Alcubierre
Chapter one: A timeline of events
In 2054, NASA experiments with a negative warp drive, or alcubierre drive, are successful. The history of humanity, the council and ultimately all sapient species in the galaxy are inextricably changed.
Note: this takes place in a future where Space-X ventures in space exploration are successful and that the EM Drive actually works.
I do not own SpaceX, Virgin Galactic or any real world company mentioned in this fic.
2054:
A joint NASA and Space X experiment on the theoretical idea of warping space using negative mass. Negative mass was successfully created in the Texan LHC two years previously. The experiment is a complete success, creating a stable warp field and accelerating an object far beyond the force applied to it. Plans are drawn up for the world's first FTL drive.
The Io colony has created it's first own ship, the Io-MS Homegrown. Utilising the EM-Drive perfected 20 years earlier, the ship is a 100m transport ship designed to bring material from one side of the main asteroid belt to the other.
The Space armament pact is discussed in the UN, but remains in effect. Nuclear weapons are still banned in space, meaning every nuclear weapon ever developed is still only on Earth, despite colonies on the moon, Mars, the main belt and Io.
2055:
Work begins on the world's first Alcubierre drive. Plans are drawn up for a extrasolar exploratory vessel to Alpha Centuari-B carrying 12 people.
Estimations for the speed of the FTL Drive place it at 50 times the speed of light, so a journey to Alpha Centuari, exploring for 50 days and returning would take roughly 110 days.
The u-55 Nanoforge is patented by Dr Emmerich. An upgrade of the industrial scale 3d printers common on earth and the solar colonies, they utilise nanite sized materials to form any item from a schematic stored on it's hard drive. The raw materials are feed into a nanite dissembler, and forged into the requested item. The biggest worry is that the nanoforge is advanced enough to forge other, small nanoforges.
Fear of economic collapse following the selling of Nanoforges to the public causes many corporations to subtly attempt to prevent the selling of nanoforges through lobbying, corporate espionage and outright violence. Smarter corporations enforce incredibly strict DRM methods of schematics for their products and sell them for a premium.
India/Pakistan war begins and ends within one month. Nuclear missiles deployed in both countries and aimed at cities in both countries. Fierce ground and air fighting occurs. One nuclear weapon is utilised in Kashmir. Global and solar condemnation of the act forces the two sides to agree to a truce. Rumours of both China, Russia and America threatening nuclear hell-fire on both countries should another weapon be used will never be confirmed.
2056:
Lake Mead dries up entirely. Thanks to similar droughts in California and the Colorado basin, Vegas begins to die a final death.
The first successful FTL trip in human history occurs aboard the NASA ship USS Enterprise-13 warps from Earth to Mars in one minute. This meant a FTL speed of 12.5 times the speed of light. Optimisations are due to take place before the Alpha Centuari trip.
Designs are sketched up for a space-borne LHC designed to mass produce negative mass.
2057:
The Intrepid is built and completed in orbit. The first purpose built FTL ship ever built by humans. Captained by Lin Guiying, USA, with 30 men and women from across the globe, the ship launches on the 4th October towards Alpha Centauri-B. The ship's max FTL speed is 40 times the speed of light. After it leaves the solar system no communication methods can keep up with it.
The main Belt Federation is formed. Unifying the numerous mining ships, colonies and human settlements in the Main Asteroid belt under a single government entity.
First Rail gun equipped space ship built, "The Gauss mk-1" is essentially a command desk, an EM drive and a some few quarters built around three rail guns. The ship is poor at close range and space combat is incredibly rare at this point. Only twelve are built, and only 6 see action, mostly in rapid response to possible meteorite or asteroid collisions.
2058:
The Intrepid returns from Alpha Centuari-B to the celebration of most of humanity on March 15th 2058. Lin Guiying and the Ships cartographer equipment confirmed the existence of 6 planets in orbit of the binary star systems, including two within the habitual zone, one of which having a Oxygen/Nitrogen atmosphere and believed to support life. The news begins a fierce debate in the UN over whether or not to begin colonisations plans for an extrasolar colony. Without FTL communication methods, the colony would be utterly cut off from Earth and it's society. No decision is made.
The Main belt Federation formally joins the UN. The third Solar government to do so.
The extra-Earth union is also created, creating a assembly for nations within the Solar system not on Earth to debate and discuss politics, though they are unable to pass legislation recognised by their home countries or the UN.
The next trip for the Intrepid is planned, travelling to Proxima Centuari and doing a full survey of the System. Captain Lin Guiying is once again selected as Captain, but the crew is shuffled to represent other countries. This is controversial decision.
