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【Vision of an Alternate Future】

Arc 1: Ascendance

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【VAF】Chapter║: 19 ─ Transition

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Following the Galactic Alliance intervention the Curmallion Communion, the Enthori Conclave, the Kulnet Dominion and the 5 Human Governments met on Arun, and after months of wrangling they worked out a settlement that the four main parties found acceptable. The 5 Human Governments agreed to pay 0.005% of their combined GDP to the Curmallion Communion for 10 years as reparations for the destroyed Curmallion instillations located in officially accepted Curmallion Communion territory.

The Curmallion Communion agreed to pay 4.5% of their GDP to the Enthori Conclave for 20 years as reparations for the destroyed cities on Enthea. At first the 5 Human Governments were unwilling to make any kind of symbolic payment to the Curmallion Communion, but after extensive private consultations with the Azlecks the 5 Human Governments finally agreed to make payments to the Curmallion Communion.

The 5 Human Governments also agreed to a Kulnet request that no Human Warship come within 50 LightYears of Curmallion Communion space without Curmallion approval or Notification. The 5 Human Governments had been forced to make significant Political concessions, and because of the differences in the sizes of the economies the human payment to the Curmallion Communion while negligible to the humans it amounted to 0.08% of the Curmallion GDP.

With the projected increases in the sizes of the Human economies it could be expected that the final human payment would amount to 1.612% of the Curmallion GDP. The 5 Human Governments However understood that this was just a means to an End, and they knew that getting the Curmallion Communion to pay reparations to the Enthori Conclave was a moral and Political victory.

Having been denied a military victory, the 5 Human Governments gladly accepted a political victory. After the military stand off with the Curmallion allied forces many regional Developing Interstellar Civilisations formed Military cooperation agreements with the 5 Human Governments as a way to deter those who were allied to the Curmallion from attacking them. The 5 Human Governments were all too happy to offer military support to any of the Developing Interstellar Civilisations that wanted closer relations with the Humans.

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The Humans had come into contact with some of the most powerful races in the Galaxy, and having witnessed the warships of the Powerful Carmaks and the Reclusive Hildrano the humans were more worried than ever. The question in the minds of the Humans was; "What kind of power would intimidate the Powerful Carmak and the Reclusive Hildrano?", and the second question became; "Would the Human race survive the kind of power that could threaten the Powerful Carmak and the Reclusive Hildrano?"

The Humans now had a profile on the Hildrano Enclave SkyGliders and the Carmak Republic SkyStriders. From their display of power it was easy to see why any primitive race might mistake them for Gods, and the fact that they stopped thousands of missiles with relative ease had even the Humans wondering whether they were not in the presence of beings much greater than themselves.

The Cephalopod shaped Ships Carmak Republic SkyStriders are:

1〙 18.2317 km in Length and 4.3837 km in Width on the main body, with 15 km long tentacles. 2〙 On the main body of the SkyStrider there are 8 Advanced Fusion Beam Cannons and 4 High Energy Particle Beams Polyhedron Prisms, and High Energy Particle Beams Polyhedron Prisms at the tip of each of the 40 tentacles.

The Electric Eel shaped Hildrano Enclave SkyGliders are:

1〙 53.2317 km in Length and 2.4317 km in Width. 2〙 5 Advanced Fusion Beam Cannons at the head and 4 at the tail, and High Energy Particle Beams Polyhedron Prisms along the length of the SkyGlider.

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The 5 Human Governments decided to hold a security conference at the United Human Civilisation Security Council headquarters in New York to decide on future security needs of the United Human Civilisation.

Present at the meeting was Ambassador Kent of the United Atlantic Federation, Ambassador Ntadu of the African Federation of City States, Ambassador Singh of the United Indian Federation, Ambassador Tao of the Asian Consortium. Ambassador Barrack of the Islamic Alliance, Admiral Brown of the United Atlantic Federation, Admiral Nkuna of the African Federation of City States, Admiral Suresh of the United Indian Federation, General Abdul of the Islamic Alliance, General Lao of the Asian Consortium, Grandlord Kimna Ralefa chairman of the Hodian High Council, Grandlord David Ralefa chairman of the Council of the Light of Destiny, Guardian Commander Cyris of Crystalorb and Guardian Naole of Crystalorb.

The Political, Military and Financial officials were accompanied by their respective staff of analysts and advisors. After long discussions on various subjects the subject turned to weapons sales/transfer to Human Allied Developing Interstellar Civilisations.

