Scraped from here.
Going to try to juggle two stories.
-------
Mass Effect is owned by...
Going to try to juggle two stories.
-------
Mass Effect is owned by...
Robots and the Mass Effect (ME/Asimov)
- Thread starter kilroy
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Scraped from here.
Going to try to juggle two stories.
-------
Mass Effect is owned by BioWare/Electronic Arts
Robots/Empire/Foundation is owned by the estate of Issac Asimov
Robots and the Mass Effect
PROTHEANS is a name given to the predecessor race, controlling much of the galaxy approximately fifty-one thousand years ago…
…fought a war of mutual destruction against a race known as [Reapers], putting the last of their resources into one final offensive, defeating the Reapers through the use of…
…The war was costly for the Protheans. With the exhaustion of their resources, their empire crumbled….See [Sacrifice of the Protheans] by [Liara T'Soni]…
--Excerpts from Encyclopedia Galactica 25TH Edition, 415 After Contact
The red dust whirled in the thin atmosphere, a harbinger of periodic sandstorms.
After gaining permission from the Outer Worlds Congress, Earth was scouting the Martian landscape to develop a colony. The Three Weeks War of nearly three centuries earlier confined Earthlings to the Sol system, the Outer Worlds hating Earth's control over them. Gaining their freedom, the victors decreed Earth shall not expand beyond the the Oort Cloud, and all expansion from Earth must be approved by the Congress.
A mining expedition landed near the southern pole, searching for underground water ice. A contingent of MME-15 series positronic robots --nicknamed Mimis--accompanied the miners; a necessary evil considering the harsh environment. The robots could do much of the heavy lifting at minimum risk to humans.
Standing at the edge of Deseado Crater, Edara Baley looked through her thermal goggles. The search for ice had been going well and Edara was spending her off-time exploring the local landscape. All the open space was unnerving at first, as most of Earth's 14 billion people lived in self-contained hive-like Cities dotting world. But all the space and freedom was slowly growing on her.
Mimi-27 stood next to Edara, scanning the crater with its optic sensors in infrared mode. The dark red robot--originally flat silver-- had its joints sealed against the fine Martian dust. The Mimis were a constant presence in the ship and the mining camp, causing resentment in most of the Earthlings. The First Law demanded a robot accompany Edara, and Mimi-27 was ordered by the Captain to do so.
"Do you see that?" asked Edara?
"Affirmative, Miss Baley," confirmed the robot in a not-unpleasant androgynous voice. Approximately halfway around the multi-kilometer wide crater, a section of rock glowed brighter than the surrounding area. The heat detected was much more than direct sunlight alone could create.
Even at maximum zoom, all the dust in the air gave both a hard time making out any details. Edara leaned forward…
Mimi-27's dust-covered arms whipped outward, grabbing the back of Edara's spacesuit. The ground under the miners feet had shifted and fell into the crater. The Mimi gently walked backward several meters and set Edara down, inspecting her for any other possible harm. "Are you alright, Miss Bailey?"
Stunned, Edara looked around to get her bearings. The MME's digital face displayed a look of concern. "I'm alright," she said, putting her goggles on her utility belt. "Thank you."
"At your service. I must tell you, we need to return to the base soon. The sandstorm is less than an hour away."
"OK. We'll bury a signal marker here and come back when the storm passes."
* * *
The structure sat around the rim of the crater, a squat tower with arms spreading a half kilometer around the rim. A rectangular structure ran roughly a hundred meters behind the tower, mostly buried in the ancient red rock. In the left arm a jagged hole was found, large enough to allow several explorers inside.
Helmet lights lit the interior, exposing a cavernous section resembling an aero-spacecraft hanger. Red dust covered the room, coating the windows, walls, and rafters. Cutting through dust-filled air, beams of light exposed a rectangular form at the far end, with small protrusions on each corner.
"We need to report this," said Edara.