Another FTL ship begins construction, the Golden hind. Slightly larger but slower then the Intrepid, she is built privately by a joint Virgin Galactic and Space-X venture in Mars Orbit.
2059
Construction begins on the Negative Mass Foundry, a Large Hadron Collider in Earth Orbit designed to generate Negative mass. Requires absolute tonnes of Energy.
Thirty years after the mass adoption of Hot fusion plants across Earth, a successful test of Cold fusion in the Laboratoire Plasma et Conversion d'Energie in France suggests the Energy future of Earth. Hydrogen-3 prices sky-rocket for two week before settling to normal levels. A Nerve gas attack on New York subway kills 300 people. Extreme non-Earth nationalist group "Free of the Cradle" claim responsibility.
Public begins to demand tighter controls on non Earth colonies by Earth Governments. Chinese Marines are deployed in the Martian colony of New Nanjing.
2060
The Intrepid sets off towards Proxima Centuari. It discovers four planets in orbit of the star, one of which in the habitual belt is confirmed to have simple multicellular life and a Oxygen/Nitrogen atmosphere. The first living Extraterrestrial life ever found. The planet is quarantined to preserve the life on it. The entire trips takes roughly 130 days. The planet is deemed unsuitable for comfortable human habitation due to the suns flares greatly increasing it's luminosity and potentially cooking unprotected life. A science station in orbit is discussed as a possibility.
"Free of the Cradle" members are arrested planning to blow up a asteroid transport ship en route to earth, potentially causing a giant Asteroid to collide with Earth. They are summarily executed by the Chinese Government.
Io is recognised by the UN as a independent nation and gains a seat. Now Mars,Lunar, the MBF and Io are members of the UN.
2061
The Negative Mass Foundry is complete. Negative mass becomes the most expensive commodity in the solar system available for sale due to it's extreme rarity.
China begins development of their own FTL Ships. One, "Zheng He", is a small FTL probe designed to scout out nearby star systems for habitable planets and resources. The second, which will not be completed until 2068, is named "Sanbao Taijian" and is the first FTL colony ship ever designed. With the typical Centrifugal arms for artificial gravity, multiple decks filled with exercise equipment, Hydroponic plants, several Industrial Nanoforges and mining drones, it is clear it is supposed to be fully independent, a interesting development for the Chinese government, who prefer to make colonies rely on China and each other for supplies.
Mining the Oort cloud begins in earnest. Mining ships this far from Earth are unable to effectively communicate with earth, as the Oort cloud is 42 light weeks from Earth. Miners are free to stake claims on large asteroids for mining. People who have found the Main belt "Too Gentrified" are attracted to the furthest reaches of the Solar system.
2062
Captain John Hargreave, UK, of the Golden Hind sets off towards Epsilon Eridani with the express purpose of finding a planet capable of supporting human colonisation.
The Colt G-1777 Gauss rifle is successfully field tested on earth. Rather then the shaky reliability of the anti-Material Rail gun, the gauss rifle doesn't need it's rails changed every few shots and requires less energy. It remains an anti-Material gun attached to vehicles, but some companies express interest in a man portable version.
The Intrepid is brought offline for six months to replace the Negative mass in it's driver and rings.
World's first Cold fusion plant begins construction in France, to combat the growing demand for energy in the country.
2063
After 110 days of FTL travel and 40 days in system, Epsilon Eridani A is discovered. One of 4 planets in the system, it is a young earth, with simple plant life and small organic life, mostly amphibians and reptiles.
It won't be until next year, when the Golden Hind returns, that Earth will discover this.
The UK agrees to foot half the cost of the construction of the "Sanbao Taijian" should it be allowed to place half of the colonists and select the second in command and half of the staff for the mission. China accepts. The name remains the same.
First FTL drive to be mass produced goes on sale. It requires both the drive core and the negative mass rings, which are sold as too separate items. Negative mass remains the most expensive commodity in human history.
Another Negative Mass Foundry is built in record time in Mars Orbit. Plans are made to create 7 more by six different companies.
2064
The return of the Golden Hind and it's findings sparks debate. To great controversy, human colonisation is approved. The Chinese and UK Government announce the Sanbao Taijian project formally, stating they will colonise Epsilon Eridani A. Recruitment begins for the 1000 initial colonists. Plans to begin exporting more and more colonists later are drawn up, but the Sanbao Taijian will remain in the Alpha Centuari system for a period of six years.
The Zheng he is completed, and sent out on a long survey of Barnard's star, Alpha Centuari, Procyon, Epsilon Eridani, Tau Ceti and 61 cygni.
2065
Peacekeeping forces are deployed to Nicaragua following the outbreak of Civil war in the country.