Amb-Kent : " Having reviewed all the relative documents on the possible security requirements of Human Allied Developing Interstellar Civilisations the United Atlantic Federation propose that United Human Civilisation Security Council approves the sales/transfer of advanced weapons technology, and if they can afford it the Apollo Class Destroyer."

Amb-Singh : " I'm not sure any of these nations can afford full deployment of the Apollo Class Destroyer!"

Amb-Barrack: " Are we sure these Nations can be trusted with our most Advanced Technology?"

Amb-Ntadu : " The Human Allied Developing Interstellar Civilisations have shown us loyalty, and we must return that loyalty with trust."

Amb-Kent : " The Apollo Class Destroyer is designed to be fully upgradeable, which means that once one is built it could be in operation for hundreds of years. Over time the Human Allied Developing Interstellar Civilisations can build up to full deployment."

Amb-Singh : " Besides we don't have the resources to give them adequate protection from the Curmallion Communion and the Elmachi Empire. Furthermore we need to transfer these advanced technologies before we join the Galactic Alliance because once we join we won't be able to share our technology due to Galactic Alliance restrictions on technology transfers."

Amb-Tao : " What about the Valiant Class Corvette? Surely we can’t share such an advanced warship with nations that don't have the capacity to adequately protect its sensitive technology?"

Amb-Ntadu : " The Valiant Class Corvette uses Advanced O'con Federation technology that is governed by our agreements with the O'ltana. We therefore can't share that technology, and that includes the Vanguard Class BattleCruiser and the Nubia Class Destroyer. However the O'ltana have approved the construction of 4 Vanguard Class BattleCruisers for the Azleck Republic."

Gen-Lao : " What do the Azlecks want with the Vanguard Class BattleCruisers? They have advanced BattleCruisers of their own that are arguably better than the Vanguard Class BattleCruisers."

Amb-Ntadu : " Admiral Nkuna please explain to the others!"

Admr-Nkuna: " The Azleck Republic learned about Crystalorb's Esara Class SkyCruiser which is based on the O'con Federation's Elmak Class SkyCruiser. The Azlecks want the Vanguard Class BattleCruisers to experiment on, to study the Enhanced Weapons Array Weapons System, and to develop their own version of the Esara Class SkyCruiser. The Esara Class SkyCruiser is Crystalorb's attempt to build a warship that can destroy a Migon BattleSphere, and the Esara Class SkyCruiser would be Crystalorb's first dedicated warship, but they ran into some problems."

Gen-Abdul : " What sort of problems?"

Amb-Ntadu : " Guardian Naole can elaborate on that."

Naole : " The Crystalorb Council of Elders wanted to explore the limits of warship design, and the need arose from the expectation that the Migon Federation will move against us." Taking a brief pause "It's not a question of if, but a matter of when? Crystalorb analysis of the when indicates that they will attack the Human race in about 50 years; give or take a few years!"

Amb-Kent : " How did you come up with that figure?" Ambassador Kent interrupts "I mean, why do you think they will attack in 50 years and not 10 or 15?"

Naole : " In truth we can't be sure. However from Azleck records the Migon Federation has in the past targeted certain Developing Interstellar Civilisations based on known characteristics! 1〙 A Civilisation's Energy Production 2〙 A Civilisation's Military Capabilities 3〙 A Civilisation's Technological Level."

Amb-Singh : " Why is A Civilisation's Energy Production important?"

Naole : " Advanced Nuclear Fusion Reactors generate more Advanced Nuclear Fusion Reactors with each generation of Advanced Nuclear Fusion Reactors building on the next. It's an incremental cycle. The more the energy at a Civilisation's disposal the more the Civilisation can produce advanced materials, and the better a Civilisation's materials the better the energy production methods. It's how the Older Galactic Civilisations were able to develop their Advanced Nuclear Fusion Reactors that also act as Antimatter Reactors. Over time the Energy technology becomes increasingly more Exotic, and their self regenerating molecular Armour or living metal require an extraordinary amount of these exotic energies. The Crystalorb Research Division believes that the Human race will become increasingly more energy intensive over the next fifty years, and that will bring us at the beginning stages of the development of these advanced metals."

Amb-Tao : " Which is why you think that they will attack us directly?"

Amb-Barrack: " To stop us from becoming too dangerous?"

Naole : " Exactly!"

Gen-Lao : " Ambassador Ntadu said you ran into problems with your Esara Class SkyCruiser? Can you elaborate?"

