Eternity RPC Board
02-13-2017, 05:54 PM
Eris Research Station
In Eris orbit
Approximately 80 AU from the Sun
A.D. 2347
Dr. Jarol Lynis sat in his office on the Eris Research Station, staring intently at the computer screen on his desk. The numbers flashing on his screen didn’t make sense. He scrunched his eyebrows together and decided to dig through the raw data to find what had caused the computer to reach such a preposterous conclusion. He was about fifteen minutes into it when Dr. Clostermann burst in.
“Dr. Lynis,” he said, nearly out of breath, “have you seen these numbers?”
“Yes, I’m trying to figure out what’s wrong with the computer. This data cannot be true.”
“Yes, I know that it seems odd-”
“Odd? The laws of physics don’t allow an object of that size to pass through. It would be crushed instantly, and…” Lynis trailed off as the gears turned in his head. His eyes wide with realization, he rushed out of the room, muttering that he must be more tired than he thought, followed closely by Dr. Clostermann.
*****
Ever since the discovery of the Laumer Points (named after the 23rd century scientist Gerald Laumer) over a century ago, it had been theorized that they could be used to connect two vastly distant points in space. Only recently, however, has it been seriously pursued as a plausible method of faster-than-light travel. Thanks largely to the lobbying efforts of Dr. Jarol Lynis, research into the Laumer Points had been funded for the last eight years. The so-called “Columbus Project” was now bearings its fruits. Dr. Lynis would today demonstrate the success of his work to top UN leadership.
The United Nations, the descendant of that old 20th century organization, was the single government under which all of humanity lived, from Mercury to far-out Eris. The member-states of the UN all reserved a great deal of autonomy, including the colonies on Mars and the Outer Planets, which gained their right to independent membership after the Colonial Rebellions of decades ago. Although the rebels were eventually defeated, it was decided to give them their independence from their Earth mother countries in an attempt to avoid another war.
“President Miller, Premier Lin, Prime Minister Desrosiers, President Cruz, Chancellor Hofmann, President Davidson, Prime Minister Chinh, President Smirnov, Premier Schmidt, Prime Minister al-Fayed, and General Secretary Galanos,” Lynis said, finally ending his long-winded introduction of those present, either in person or by video link. These men and women were some of the most powerful and influential in the Solar System, and represented both Earth nations and those of “the Colonies.”
“Today I will demonstrate what many, for generations, thought impossible: faster-than-light travel.” There was no applause or any such outburst, just these leaders’ serious stares. Clearing his throat, Dr. Lynis turned to his staff in the control room. “How long?”
“T-minus ten minutes until the probe reaches the Laumer Point,” a technician answered. For ten minutes, the doctor, his staff, and the leaders behind them waited. Dr. Lynis had ordered the probe to move towards the Point, accelerating to “transition speed,” a couple of hours before the scheduled demonstration. He wouldn’t want to keep these important men and women waiting for longer than necessary, after all.
“T-minus ten seconds… five, four, three, two, one… Transition.” Before their very eyes, so to speak, the probe disappeared. It was no longer showing up on their instruments. Lynis stole a glance at the dignitaries. A couple seemed surprised, but most seemed to be withholding judgement. Approximately fifteen seconds later, a technician announced, “Receiving probe telemetry!”
“Where is it?” Dr. Lynis asked, mostly for the benefit of the visitors, as he knew exactly where it should be. Obviously, they had run this exact test before. The first FTL jump to an alien star system had been conducted practically in secret, with only the Eris Research Station staff present. It would be incredibly embarrassing if he tried to show off in front of such distinguished persons, and it ended in total failure. So they had had to make sure it worked first.
“The probe is approximately 4.24 light years from Sol, in the Alpha Centauri system,” the technician announced proudly. Dr. Lynis turned back to face the leaders.
“Well, well,” a wide-eyed UN General Secretary Galanos said, “congratulations on your achievement. I think I speak for everyone here when I say that we are all very impressed. The implications of this…” Galanos trailed off as the gears turned in his head.
“How soon do you think we can build a ship with this… jump drive?” Premier Lin asked, borrowing a term from science fiction.
“Wait,” President Davidson interjected before Lynis could answer, “we’re already thinking of sending people out there? We don’t even know if they’ll be able to come back once they go through this ‘Laumer Point.’”
“To answer your question, Premier Lin, you would have to ask the engineers and the shipbuilders, but I think it could be done in two years, maybe less. As for your point, President Davidson, I have already sent through and brought back two probes before this. Obviously we will continue our testing, but we can bring them back.”
Then, almost simultaneously, they started asking questions. For centuries, mankind had dreamt of traveling the stars. When humanity first colonized Earth’s moon, Luna, in the late 21st century, and began to reach out into the rest of the Solar System, it was thought that the next step would be other star systems. Instead, for three hundred years, humans have been trapped in the Solar System, clinging to life as they try to feed humanity’s billions upon billions of men, women, and children. Now the possibility of exploring, possibly colonizing, other star systems presented an incredible opportunity.
General Secretary Galanos cut through the rest of them and reestablished order. When the rest of the leaders had become silent, Galanos said, “We will put together a team to send through the Laumer Point and begin man’s initial exploration of the wider universe.”
Lynis stepped forward. “General Secretary, I would be honored to accompany this crew on its mission.”
“I’m afraid not, doctor,” Galanos said.
“W-what? I’ve spent so long-”
“You’re needed here, Dr. Lynis. We can’t risk losing you in some freak accident in the middle of nowhere.”
“Fine, but who else will you send?”
