Chapter 2 - 2215 to 2230: Aliens
Upon the famous General TBC's death, his body and mind were stored in cryostasis. Eventually, his mind was scanned and implemented in the creation of an artificial brain. Several iterations later, in 2100, the artificial brain achieved true sentience. The AI called itself Kelebek, and it possessed great thinking power and physical power (it occupied an artificial android body), and it even gained legal status under the UNO. Now, in the 2200s, over 100 years old, 'he' sits on the UNO's Council of Scientific Advisers (also known as the Think Tank). He gives deep and thoughtful advice into the problems that face human society, notably the problems encountered during space exploration.
Despite the human colony of Alpha Centauri, overcrowding gets bad on earth, and the population continues to soar due to easy access to food and high life expectancy. By this time, the population on earth has reached 15 billion.
The next two years are uneventful, and several other systems are fully explored. Then, in November of 2217, the UNS Verigan, commanded by Clarence Chopak, encounters an alien vessel. Unlike the space squids, this is not organic, and it almost resembles UNO construction. The vessel does not attack, and for now the UNS Verigan and the aliens just observe each other. The Think Tank advises Chopak to not make any hostile moves and to simply transmit the Initial Contact Statement. The ICS is a short, friendly message that clearly states humans seek no hostile relations and carry no ill intentions. Finding a way to communicate that to other life forms was not easy, and pictures are mainly used. Although, it is also likely that differing technology would render the transmission completely useless. On board every exploration craft is the ICS pod, which carries the message in tangible form.
2 months later, the UNS Europa encounters an entire fleet of alien vessels. At first it is thought they are from the same unknown entity, but the construction differs enough that scientists are unsure of what is going on. What appears to be a mining station is also in orbit around an asteroid in the system. The aliens make to attack the UNS Europa, and McClellan is forced to retreat to the system over. The speed of new discoveries shocks earth's scientists, and no one is quite sure what should be done.
The UNS Verigan continues to try and speak with the docile alien vessel, and Chopak reports to earth that they've been receiving unreadable transmissions from their counterpart. It takes months, but the strange transmissions received from the friendly aliens is eventually deciphered, but scientists set about to try and interpret what is being said. Communications is established with the Cirrulan Cartel 3 months after initial contact.
The Cartel is a criminal-run government that prioritizes alien relations. While earth was attempting to decipher their transmissions, they were attempting to decipher earth's. Friendly relations are established. From what can be read from their messages, they inhabit two planets not too far from Sol and are about the same level of technology as earth. However, their fleet is significantly larger, hinting that they might have encountered intelligent, hostile life. The Cartel is run by an oligarchy similar to a mafia family.
The news hits earth a month after contact, and it brings many questions forward; how could another alien civilization have developed at roughly the same time as humans, only several hundred light years away? How many other civilizations are there out there? Does this call for a reorganization of earth's space policies to include alien diplomacy? A research agreement is immediately established with the Cirrulan Cartel, as is a non-aggression pact.
This still leaves the hostile alien fleet that the UNS Europa encountered. Are those unknown vessels the reason the Cartel has such a large space force? Trade begins with the Cartel. While many are skeptical about the trustworthiness of the aliens, the Cirrulans have a much different perspective on crime. Crime and corruption is seen almost as a necessary part of any society, and they choose to accept it and mold society around it, rather than waste resources trying to put a stop to it.
In 2220, the next election begins. Jabby has been president for 20 years now, but there is no term limit. Zelda Idhrendura leads the pack of candidates under the Free Elections Center party, garnering 31% support. Ian McClellan comes next with the Institute for the Advancement of Science at 26%. Arthur Jabby is rerunning with the Xeno Liberty League at 24% support. Lastly, Kate TBC is running as an independent but running on the policy of government reform. She has 17% support.
Ian McClellan becomes the new President of the UNO. The UNS Europa is given to the command of Abigail Wires. One of the first changes he wants to make is calling for a renaming of the organization that is earth and her colonies. With Alpha Centauri having nearly 200 million humans living on it, and nearly a million spread across dozens of stations in different systems, the United Nations Organization fails to define exactly what humans have become. No new name is given for now, but the idea spreads.
