- - -

【Vision of an Alternate Future】

Arc 1: Ascendance

- - -

◇◆◇

〚『~』〛

【VAF】Chapter║: 6 ─ In the Darkness Between the Stars

〚『~』〛

◇◆◇

※※※

As the Crystalorb Fleet moved from Star to Star the Crystalans were completely unaware of what had happened to the once Egalitarian African Federation of City States, and the worst part was that the Crystalans didn't want to know. The Crystalans were still angry, and they would be for many years to come. They had resolved to make their way between the Stars, and discover the mysteries of the Galaxy.

The Crystalans had their own problems to contend with, problems they had not anticipated. After a few weeks in space the Crystalans realized that their accommodations on their Intrepid and Indigo Class Ship were cramped. The Intrepid Class Ship was designed to carry 500 people long term, and the Indigo Class Ship was designed to carry 70 people long term, but their situation had forced the Intrepid Class Ships to accommodate 1480 people and the Indigo Class Ships to accommodate 495 people.

The Entire 159217 Crystalorb population was accommodated into: 64 Intrepid Class Ships each taking 2235 people, 9 Indigo Class Ships each taking 495 people, 63 Juveniles Ships each taking 180 people and 19 Baby Ships each taking 20 people. The Indigo Class Ship is as large as Intrepid Class Ship, but because of its larger Energy storage systems, Research facilities and Mineral processing facilities the Indigo Class could not accommodate as many people as the Intrepid Class.

When the Hulls and weapon systems of the Crystalorb StarShips were upgraded the other improvements were also included. Each of the Intrepid Class Ship now included a 300 meter long 1000 meter Diameter rotating internal Cylinder that generated artificial gravity that ranged from 0.01 g close to its centre and 1 g at the end. To accommodate this and other improvements the both the Intrepid and Indigo Class were 1950 meters in length and 1200 meters maximum width.

The ships had an agricultural section on the gravity producing section, and this was the primary purpose of the Gravity section. The Ships carried Dairy Cattle, Goats, Egg laying Chickens and fish farming facilities. The hydroponics facilities rapidly produced all the food the animals and the crew needed. The Ships had originally been modified to allow for long term security patrols 15000 LightYears from Earth, but the improvements served their current role as a home in the skies.

◇◆◇

To navigate the Galaxy the Crystalorb Research Division divided the Galaxy into 12 Sectors like the 12 hours of a clock, this was the same principle as the Crystalorb Guardian Sectors. The Primus System was chosen as 12 O'clock or 00H00, this meant that from 00H35 to 02H50 was Migon space, and 02H50 to 05H02 is what is considered the Null space, Earth is at 07H00 and the region between 09H10 and 10H22 is considered to be the Developing region, the location of most Developing Interstellar Civilisations.

Most of the Advanced Interstellar Civilisation and the Older Interstellar Civilisation populate 10H22 to 00H00. The Crystalorb Research Division used the radius from the centre of the galaxy as another navigation tool. When Crystalorb left they decided to travel in the direction of sector 8 or 08H00 at high Galactic Radius to avoid coming into contact with possibly hostile Developing Interstellar Civilisations that populated the lower Galactic Radius.

At first the Crystalans wanted to make contact with Planetary and younger Developing Interstellar Civilisations and collect their knowledge. The Crystalans wanted to work their way progressively towards more advanced Developing Interstellar Civilisations and eventually make contact with Developed and Advanced Interstellar Civilisations. The relatively small Crystalorb Fleet had to avoid coming into contact with Hakum scouting Sky Daggers that had been known to roam distant regions.

The Council of Elders wanted to increase the size of the Intrepid Class Ships and Indigo Class Ships before they made any contact with Alien Civilisations. To accomplish this 3 months after the Crystalans left, and when the fleet was 29000 LightYears from Earth the Council of Elders ordered the fleet to stop at a system of the Star called Silenia. The stop was to allow the Fleet to collect Nuclear Fusion Reactor fuel from a nearby Gas giant and its Ice covered Moons.