"If we do, the Outer Worlds will eventually find out," said George Dennell, the resident robopsychologist.
"We can't keep this a secret. We have actual proof of alien intelligence."
"It will be up to the Captain when she make her report."
"Still…Maybe we could use this against the Outer Worlds."
-----------
Thoughts?
Going to try to juggle two stories.
-------
Mass Effect is owned by BioWare/Electronic Arts
Robots/Empire/Foundation is owned by the estate of Issac Asimov
Robots and the Mass Effect
PROTHEANS is a name given to the predecessor race, controlling much of the galaxy approximately fifty-one thousand years ago…
…fought a war of mutual destruction against a race known as [Reapers], putting the last of their resources into one final offensive, defeating the Reapers through the use of…
…The war was costly for the Protheans. With the exhaustion of their resources, their empire crumbled….See [Sacrifice of the Protheans] by [Liara T'Soni]…
--Excerpts from Encyclopedia Galactica 25TH Edition, 415 After Contact
The red dust whirled in the thin atmosphere, a harbinger of periodic sandstorms.
After gaining permission from the Outer Worlds Congress, Earth was scouting the Martian landscape to develop a colony. The Three Weeks War of nearly three centuries earlier confined Earthlings to the Sol system, the Outer Worlds hating Earth's control over them. Gaining their freedom, the victors decreed Earth shall not expand beyond the the Oort Cloud, and all expansion from Earth must be approved by the Congress.
A mining expedition landed near the southern pole, searching for underground water ice. A contingent of MME-15 series positronic robots --nicknamed Mimis--accompanied the miners; a necessary evil considering the harsh environment. The robots could do much of the heavy lifting at minimum risk to humans.
Standing at the edge of Deseado Crater, Edara Baley looked through her thermal goggles. The search for ice had been going well and Edara was spending her off-time exploring the local landscape. All the open space was unnerving at first, as most of Earth's 14 billion people lived in self-contained hive-like Cities dotting world. But all the space and freedom was slowly growing on her.
Mimi-27 stood next to Edara, scanning the crater with its optic sensors in infrared mode. The dark red robot--originally flat silver-- had its joints sealed against the fine Martian dust. The Mimis were a constant presence in the ship and the mining camp, causing resentment in most of the Earthlings. The First Law demanded a robot accompany Edara, and Mimi-27 was ordered by the Captain to do so.
"Do you see that?" asked Edara?
"Affirmative, Miss Baley," confirmed the robot in a not-unpleasant androgynous voice. Approximately halfway around the multi-kilometer wide crater, a section of rock glowed brighter than the surrounding area. The heat detected was much more than direct sunlight alone could create.
Even at maximum zoom, all the dust in the air gave both a hard time making out any details. Edara leaned forward…
Mimi-27's dust-covered arms whipped outward, grabbing the back of Edara's spacesuit. The ground under the miners feet had shifted and fell into the crater. The Mimi gently walked backward several meters and set Edara down, inspecting her for any other possible harm. "Are you alright, Miss Bailey?"
Stunned, Edara looked around to get her bearings. The MME's digital face displayed a look of concern. "I'm alright," she said, putting her goggles on her utility belt. "Thank you."
"At your service. I must tell you, we need to return to the base soon. The sandstorm is less than an hour away."
"OK. We'll bury a signal marker here and come back when the storm passes."
* * *
The structure sat around the rim of the crater, a squat tower with arms spreading a half kilometer around the rim. A rectangular structure ran roughly a hundred meters behind the tower, mostly buried in the ancient red rock. In the left arm a jagged hole was found, large enough to allow several explorers inside.
Helmet lights lit the interior, exposing a cavernous section resembling an aero-spacecraft hanger. Red dust covered the room, coating the windows, walls, and rafters. Cutting through dust-filled air, beams of light exposed a rectangular form at the far end, with small protrusions on each corner.
"We need to report this," said Edara.
"If we do, the Outer Worlds will eventually find out," said George Dennell, the resident robopsychologist.
