The Scrutiny of Earth Intensifies (cont.)Despite these restrictions, science continued to advance across a wide spectrum of disciplines, especially in bio-technology. Brilliant Swiss Scientist Hsien Ho combined the now-complete human genome map with sophisticated genetic-engineering techniques and perfected the artificial parthenogenesis – cloning – of humans at the Zurich BioTeknik in 2019. Though the clones were, to all external appearances, human, Hsien Ho modified their genes so that they were not capable of producing offspring. Meanwhile, a new religious order, known as Homo Deus, or “The Godly Men,” was founded in the aftermath of the Small War and the emotional turmoil caused by the destruction of the Holy Lands. Its charismatic founder, former car salesman Jason MacBride, built his worldwide following on the thesis that the Millennium was near. MacBride even predicted a specific date, March 11, 2046, when Heaven and Earth would join, and each devout person would be elevated to a divine status. The movement captured the imagination of millions of poor and disillusioned individuals worldwide. Within a few years, “Brother Jason” was one of the most powerful and influential people on the planet.
For most people on Earth, the following two decades were a golden time of peace and prosperity. This was not the case for Hsien Ho’s now adult clones. Seeing Ho’s creations as a threat to his “Godly Men,” Jason MacBride fought to have the clones declared sub-human. Calling them “Androsynths,” or the “fake men,” he used the vast resources of his Homo Deus organization to strip the clones of their human rights. Sadly, as the years passed, the Androsynths became little better than well-treated slaves.
At least they got some fabulous hairdos in return.Not unexpectedly, March 11, 2046 came and went without the arrival of Jason MacBride’s promised Millennium. Citing a “lack of genuinely devout people,” MacBride withdrew from public life and faded into obscurity, his power and fortunes rapidly declining.
By the middle of the 21st Century, Earthlings had begun to colonize their solar system. Planet orbiting factories led to lunar bases and soon there were mining and research outposts scattered across the Asteroid Belt. Yet the expansion of mankind into deep space was limited by the relatively slow speed at which spacecraft could travel. Research began in earnest to develop a ship that could warp toward distant stars faster than the speed of light.
The Androsynth RebellionIn retrospect, the Clone Revolt of 2085 was inevitable. Stronger, smarter and more adaptable than normal humans, the Androsynths despised and deeply resented their status as slaves. By the late ‘70’s there were tens of thousands of Androsynths distributed across the planet, many of them doing sophisticated scientific and technological research. Then, in the spring of 2085, the Androsynths staged a worldwide rebellion, throwing off their chains with the help of a sympathetic human
underground.
The uprising had been exquisitely planned. Within 24 hours, the clones had captured nearly every spaceflight facility on the planet. Androsynths working at the centers had secretly fueled and readied over a thousand spacecraft to carry their people off this hated planet. Two days after the rebellion began, the freed clones took over all orbital and lunar bases, leaving not a single Androsynth on the face of the earth. “Star Control,” the recently established wing of the United Nations’ military forces, made several attempts to evict the clones. Each time the Star Control ships approached, the craft were burnt to ashes by colossal MASER weapons that Androsynth scientists had fashioned out of formerly benign energy broadcast units.
After two months of futile strikes on the Androsynth strongholds with conventional weapons, the U.N. leadership decided to use the means of mass destruction stored in the Peace Vaults. Yet before the nuclear bombs and laser rays could be reassembled, Star Control scoutships watching the orbiting bases reported an amazing sight. Eight of the largest space stations were accelerating out of Earth orbit, heading towards the periphery of the solar system. The Androsynths had somehow modified the huge space-stations for flight, including the recently finished StarLight Hilton.
Though Star Control chase ships were never able to catch the space-stations, a ten thruster ore freighter on its way home from an Asteroid Belt mining base with a hold full of titanium was able to make a high-V interception of the ragtag fleet. As the freighter pilot approached the fleeing space-stations, they suddenly began to glow with a bright energy field that spun around the ships with blazing speed. According to the pilot’s recorded testimony, a “great red hole” over 500 meters across appeared in front of the space-stations. As he watched in disbelief, the stations flew into the hole one by one and vanished in a starburst of white lights. When the last of the Androsynth strongholds had disappeared, the hole collapsed rapidly inward, imploding finally to nothingness.
Over 30 years would pass before humans encountered the Androsynths again.
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Topic: Let's Play: The Ur-Quan Masters! (Read 31882 times)