Human Time Line

Updated Sunday 15 May, 2011 12:18 PM

Human Time Line

Book Four -The Renascent Epoch of Mankind

Chapter 7 Judgement

A Paradox or Two

The Elysium Union quickly patched things up with the Tempilous & Orville. It appeared that, after their recent experience, that they were open to negotiations after all. Apparently the visitation of 20 Sparta class battlestations was enough to make the Tempilous & Orville think twice about war. That, & the fact that the Luciferins took off as the cowards that they are, also gave further motivation to seek a peaceful solution to the "situation".

The "situation" was a rather confusing one. Clearly Lucifer had manipulated the Tempilous & Orville well. He had mixed 80% truth with 20% lies in order to win the two over in order to conduct his master plan. Although the EU admitted to much of Lucifer’s claims, the EU delegates filled in the blanks & other facts that had been deliberately left out or altered by the Luciferins.

But to the SSS (including the Unis & Vargary), especially those in the EU, the arrival of a grand fleet from the United Federation of Planets was baffling to say the least. Discussions between the EU & senior UDF commanders commenced shortly after their timely intervention. And it did not take long for the SSS to learn something new.

"Well to keep it simple", Admiral Jones explained, "you people told us to be here at this time & place".

"Say again?" a stunned Gabrielle asked.

"Looks like it won’t be simple then", a somewhat amused Admiral replied. He had often wondered what it might be like to meet a god that was assumed to know everything. He was, however, amused to discover that these gods were more Human than previously thought.

"About 100 000 years ago, a team from United Planetary Explorations (UPX) stumbled across something quite amazing on Earth’s moon. It was a large monolith that had been deliberately placed under the surface when the moon was originally formed", stated Jones.

The Admiral’s deputy, General Macbeth continued. "At first no one knew a thing about it. Then slowly, when some puzzle or other was completed, section after section started working. It was a massive computer of an extremely advanced civilisation."

Macbeth continued, "At first the data was limited: more warnings than anything."

"Like keep away from the planet Essence, stuff like that", Admiral Jones added.

"But only recently, thanks to a Homo Luminous, did the really outstanding information come forth." Macbeth continued. "And this was the Vale Gateway technology."

"The final piece of data, however, was navigational data relating to a location & time Beyond the Vale. It also came with a request for help. So here we are as requested. "Jones concluded.

There was a moment of silence before Michael asked, "A Homo Luminous?"

"Yes", replied Macbeth, "they’re our younger cousins in a manner of speaking. They’ve evolved at an unprecedented rate. Extremely intelligent for a corporeal species: twice that of Homo Sapiens."

All this seemed incredible to the SSS. Curiosity got the better of Sarah who had to ask, "You said there is a monolith that we sent you. Where is it now?"

"On board UDF Athens. Back home they figured that you may, now that it’s fulfilled its program, want it back." Offered Jones.

Before anyone could answer, Michael concurred. Having finally understood what Dyn Lishary once stated, he grasped what had to be done with the Monolith. After the UDF fleet would leave, he would share this knowledge with the others.

Back To the Future

The UDF grand fleet remained in the Elysium universe until various peace treaties were signed between the EU, the Tempilous & the Orville. Never again would the resent circumstances ever occur. Furthermore there was also a cooperation aspect to the treaties that would ensure closer ties between the three civilisations. It was a new & unprecedented moment for the Elysium universe.

Another aspect of the Elysium Treaty, as these treaties became known, was the outlawing of the Luciferins. None of the signatory civilisations would harbour, befriend or support the activities of the Luciferins. Furthermore, the three civilisations were encouraged to influence their neighbours, especially those considered to be friends, to likewise reject the Luciferins & treat them accordingly.

With such arrangements, life soon became tough for the rouge band of SSS. Any chance of gaining new allies became impossible. The Luciferins even approached the Haledeco at one point, but the Elysium Treaty partners had made certain that everyone in the Elysium universe were aware of the new relationships, so they would have nothing to do with the outcasts.

After it became apparent that there was no more risk of attack from the Luciferins, the UDF grand fleet finally returned to their universe. The Vale Gateway technology would remain operational, but Admiral Jones thought that, other than the occasional visit by a UPX ship, few others would. Apparently the lack of basically everything; time, stars, planets & so forth, was rather boring for most inhabitants of the UFP. "Even the Drey would go nuts due to the boredom; & that’s saying something", he declared.