3 more Negative mass foundry's are completed. Negative Mass price finally begins to drop.
Netherlands flood defence begin to fail in the face of rising sea levels. 1/3 of the country is claimed by the sea.
The intrepid begins a mission to Alpha Centauri again for a more thorough survey of the system.
2066
The Golden Hind sets off for an expedition to Tau Ceti, the system most believed to support extra-terrestrial life.
The last 4 Negative Mass foundry's are completed. Negative mass become cheap enough that smaller mining companies (Those that aren't Space X, Virgin Galactic and government entities.) can begin to afford to build and buy FTL capable ships. Most are small communication probes to facilitate the sending of messages from the other side of the Main Belt. Speeds above 1c (the speed of light) aren't common.
2067
Because no government has formally declared rights over any extrasolar planet yet, the treaty of Epsilon Eridani is drawn up by the UN. No unlike Sol, where Governments can claim large sections of a planetary surface as sovereign territory, it formally denies the right of Sol governments to claim territory outside the Oort cloud (The boundary is set at 130 Astronomical units for clarity, since without Ftl communications and due to the lack of material beyond that point, it is not worth anything.). The Chinese and British government grumbles, but the Sanbao Taijian mission continues as planned.
The colony the ship will set up will be independent of both the British and Chinese Government. The name "New Hong Kong" is chosen.
The US announces a similar colonisation effort on the southern hemisphere of Epsilon Eridani A. They begin construction of the "USS Oregon Trail."
The Golden Hind returns, announcing the existence of another planet capable of supporting human life in the second planet of the Tau Ceti system. As no government wants to declare another colonisation effort, nothing is done.
Captain Hargreave retires from the Golden hind.
Commodore Ma Lan is selected as captain of the Sanbao Taijian, whilst Captain Hargreave is selected as his XO.
2068
The Sanbao Taijian is launched from Earth orbit. With a max speed of 20c, the ship wont arrive in system for 210 days at the earliest. Over 1200 people from both China and the UK are selected to be the initial colonists.
The Intrepid suffers a fault with it's drive core. Given the increasing efficiency of ship designs and lack of need for small manned FTL ships, the ship is retired and placed at the Aerospace museum of California.
2069
The British government buys an FtL probe capable of 50c to allow occasional communication between Earth and New Hong Kong. Initial reports from the colony suggest its going well, with the people building settlements off the ship with the use of nano forges. Biologists report back their findings on the native lifeforms. Hydroponic plants have been set up. The colonial leader, Ma Lan, estimates that the colony will be able to survive without the facility's on board the Sanbao Taijian in two years. The Sanbao Taijian remains in Orbit of the planets, having lifted off 6 months after initial planetfall, and is used to collect rare earth metals and non contaminated water from the system in the form of small comets.
2070
The Asteroids of M91283-F and M83 declare war on each other. Both are large asteroids hollowed out for permanent habitation. Officially the reason is that M91283-F had assassinated the senator of M83 before he could vote on the militarisation of the MBF, of which he was in favour of. First recorded incident of starship to starship combat. Thanks to one ship, m83's "Outro", being equipped with a Alcubierre drive, it was able to warp too close for the other ship to aim it's rail gun. It's point defence guns tore through the other ship.
M91283-F formally surrenders. Space military doctrine is seriously looked at, as the combat applications of the warp drive haven't been fully considered.
The MBF votes against forming a formal military.
2071
Captain Hargreave returns the Sanbao to earth orbit, commodore Ma Lan deciding to remain on Epsilon Eridani A as mayor of New Hong Kong. 2000 colonists are shipped back to New Hong Kong. Captain Hargreave will continue to captain the Sanbao Taijian until his retirement in 2079.
Current population of humans outside the Sol System: 3354
Current population of Earth: 11.2 billion
Current total human population: 11.9 billion
Human Telomere regeneration project begins. Attempting to finally discover the true cause of ageing and whether or not medical nanites can delay or prevent certain affects of ageing.
2072
Catalina formally separates from Spain.
The USS Oregon Trail is completed. It carries 1000 Americans to Epsilon Eridani. Captained by Alan Shepard. The settlement of Oregon is built on the planet's southern continent.
First widespread genetic modification is available for those that spend most of their time in a zero gravity environment. Keshi-Rasch biomedical releases a gene-mod that promotes strong muscle and skeletal strength and growth even in microgravity. Constant exercise is still suggested for any space traveller in order to prevent Muscle entropy.
2073
The Zheng He probe returns. Confirmed colonizable planets in Procyon and 61 cygni. It has also marked the location of several mineral rich asteroids.
