Before the Ice Age there was the the
Age of Colonialism. To find out how this came about we must travel back in time to when one of the older unnamed worlds, inhabited
by a species known as Berts, discovered a young star system with eight planets. The third planet from the star was of
the terra class and this made it suitable to colonize. They named the star "Sol".
There are many older worlds that have
evolved producing one or two dominate intelligent species on each world. Many of which are somewhat humanoid in
appearance. As they evolved they became aware of one another. Trade developed and as is often the case, it resulted
in the inevitable wars that followed.
Most, but not all, had evolved to
the point of almost immortality. They never aged after achieving maturity. They had the abillity to self heal
and even attach or regrow severed limbs and organs. By will alone, some could even grow special additional attributes for
survival in any envirorment. This process was extremely time consuming. Being immortal, this was not usually a problem.
But, the wars changed all that. They could be killed or destroyed. Time was running out. Even reproduction was too slow.
They needed a safe haven, a place to grow and the time in which to do so.
The discovery of this new young world
seemed to be the answer but there were some problems. There was already an emerging intellent humanoid species on the only
terra class world in the system. If this world was to be open to colonialism, what was to be done with the native intellegent
species? They were tribal in nature, low on the evolvolutionary scale and roamed the entire world aimlessly in search
of survival. They could be a problem.
Also there was the question of whether
or not to enclude representives from some of the other older worlds. Some did possess needed technology.
The grand debate began and undoubtablely
continues to this day. However some decisions were made after much heated debate. It was decided that the native intelligent
species of Terra was to be protected and the planet be allowed to evolve naturally.
Also, species from some of the other
older worlds would be allowed to participate in the colonialism.
The Olies had a vessel that could
reach the "Sol Star System and of course would be admited to colonize.
But what was really needed was the
gate technology that the Dems had developed. The Dems were bitter enemies with the Berts, but The Olies insisted that they
would not be able to build enough vessels to haul all the colonists in the time that remained pending the outcome of the wars.
The Olies said that they would depart
immidately to deploy the gates if the Dems would immidately donate the gates that they were presently employing in their
war effort against the Berts.
This might even change the balance
of power in the Bert's favor!
The Dems due to their own nature could
even be located deep underground in the heart of a volcano, therefore isolating them from other colonists.
This seemed to be a win/win situation
and was agreed upon by all three factions. The Olies loaded a vessel with five gates and set out to intall one on the outermost
planet to be used as a relay to the one that was to be intalled on the satellite that orbited "Terra",
and three gate were to be left on the moon, one for each of the three factions.
Each faction member would be
allowed to place one gate in a secret location within their domain on "Terra" to receive their colonists.
Each faction could pick and choose
from any of the older world for colonists of their choice. The latter would be a decision the Berts would later regret.
When word of the Olie's trek spread
throughout the older worlds, the preparations for the colonialism of Terra began with joyous erstwhile enthusiasm
only to be matched to the time before the wars began.
There was much to do! There was a
great truce. The wars were forgotten. The Dem's power was in the gates, and the Olie' power was in their ships. They
were now gone! Without power it was senseless to continue the war. The Bert's power lay only in their ability to defend themself
and that would no longer be needed.
A conference of the three factions
was convened. A code of conduct, a chain of command, rules to be followed, a government to be established, division of powers,
and many other aspects of the colonialism needed to be decided and agreed on before the Olie vessels returned and the
gates were operational.
A five sided chart of powers
was devised, a classic pentagram. The top point of the penagram would represent the ultimate authority
of the old world's Combined Council. The point of the left arm was to be represented by the Dems and the point of the right
arm by the Olies. The Berts would be at the point of the right leg and the native species of Terra would be at the point of
the left leg.
The Olies would colonize the
two Ice Cap Regions, while the Dems would be allowed to occupy the lower vocanic regions and the Berts would be able
to roam throughout the Temperate Regions of Terra. The native species would have dominence of all regions of Terra.
This must be agreed upon and signed
by all colonist before they would be allowed to immigrate. Futhermore, all colonists would be required to communicate in the
common language of "lat".
Each faction would be allowed to place
their own gate at a secret location, of their own choosing, anywhere within their own region. Also, they would be responible
for any species that they invited to immigrate from the other older worlds.
These species will have no rights or
be bound by the previous agreements but be subject to the will of the faction that sponsored them.
Olies, Dems and Berts are all
pretty much the same physiscal size.
The Berts chose to invite every intelligent
species on the Fey World. Unlike other worlds, there were quite a few different species that evolved there. They are
all humiod in appearance but are much smaller in size than the average Bert.
" The more the merrier!" was
the Bert's philosophical point of view, proclaiming "the denions of the world of Fey will make life much more interesting.