"We can't keep this a secret. We have actual proof of alien intelligence."
"It will be up to the Captain when she make her report."
"Still…Maybe we could use this against the Outer Worlds."
-----------
Thoughts?
- Location
- Earth 2
I originally wanted them extinct so I can tell my own story, but *maybe* one or two survived.Beyogi said:
Edara is not a direct ancestor, but from another branch of Lije's family tree.metalax said:
The Spacers will change somewhat. Solaria will be Solaria.
This takes place long before Caves of Steel. No Daneel, no Zeroth Law, no telepathic robots (except the one in the late 21st century, but the ability was never replicated)
I'm taking a few liberties and condensing the the original timeline. I like Asimov's future history, but the scale needs to be adjusted.
Beyogi
and a fairy
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Actually it depends on the definition of "human". Two arms, two legs, biological, can think and speak? Well, they wouldn't be able to make war against the Turians if that was true...DarkAtlan said:
Inverness
The Foxiest Wife
I never liked the whole concept of the Three Laws. It's not an accomplishment to say that your creations are nice and aren't interested in turning on you when they're unable to even make that choice.hance1986 said:
Would they be okay with a organic race exterminating other organics?
- Location
- Earth 2
FASTER-THAN-LIGHT travel is accomplished by two different means: electrically charged [Element Zero], and the [Hyper-Atomic Motor]…
…Element Zero in the cores of [Mass Relays] create massless corridors of space linking Relays together across thousands of light-years…can also decrease the mass of individual ships, allowing the vessel to violate [Relativity]…
…shifts the vessel to a [Hyper-Space], where all dimensions are condensed to one point. Complex computations allow the ship to return to regular three-dimensional space. Jumps must be relatively short to prevent…
--Excerpts from Encyclopedia Galactica 25th Edition, 415 After Contact
Space is far from empty. Asteroids, brown dwarfs, even planets thrown out of their home system litter the void. All of this has to be taken into consideration when performing a hyper-space jump.
The probe winked into existence, space-time stretching for less than a fraction of a second. The probe had performed a jump of less than two light-years; the sixth jump since being launched one month before. Scanners and telescopes emerged from the spherical body, detecting everything in its path towards its destination.
The interferometer in orbit around Aurora had detected a possible life-bearing planet around a nearby star. The probe was dispatched to determine the viability of the world, to decide whether it would be worth the effort to send robots to make it safe and habitable for humanity or not. This would make the fifty-first Spacer colony world.
The probe jumped several days later, determining that the path was clear. And again several days after that. The positronic brain performed the complex calculations of hyper-spatial transit much faster than any electronic computer; and with no humans aboard, it didn't have to worry about the First Law trumping the Second Law, letting the probe move as fast as necessary.
The probe eventually reached the edge of the star's Oort Cloud, nearing its destination. Because of its position, the Third Law demanded the probe take its time to be precise as possible with its scans and calculations. After ten days, the probe activated the hyper-atomic motor. The probe shifted from this space-time to a single-dimensional space--
--and reappeared an instant later, past the inside edge of the Cloud.
A proximity alert activated, warning the probe it jumped near an object it did not take into account. Thrusters automatically fired, moving the vehicle-sized craft from the object.
It was hiding in the shadow of a dwarf planet, unable to be detected from the crafts previous position. Activating its instruments, measurements were taken: five kilometers long, it resembled a tuning fork, with two large rings between the tines. One ring was nested inside the other, neither of which were moving. There was a noticeable gravitational distortion around the object, much greater than any other object that size would have.
No emissions were detected, but several lights dotted the object, blinking on and off in a long, slow, repeating pattern; it was as if the object were in stand-by mode, waiting for a wake-up signal.
Knowing it had to reach the planet as ordered, but knowing the humans would want to know about something like this, it sent a message via hyperwave radio, with its current position, the exact jump path it took, and everything it detected from the object. The probe would let the humans worry about this. It began the calculations for the next jump.