Michael soon called for a meeting of the Assembly. Since the assault by the "Grande Armee", it had been quickly recalled once to verify the Elysium Treaty, but had then dispersed so that its members could search for those who had fled the "Grande Armee", while others entertained the personnel of the UDF fleet. Much interest was shown in Homo Luminous. It was amazing that this naturally evolved Human was such an impressive improvement on their genetically altered one (Homo Sapiens). Many agreed with General Macbeth’s assessment of them. Many also thought that Homo Luminous would go far.

The Assembly soon listened to Michael’s observations. Although many did not understand it at first, his ideas did grab everyone’s attention. "The monolith was obviously planted, if I can use that term, by ourselves. That’s not the only thing. Because it was done when the moon was created, it meant that we were there."

"Well that shouldn’t be too difficult to do", replied Sarah. "A UEA explorer team can handle it."

"Can one team also create the moon, because that’s what I’m getting at. Clearly the UDF Thermopylae didn’t". stated Michael.

Now it dawned on the others. Not only did they place the Monolith computer on the Moon, a great time before the birth of Homo Sapiens, but they were also responsible for its creation. Operation Archangel had just been extended & given new life,
just the mention of which, caused Sarah to realise that the UEA Explorers would have to become involved with the Moon’s creation too. It was a most exciting project.

Plain Hard Work

It did not take long for the Assembly to authorise a new phase for Operation Archangel. It also meant a great revival for the UEA Explorer Division. Gabrielle had little choice but to ensure that the explorers got all the resources that they needed. Soon Explorers, protected by a strong Guardian force, crossed over to commence their most important work to date.

No one, though, ever said that their mission was an easy one. In fact it took years. Sarah decided, after analysis of the task at hand, that creation of the moon took first priority. UEA explorer teams then went off searching near & far looking for an appropriate body, something like an asteroid, that could be smashed into the molten ball that would one day be the Earth.

Other UEA teams worked away at the calculations. The asteroid had, not only be the right volume & shape, but its speed & trajectory had to be, likewise, exact. If it was too large, the embryonic Earth would be smashed to pieces. If the trajectory was wrong, the asteroid could bounce off the Earth & head off into outer space. Needless to say, neither outcome would be the desired one.

After much searching, the UEA teams thought that they had found the asteroid that they were looking for. But just as the asteroid was being readied, Sarah had an afterthought & it just as well. She wanted the molecular structure of the asteroid analysed to ensure that these would not interfere with the next project. Alas she was to be disappointed, the asteroid was not suitable. Thankfully another one found not long afterwards was suitable.

After ensuring that all their calculations had been rechecked several times, Sarah was finally satisfied. The asteroid was then sent on its way to destiny. To anyone who had no idea what the UEA personnel were trying to do, the violent impact of the asteroid into the molten Earth, appeared anything but the right thing to do. The impact was like nothing else known. It was as if an explosion of billions of megatons had just taken place. In due course, a molten ball, about a quarter of the size of the Earth, spun away from the forming planet. Slowly & surely, this smaller molten ball slowed down as the Earth’s gravity slowly caught it. Eventually it began to orbit the planet & both slowly settled down from the violent crash.

As the moon cooled down & began to solidify, the final, yet most simple part to mission, began. It had been the duty of several Guardians units to ensure that nothing put the Monolith in danger. Regardless of this danger, the Guardians would have to die before the Monolith was even scratched. It now seemed ironic that the Monolith, that they were to defend with their very lives, was now to been dropped into molten rock. Studies conducted by the UEA cleared the Monolith safe from any danger from the lava, but that did not make the concerns of the Guardians any better. Finally the Explorers had finished the job & it was the last time anyone would see the Monolith for millions of years. The UEA had completed their first mission, but this was the easy one.

The final mission, of stage three of Operation Archangel, meant the creation of life itself on their original home planet. Even though SSS were extremely powerful entities, even they could not create life. They could modify, through genetic engineering, a new species from another one, but they could not make a new species from nothing. Only Nature could do that. All the UEA people could do was to help Mother Nature along.

