In the year 2155, the population of the planet Earth has grown to an extremely dangerous approximation of 20.5 billion people.
In an effort to save life as humanity knows of it, a group of scientists (specifically, epidemiologists) created an airborne virus in secrecy that, when released, would cause the human race as a whole to become infertile. After initial release, when the public became outraged through the discovery of their inability to bear children, this same group blamed the epidemic on the influx of pollution in the air and the rapidly increasing worldwide temperature.
It wasn't difficult in terms of convincing; just this last Christmas, Alaska had reached a temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
The average, in the early 2000's, was 24 degrees.
As death rates stayed consistent without birth rates to overly-replenish the gaps, streets gradually grew emptier and families thinner over the course of a few years. There was no need for orphanages as childless families rushed to adopt, and in the span of a decade elementary schools became obsolete. In two decades, all required schooling was shut down. The youngest person on Earth was 20 years old.
So, decisions needed to be made.
Cloning, in general, had only been practiced on farm animals, perfected over the years. Not only did the clone surpass the age of the donor, but they lived, on average, longer than them as well. Prior to the spread of the virus, dubbed 'FEV-55', the public couldn't wrap their stomachs around the idea of practicing cloning on humans. Now, they had nothing to lose.
Cloning was a success after many, many trials. Since women were unable to carry the fetuses themselves due to their poor child-bearing conditions, synthetic wombs were created to house the child for nine months and implanted into the surrogate, until it was ready to be born the natural way. As the procedures were expensive themselves, only people of upper-class stature could afford it, often celebrities or even those of royalty. Cloning brought back babies, brought back the joy of raising a child unbeknownst for the past several years, so many were willing to pay the price in exchange for their own livelihood.
Only, that was just half of the solution.
The majority of people, economic standing aside, believed cloning to be wrong and immoral. Scientists of this frame of mind knew of the dangers of cloning, however perfected it was claimed to be. Maybe not now, maybe not in a few centuries, but if cloning continued on for the next several generations, the downfall and degeneration of humanity as a whole would become a reality.
So, using the advanced technology they already held, the top researchers of the Anti-Cloning Organization (ACO) created a worthy alternative; self-sustaining robots. These machines had a human-inspired biology that carried their own versions of blood throughout the body, with bones and organs and a need for oxygen, and energy obtained through food and water.
The only thing they weren't perfected with was their brain; whilst they were incredibly intelligent and capable of understanding and conveying thoughts, people weren't convinced of their morality. Could they feel, as humans did? Could they hold differing opinions, get into arguments, fall in love? While they showcased all of these things, the public wasn't convinced of the validity. So, robots were never taken too seriously, and they lived separate from the Pro-Cloning Alliance (PCA).
These machines were relatively easy to obtain, as each model began at the same background in an infant stage. The 'child' was programmed with both sets of DNA, randomized it as any offspring would, and grew into the preset it created. The only aid these robots needed was a hormonal treatment every month to aid the proper synthetic growing process, to release the proper chemicals into the body to start growing here, stop growing there, as such.
These robots, the faces of the ACO, lived separated of clones. Though neither could tell the difference from the other, both sets held a disdain for each group; the clones believing robots to be an abomination, and vice-versa. While the Earth was nearly at equilibrium, and there were no more wars being fought, life as we know it was certainly far from peaceful.
Little did we know that that was only the beginning.
It is the year 2551. Due to the Familial Standards Act of 2424, the population of the planet Earth, including Artificial Intelligence, is at a consistent number of 350 million people.
It has been recently discovered by the scientists of Sector 11, one of the 15 Sectors of planet Earth, that the migratory patterns of the common geese have become extremely irregular. It is also noted that, during last year's spring, the pollen levels were at an all-time low, resulting in the lack of fertilization of plants.
Sector 6, the Sector reserved for Veterinary and Livestock Preparation, has recently admitted the decrease of the birth of newborn animals during all of last year. The standard public can attest to this, as the reporting for stillborn offspring in impregnated house pets has increased in frequency as of late.