Aldrin city on Mars applies to be a country selected for the world cup. Predictions suggest they'll lose horribly due to training in a lower gravity environment. Still accepted.
The Sanbao and Oregon continue to make trips to and from Earth and Epsilon Eridani A.
2074
Twenty years after the initial confirmation of the possibility of a FTL drive, over 7000 people live and die outside the Sol system.
The Telomere Regeneration project announces successful attempt of delaying the degradation of telomeres in the DNA of rats.
Aldrin city are knocked out of the World cup in the earliest rounds of the knockout stage.
Outbreak of Avian flu in Rome forces the city in lockdown and quarantine for two months.
Beyond:
Within the next fifty years, humanity will slow the ageing process by a factor of ten, FTL drives will continue to accelerate, humanity will spread out from Earth. By 2109, fifty percent of humanity live outside of Earth, with twenty percent living on the planet of Freedom's Reach, formally Epsilon Eridani A.
It is here, in 2124, we begin the story of one man, and those that he changes and meet around him.
Captain Arthur Hargreave of the Trailblazer© Ship Pequod.
2124
Even 200 light years from where humanity once looked at the stars thinking they were the spirits of the dead, there are bars.
Sure, this one was in a space station in the Lagrange point of Kepler 138b. Sure, it used centrifugal force to prevent your drink from floating around in the air, and the bar tender has a limb made of carbon nanotubes.
But a bar is a bar. No matter how far from Earth you get.
Arthur ran a hand through his blonde hair.
"So. Suppose you guys are setting off soon?" asked the bartender.
Arthur nodded.
"Got rumours of a garden world a few parsecs from here. Bosses back home want proof."
"Ain't worried about the pirates round here?" Asked the bartender.
Arthur shrugged.
"My ship is pretty well armed. And pirates go for trading ships and miners, not exploration vessels."
"Well, good luck to you. Don't suppose you are the pilot?"
"I can command a ship after one drink." Said Arthur bluntly.
"Aye." Said the bartender. He returned to cleaning a glass. A pointless gesture, since there was a auto scrubber just below the bar top.
Arthur rolled his shoulder and stood up from the bar. Hopefully his ship was fully stocked on food, negative mass and Helium-3 for the next three months. It'd be a long time before he'd return to human civilisation again.
He walked out the bar and walked against the walls of the space station, climbing up the curved floor.
He looked down through a door on the floor. Through it, and the windows beside the door, he saw his ship.
TBs Pequod. At 130m long, she was classed as a light cruiser. Armed with four directional gauss cannons and sixteen 50cal Gatling guns for point defence. With two centrifugal arms with a few rooms within each, a large EM drive for sublight propulsion and several directional em engines, she was a typical ship, one you could find anywhere in the civilised world.
Kneeling down, Arthur slid a card key against the sensor. The door opened, and Arthur climbed down the steps. After a few rungs, the sense of gravity disappeared, and Arthur flipped around, now standing up. As he walked forward, the gravity returned, pulling him towards the rung of the ladders. He walked towards the door of the ship, which opened automatically.
He walked into the deck. The floors of starships were angled like buildings, rather than the typical naval ships of old. In the middle was a long ladder which ran the entirety of the ship. Occasionally, the ship would travel at an acceleration of 9.81 m/s2, and normal earth gravity would be felt throughout the ship. However, typically, in either FTL or sublight travel the ship was a lot slower, and only the two centrifugal arms had constant gravity.
"Captain." Said Arthur's Xo, Joshua Grahm. "Pequod is fully stocked. We've got ammo, food, water and raw materials."
"Good work. We have our heading. Everyone aboard?" Asked Arthur.
"Aye sir. We await your word." Said Grahm.
Arthur nodded and walked towards the ladder, and began climbing towards the command deck, the third and forth deck from the front.
"All right men. Disembark, travel for 90km then FTL to (234,091). Maximum speed." Ordered Arthur.
The ship shuddered slightly as the magnetic clamps let go of the Ship. Arthur's own mag boots activated, keeping him to the floor even as the gravity disappeared.
"Off we go." Said Arthur, mostly to himself.
Codex:
Navigational Stellar Coordinates:
Created in 2084 after humanity began to expand to star systems without unique, easy to remember names, coordinates start with Earth as (000,000). Each unit is one light year from Earth. Positive numbers are galactic North and East respectively, whilst negative numbers are south and West.
Trailblazer©:
A company which specialises in discovery star systems beyond the official borders of civilised space (Roughly 210 light years from earth to the North, 74 to the east and 80 light years to the south and west) and providing private security for colonies and star stations. They own six ships, 3 light cruisers and 3 frigates.