“I have a few ideas for a good start,” Galanos answered vaguely.
In Eris orbit
Approximately 80 AU from the Sun
A.D. 2347
Dr. Jarol Lynis sat in his office on the Eris Research Station, staring intently at the computer screen on his desk. The numbers flashing on his screen didn’t make sense. He scrunched his eyebrows together and decided to dig through the raw data to find what had caused the computer to reach such a preposterous conclusion. He was about fifteen minutes into it when Dr. Clostermann burst in.
“Dr. Lynis,” he said, nearly out of breath, “have you seen these numbers?”
“Yes, I’m trying to figure out what’s wrong with the computer. This data cannot be true.”
“Yes, I know that it seems odd-”
“Odd? The laws of physics don’t allow an object of that size to pass through. It would be crushed instantly, and…” Lynis trailed off as the gears turned in his head. His eyes wide with realization, he rushed out of the room, muttering that he must be more tired than he thought, followed closely by Dr. Clostermann.
*****
Ever since the discovery of the Laumer Points (named after the 23rd century scientist Gerald Laumer) over a century ago, it had been theorized that they could be used to connect two vastly distant points in space. Only recently, however, has it been seriously pursued as a plausible method of faster-than-light travel. Thanks largely to the lobbying efforts of Dr. Jarol Lynis, research into the Laumer Points had been funded for the last eight years. The so-called “Columbus Project” was now bearings its fruits. Dr. Lynis would today demonstrate the success of his work to top UN leadership.
The United Nations, the descendant of that old 20th century organization, was the single government under which all of humanity lived, from Mercury to far-out Eris. The member-states of the UN all reserved a great deal of autonomy, including the colonies on Mars and the Outer Planets, which gained their right to independent membership after the Colonial Rebellions of decades ago. Although the rebels were eventually defeated, it was decided to give them their independence from their Earth mother countries in an attempt to avoid another war.
“President Miller, Premier Lin, Prime Minister Desrosiers, President Cruz, Chancellor Hofmann, President Davidson, Prime Minister Chinh, President Smirnov, Premier Schmidt, Prime Minister al-Fayed, and General Secretary Galanos,” Lynis said, finally ending his long-winded introduction of those present, either in person or by video link. These men and women were some of the most powerful and influential in the Solar System, and represented both Earth nations and those of “the Colonies.”
“Today I will demonstrate what many, for generations, thought impossible: faster-than-light travel.” There was no applause or any such outburst, just these leaders’ serious stares. Clearing his throat, Dr. Lynis turned to his staff in the control room. “How long?”
“T-minus ten minutes until the probe reaches the Laumer Point,” a technician answered. For ten minutes, the doctor, his staff, and the leaders behind them waited. Dr. Lynis had ordered the probe to move towards the Point, accelerating to “transition speed,” a couple of hours before the scheduled demonstration. He wouldn’t want to keep these important men and women waiting for longer than necessary, after all.
“T-minus ten seconds… five, four, three, two, one… Transition.” Before their very eyes, so to speak, the probe disappeared. It was no longer showing up on their instruments. Lynis stole a glance at the dignitaries. A couple seemed surprised, but most seemed to be withholding judgement. Approximately fifteen seconds later, a technician announced, “Receiving probe telemetry!”
“Where is it?” Dr. Lynis asked, mostly for the benefit of the visitors, as he knew exactly where it should be. Obviously, they had run this exact test before. The first FTL jump to an alien star system had been conducted practically in secret, with only the Eris Research Station staff present. It would be incredibly embarrassing if he tried to show off in front of such distinguished persons, and it ended in total failure. So they had had to make sure it worked first.
“The probe is approximately 4.24 light years from Sol, in the Alpha Centauri system,” the technician announced proudly. Dr. Lynis turned back to face the leaders.
“Well, well,” a wide-eyed UN General Secretary Galanos said, “congratulations on your achievement. I think I speak for everyone here when I say that we are all very impressed. The implications of this…” Galanos trailed off as the gears turned in his head.
“How soon do you think we can build a ship with this… jump drive?” Premier Lin asked, borrowing a term from science fiction.
“Wait,” President Davidson interjected before Lynis could answer, “we’re already thinking of sending people out there? We don’t even know if they’ll be able to come back once they go through this ‘Laumer Point.’”
“To answer your question, Premier Lin, you would have to ask the engineers and the shipbuilders, but I think it could be done in two years, maybe less. As for your point, President Davidson, I have already sent through and brought back two probes before this. Obviously we will continue our testing, but we can bring them back.”
Then, almost simultaneously, they started asking questions. For centuries, mankind had dreamt of traveling the stars. When humanity first colonized Earth’s moon, Luna, in the late 21st century, and began to reach out into the rest of the Solar System, it was thought that the next step would be other star systems. Instead, for three hundred years, humans have been trapped in the Solar System, clinging to life as they try to feed humanity’s billions upon billions of men, women, and children. Now the possibility of exploring, possibly colonizing, other star systems presented an incredible opportunity.
General Secretary Galanos cut through the rest of them and reestablished order. When the rest of the leaders had become silent, Galanos said, “We will put together a team to send through the Laumer Point and begin man’s initial exploration of the wider universe.”
Lynis stepped forward. “General Secretary, I would be honored to accompany this crew on its mission.”
“I’m afraid not, doctor,” Galanos said.
“W-what? I’ve spent so long-”
“You’re needed here, Dr. Lynis. We can’t risk losing you in some freak accident in the middle of nowhere.”
“Fine, but who else will you send?”
“I have a few ideas for a good start,” Galanos answered vaguely.