Population: One, Me by D.A.Sanford - HTML preview

The outward travelers

Our world was very old and our solar system’s sun was starting to enter the dying stage and would go nova within our time. It was time to leave. For a very long time, we have known that all the worlds in the main body of our galaxy are dead. We are the last to die.

In the beginning of this galaxy, the inner worlds were thriving. Worlds developed. Their people made it to space and soon there were federations, alliances, empires but eventually, after many senseless conflicts, we made it to sufficient intelligence to be happy with what we had. We visited other worlds. Some explorers even made it to the outer reaches and came back with many tales and recordings of stars still being born. Worlds forming and that in a few billion years, there could be a few that would support life. Then more billions of years sentient life could evolve.

Fanciful tales indeed.

Soon some of the innermost worlds started to die. Those worlds either chose to perish or move to other worlds out further. Some actually went to those rumored outer worlds but they were never heard from again.

The cycle of suns going nova, worlds just running out of water or air continued. This is our second world. We now searched those outer rims for worlds that could support our population.

It was discovered that the outer rim is still vibrantly alive with inhabitable worlds. Our species have a tight group of environmental requirements the limit us to only a few. The biggest is that we have two general species. Land based and water based. We need a world that is compatible with both.

The other is that we will not invade an established world. We have always respected all sentient life. That is sacred to us.

All of our world accepted that our sun was starting to go nova. All made sure that the ships were built. Both species needed to go on to new worlds. The one thing is, that we respect each other’s decision. Almost all of the old ones have said that they will stay and die with this world.

They take the time, while the ships were being built, to record their memories of this world and their life in the current think vision system that can record those thoughts and visions so that future generations know what a wonderful world this was.

When the ships were ready, the oceans and most of the life in them, were transported to the aquatic ship and the land animals were transported to the air ship. Once underway, the ships joined and the main bridge was activated

Now we start. Both the aquatic ships and the air breathing ships have joined in space. Just like our world, the ships, though different environments, we need our symbiotic relationship. We are two parts of a whole. There are water passages to our section and land bridges to theirs. Without that, we would perish.

A few years later, out of respect to those who chose to stay behind, it was now broadcasted that the sun had gone nova and consumed our world in a matter of seconds. It was known that it was going to happen but none wanted to look back. Those who stayed had requested that.

Beginning our journey, there is one world that we need to check out. We launch quite a few probes at a hyper speed to check out that system. They will intercept that system at different times and tell us of the systems vital facts. Those probes look like rocks or comets as not to alarm any inhabitants. They are like that so we can see their response to them.

Hostile, we turn. Watched and no response, maybe we can negotiate.

If that world is inhabited, we will need to search for others.

Only the outer bands are habitable now.