Sector A, the separated and exponentially smaller Sector holding both Clones and AI's alike, has released an announcement. The Chairwoman for the Pro-Cloning Alliance (PCA) has released this statement:
"It seems... through careful and heavily reviewed statements from both the Seven PCA and Eight ACO Sectors... that the original spread of the Fertility Extermination Virus of 2155 was not caused by global warming alongside pollution. Whatever the cause was, it was artificially created and has taken a constant residence in our atmosphere. We... cannot cure this ailment, nor will we likely have the equipment to do so for the next several centuries. Which leads us... to this recent discovery: the infertility virus has evolved further in strength. It has now affected the reproduction systems of plants and animals alike. If uncured... this virus will continue to mutate until every last naturally-born thing on planet Earth is eradicated. This will eventually cause our atmospheric layers to thin out, until Earth's surface will be exposed to the sun's unfiltered rays and the vacuum of space will completely destroy our planet. Time until suffocation... is unknown. Time until overexposure to UV rays... is unknown. We will keep the public informed of any new developments."
Immediately afterwards, the Chairman AI for the Anti-Cloning Organization (ACO) issued this announcement:
"Attention to every Artificial Intelligence Sector, from Sector 8 to 14; if you have a child model below the age of seven years, you are ordered to take them to the AI-Clinic in your area to reprogram their learning curve to adapt towards Sector 15. They shall immediately be sent to Sector 15 the day following their 18th year's first hormonal supplication, to assist the Astronomical Engineering Sector in creating a vessel capable of traveling at speeds comparable to Light Years. Members of the PCA are allowed to issue for relocation to this Sector if interested and capable. AI Families with children meeting this requirement are granted a pardon for an additional child during the next five years. Our goal is to be able to reach the possibly habitable exoplanet of Kepler-186f, 490 Light Years away from Earth. Our goal is to launch in the year 2615. Our exploration team will consist of the top-trained members, one from each Sector, excluding a fixed amount from Sector 15 that will serve as the vessel's crew. We assure you, from Sector A, that Earth's people will live on and thrive in the near and far future alike. Thank you."
It is the year 2615. The population of Earth, including Artificial Intelligence, is at a steady number of 350 million people. More than 75% of Earth's species of plants and animals are extinct. As of now, the DSE Intrepid is preparing for departure.
14 of the top-ranked members of each Sector, all superb in their field due to intense training in lieu of the Exoplanet Relocation Announcement of 2591, are to make up the exploration team. The Intrepid's crew will consist of 24 members of equal amounts PCA and ACO from Sector 15, each with an individual duty to maintain the vessel.
Their journey? To travel into the Cygnus constellation, to the planetary system surrounding the red dwarf sun titled Kepler-186, discovered in April of the year 2014. Consisting of five planets, the furthest planet is the most likely candidate to harbor life, located at the outer edge of the habitable zone of the system. Slightly larger than Earth, Kepler-186f is humanity's (or what has become of its) last chance at survival.
The trip is expected to last ten years, the near-500 light years needed to travel becoming fifty times shorter from newly-discovered warp technology. With this newfound skill, moving at light speed is as easy as tapping the gas pedal. Fifty times the velocity is simply flooring it. After locking in exact coordinates, everyone aboard will secure themselves into their Suspended Animation capsules, halting their biological processes until they are needed to land.
The DSE Intrepid is nearly prepared for departure. The crew and exploration team are already aboard, settling their rooms and prepping themselves for their 120-month-long sleep. Those who remain on Earth will soon receive a notice that says both Cloning and the producing of more AI's are illegal, so the eventual relocation of mankind during the next two decades will require as few people as possible. Those who remain in Sector 15 are to make several shipping vessels for the full evacuation of Earth.
The DSE Intrepid is sure to succeed, and in twenty-odd years, is sure to return to Earth with the good news of a new planet to inhabit. Humanity will live on through a cleaner atmosphere, with the living clones possibly regaining the ability to reproduce over the next generation.
There is only one question, one that hasn't been addressed as of yet. Possibly through avoidance. Possibly through fear.
Will life already be there when it lands?