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Chapter 3: The Exodus (2251-2450)
Note On Historical Accuracy:
Accuracy of
historical records of this time are improved.
Documents and transmissions are recorded and dates are clearer. Most of the earliest information has been
collected from various works stored in libraries across the galaxy. The latter detail from more recent history
books from the inner colonies.
3.0: Society
The middle of
the 23
rd century showed some of humanity's greatest triumphs as well
as created, probably, its most tragic failure.
The catastrophe that was the Promised Land Movement was an almost fatal
blow to the Human race. If it weren't
for the pioneering spirit that humanity is known for, the human race would have
been doomed to extinction.
In the year
2253, the Eberhart/Nakamura Corporation (ENC) developed a prototype FTL drive.
This new technology would propel a ship far enough away from the nearest solar
system, fully into the inter-phased anomaly dimension. In doing so, ships could now circumvent the
"c barrier."
Experiments
using unmanned probes proved positive results.
In 2256, the first manned FTL flight was undertaken. Pilots Tallina
Visser and Sander Jacobssen were the first humans to travel beyond the solar
system. Their journey only took them to
about 53,000 A.U. (26,500,000 LS) away from the edge of the solar system, but
did it in a matter of seconds once entering what is now, romantically called,
hyperspace. By the year 2262, the first
interstellar exploratory vessel, the 30,000tonne(m
3)
Pathfinder. This ship, funded by the nation of United
North America and built by ENC, launched to the nearest star system, Alpha
Centauri. This voyage took 43 days with
these early primitive hyperdrives. The
science team returned 2 years later with a wealth of data from the system. The most interesting find among the data was
evidence that the star system was visited by another race.
3.1: First Contact
The
Pathfinder found what looked like a
sensor buoy of some kind. It was active,
sending an unknown type of signal (now known to be a hyper-transmission) when
the ship came close. The buoy was alien
in design, and the signal radiation was directed away from Sol. It is known, now, that the device was constructed
by the Gha!kuuk'aa, signaling one of their city-ships that humanity had made
their first interstellar trip. The buoy
is on display in the Early Space Travel section of the Museum of Old Earth
History.
This news was
met with much skepticism at first. Many
people, especially among religious leaders, denounced the findings as false
(there were still members of the population who refused to believe in space
travel altogether, calling it a big conspiracy hoax). The controversy gave fuel to the Promised
Land Movement, who have been postulating on the opinion that space travel was a
waste of resources. These opinions were
truly challenged, however, when the Gha!kuuk'aa arrived.
Initial radio
contact with the United Nations council was the first step. On May 26, 2265, the Gha!kuuk'aa
city-ship, the
Vi'Krux, entered Earth
orbit. The news caused anxiety amongst
much of the population, but a U.N.-backed shuttle was dispatched, occupied by
diplomats from several nations. The
Vi'Krux dispatched a small craft of
their own and the two ships met in orbit-the first contact the human race had,
officially, encountered.
The
Gha!kuuk'aa explained that they had visited Earth before, centuries ago. After discovering what they called "a
promising race", they left Earth alone, as is their policy with fledgling
species. The Gha!kuuk'aa admitted to setting up the
transmission buoy in the Alpha Centauri system (called Ixchtl by the Gha!kuuk'aa). The Gha!kuuk'aa were pleased that humanity
finally made it to space, and they welcomed humanity as friends.
The
Gha!kuuk'aa have no planet to call their own; their entire culture and people
reside in enormous (1,000,000tonnes+)city-ships that travel the galaxy. Some of
their technical knowledge was shared with humanity-especially improvements to
hyperdrive systems. Terraforming
technology was also given to the people of Earth by the Gha!kuuk'aa. Worlds that were deemed uninhabitable could
have their status changed in a century or two.
The contact
team also stated that there were worlds available for human colonization out in
space, worlds with no sentient species inhabiting them. The only thing they
asked for in return for this knowledge was the right to trade with humanity for
minerals and other necessities their city-ships needed. The leaders of Earth
agreed. It is now known, that it was another test by the Gha!kuuk'aa to get
humanity used to interstellar commerce and economy.
Over the next 60 years, scout ships, followed by colony
vessels, explored and colonized many worlds within 50LY of Earth. Most solar
systems were found to either contain no worlds of value or no planets at all.
Others, however, produced "garden worlds" that were compatible enough
for human habitation. Expeditions further out produced similar results. Even
with most systems not being much use except for scientific research, there were
always systems that were valid. These discovery produced a flowering of
colonization from many nations. Many nations couldn't produce starships. Individuals
from these nations traveled on other nation's ships going to an outer colony.
The result was many colonies became multicultural and diverse.