Naole : " We simply don't have enough resources to build the Esara Class SkyCruiser. At a population of just 15 million Crystalans there simply isn't enough Crystalans to bring the Warship into full production while maintaining the production of other devices, equipment and products. We think that by 2275 we should have enough people to begin limited production, and in the mean time we will continue to produce more Casara Class Cruisers with the hope that we will have sufficient numbers to be effective in the event of an attack."

Amb-Ntadu : " Explain about your projected Numbers ratio!"

Admr-Suresh : " Numbers?"

Naole : " From Azleck records we think that at current levels we will need 50 Apollo Class Destroyers for every Migon BattleSphere"

Admr-Nkuna : " Or 50 Nubia Class Destroyers for every Migon BattleSphere"

Naole : " Yes!" a brief pause "At their level of power the differences between the Apollo Class Destroyers and the Nubia Class Destroyers are negligible, and with 50 years of development the ratio will only shift slightly! Our only real hope is that we join the Galactic Alliance and therefore receive Galactic Alliance protection through the deployment of warships from the Older Galactic Civilisations like on Arun."

Admr-Brown : " The Older Galactic Civilisations only protect Homeworlds."

Gen-Lao : " We would have to defend Our Colonies."

Gen-Abdul : " How can we?"

The conference continued with discussions moving on to strategic planning for security purposes, and the 5 Human Governments developed plans to deploy Wormhole detectors in a radius of 600 LightYears around Earth. The 5 Human Governments wanted to be able to at the very least see the Migon coming even if there was little they could do to stop a Migon Fleet of significant size or numbers.

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After the conference was concluded the Crystalans, the Lodians and the Hodians decided to meet and see if they could create synergies in technological development for the benefit of all man kind. The main parties introduce their associates to each other moments before the official meeting begins.

David : " Good to see you again Cyris!" presenting a tall Caucasian male "This is the Lodian chief strategist Luke Carter”

Cyris : " Cyris Lesedi of Crystalorb" extending his hand to Luke "Guardian Commander!"

Luke : " Pleased to meet you sir!"

Cyris : " Let me present Naole Olen of Crystalorb." Naole steps forward "Engineering Guardian!"

David : " Naole Olen?" taking Naole's hand "Thought you'd be older!"

Naole : " Pleased to meet you, your Honour."

Cyris : " He is old! He just doesn't look it!"

Naole : " Pleased to meet you!" as Naole takes Luke's hand "Interesting?"

Luke : " Pleased to meet you Guardian."

Naole : " Are you sure you're a Lodian?" Naole sends an energy burst into Luke's hand causing Luke's skin to briefly transform into a Clear Crystalline Form, and when Naole lets go Luke turns back to normal "Part Crystalan."

Luke : " What happened?" with a look of complete Surprise "What did he do to me?" Thinking out loud "I've never been able to transform before?"

Naole : " After the meeting you must come with us to Crystalorb and see your legacy! Should you choose it, we will teach you how to walk like a Crystalan."

Luke : " Me? In Crystalorb?"

Naole : " It is your right as a Crystalan! I've already informed Crystalorb about you, and you will be included in the Crystalorb Trust."

Luke : " Crystalorb Trust? I have a twin sister."

Naole : " She will also be included in the Crystalorb Trust. Unfortunately you grew up outside Crystalorb, and because of this being Crystalan could prove difficult, but if you can master the courage you could fit right in."

Luke : " I thought Crystalans are black, I mean African. How is it possible?"

Naole : " 80% of Crystalans are African, but the other 20% come from a mix of all sorts of people! Part of the Hodian legacy!" Naole turns to look at Cyris "The Hodian Grandlords are arriving Commander!" Naole turns to look at Luke "We will talk on the flight to Crystalorb"

Luke : " Ok!" Naole and Cyris move off to greet the Hodians, and Luke Turns to Grandlord David "What just happened?"

David : " I can't believe your luck" smiling "You've just become incredibly wealthy!"

Luke : " What are you talking about?"

David : " The Crystalorb Trust. Think Millions of Atlantic Dollars as your share of annual dividends."

Luke could not quite understand what had happened to him, but the idea of access to unlimited amounts of cash without ever having to work for it seemed appealing, and as David explained to him that Crystal Valley Industries was owned by the Crystalorb Trust he could begin to understand that he would never have to work for money again. As the meeting of the three factions of humans with special abilities got under way the Hodians made several proposals, but their main concept troubled the Lodians and the Crystalans.