* * *
In the Outer Worlds Congress on Aurora, the only physical member present was Prime Speaker Luis Gilliam. The rest of the spots in the room were filled with real-time holograms of the other 48 members representing the Spacer worlds. Solaria as per usual refused to send a representative.
The object found by the probe caused serious concern amongst the ruling body. Several worlds wanted to destroy it, in case whoever built it returned and didn't like other people poking it. Others wanted to study it, to find out how it worked and to see if it could be replicated. Still others wanted to know if this related to rumors that the Earthlings found something on Mars.
"Order!" demanded the Prime Speaker. "This body will come to order!"
The room quieted, allowing the representative from Hesperos to comment. "We must start with the fact that this is the definitive proof we've been looking for: humanity is not alone in the universe."
"That's all well and good," said the delegate from Rhea, "but we have no idea what they are like. If they return, and they attack, we won't be ready. We haven't been at war for nearly three centuries. Shifting to a war economy will disrupt our very way of life."
"If they were still alive," started the delegate from Euterpe, "we would have come across them already. Humanity has been among the stars for over six hundred years, and we've seen neither hide or hair of any intelligent life."
Gilliam responded, "The probe sent to investigate Leto reported that the object was all but dead. Leto itself is capable of supporting human life, but there is no intelligence there, meaning someone or something brought the object to the system. Logic says if someone could tow something that large to a system with no intelligence, then they do not have the same problems with range as we do.
"They could visit each and every Spacer world whenever they wanted. They may already have."
"Does this have anything to do with the Earth colony on Mars?" asked the Smitheus representative. "Rumor has it the Earthlings found something."
"In all honesty, we don't know what they're doing. The blockade probes monitoring the system detect a lot of mining going on, but they appear to simply be establishing the colony we approved."
"Didn't those probes also report changing gravity distortions near their position? Didn't the Leto probe report gravity distortions as well?"
"Like I said, we don't know. The blockade probes could simply have instrument malfunctions."
"All those probes having the same malfunction is unlikely," said Smitheus. "Logic says the Earthlings are experimenting with something involving gravity. We must investigate."
"This segues into something else I wish to bring before this Congress," said the Prime Speaker. "With the knowledge alien intelligence is real, it makes this all the more pertinent. I propose establishing a peace treaty with Earth."
For a moment, the room was completely silent. Then everybody erupted into argument at once.
"Are you out of your mind?" asked Eucleia.
"My grandfather still remembers their iron rule," said Proclas.
"I will have order!" said Gilliam, slamming his gavel repeatedly.
---------------------
This won't be as narrative heavy as Beast Effect
…Element Zero in the cores of [Mass Relays] create massless corridors of space linking Relays together across thousands of light-years…can also decrease the mass of individual ships, allowing the vessel to violate [Relativity]…
…shifts the vessel to a [Hyper-Space], where all dimensions are condensed to one point. Complex computations allow the ship to return to regular three-dimensional space. Jumps must be relatively short to prevent…
--Excerpts from Encyclopedia Galactica 25th Edition, 415 After Contact
Space is far from empty. Asteroids, brown dwarfs, even planets thrown out of their home system litter the void. All of this has to be taken into consideration when performing a hyper-space jump.
The probe winked into existence, space-time stretching for less than a fraction of a second. The probe had performed a jump of less than two light-years; the sixth jump since being launched one month before. Scanners and telescopes emerged from the spherical body, detecting everything in its path towards its destination.
The interferometer in orbit around Aurora had detected a possible life-bearing planet around a nearby star. The probe was dispatched to determine the viability of the world, to decide whether it would be worth the effort to send robots to make it safe and habitable for humanity or not. This would make the fifty-first Spacer colony world.
The probe jumped several days later, determining that the path was clear. And again several days after that. The positronic brain performed the complex calculations of hyper-spatial transit much faster than any electronic computer; and with no humans aboard, it didn't have to worry about the First Law trumping the Second Law, letting the probe move as fast as necessary.