An interesting proposal is put forward by the Cartel, an open immigration policy. Those opposed to the idea point out that having an open borders migration policy with a criminal run society is not a good idea. On the other side, their materialistic and peaceful nature makes them a great match for humans. The Think Tank suggests allowing the policy to pass, and the UNO Council of World Leaders agrees. However, it will be a long time before either humans or Cirrulans will be brave enough to immigrate to an alien planet.
An observation post, dedicated to 24/7 watch over the Kiram system's inhabitants, is built in 2222. The post will passively observe the creatures, attempting to study and learn more about them. No enlightenment will take place due to a lack of resources, but that will change eventually.
Apparently the Cartel has encountered enemies, as they send an envoy requesting a Defensive Pact. This pact, the Human-Cirrulan Defense, will bound each government to come to the aid of the other, should one be attacked. President McClellan accepts, although he hopes that war in space never comes.
The Mangrove-covered planet in Kiram, nearby the Alpine planet of the primitives, is a fairly good place for a second colony. Several German nations of earth, mostly Lotharingia, Styria and Tyrol, and Prussia, commission the creation of a new colony ship. Funding is easily raised, and a hundred thousand Germans are chosen as colonists. The UNO backs this private space venture tentatively.
The first human space combat occurs in 2223, as the hostile space squids are hunted down by the fleet. They have been harassing passing science ships, trying to attack but being too slow. The largest squid with what might be her 3 children, fights hard, and one corvette is knocked out of action, its crew having to be rescued and the ship abandoned.
Very, very far away from earth, the UNS Verigan encounters another unknown alien vessel. Just like with the Cartel, this ship is attempting to hail the Verigan, and it takes months for communications to be established. It is the Vissari State.
From what can be gathered from the first few talks, they are a militaristic, materialistic society of birdlike creatures called the Vissari. They evolved on a techno-organic world, a very fertile planet created by unknown 'gods'. Their government is similar to old world authoritarian empires on earth. Thus far, they are friendly.
Shortly after contact with the Vissari, an envoy from a terrifying species reaches the Kiram station. It is from the Lilarobius Triad, a dictatorial, militaristic, xenophobic civilization far from earth.
The fears of space warfare grows as the Lilarobius Triad declares to the known universe that the Cirrulan Cartel is their mortal enemy and rival. They also close their borders to the UNO and the Cartel. President McClellan and the Think Tank grumble over their decision to enter into a defensive pact.
The second human colony is founded on June 26th, 2227 in the Kiram system. The German settlers form a colonial government and name the planet Saxon. It will be some years before the colony is big enough to sustain itself.
The fleet, now 15 ships strong, is sent to deal with the hostile fleet encountered several years ago. The Think Tank decides that these are ancient mining drones defending the mining station, and they do not belong to any society. They will be dealt with and their mining stations taken over. Admiral Tony Saxon is in command.
The battle that follows is larger than the space squid combat. 2 corvettes are destroyed and 2 dozen lives lost, but the large fleet of drones is demolished. They possessed shield technology that humans do not yet have, so a science ship is dispatched to recover debris for study.
The election of 2230 begins, and Zelda Idhrendura runs again for the Free Elections Center. She retired from her position as commander and now works as a researching on earth. Trevor Chopak, a space explorer, is running for the Xeno Liberty League. Ian McClellan is running again for the Institute for the Advancement of Science. And Kate TBC is once again independent.
In a completely unexpected turn, Kate TBC, thought to be the least likely to win, takes the election by a slim margin. Kate TBC promises an expansion of the energy infrastructure and more colonies to alleviate the overcrowding of earth.
She agreed with McClellan's idea of renaming the UNO, and now she does something about it. She asks the Think Tank and the UNO Council of World Leaders to put forward suggested changes that better fit earth and her colonies.
NOTE:
- This isn't a vote, just asking for some ideas.