Kimna : " We all know that the only difference between the human race and the other Developing Interstellar Civilisations is advanced robotics, and without advanced robotics we would have to rely on human labour, which means our Civilisation would be limited by human limitations. I know that most of the UHC is bound by moral or religious objections to the implanting of Micromachines in human brains, but think of the benefits that it could bring to Human Civilisation! Our robotics technology is limited by the programming limitations of our software, but Hodian and Crystalan advanced robotics has no such limitations because our robots are effectively controlled by our minds. Can you imagine what the Human Civilisation could create with more minds working on the problems that face Humanity?"

Cyris : " The religious organizations will never accept this. You are talking about introducing Microbots into the biology of the entire Human population? The risk is more than considerable. A lot of people could be harmed."

Kimna : " Nevertheless it's a risk we will have to take! We simply don’t have the time to introduce the technology over hundreds of years. However this will accelerate Human evolution, make the human race more than they ever thought possible. Every Human child will instantly have access to the knowledge of a million scientists. Schooling will become an obsolete concept, and all our children will grow up in a world of infinite wisdom."

David : " Are Human minds ready to control such complex machinery?"

Cyris : " They will have to be! Let's face it, we all knew that this day was coming, but I doubt it will be as easy as Kimna believes. Connecting Microbots to the Human brain will be much more complicated than you think. The Kulnet have been working on this for hundreds of years, and they are still not at the truly Technorganic level. Crystalorb has been moving in that direction for generations, but our physiology is designed to make us Technorganic. The Chest Crystal is a Technorganic organ, and it allows us to interface with standard technology. The Hodian and Lodian physiology contains the Metallic Crystals that would make it relatively easy to fully connect the brain to Microbots, but the normal Humans would have to be slowly interfaced, and even then there could be rejection, confusion, madness, brain damage and so forth."

Kimna : " Then we will proceed cautiously!"

David : " If there's no other way?"

Cyris : " This does not guarantee human survival, but at least it gives us a fighting chance."

Kimna : " If I know the Crystalans as well as I think I do you probably have an Exit strategy or maybe I should call it a survival strategy. Should the worst happen, should the human race fall or should we fail."

Cyris : " My advice to you is that you should all also make survival plans."

David : " We are not so fortunate as to have friends like the O'ltana that could give us sanctuary."

Kimna : " Ultimate safety lies between the stars."

Cyris : " Or the darkness of Hyperspace! Unless the Galactic alliance finds a way to defeat the Migon the whole galaxy will fall. They can't hold them back forever! Not even O'con Federation Space can offer permanent protection! True security must be determined by the power of our weapons. The other option is to run, to travel to other galaxies, to go too far for them to care to chase us." after a brief pause "We would prefer to stay and fight!"

The discussions continued as the 3 parties worked out the details of their plans to transform the Human Civilisation into a cybernetic Human Civilisation.

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After the meeting a Crystalan Baby Ship arrived to pick up Cyris, Naole, Luke and the rest of their party and transport them to Crystalorb. At the Crystalorb Gates they were met by Luke's sister Jane, and Naole immediately recognized her as a high class Escort/Consort working for an organization based in Crystal Valley City. Naole had used her services before, and Jane immediately recognized Naole although she had never known that his first name was Naole having always referred to him by his last name Olen.

They are met at the Gate by Jilan; Deputy Engineering Guardian, permanently stationed in Crystalorb serving as head of Engineering operations in Crystalorb and liaison to the Council of Elders. Jilan is about the same age as Commander Cyris at around 170 years old, but their physical appearance is similar to the 40 year old Luke. Naole on the other hand Naole looks more like a 28 year old than someone who is 260 years old.

After the initial greetings Jilan seeks the attention of Commander Cyris.

Jilan : " Commander Cyris! The Council of Elders would like to see you immediately!"

Cyris : " Do you know why?"

Jilan : " Something about an Alliance security meeting on Arun!"

Cyris : " Galactic Alliance security meeting?"

Jilan : " They didn't explain Commander!"

Cyris : " Alright!" Cyris turns to Naole “See you later?"

Naole : " Ok!"

Jilan : " The Council of Elders would like to see Naole after they hear from Commander Cyris!"

Naole : " Is it about Arun?"

Jilan : " No! It's about a different matter."

Naole : " Then what is it about?"

Jilan : " It's has to do with something we can not discuss in front of our guests." gesturing at Luke and Jane "Classified!"

Naole : " When am I scheduled to see them?"

Jilan : " In about 45 minutes!"