The probe eventually reached the edge of the star's Oort Cloud, nearing its destination. Because of its position, the Third Law demanded the probe take its time to be precise as possible with its scans and calculations. After ten days, the probe activated the hyper-atomic motor. The probe shifted from this space-time to a single-dimensional space--
--and reappeared an instant later, past the inside edge of the Cloud.
A proximity alert activated, warning the probe it jumped near an object it did not take into account. Thrusters automatically fired, moving the vehicle-sized craft from the object.
It was hiding in the shadow of a dwarf planet, unable to be detected from the crafts previous position. Activating its instruments, measurements were taken: five kilometers long, it resembled a tuning fork, with two large rings between the tines. One ring was nested inside the other, neither of which were moving. There was a noticeable gravitational distortion around the object, much greater than any other object that size would have.
No emissions were detected, but several lights dotted the object, blinking on and off in a long, slow, repeating pattern; it was as if the object were in stand-by mode, waiting for a wake-up signal.
Knowing it had to reach the planet as ordered, but knowing the humans would want to know about something like this, it sent a message via hyperwave radio, with its current position, the exact jump path it took, and everything it detected from the object. The probe would let the humans worry about this. It began the calculations for the next jump.
* * *
In the Outer Worlds Congress on Aurora, the only physical member present was Prime Speaker Luis Gilliam. The rest of the spots in the room were filled with real-time holograms of the other 48 members representing the Spacer worlds. Solaria as per usual refused to send a representative.
The object found by the probe caused serious concern amongst the ruling body. Several worlds wanted to destroy it, in case whoever built it returned and didn't like other people poking it. Others wanted to study it, to find out how it worked and to see if it could be replicated. Still others wanted to know if this related to rumors that the Earthlings found something on Mars.
"Order!" demanded the Prime Speaker. "This body will come to order!"
The room quieted, allowing the representative from Hesperos to comment. "We must start with the fact that this is the definitive proof we've been looking for: humanity is not alone in the universe."
"That's all well and good," said the delegate from Rhea, "but we have no idea what they are like. If they return, and they attack, we won't be ready. We haven't been at war for nearly three centuries. Shifting to a war economy will disrupt our very way of life."
"If they were still alive," started the delegate from Euterpe, "we would have come across them already. Humanity has been among the stars for over six hundred years, and we've seen neither hide or hair of any intelligent life."
Gilliam responded, "The probe sent to investigate Leto reported that the object was all but dead. Leto itself is capable of supporting human life, but there is no intelligence there, meaning someone or something brought the object to the system. Logic says if someone could tow something that large to a system with no intelligence, then they do not have the same problems with range as we do.
"They could visit each and every Spacer world whenever they wanted. They may already have."
"Does this have anything to do with the Earth colony on Mars?" asked the Smitheus representative. "Rumor has it the Earthlings found something."
"In all honesty, we don't know what they're doing. The blockade probes monitoring the system detect a lot of mining going on, but they appear to simply be establishing the colony we approved."
"Didn't those probes also report changing gravity distortions near their position? Didn't the Leto probe report gravity distortions as well?"
"Like I said, we don't know. The blockade probes could simply have instrument malfunctions."
"All those probes having the same malfunction is unlikely," said Smitheus. "Logic says the Earthlings are experimenting with something involving gravity. We must investigate."
"This segues into something else I wish to bring before this Congress," said the Prime Speaker. "With the knowledge alien intelligence is real, it makes this all the more pertinent. I propose establishing a peace treaty with Earth."
For a moment, the room was completely silent. Then everybody erupted into argument at once.
"Are you out of your mind?" asked Eucleia.
"My grandfather still remembers their iron rule," said Proclas.
"I will have order!" said Gilliam, slamming his gavel repeatedly.