The Council of Elders ordered the 9 Indigo Class Ships, 40 Intrepid Class Ships and all the 63 Juvenile Ships to the outskirts of the Silenia System to collect and process as much minerals as they could carry. The other Ships collect and process minerals from the Asteroid belt around the Gas giant. When the Ships were full the Minerals were brought to the Intrepid, and the Crew of the Intrepid was evacuated leaving only the Council of Elders and the Spirit Stone.

Ordinarily the Crystalorb Ship's growth process takes many years to grow a few hundred meters, but the Spirit Stone had the power to accelerate the process and increase the size of ships much faster than normal. Normally Adult Crystalorb Ships only grew about 0.25 meters per year, but the Spirit Stone could accelerate that process. The Spirit Stone would use all the minerals collected by the other ships and use the minerals to grow the Intrepid. The growth spurt would take 2 days, and when all the minerals were gone the ships would collect and process more minerals. The Crew of the Intrepid would then return to the Intrepid until the next growth cycle.

After six months in the Silenia System the Intrepid had increased to 6950 meters in length and 2490 meters maximum width, and the Intrepid was now able to collect and process much more minerals. Therefore for the next 8 months the Spirit Stone connected to the Intrepid’s Energy Crystals and used the Intrepid to grow all the Intrepid Class Ships, Indigo Class Ships and all the Juvenile Ships to 4000 meters in length and 1744 meters maximum width.

The Crystalorb Fleet now consisted of: 121 Intrepid Class Ships, 16 Indigo Class Ships and 19 Baby Ships. The accommodations on the ships were much better, and the 159279 Crystalorb population was accommodated into: The Intrepid taking 8000 people, the other 120 Intrepid Class Ships each taking 1240 people, 16 Indigo Class Ships each taking 150 people, and 19 Baby Ships each taking 2 people.

With the Ship growth process, came other benefits including larger and more powerful Olen Crystalorb Nuclear Fusion Reactors, 3 layer 40m thick Refractive-Reflective hull, larger Energy Crystals, larger mineral processing Facilities, larger energy storage systems and larger food production Facilities. The Intrepid now had a 3 layer 55m thick Refractive-Reflective hull to protect the Spirit Stone.

The Crystalorb Fleet then Continued on its journey through the Darkness Between the Stars. They collected samples of new and interesting life forms, and on 08-05-2137 the Crystalorb Fleet entered a Solar System neighbouring the Pretovus System. Before the Crystalorb Fleet could Jump into any area a 5 Indigo Class Ship BattleGroup would enter first and make sure that it was safe for the rest of the fleet to jump in.

◇◆◇

As usual the Indigo Class Ship BattleGroup entered and scanned the system, and finding no signs of habitation informed the Crystalorb Fleet that it was safe. About and hour after the Crystalorb Fleet jumped in a 4 ship BattleGroup from the Pretovus jumped into the system broadcasting their standard message to intruders, but once they got a look at the Crystalorb Fleet they were slightly intimidated and kept their distance from the Crystalorb Fleet.

Pretovus Federation operated 900 meter long ships and even though they had been an Interstellar Civilisation for 500 years they were no match for the Crystalorb Fleet. After translators were able to enter the Pretovus Federation language into the Crystalorb database the Crystalorb Leadership sent a message to the Pretovian BattleGroup apologizing for the intrusion and informing them that the Crystalorb Fleet would leave immediately.

However once the Pretovians realised that the Crystalorb Fleet was actually Human they asked the Crystalans to come to their home planet Tovusla and trade. The Pretovians had learnt from the Zlarfh Empire that the humans agreed to buy 3 operational obsolete StarShips for the equivalent of 200000 metric tons of Gold paid for in several minerals. They knew that humans were eager to acquire advanced technology, and the humans were willing to pay a premium for it.

