Chapter seventeen

Of course, there are also examples of convergent evolution, such as how many space-born lifeforms evolve something similar to chlorophyll to help harvest stellar energy. There are, however, also many cases of divergent evolution, such as how many space-born lifeforms evolve some form of energy shield.

The maiden voyage of UTN Enterprise marked a turning point for humanity. Whereas before they hid and watched, wondering what could be out there, now they emerged and took large strides forwards.

The discovery of the USC Ark rocketed humanity to unforeseen heights. They had gone in with a spaceship at the cutting edge of humanity’s technology. They had come out with a spaceship beyond humanity’s wildest dreams.

The news that humanity had been watched over from the beginning of their existence rocked the world. Nearly every religion collapsed, as deities and religious figures of all sorts were revealed to be scams.

Even as the public reeled from this earthshattering discovery, the government and military grabbed onto the opportunity like drowning men. Science teams were sent to learn all they could from unending databanks of knowledge, historians browsed through long timelines, trying to set history right. The military sent engineers and generals, to learn new technology and ways of waging war.

Of course, there were the greedy ones. Scientists sneaking into restricted areas and dying from automatic security, politicians saying that everything the ship had should be given to them “for the greater good.” The Ark responded with a short speech.

“I will not give you all I have, for one simple reason. You are not ready. You are still a young race, prone to arrogance and stupidity. Would you give a gun to a child who wants to beat up another? No. I have personally seen civilisations who, once they received advanced technology, immediately proceeded to wipe themselves out with it over a nickname. You shall be receiving what I have to offer at an appropriate pace, so that you can grow and mature enough to not kill yourselves out of complete stupidity and foolishness.”

Of course, there were also the things that the Ark did not reveal, or at least fully. When asked how old it is it answered with a shocking answer.

“I am older than this universe.”

Or when it was asked how old humanity went extinct, it was silent for a while before answering.

“That is not something you need to know, but I will tell you, nonetheless. We were wiped out by a disaster that caused the death of our universe.” That day, humanity was humbled before a being that had experienced the death of a universe and the destruction of its people.

What was even more humbling was when the military delegation of the greatest generals and thinkers of the century arrived, and was mocked by the Ark. It told them that they were mere babies in a sandpit, proud of stepping on each other’s sandcastles. It then proceeded to tell them about a war fought over galaxies.

“Let me tell show you a real war. The War Of The Gods. It was a war between galaxies, fought with weapons that drew upon otherworldly energies and shattered reality itself.”

The dignitaries were shown imaged of shattered suns and sundered worlds, of monstrous fleets using esoteric weapons that defied physics and galaxies getting torn apart. That day, humanity was humbled by a being that had fought in a war beyond their comprehension, a war that had stained the entire universe crimson.

That day, humanity was humbled, and learned how truly small and insignificant they were. That day, new humanity made a pledge and a promise. They pledged to carry on the legacy of old humanity, and promised to expand, to grow, and to take back their crown.