3.2: The Coup
In 2300 C.E., politicians, who
subscribed to a more isolationist way of life, gained a majority vote in most
national governments as well as the U.N.. The new regimes were successful in
this because of the increased reactions from conservative populace, who wanted
life on Earth back as it was before space travel. Many events in human history
ran in contrast with many peoples' philosophies. These people became more and
more reactionary to extra-terrestrial concepts and wanted no part of them. Many
peoples of the planet believed that Earth was "God's world", and beings from
other worlds must be anti-God come to lead the human race astray. These people
formed the true base of the Promised Land Movement, who were getting more and
more popular.
2307 witnessed the founding of a new
order on Earth: a world government based on Promised Land doctrine. It was simple:
space was an unnecessary frivolity that humans couldn't afford. The concept of
life off of Earth was too much for many peoples and, as a result, was
mass-rejected by most of the population on the planet. Humans were made to be
on Earth, they surmised, and Earth is where they should stay.
In their defense, most of the world
leaders had good intentions - at first. They honestly thought what they were
doing was best for humanity. People's needs had to be fulfilled, and they felt
that they were the ones best equipped to do it. Their policies, however, became
extremely more corrupt in the years to come.
3.2.1: The New Order
The Promised Land instituted social
engineering programs that became more and more repressive as time went on. It
eventually dominated every aspect of human life by 2310. The upper echelon of
the Promised Land was regarded as heaven-sent and infallible. Upward social
mobility ceased to exist and titles became hereditary. Individual thought and
initiative was frowned upon. Nonconformity was punished to an extent that ran
contrary to the humanitarian principles the leaders claimed to cherish. The
more productive members of society were called upon for greater and greater
efforts to support the rest of the unproductive population.
Each citizen of the New Order of the
Promised Land (NOPL) received entitlement to a Basic Share of the planet's
economic wealth. That meant everyone, no matter their status, received enough
income to sustain themselves. Ones born or (rarely) drafted into the work force
received extra perks according to their station in the Order. This method of
social engineering, many individuals in the upper echelon were not competent
enough to run their assigned operations.
Many of Earth's population were
disadvantaged, as many people lacked the skills and intelligence for the
technical industries of the Post-Industrial Age. By 2340, 80% of the world's
population was unemployable and untrainable. The doctrine of "Earth Only
Matters" kept most of them planet-bound.
3.3: The High Colonies
After the ascension of NOPL on Earth,
the colonies throughout the solar system suffered greatly. The solar colonies
were regarded as a decadent luxury supported on the backs of the righteous
peoples of Earth. The facts were to the contrary; most of the colonies,
Including the L-4 and L-5 stations, were self-sustaining by this time. Others
could be supported directly by the other solar colonies (called the High
Colonies). The fact that the High Colonies exported mass quantities of
badly-needed food and resources to Earth was ignored, even suppressed by the
NOPL council, who wanted to maintain the illusion that they alone were
all-providing to the people. Space represented freedom to humanity, and the
High Colonies continued to be a nearby reminder of this concept. The NOPL's
hatred of space, and all it stood for, drove them into a vicious propaganda war
against the High Colonies to the peoples of Earth.
The propaganda painted that anyone who
desired to leave God's World was an enemy, that the colonists were all lazy,
gluttonous, wasteful pigs that leeched off of the Righteous Planet. Most of the people of Earth believed it, and
relations between Earth and her High Colonies became extremely strained. If the
Earth-hugging masses resented the colonies, the colonies harbored mutual
feelings towards the "Groundhogs"(a term used to describe cultures
who wish to remain planet-bound).
Many colonials were political exiles.
Others were lucky enough to be able to leave Earth and her ever-oppressing
regime. Some merely claimed to hear the Siren's call to space. These were the
most courageous of all, some of the most capable that humanity had to offer.
In 2345, the NOPL decreed that the High
Colonies could only be governed by NOPL loyalists. These people took their new
positions with disdain. The anti-space propaganda made these leaders resent
their positions and the colonials. The new leaders turned most of the colonies
into latter-day Rhodesias. The colonies were forced to sell their goods at
ridiculously-low prices, while being charged exorbitant prices for goods from Earth.
In 2351, the Administer of The Moon
formulated a plan to make the hydroponic farms of the moon into major
high-yield institutions for growing food for the hungry billions of Earth (now around
35 billion). Free citizens were regulated to clients of the Lunar
Administration.
In 2355, the Moon became the new area
for a correctional facilities for transportees exiled from Earth. These new
citizens had little to offer, but the people of the lunar cities were forced to
accept them. Most of them were put to work on the farms, glorified slave-labor.
Others were put into the lowest levels of employment available.