And so the Crystalorb Fleet followed the Pretovians to Tovusla and stayed there for 3 months buying all sorts of products from Pretovian traders, and while the Crystalorb Fleet was in Tovusla's orbit they came into contact with traders from distant worlds who invited them to visit their worlds for trade. When the Crystalorb Research Division had collected all the samples they needed the Crystalorb Fleet was ready to leave, and they were running out of rare minerals to trade. By the time the Crystalorb Fleet left Pretovian space they had paid the equivalent of 240000 metric tons of Gold in several minerals.

The Crystalorb Fleet had been invited to several distant lands, but before they could go there, they went to unclaimed lands and used the unique abilities of their StarShips to consume large asteroids and produce refined minerals which they then stockpiled for trade and Ship growth. Consequently the Crystalorb Fleet spent a considerable amount of time In the Darkness Between the Stars.

From the Pretovian Federation the Crystalorb Fleet went to Zolak Kingdom Space, from the Zolak Kingdom the Crystalorb Fleet went to Cromed Republic Space, from the Cromed Republic the Crystalorb Fleet went to Drafon Federation Space, from the Drafon Federation the Crystalorb Fleet went to Antora Consortium Space, from the Antora Consortium the Crystalorb Fleet went to the Valdez Empire and from the Valdez Empire the Crystalorb Fleet went to the Solte Federation.

When trading with other Civilisations the Crystalans had a tendency to deliberately overpay for products, and even though it created an Image of Humans as being bad traders it also bought the Crystalans goodwill. Many races were happy to see the Crystalans because they knew that they would benefit from the interaction. Since the minerals the Crystalans used as currency were relatively easy to acquire, the cost was not that high for Crystalans. The Crystalans knew that the goodwill they were generating would extend to all humans.

◇◆◇

In between visiting these more Developed Interstellar Civilisations the Crystalorb Fleet also visited 145 Developing Interstellar Civilisations; These were Civilisations that had only been capable of Interstellar Travel for less than 1000 years or had less than 50 Colonized planets. The Pretovian Federation were considered to be a Developing Interstellar Civilisation. The Crystalorb Fleet also visited 200 Planetary Civilisations.

The Developed Interstellar Civilisations were those who had been a space Faring Civilisation for more than 1500 years or had more than 100 Colonized planets The Advanced Interstellar Civilisations were those Civilisations who had Advanced Technology that required higher energy inputs to produce 〘i.e. Highly enriched minerals, Advanced metals and Alloys〙.

By this measure Earth was a Developing Interstellar Civilisation. In 2158 while at the Solte Federation Space the Crystalans met the Anabi from the Nabi Federated Kingdom. The Anabi were the most Advanced Interstellar Civilisation the Crystalorb Fleet had come across, comparable to the Azlecks, and like the Azleck Republic the Nabi Federated Kingdom is also a member of the Galactic Alliance.

After a 12 months stay in Nabi Space, and significant trades with Anabi traders the Crystalorb Fleet needed to refuel and re-supply their refined mineral resources stockpiles. So the Crystalans left the relative safety of Nabi Space for the Darkness Between the Stars. For the next 5 years the Crystalorb Fleet made short visits to 100 Developing Interstellar Civilisations, conducting technological, biological and information trades.

◇◆◇

The Crystalans are essentially technology assimilators, and they could reproduce any technology they came into contact with. This meant that contact with Advanced Interstellar Civilisations was transforming the Crystalans into an Advanced Interstellar Civilisation, and they now had technology from over a Hundred worlds. The Crystalorb Leadership decided to return to the Nabi Federated Kingdom as one of the final stops on the way back to Earth.

On 15-08-2164 the Crystalorb Fleet arrived back in Nabi Space, and after about a month the Crystalans were preparing to leave, but their plans were changed when a group of Bitori explorers told the Crystalans about a race that lived in sector 6, specifically 06H03 with Galactic Radius at 10000 LightYears. The Bitorians from the Bitori Conclave had met the Edo 3 years earlier, their Homeworld was called Endo, and the Edo used massive Bioships.