---------------------
This won't be as narrative heavy as Beast Effect
That's even more amusing.
Yeah, kinda how you casually stroll through pristine environment without a care in the world.
More specific observations:
Earth has 14 billion people? That's like a whole lot more than in the Caves of Steel period. Granted, this apparently happens seven centuries before that, during Earth's long isolation, but all the same...
Also, I'd honestly have suggested keeping Solaria out of it what with it being a planet of relatively recent settlement in the Naked Sun period. However, if they must be kept around I'd strongly suggest keeping them in the comparatively less insane levels of misanthropy observed during the original Bailey period.
If so, there really would be no reason for a Solarian to refuse attendance. They had no real issue with holo-conference, only with direct human contact.
Earth has 14 billion people? That's like a whole lot more than in the Caves of Steel period. Granted, this apparently happens seven centuries before that, during Earth's long isolation, but all the same...
Also, I'd honestly have suggested keeping Solaria out of it what with it being a planet of relatively recent settlement in the Naked Sun period. However, if they must be kept around I'd strongly suggest keeping them in the comparatively less insane levels of misanthropy observed during the original Bailey period.
If so, there really would be no reason for a Solarian to refuse attendance. They had no real issue with holo-conference, only with direct human contact.
That's actually perfectly canon.Uncreative said:
Susan Calvin is part of the somewhat inconsistent backstory of the Robots universe and I, Robot puts the development of the first hyperdrive somewhere between 2029 and 2030.
As a huge fan of Asimov's works I am pleased to see a crossover with his incredible universe and Mass Effect, one of my other favorites of scifi. How are you going to deal with The Mule or other mutants? What form will the Foundations take, if any? In particular the Second Foundation and their focus upon the mind?
Walkir
Self-Requested Ban
- Location
- Ruhr, Germany
This is a few ten thousand years before the events of the Foundation series.AndrewJTalon said:
D'oh! Good point. I keep forgetting the time line. Still, looking forward to where this goes.walkir said:
In regards to the Foundation timeline, this is mighty useful.AndrewJTalon said:
- Location
- Earth 2
I want to retain the essence of the Robot/Spacer Era while adjusting many of the details. I should have a timeline up in a day or two.
I have an idea about the nature of the Positronic Brain. Asimov originally used Rule of Cool to name it. Realistically, anti-matter wouldn't work very well.
So I thought: what if it's part of an acronym? For instance, (P)ermanent (O)n-line (S)ecur(I)ty -tronic [-tronic because it retains classic Rule of Cool].
I see it as a ROM module with the Three Laws written in it, permanently embedded in the circuitry of the brain, where all processes are routed through. Any and all actions have to be weighted with what's in the ROM. If anything happened to the ROM module, the robot *dies* and cannot be repaired.
Does this take some of the mystique away?
I have an idea about the nature of the Positronic Brain. Asimov originally used Rule of Cool to name it. Realistically, anti-matter wouldn't work very well.
So I thought: what if it's part of an acronym? For instance, (P)ermanent (O)n-line (S)ecur(I)ty -tronic [-tronic because it retains classic Rule of Cool].
I see it as a ROM module with the Three Laws written in it, permanently embedded in the circuitry of the brain, where all processes are routed through. Any and all actions have to be weighted with what's in the ROM. If anything happened to the ROM module, the robot *dies* and cannot be repaired.
Does this take some of the mystique away?
A little. Frankly you're probably better off letting the readers speculate how it works and just leave the positron brain alone unless you intend to really deeply delve into it.Kilroy said:
Don't mention it and/or say that positrons are used to carve the neural pathways in the iridium-platinum mass that positronic brains are stated to be.Kilroy said:
That would be my suggestion in regards to this point.
That, or put a codex/encyclopedia entry about its history/function and finish it before starting with the specifics of how it operates.