Naole : " Ok!" Naole turns to look at Luke and Jane as Cyris says his goodbyes and leaves them "Sorry that I won’t be able to show you around Crystalorb, but duty calls."

Jane : " We understand!"

Luke : " Clearly you’re very busy!"

Jilan : " I will show you around, and take you to your accommodations"

Naole : " It was good to meet you Luke!"

Luke : " Likewise Naole!"

Naole : " We will talk later Jane!"

Jane : " Ok!"

As Naole walks away Jilan leads the 2 guests into Crystalorb, and after the high speed transit sphere trip downwards that seemed almost instantaneous they emerge into Crystalorb's main cavity.

Luke : " Man that was quick" this as they climbed out of the transit sphere, and Luke gets his first look of Crystalorb “Wow!"

Jilan : " Yeah! Crystalorb has that effect on all first timers!"

Jane : " It's beautiful!"

Jilan : " It is that!"

Luke : " It's hard to believe that we're over 2 kilometres underground?"

Jilan : " We could've taken the transit sphere straight to your accommodations, but I wanted you to walk through the streets of Crystalorb."

Jane : " And Naole comes from here?" with a look of wonder in her eyes "It's an entire city, underground."

Jilan : " By the way!" he stops to gain their full attention "Most Crystalans won't like it if you keep referring to Master Naole by just his first Name"

Jane : " Master Naole?"

Luke : " He doesn't seem to mind?"

Jilan : " He wouldn't; He likes to be seen as a normal individual, but anyone who has been a Guardian for longer than the lifespan of a normal Crystalan receives the title Master."

Jane : " What's the lifespan of a normal Crystalan?"

Jilan : " 180 to 230 years"

Jane : " Are you saying that Naole is over 180 years old?"

Luke : " But he looks like a 30 year old! Unless?" he pauses to reflect "He couldn't be? It's not possible, is it?"

Jilan : " Yes!"

Luke : " How?"

Jane : " What are you talking about?"

Jilan : " Master Naole!"

Luke : " He's not just a Crystal Guardian, he's the Blue Guardian; The very same Blue Guardian! One of the Nine! Over 250 years old!"

Jane : " You can't be serious? He looks younger than me!" with a confused expression "What Nine?"

Luke : " The 9 Crystal Guardians with the power to summon the spirits of the dead."

Jilan : " Naole is the Envoy of the Forbidden; A former Nexus Power!"

Luke : " Why former?" almost interrupting Jilan "Did he somehow loose his abilities?"

Jilan : " No! In fact he's become more powerful than ever!" after a brief pause "Nexus Powers come in pairs; Ralefa and Lesedi, Olen and Casara, Esara and Nalen, Naole and Casara." after a brief pause "They are like Strange Attractors, and everything that happens around them is defined by the interaction between the Nexus Powers. They generate a pull around them, and everyone who interacts with them is forever changed by the experience."

Jane : " How do you know that there's always 2?"

Jilan : " It's not that there are just 2, but that they occur in pairs." after a brief pause "It's not just in Crystalans, but a human phenomenon. Look at human history and you will find infinite examples of this phenomenon. Always two centres of power! Two there always is!"

Luke : " The legendary Blue Guardian!"

Jane : " And you’re saying he's this powerful person with this great power?"

Jilan : " Let me ask you a question" after a brief pause "Have you ever seen Naole's Chest Crystal?"

Jane : " I never even knew he had a Chest Crystal? How is it that he was able to detect Luke's Crystalan heritage from a simple touch? I've spent many hours with him over the years, but he's never sensed my heritage?"

Jilan : " When Naole was with you he suppressed his Crystalan abilities; blinded himself to who you are, and he was not wearing his Crystal Armour. It's an incredible burden being a living Crystalan Legend; Few Crystalans see past the legendary figure, and even fewer recognize the gentle soul that is Naole Olen."

Luke : " Legend says that the Blue Guardian has the power of illusion."

Jilan : " It's much more complicated than that, but in simple terms he's one of the few that are skilled enough to have control on the visual perceptions of others. Naole is an Ascended Crystalan; he can go as far as to make you feel what he wants you to feel. Naole is a Power beyond your current ability to understand!" after a brief pause "The first of the Crystalans to become Immortal, never aging, but growing stronger, becoming more powerful; a symbol of hope and a promise of what we can all become."

Jane and Luke began to understand that being a Crystalan was more complicated than being a Lodian, and it involved a rich history, complex energies, but most of all it would require extreme mental development.

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