This peaked Crystalorb's interest, and the Crystalorb Leadership decided that they would return to earth after they visited the Edo. The Crystalorb Fleet set course for the long journey to 06H03 to make contact with the Endo Federation. Finally the Crystalans would meet a race that had a Civilisation similar to Crystalorb. Along the way the Crystalorb Fleet collected mineral with which to trade once they arrive in Endo Federation space.

◇◆◇

When the Crystalorb Fleet arrived near the Endo Federation Space they tried to make communications contact, but there was no answer, and so they made their standard entry. The 5 Ship Indigo Class BattleGroup entered the Endo space with their stealth active making them invisible, but almost as soon as they emerged from Hyper-space they were attacked by a Hakum BattleGroup: 4 Hakum Sky Daggers and 1 Sky Sword.

When the Crystalorb BattleGroup reported that it was under attack the Crystalorb Leadership ordered the rest of the Crystalorb Fleet into Endo space. The Crystalorb Ships were much more advanced than the ships the Hakum faced 50 years earlier, and prolonged contact with Advanced Interstellar Civilisations was clearly evident. The Crystalorb Ships were larger faster and more powerful, equivalent to the ships of Advanced Interstellar Civilisations.

The Hakum fired their High energy Plasma Cannons and Multidirectional Particle Beams causing significant damage to Crystalorb Ships, but they were outnumbered and outgunned. A single Energy/Weapons Crystal of the Crystalorb Ship could simultaneously direct high energy Particle Beams at hundreds of separate targets, and every Crystalorb Ship had 4 Energy/Weapons Crystals. The Crystalans finally had a weapon system that could penetrate Hakum shields.

The battle lasted about 10 minutes, leaving all the Hakum ships Destroyed and 9 Crystalorb Ships with significant damage. The Spirit Stone was then summoned to connect to the Intrepid, and begin repairing the damaged ships. The damage amounted to several breaches of the first layer of the Hull, and some damage to the second layer, but the ships were still operational. Several ships were sent to the planet Endo to determine the fate of the Edo.

The Crystalorb Leadership was concerned that the Hakum might return in larger numbers, and wanted the ships that had been sent to Endo to rejoin the fleet as quickly as possible. When the Ships arrived in Low orbit they were horrified at the sight of the devastation below, and they could find no sign of life. The continents had been bombarded with Hakum fired High energy Plasma Cannons for an extended period, reducing entire cities to Ash and rubble.

For a moment it seemed as though the Edo were gone, but then a ship emerged from the deepest part of the Endo's ocean. This was the largest ship the Crystalans had ever seen; 25km in length and 6km wide. When the Large Bioship entered Orbit it was escorted to the middle of the Crystalorb Fleet. The Large Bioship called Edona which translates to New Hope then transmitted the Edo's entire database of knowledge to the Intrepid.

The Edo insisted that they should all leave the area as quickly as possible, indicating that the Hakum had a larger Force 18 hours away. The Edona was only capable of 25 LightYear Jumps so the Crystalorb Fleet would maintain protection until the Edona reached the Edo's desired destination. The Edo were targeting a planet similar to Endo, but safe in that it was 2000 LightYears on the other side of Arun 〘 Arun is at 07H12 at R = 12000 LightYears and the Edo's target was 07H30 at R = 13000 LightYears〙

Once the Edona was some 15000 LightYears from Endo the Crystalorb Leadership decided that it was too risky for the Edona to travel with the entire Crystalorb Fleet. The Council of Elders felt the size of the Fleet would attract unwanted attention, and so they reduced the Edona's escort to 10 Intrepid Class Ships, the escort Ships would rejoin the Crystalorb Fleet at a later date. The rest of the Crystalorb Fleet would take a zigzag route to Sector 05H41 at R = 34000 LightYears in an attempt to draw away any pursuing Hakum ships.

The ultimate target of the Crystalorb Fleet was a Neutron Star 〘Rotation Powered Pulsar〙, and the Crystalorb Leadership believed that the Neutron Star's unique Electromagnetic Radiation signature would musk the Crystalorb Fleet's presence. Their travel to the selected location would extend the Crystalorb Fleet's stay in space by 3 years to the Earth year 2168. The Crystalans were in no hurry to return to Earth, and they were unsure about the welcome they would receive.

