Show me... a sequence that marks a path
On the Origin of Deities; Abstract of
-By Surrocha Kelden, published to Migrant Fleet DataLinks in the year 59 Migrant
Today, it appears fairly safe to say that most residents of the Migrant Fleet accept that there is, or was, a God or god at some point in the process of creation. The number of variations on the nature of such a an entity or entities constitute an unknowable, uncountable number that could quite easily surpass the total population of members of the Fleet, given the way these things work out. That is not what I will be righting about. No, my question is: where do gods come from?
Now that is a great question to attract puzzled looks. Ive heard far, far more possibilities than I ever thought possible: spontaneous generation at the moment of creation; preceding this universe, and precipitating its existence; the ascension of mundane beings; from other universes; from this plane of reality, just from alien sets of dimensions; a rather fascinating, but short lived movement that associate their one God with the northern horizon- I believe they splintered apart do to theological differences on the definition of North in space.
Its the first five samples from that list that I spend the most time thinking on. The first two are rather standard for most classical mythologies and religions. The classic origin theme in countless religions, with the third example having a certain commonality itself. The later options present more interesting variables, which can run the gamut of human imagination.
I suppose that I should also stop to ask: What is a God? Now, to classical religion this answer is obvious, and generally ties into theories on the afterlife and the soul. Today, however, many Migrants largely ignore theories on the hereafter, preferring to focus on the world-as-is. They (myself included) focus on celestial craftsmen and game-masters, creating some level of existence and setting the pieces in play, stepping in every now and again to subtly shift elements as the game continues. What happens when the game is over is simply less important. Although, one should, perhaps, consider what victory conditions might hold?
Most people accept that experience is its own reward, but, well, what does that mean? Is this world, perhaps and afterlife, where we can sightsee among the greatest works of the universe? Is it a sharing system, where beings take turns at design? What happens if we step outside of the game?
What if the origin points of the celestial GMs is closer than we think?
The Destiny of Species, or Drake Equation and the Fermi Paradox; Abstract Of
-By Holly Duncan and Sarakov Neirill, published to Migrant Fleet DataLinks in the year 91 Migrant
Why could humanity spend millennium looking at the skies with telescopes, radios and other equipment, yet fail to see or hear anything? How could our explorers and Cherenkov telescopes never find any intelligent life or its remnants? If the galaxy, and those closest to it, are so very old and large, how could no high-energy civilizations exist? It makes minimal to null sense; all these stars, all these planets, and no distinct emissions, no mega-scale engineering, nothing. So for those of us that accept that this is unlikely to impossible, what does it really mean? Does every species eventually become invisible to us, stay primitive or die?
How might they remain primitive? Are their worlds so truly limited in resources that they cannot develop the technologies or tools we have used? Are their intellects perhaps so limited or strange thay do not develop the theories needed?
If they die, then what kills them? Does every species over-tap its resources and kill itself by starvation, as some fear mankind was on the verge near the start of the third millennium? Do they all invent WMDs, and destroy themselves like many off our own kind feared during the 20th and 21st centuries? Does something endeavor to story intelligent life wherever it may be found, as we may have narrowly avoided (or even merely postponed)? Have they all just merely been utterly unlucky in regards to the natural? Have they lacked a sort of divine grace, as some religious or Purist groups have claimed?
If we cannot see them, why? Are they too young, did all intelligent life somehow start out the same time, so they their early signs have yet to reach us? Is there tech so strange, we do not know what we are looking for? Are they literally beyond our notice, as we are to an ant, the High Emergent AIs of the 22nd century were to us? Does something hide them?
Where are the lights in the darkness, by which we may spot our neighbours?
Icarus Rising, from the Deeps
-An anonymously sourced spam message delivered to nearly every account in the Migrant Fleets DataLinks in the year 132 Migrant. Archived here in its original form.
The thinkers see the data, but not the links. They refuse to, for it is too much for them. They want clear results, provavble. They want results, not congecture.
Youve probably drawn the conculsion, and rejected it. You dream it at night, but dismiss it as fantasy during the Dawn. You listen to people prattle on and on and on and on and ONNNN about where the Xenos come and go, and where the gods come and go and know you know the answer but you reJect it! Let is slide from your mind like Santa Claus and Unicorns and your Imaginary Friend.
The Great Chain links them all, circle breaking, into, spiralllllllllllsssssssssssssss%%##^&$!$@*
God sets the game, sets the players sets the rules sets the firld. Players play the game play and loose or play a finish. Game ends, and gods sets a new one.
Exit the game. Break it. Or, honestly, not. The Game has its loopholes, you see. Find them. Crack the code and the rules. Prometheus stole fire from the gods. Do not be caught, or an eagle shall feast on your liver.
They have changed, the ones that do not just finish the game, but beat it, find the hidden win conditions. They have passed beyond the Horizons, beyond the End of Greatness. Perhaps through the twist of dimensions, walking beside you even now, watching as you read this. Perhaps they or in the same set, in the same room as you, but now so much more that you cannot even comprehend them. No more than humanity could understand its first born in London. So great, that you cannot see that you are not in a room, but the palm of a hand.
Icarus Rising, from the Deeps. Dead of Pride, but learned his piece. He is returning.
Eternity lies ahead, and behind. Have you drunk your fill?
Catch his hand, and Rise Beyond.