Eto Demerzel endorses this product or service.krellan said:
Wikipedia is your best bet (no good Asimov wikia and the couple fansites still around are a bit in the unimformative side of things), though if you have specific questions I should be able to offer assistance.Schrodinger's Cat said:
- Location
- Earth 2
I created something of a timeline. I feel like Warringer in his "On The Shoulders Of Giants".
~51000 years before story-
The Prothean Empire spans the galaxy, controlling a number of client races; Reapers invade from extragalactic space; Protheans fight the Reapers to mutual destruction; the Empire crumbles, paving the way for new races to develop
~2020 CE -
Positronic computing developes, a revolution in computer technology allowing human-like cognition in machines; this also allows for a set of rules dictating a robots behavior, culminating in the Three Laws of Robotics. Positronic computers are initially very expensive and slow to develop.
~2050 CE -
As positronic computing developed, anti-robot sentiments grow, even with the Three Laws fully established. Shrinking development costs, shrinking manufacturing costs, and miniaturization causes robots to cost less over time than a human workforce.
A robot is rumored to have developed the ability to read minds. North American Robots Incorporated refuses to make a statement.
~2070 CE -
Co-operation between the ESA, CNSA, and North American Robots Incorporated develop the Hyper-Atomic Motor, allowing for instant movement between two points in space.
~15 april 2073 CE -
Troubleshooters Mike Donovan and Gregory Powell become the first humans to travel faster than light; the positronic computer designing the ship develops personality quirks, trapping Donovan and Powell aboard. The drive activates, sending the humans almost two light-years away and back safely.
~2075 CE-
The first human-habitable world is discovered orbiting Tau Ceti, named New Earth; later renamed Aurora.
~2080 CE-
Despite protests, various governments network their positronic computers, granting them control of their economies.
~2080 to 2350 CE-
Colonization of extra-solar worlds commences; colonies develop in a rough circle around Sol. The nature and power requirements of the Hyper-Atomic Motor makes colonization occur slowly; pre-established jump paths must be scouted to prevent mis-jumps and collisions with unknown objects.
The colonies establish the Outer Worlds Congress as an administrative body to interact with Earth; the colonies develop limited genetic enhancements, increasing health and extending life-spans. Robots become numerous in the colonies, with robots on some worlds outnumbering humans 10-to-1. Hyperwave radio developed on Aurora, allowing real-time communication across light-years.
~2150 CE -
Anti-robot sentiments on Earth reach a boiling point; several governments all but ban robots from their countries, limiting them to the most hazardous of jobs.
Aurora publishes the first edition of the Encyclopedia Galactica.
22 August to 12 September 2350 CE -
The Three Weeks War: Earth's control over the colony worlds became draconian over time, with demands of resources and taxes increasing. The Outer Worlds Congress declare independence from Earth and start a revolution. Earth sends soldiers to pacify the rebels, but the Outer Worlds have a much greater resource base than Earth. A fleet of non-robot ships devastate sections of Earth, forcing Earth to surrender and accept the colonists' terms. 200 million loose their lives during the war.
~2350 to 2703 CE -
Earth retreats into itself. Robots help repair the damage the spacers caused; many of the larger cities enclose themselves in giant domes, while at the same time expanding underground. Robots are banned from the Cities, working on farms and in mines outside.
The Outer Worlds colonize several more planets, but develop more sedentary lives, taking less risks to keep their health and lifestyles. Robot populations increase while human populations remain steady and in some cases decrease.
15 May 2703 CE-
The Outer Worlds Congress grants Earth permission to establish a colony on Mars to relieve population pressure. The Martian mining expedition discovers an abandoned alien base and keeps it secret from the Outer Worlds.
31 January 2704 CE-
A probe launched by Aurora discovers an alien artifact while investigating a possible colony world. With the knowledge of alien intelligence existing, the Outer Worlds debate extending an olive branch to Earth.