The Edo told the Crystalans that the Hakum were deliberately trying to destroy them and they did not know why. The Edo Explained that some six months earlier the Hakum attacked with 50 ships, and after destroying the Endo Federation fleet they began to bombard Endo, reducing all their cities to rubble. The Hakum ruthlessly killed 2 Billion Edos for no apparent reason; they never tried to enslave the Edo or capture any Edo.

Fortunately the Endo Federation Colony Ship Edona was on its final faze of development at the bottom of the Ocean. Inside the Edona there is 2 million Edos in stasis capsules, put there when the Hakum started the planetary bombardment. The Edos indicated that their ships are planted at the bottom of the ocean and take 20 years to reach maturity; they then produce 5 seeds every 10 years. The Edo Colony Class Ship took some 45 years to grow.

The Crystalorb Leadership believe that the Edo's ship growing technology may have been a possible reason for the Hakum or possibly the Migon wanting them destroyed. The Edo had the potential to quickly build large numbers of Ships in a relatively short space of time, and the Hakum may have seen them as a possible future threat, but this was merely speculation, the real reason for the Hakum’s actions would remain a Hakum secret.

◇◆◇

When the Crystalorb Fleet reached the designated Neutron Star 〘Rotation Powered Pulsar〙 the Crystalans made a discovery. The Electromagnetic Radiation of the Neutron Star was concealing something else, something the Crystalans never expected in the system of a Neutron Star. The Crystalorb Fleet was approached by 3 massive dark green Ships; each ship had a rectangular shape from the side, 32km long, 10km high and 10km wide. The surface of the ship was covered with 400m high Polyhedron Pyramids and 350m high Polyhedron hemispheres arranged in no discernable order except for 3 hemispheres to every Polyhedron Pyramid.

Nuclear Propulsion indicated that the approaching ships were very Advanced, and the Crystalans had to be very careful not to antagonize the approaching Ships. The Crystalorb Leadership sent one ship from the Crystalorb Fleet to make contact with the approaching ships, and the ship selected was the Indigo. The rest of the Crystalorb Fleet was ready to Jump at a moments notice should things go wrong.

The Indigo Broadcast information on how to translate Human languages to the approaching ships, and this seemed to halt the approach of the 3 dark green Ships. The ships responded by also sending information about their languages. The Captain of the Indigo Naole Olen was following Crystalorb's first contact principles to the letter, and once the Indigo had analysed and stored the Alien’s language information Naole could communicate.

The Indigo sends a message to the 3 Ships.

Naole : " We are the Crystalorb Exploration Fleet from Earth; we are Human! We apologize for the intrusion in your Space! We will leave immediately!"

The Indigo and the rest of the Crystalorb Fleet receive a message from Khilag the lead ship commander.

Khilag : " I'm Khilag! Sky Commander of the O'con Federation! We are O'ltana!"

Naole : " I'm Naole Olen."

Khilag : " We are pleased to make contact with you Naole Olen of Earth."

Naole : " We are also pleased make contact with the O'con Federation."

Khilag : " The High Council of the O'con Federation would like to meet with you. We have been waiting a long time to make contact."

Naole : " Where shall we meet!"

Khilag : " On O'con off course!"

The Council of Elders were then moved to the Incrata and the Intrepid and 60 Ships left O'con Federation Space for a solar system 1000 LightYears away. The Crystalorb Leadership did not want to risk the Spirit Stone in case this was a trap. Half of the Crystalorb Fleet belonged to the Crystalorb Expeditionary Division, and the Intrepid was the flagship of the Expeditionary Division, but because the Intrepid carried the Spirit Stone it left with the Crystalorb Sector Command Ships.

The Indigo Class Ships were assigned to the Crystalorb Research Division, but they also remained. The planet O'con was a Mars size planet in orbit around the Neutron Star, one of 4 planets in the system, and the O'ltana live on two inner most planets. When the Incrata arrived on O'con it docked on one of Eight 48km long O'con Federation Space Station, and that is where the Council of Elders first saw with their own eyes the O'ltana.