Millions of years had passed before it was decided that the Earth had reached a point where conditions would permit the creation of the most basic forms of life. This, however, was the easy part. As previously, UEA teams would have to search the solar system, this time at a molecular level, analysing the resources at hand. In a similar fashion, the Earth itself would be examined in order to determine what it had to offer in the overall process of creating life.

On their searches, a UEA team on Mars discovered the incredible. It seemed Nature had chosen Mars, & not Earth, to have a chance at life. The team discovered the most basic forms of bacteria on the planet’s surface. Sarah thought it was such a pity. In a few million years or so, Mars would lose its miracle of life. In an ironic way, it was just as well the UEA had intervened in order to ensure Earth would bring life to this solar system.

After much searching, the necessary ingredients of "Sarah’s Cocktail", as it was referred to, was ready. As with the moon, calculations of all kinds were required in order to get the mix right. These calculations had to be even more complicated than ever to ensure the exact mix. Soon, numerous meteorites hit the surface of the Earth creating the great soup of primordial elements. Finally a comet was nudged in the right direction. Its impact into the Earth was even more spectacular than the creation of the moon. Ice particles spread everywhere over the surface as the energy of the impact caused rain. A few chunks of ice, however, mixed with the primordial soup were shot back out into space. While most of these chunks were either captured again by Earth’s gravity & brought crashing back, one particular large chunk escaped into space heading towards Jupiter. Its trajectory suggested that it would one day pass closely by Europa.

When the commotion caused by the impact of the comet had settled down, its effects were recorded. This data would have to be extensively analysed even more than all that which had come before. This now would lead to the final touch, which in many way was more literal than metaphorical.

When this analysis was completed, Sarah knew what the final step required. The energy required to jump start life was surprising low. All had expected some huge explosion, something akin to the Ancients Essence event from a previous history. But that was not the case. Instead Sarah administered a gentle burst of energy that was hardly noticed. Within a second, the cocktail of elements within the primordial soup formed into the first life form on Earth. After all the enormous effort required, the UEA was reward with a life form so primitive, if you did not know what you were looking for, you would never know that it was alive.

Celebrations

With the return of the successful UEA teams, celebrations broke out. It was a magnificent achievement. It appeared that, not only had Operation Archangel been thoroughly successful, but that all of the unforeseen changes that had occurred in the past, that had been effected due to the future being erased, had now been repaired. Although the actual Vale Gateway disaster could not be reversed the first time around, the SSS had ensured that the same would not occur a second time.

Furthermore, the Elysium universe had been changed into a better place. After averting a universal war that could have led to their destruction, now more than ever, the SSS were secure. Yes there was more work to do in order to achieve utopia, but things were most definitely moving towards that goal.

Only the boycott civilisations remained that could cause any trouble, but they were far from being able to threaten the EU the way that the "Grande Armee" had. As for the Haledeco, the resent events had seemed to make some impact on them. UEA clandestine units had reported that philosophical debates had commenced questioning their fundamental beliefs. Whether this stops their manipulations of junior species in the real time & universe remains to be seen. As for the remaining boycott civilisations, a courtesy call maybe in order sometime soon.

Other events would soon follow that would keep the positive advances going. The Ongoum approached the EU about joining the Elysium Treaty. Considering that the EU had always kept friendly ties with them, it was not surprising that they agreed to sponsor them in this endeavour. Although the Templious were not overly keen on the idea, after much negotiation, the Ongoum became a signature member.

In a similar fashion, the Compa decided to open up to the civilisations around them after hearing about the Treaty. Although at this stage they did not want to join the treaty, they were interested in establishing good relations with the EU & the Orville. Not long afterwards, the Enclave as the Lyonies & the other Isolationists called it, made contact with their recent Post-Catharsis fellows. Most in the EU had forgotten them, so this came as a surprise, albeit a pleasant one. Although the Enclave had no intension of rejoining the EU, they wished to establish relations between the two civilisations.

War Without End Part 4

With all this positive & peaceful activity, it was easy to forget that the Luciferins were still around. After their cowardice behaviour in the "Grande Armee", the Luciferins went into hiding. Lucifer, with much effort, finally organised a few clandestine units to keep an eye out for any Guardians or UDF patrols. It was not long before these units started reporting back.

