - maybe one that accidentally triggered the end of the last ice-age with its landing. But do we really want any ancient alien ruins on Earth? Do we want the discovery made public?

Not my decision. That's one for the community.

I really need to stop obsessing.
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--m(^0^)m-- Wot, no sig?
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#2
I for one would prefer an absence of "ancient astronauts" or their works on Earth - I'd really like humanity to have been able to get as far as we have on our own.

But I'm only one voice in the collective...
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012
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#3
I agree with rob. Entertaining Infinity piece, though.
I, for one, always saw there maybe being an undiscovered gate between Sol and Nemesis.
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#4
Well, it's in Antarctica.

If it's shut down and inerted itself while hiding under the ice, it's not doing anything at all for humanity because people didn't even go there until the last century. I'd also point out that humanity didn't get where they are on their own - there's aready been some form of help.. Maybe it's just because I like stories like Roadside Picnic, Evangelion and the 'mysterious artifact' elements of Eclipse Phase.

I mean, who were these gate-builders? What sort of civilisation where they?

And a Katsuragi expedition to Antarctica to investigate a mysterious alien artifact can't possibly go wrong. ;P
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#5
<snrk>
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.
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#6
I have to agree with Dartz both that its an interesting infinity idea and that somewhere in the past someone has intervened in our development, even if it was ourselves. That said I don't think it would play out well.
 
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#7
I was thinking more along the lines of Handwavium, than any true 'Ancient Aliens' stuff.
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#8
Honestly both could be the case
 
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#9
Having both be the case would require having the one that I've already asked not be the case, be the case.

But, again, I'm only one voice.
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012
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#10
Its okay as "infinity/alternative-version" of Fenspace, but I am not really happy with it for mainline.
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#11
The collective hath spoke...

I'd still like to save Dr. Katsuragi, and the Tsokalous Institute for Extraterrestrial Archeology...
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#12
Dartz Wrote:The collective hath spoke...

I'd still like to save Dr. Katsuragi, and the Tsokalous Institute for Extraterrestrial Archeology...
Using them for something less cataclysmic sounds great...
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#13
Cataclysmic?

I wasn't planning on writing a Second Impact.
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#14
E.T. archaeology is potential game changer Monolith territory for both Fen & Dane societies : alien artefacts could  trigger societal Second Impacts...unless real items were given the 'Roswell Treatment' and treated as badly executed knockoffs. Or the real thing might really look like Rubbermaid. Good luck getting anyone to believe in a polymer alien physiology! Plastic life travelling through space in Wham-O frisbee ships! Whee! Giggle!
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