◇◆◇

The O'ltana are tall Technogarnic Humanoids with Green skin, 4 arms, 4 fingers on each of the 4 hands, 2 legs, a mouth, a Nose and 3 eyes. The O'ltana's Technogarnic Physiology gave them very advanced Psionic Abilities. They seemed to wear Technogarnic garments and Technogarnic Armour that adjusted to an individual's body and helps to regulate the individual's temperature. Since most of O'con is covered in Ice the ability to regulate the temperature was critical to their survival. The O'ltana are mammalians and evolved from an aquatic mammal.

When the Council of Elders entered the O'con Federation Council Chambers they were met by 14 members of the O'con Federation High Council, and the High Council had chosen Bital to speak for them. Tarun would speak for the Crystalorb Council of Elders

Bital : " Welcome to O'con; I am Bital of the O'con Federation High Council."

Tarun : " Thank you for having us! I am Tarun of the Crystalorb Council of Elders."

Bital : " Crystalorb? I thought you were Humans from Earth."

Tarun : " We are; Crystalorb is a self governed City in the African Federation of City States. One of 5 Earth Federations."

Bital : " And Crystalorb is ruled by a Council of Elders?"

Tarun : " The Council of Elders are the Governors of Crystalorb!"

Bital : " Our security personnel tell us that some if you are carrying weapons on your chests."

Tarun : " It is not a weapon. Not exactly! It can be used as a weapon, but we don't see it as a weapon." Tarun opens his Chest and shows the O'ltana his Chest Crystal "We call it a Chest Crystal, and all our technology is based on Chest Crystals."

Bital : " Did you come looking for us?"

Tarun : " We didn't even know you were here! We came here looking for a place to hide."

Lord Tarun then proceeds to explain about what happened to the Edo, and about the Hakum and the Migon. Lord Tarun also explains about the history of the Crystalans and the circumstances of Crystalorb's departure from Earth.

Bital : " Then you are welcome to stay for as long as you desire."

Tarun : " Thank you."

Bital : " We are fortunate that you came here! For over a million years we have known about the existence of other Civilisations. For a million years we have detected their radio waves. For a million years we have been sending messages to the stars. With no response. We think that most of the Civilisations must have concluded that our radio waves are the result of our star. Because of this we have been Isolated. We have waited 1.4 million years to make contact with an Interstellar Civilisation. Yet you are not at all what we expected."

Tarun : " What do you mean?"

Bital : " The similarities between you and us have us totally amazed."

Tarun : " Similarities?"

Bital : " You are Mammalian; we are Mammalian! You build Bio-Organic Crystalline Ships and structures; we build Technogarnic Ships and structures. Your bodies have Bio-Organic Crystalline Technological enhancements; our bodies have Technogarnic Technological enhancements! The list of similarities goes on and on."

Tarun : " I see what you mean."

Bital : " You may be the other half of our Soul! Will you stay with us? Share with us your Scientific Knowledge; Your Knowledge of Interstellar Travel. The secrets of the Stars. In return we will share with you all our Scientific Knowledge."

Tarun : " We will stay. For the record Interstellar Travel technology didn't come from us. None of the existing Civilisations in the Galaxy developed Jump Drive Technology. Jump Drive Technology was given to the Older Civilisations by the Phaylon. The Older Civilisations have not seen the Phaylon for almost 2 million years. The Phaylon are said to be a 100 million year old Intergalactic Civilisation. Jump Drive Technology spreads from Civilisation to Civilisation like Solar winds."

Crystalorb had made a powerful friend, and by sharing Scientific knowledge with the O'ltana the Crystalans would reach new levels of development. The Crystalorb Council of Elders decided to delay Crystalorb's return to Earth by 20 years. The O'ltana built a 200 story, 1.2 km diameter Consulate on O'con for the Crystalans. The Crystalans were certainly welcome amongst the 3.6 Billion O'ltana.

※※※