The L-4 and L-5 colonies were not much
better off than their Moon cousins. The competent leaders were replaced by NOPL
bureaucracy. These leaders ruled their jurisdictions with the greatest
ignorance humanity could muster. The policies were bad enough to be a threat to
the safety to the lives of all on the colonies. The L-5 colony held some of the
best hospitals in the solar system. Many of these were turned into dumping
grounds for the incurably insane from Earth.
The L-4 colony housed the solar system's main shipyards. By 2340, no shipyards were operational on
Earth. All spacecraft production was
manufactured either by the High Colonies or the extra-terrestrial worlds.
Mars housed the largest industrial base
of all the High Colonies. These industries were turned into virtual slave-labor
camps like Luna. The administrator had a reputation of exposing anyone who
disagreed with him to Mars' atmosphere without the aid of a spacesuit. He was
successful only by the battalion of troops that came with him.
In the outer region of the solar system
- from the Asteroid Belt outward - life was better. The real estate on the
terraformed moons as well as the asteroid fields was abundant enough that
people could move and set up establishments far enough away from the NOPL-run
establishments. The situation on Earth and her inner colonies created intense
hatred of NOPL and its culture.
3.4: The Exodus
Once NOPL took over Earth, those who
disagreed with its policies were not welcome on the homeworld. By 2325, it was
getting harder to charter passage off Earth, as NOPL policies became more
repressive. Nevertheless the Great Exodus went underway.
People made colonies from whatever
worlds they found. Some worlds were
penal worlds, its citizens dumped on minimally-habitable worlds with inadequate
supplies and training. Most did not make
it; the others became the home of some of the most notorious pirate bands in
the sector.
Other types of colonies consisted of
various national and ethnic persuasions that were long suppressed by NOPL's
doctrine of One Planet One Culture. Just
about every former nation or culture - even national or cultural philosophies
long past - have been attempted in one colony or another. Henrik's Claim (formerly Sirius2), for
example, was initially settled by people from Scandinavian nations (Denmark,
Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden).
Avalon (formerly Alpha Centauri) was colonized by people of the former
United Kingdom (England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales). People from the Eastern part of the former
nation of The United States landed on what they would call New Princeton (formerly
Tau Ceti). The Tzarist Russians
colonized Petromir (formerly Sigma
Draconis). Some members from the
continent of South America have made a home in Tierra Nuevo (formerly
Procyon). Other examples are out there
in the Terran Sector - and beyond.
There were other colonies as well:
Sponsored Colonies (some of the most successful colonies), private worlds, and
even some worlds were either TransHuman refugee planets or dumping grounds for
illegal experiments. Most of these
worlds, however, didn't survive.
3.5: Further Contact
3.6: Seeds of Rebellion
The first half of the 25
th
century saw increasing tensions between Earth and her colonies. NOPL-backed colonial leaders were killing the
colonies the people so desperately tried to build. The new races discovered only increased the
xenophobic tendencies of the people of Earth.
Most were convinced, with the help of the NOPL leadership, that the
aliens were demon-sent, proof that Humans were not meant to be out there. None of the non-Human races, not even the
Gha!kuuk'aa, were allowed to land on Earth after 2350. The policies the NOPL ratified became more
and more unbearable to the colonies.
Revolt was inevitable.
3.7: Technology
Using massive pressure-generating equipment
on chrystaliron, the material could be compacted to the point of 1 to 1000 of
its original size. This material is, to
this day, the standard material for ship hulls.
The early FTL drives achieved speeds of
.01LY/day. Travel was crude, but people
endured it to get away from the repressive regime.
The ability to terraform worlds comes
into this period. This technology,
assisted by the Gha!kuuk'aa, is used, first, on Venus. The tests proved positive, and the first
colonists settled the planet in 2446 (terraforming began in 2282). Other worlds were terraformed over the
centuries.
Advanced bioengineering is available at
this time. Full body cloning technology
was achieved in 2270, when the first Human donated cellular tissue to attempt
to have a younger body grown for him (refer to the History of Earth Celebrities
section covering Romeo Valentino). Brain
transplanting was not so sophisticated, however (refer to previously referred
document covering Romeo Valentino's death).
Full-body replacements for people wouldn't become available until
2297. Cloning became outlawed, however,
in 2303. Not only did run contrary to
NOPL doctrine, but other worlds frowned upon creating clones, for purposes
other than replacement body parts, on general morality purposes. In 2403, the High Colonies recognized all
clones, regardless of their legal status, as Real Humans. They received full rights as any other
citizen. The only requirement was that
the clone had to be subject to DNAMs that made their genetic make-up
distinguishable from originals.
Early blasters make
their entry in this time. Not as
powerful as lasers on full settings, these blasters had a good medium power
range and were easier to manufacture.
Rail guns (magnetic-driven needlers) are the last progression of
slug-throwers developed.