The Olies scuffed at the Bert's choice.
"Of what use are such small creatures?" they asked.
The Olies are a very serious
and practial people. They see no value in chosing anything for it's amusment value. They instead chose to invite a very
large intelligent species that dominated the Gien world. They figured that the Gien would be quite valuable in building
the Olie's domain.
Absolutlely no one understands the
thinking of the Dems. They chose a species from the world of Pent. A world that the other did not even know existed. The
Pents are not humanoid in appearence. They have long flexible tube shaped bodies without arms
or legs though they have eyes and a mouth at one end. Little was known at the time of the Pents physisal
makeup other than that it's entire body was composed of a gel like substance. They are roughly about the
same size and weight as the Dems.
The Berts chose to construct and install
their gate on one of the major continents in the northern hemisphere of Terra, This continent was densitly covered by huge
trees, other vegatation, and had abundent aminal life. A large circle was cleared deep in the woods. The Bert's unque
defense system was infused into huge native rocks that were placed around the perimeter of the circle. Next the gate tehnology
was also incorporated into simular rocks and the keys or operating controls were placed inside other huge stones that were
sculpted to honor varous home worlds of the colonists. All were placed around the edge of the circle.
It is rumored that the Olies placed
their gate somewhere on the northern icecap, though it is more logical to assume that their's was placed deep within the small
continent that exsisted at the south pole.
As for the Dems, no one knows where
thir gate was placed. Its location was assumed to be underground, perhaps with quick access to the surface. Some believe it
was located deep within an ocean.
All three gates had access only to
the master gate located on the moon, inter-gate travel was inhibited between the gates on Terra. A special counsel of all
the interested parties was established on the moon that would control all travel through the gates. The gate on the moon
was the only connection to the gate on the eighth planet in the system which in turn was connected to the network of gates
that led back to the older worlds.
It was almost six "Galactic
Cycles" after the colonialism had started, before the old world's "Combined Counsel" relialized that something was wrong.
Terribly wrong! The dominate species in the Sol System was not the intelligent huminoid species that roamed Terra!
The dominate species, if
that was what it could be called, was discovered to have invaded the older worlds. It was a concept that no one had even thought
could exist. It had originated in the Sol System. It was a microbe, smaller than the smallest single cell lifeform that existed.
There was debate as to whether or not it was billions to the n'th power of individual unintelligent units or whether the combined
multitudes were actuality the building blocks for the body of a greater intelligence.
The microbes had infected all
of the Old World species that had visited Terra and and in a short period of time had mutated into varities that could infect
other species even though they had not visited Terra.
Genocide of several of the Old World's
species resulted before the scientists discovered the cause.
A strict quarentine was imposed. The
only way to destroy the microbes was to destroy the host they inhabited. This had to be done, for if it was not done, the
entire population of all the Old Worlds would be destroyed.
Many wanted to destroy the Sol System,
but it was feared that it would not destroy the microbes and they would somehow migrate to the old worlds on there own power.
They figured a better solution was to quarentine the Sol System where it seem the microrobes were content to remain.
It was learned that they exsisted
imbedded in all living and non living matter. They could remain dormant in non living matter for eons and then rapidly mutate
to feed on living matter. Intelligent species would come and go solely at the discretion of these microbes or whatever
intelligence that was in control.
It was believed that this "Great Overaggressive
Destroyer" of all living matter should be forever contained and not allow ever to leave the Sol System. Futhermore, it was
decided that the gate network would be expanded away from Sol in order to establish new colonies far from the threat. Also,
it was deemed prudent to disassemle the net in the wake of their retreat.
The best solution to rid the Old Worlds
of the infestation was deemed to be converting the gate on the outermost planet to be capable of transmitting matter directly
into the heart of Sol. This was immidiately done with all living and non-living material that was infected. With
the exception of infected intelligent species, who were given the option of their final destination of either
the sun or the third planet. Many actually choose the sun.
Powerful weapon were sent through
the gates to the outermost planet. The moon that orbited Terra was bombarded mercilessly until they were assured that
nothing remained of the gate installation contructed there. The eight planet was set to self destruct as they retreated,
thus destroying the infested gate facility and the planet in the progress. All other non infected gates were recovered
on the return to the old worlds.
The fate and future of the old worlds is
unknown from that point in time! It is, however, suspected that they monitor the Sol System to this day to assure that the
"Great Overaggressive Destroyer" remains contained!
Berts usually reproduce by cloning themselfs
producing one clone with all the memories of the original parent. These memories are not accessable until the clone reaches
the age of maturity and then only when they hear their "full name" that the original parent gave them spoken in "Lat".
At that point, the memories of the parent are accessable in the dream state or subconscious mind. Otherwise, in the conscious
state of mind, they retain their own identity.