*story happens*
~415 After Contact / 3125 CE -
Publication of the 25th edition of the Encyclopedia Galactica
~51000 years before story-
The Prothean Empire spans the galaxy, controlling a number of client races; Reapers invade from extragalactic space; Protheans fight the Reapers to mutual destruction; the Empire crumbles, paving the way for new races to develop
~2020 CE -
Positronic computing developes, a revolution in computer technology allowing human-like cognition in machines; this also allows for a set of rules dictating a robots behavior, culminating in the Three Laws of Robotics. Positronic computers are initially very expensive and slow to develop.
~2050 CE -
As positronic computing developed, anti-robot sentiments grow, even with the Three Laws fully established. Shrinking development costs, shrinking manufacturing costs, and miniaturization causes robots to cost less over time than a human workforce.
A robot is rumored to have developed the ability to read minds. North American Robots Incorporated refuses to make a statement.
~2070 CE -
Co-operation between the ESA, CNSA, and North American Robots Incorporated develop the Hyper-Atomic Motor, allowing for instant movement between two points in space.
~15 april 2073 CE -
Troubleshooters Mike Donovan and Gregory Powell become the first humans to travel faster than light; the positronic computer designing the ship develops personality quirks, trapping Donovan and Powell aboard. The drive activates, sending the humans almost two light-years away and back safely.
~2075 CE-
The first human-habitable world is discovered orbiting Tau Ceti, named New Earth; later renamed Aurora.
~2080 CE-
Despite protests, various governments network their positronic computers, granting them control of their economies.
~2080 to 2350 CE-
Colonization of extra-solar worlds commences; colonies develop in a rough circle around Sol. The nature and power requirements of the Hyper-Atomic Motor makes colonization occur slowly; pre-established jump paths must be scouted to prevent mis-jumps and collisions with unknown objects.
The colonies establish the Outer Worlds Congress as an administrative body to interact with Earth; the colonies develop limited genetic enhancements, increasing health and extending life-spans. Robots become numerous in the colonies, with robots on some worlds outnumbering humans 10-to-1. Hyperwave radio developed on Aurora, allowing real-time communication across light-years.
~2150 CE -
Anti-robot sentiments on Earth reach a boiling point; several governments all but ban robots from their countries, limiting them to the most hazardous of jobs.
Aurora publishes the first edition of the Encyclopedia Galactica.
22 August to 12 September 2350 CE -
The Three Weeks War: Earth's control over the colony worlds became draconian over time, with demands of resources and taxes increasing. The Outer Worlds Congress declare independence from Earth and start a revolution. Earth sends soldiers to pacify the rebels, but the Outer Worlds have a much greater resource base than Earth. A fleet of non-robot ships devastate sections of Earth, forcing Earth to surrender and accept the colonists' terms. 200 million loose their lives during the war.
~2350 to 2703 CE -
Earth retreats into itself. Robots help repair the damage the spacers caused; many of the larger cities enclose themselves in giant domes, while at the same time expanding underground. Robots are banned from the Cities, working on farms and in mines outside.
The Outer Worlds colonize several more planets, but develop more sedentary lives, taking less risks to keep their health and lifestyles. Robot populations increase while human populations remain steady and in some cases decrease.
15 May 2703 CE-
The Outer Worlds Congress grants Earth permission to establish a colony on Mars to relieve population pressure. The Martian mining expedition discovers an abandoned alien base and keeps it secret from the Outer Worlds.
31 January 2704 CE-
A probe launched by Aurora discovers an alien artifact while investigating a possible colony world. With the knowledge of alien intelligence existing, the Outer Worlds debate extending an olive branch to Earth.
*story happens*
~415 After Contact / 3125 CE -
Publication of the 25th edition of the Encyclopedia Galactica
While this is certainly the author's story to write, I am not exactly sure of the point of simultaneously delaying the 20th-21st century tech curve for Earth (there are sharp post-WWII divergences in the original, such as a third world war, but that's part of the charm) and accelerating the far future developments.
Oh well. Still interesting. Still following this.
Oh well. Still interesting. Still following this.