Soon more reports indicated a change in alliances. Lucifer was angered to discover that both the Tempilous & the Orville had signed a treaty with the EU. Clearly he could no longer rely on their support. Approaches were made towards all of the boycott civilisations, but all of them said no. The Haledeco even added that evolution had clearly spoken: the Luciferins were inferior. As such the Haledeco wanted nothing to do with them. What they did not add was that if it was discovered that the Haledeco were in league with the Luciferins, then they would come under heavy attack. This would, of cause, mean that they were inferior & that was unacceptable.

As the UEA & UDF patrols came closer to the Luciferins hidden "location", it became obvious that they would have to leave the Elysium universe. This would not be the first time that Lucifer had resorted to this tactic. Furthermore, it would ensure that the Luciferins would survive as it would be almost impossible for the EU to track them down.

Withdrawing to the real, time & universe also brought other advantages. As they had before, operating in the real time & space universe had been greatly successful. It had only been when they had dropped their guerrilla tactics that the EU had gained the upper hand. This had become even more important considering the Luciferins no longer enjoyed the large numbers required to fight the Guardians in large scale engagements.

Other opportunities also presented themselves by operating in the real time & space universe. Lucifer well knew that the EU would respond to any threats made against their precious Operation Archangel. And no where were the EU thus vulnerable than Earth. It would only require one or two attacks on the planet & the EU would have to pour in huge amounts of resources into its defence. As before, it would appear to be a fruitless campaign that the EU would have to wage against the Luciferins. Ultimately it would come down to will power. Being the type of personality that Lucifer is, he truly believed that his will power would finally defeat the EU.

The attacks against Earth thus commenced. The Luciferins deliberately avoided any periods when UEA personnel were present. Even UEA explorer teams were to be avoided. Memories of attacking Explorers, only inturn to be attacked by Guardians, clearly influenced this policy. At first these attacks attracted no or little response. Gabrielle received reports of this new Luciferins activity, but concerns over falling into a trap akin to last time governed his response. No extra Guardians, or any other personnel for that matter, were sent to reinforce those already on duty in the real time & space universe.

The Luciferins soon increased their attacks & their intensity. Still Gabrielle refused to send reinforcements. All he was prepared to do was to issue orders to Guardian & Mixed units already patrolling the real time & space universe, to concentrate their patrols around Earth & a few other planets. This prevented some attacks, but it was not enough to stop them all. The attack, however, that finally forced the Assembly’s hand soon came.

Lucifer now knew that an attack that caused massive damage was required. Just as Sarah concerned herself with getting the asteroid collision that created the moon right, so Lucifer theorised that an asteroid could destroy the Earth. Thus an appropriate small asteroid, nudged slightly towards Earth to ensure a collision, smashed into the planet. The damage caused was dreadful, but Lucifer had miscalculated. Much of the Earth’s atmosphere burnt away the asteroid limiting the damage. Although hundreds of dinosaurs species, in fact all but one, were soon to become extinct, the mammals, birds & countless others survived. Ironically Lucifer’s actions only ensured the rise of Homo Sapiens & Homo Luminous.

It also ensured that the EU would finally respond in force. The Assembly ordered Gabrielle to reply with everything. Although he was very reluctant, he finally scrummed to the Assembly’s demands, but only after he was threatened with dismissal. The task at hand was close to impossible. As had happened before, there was no way that the Guardians could ensure the safety of both the EU & the Earth. But times had changed. Mary, Uriel & Sariel understood what the dramatic changes in the politics of the Elysium universe meant, where Gabrielle did not.

Gabrielle, however, understood what the conflict with the Luciferins meant. Like Lucifer, he understood that it would finally come down to will power: who would give in first. Such a principle of warfare was far from new. Many wars had only concluded because one side gave up & not because there was a victor. But these past wars, regardless of their origin & outcome, were fought by mortals over a definite period of time. This war was very different, as it would be fought by immortals who were not limited by time. It could very well become a war without end.

The Rise & Rise of Homo Luminous - coming soon...

This creative work is the property of David Mark Atwell.

Remember this is copyright protected!

Hit Counter