NationStates Jolt Archive

The Socialist Republic of Xanthal's Ministry of Research and Science has been working for some time on a way to displace physical objects temporally. Finally, they may have found a way. Theoretically, the device is operational. The first test is planned for tomorrow, and the Ministry has invited allies of Xanthal to be present at the test site. The test will be conducted on a specially-constructed space station in open space to prevent damage to any solar systems in the event of an accident.

OOC: This will be very good if I can get two or three people to do it with me. If you want to know the plan in advance, it is this: The machine will activate but it won't work right. Instead, it will create a shockwave that will temporally displace the entire galaxy, fragmenting it into thousands of time periods, past, present, and future. Obviously, only people directly involved in the RP will be affected though, since we can't reach everyone in the NS universe about it. Anyway, the bulk of the RP will involve the serious but at times hilarious nature of time travel and the effort of the participants to bring the galaxy back into temporal sanity.

OOC: I may be interested as TBF are getting more future now. I'll TAG for the moment though.

tag

OOC: The machine will activate but it won't work right. Instead, it will create a shockwave that will temporally displace the entire galaxy, fragmenting it into thousands of time periods, past, present, and future ... the bulk of the RP will involve the serious but at times hilarious nature of time travel and the effort of the participants to bring the galaxy back into temporal sanity.OOC: Sounds a lot like the perfect sequel to Steel Butterfly's Timeline Trashing Epic...

I like, I like. Got too much other stuff going on, so I'll just tag it and watch.

You do realize the fundamental flaw of time travel is that you dont go back in time in your dimension you go back into an alternate dimension where everything is the same except for a huge time machine appearing at of of nowhere. Then when you go back to the present you don't go back to the original time line you go to one of the possible outcomes of the events you changed.
So you just mess with some other dimension leaving your home dimension unchanged.

OOC: Belem.... If you don't have anything nice to say, donn't say it.

Xanthal, I will join in, RP to come soon.

I don't believe in time travel. Time is just a measurement - it's not possible to go back in time once you've already measured it. I believe in alternate dimensions and I hope one day we will know more about them. But honestly, don't you think it's stupid to belive you can go back and change something that has already happened. It's scientifically impossible.

OOC: Belem.... If you don't have anything nice to say, donn't say it.

Xanthal, I will join in, RP to come soon.

Sorry, I'll leave now - I was only pointing out my beliefs. There's no harm in that.

You do realize the fundamental flaw of time travel is that you dont go back in time in your dimension you go back into an alternate dimension where everything is the same except for a huge time machine appearing at of of nowhere. Then when you go back to the present you don't go back to the original time line you go to one of the possible outcomes of the events you changed.
So you just mess with some other dimension leaving your home dimension unchanged.Of course. that's why the paradox theroy is flawed. 'I take back a boombox with a Chopin CD in it, Chopin listens and writes the song. Where did the song come from?' The first timeline where I was not involved. Now that timeline has been altered and I will return to a slightly different one, where my interference caused the song to be written. That timeline stil exists, just as a different universe.

I don't believe in time travel. Time is just a measurement - it's not possible to go back in time once you've already measured it. I believe in alternate dimensions and I hope one day we will know more about them. But honestly, don't you think it's stupid to belive you can go back and change something that has already happened. It's scientifically impossible.

technically with the theory of a multiverse its not. but your not changing your timeline your changing someone elses timelines thats exactly the same except for your appereance

You do realize the fundamental flaw of time travel is that you dont go back in time in your dimension you go back into an alternate dimension where everything is the same except for a huge time machine appearing at of of nowhere. Then when you go back to the present you don't go back to the original time line you go to one of the possible outcomes of the events you changed.
So you just mess with some other dimension leaving your home dimension unchanged.Of course. that's why the paradox theroy is flawed. 'I take back a boombox with a Chopin CD in it, Chopin listens and writes the song. Where did the song come from?' The first timeline where I was not involved. Now that timeline has been altered and I will return to a slightly different one, where my interference caused the song to be written. That timeline stil exists, just as a different universe.

pretty much its just reality police going "no you cant do that but well send you someplace where u can"

damnit, Xanthal, and I was planning on a Demon Wars thing that had to do with Time Travle. Oh well, not like I was going to do it anytime soon.

Anyway, I'll be watching

I may be interested in joining. If not, I'd be interesting in playing one of those nations that is displaced in time.

Well, there are dozens of theories on the possibility (and impossibility) of time travel. I'm not going there. This is not meant to be a highly technical RP. Okay, so the players so far are
Me,
The Belmore Family,
and Nanakaland (mabye).
I'm looking for three companions, so I'll need either one or two more, depending on whether Nanakaland joins.

Well, there are dozens of theories on the possibility (and impossibility) of time travel. I'm not going there. This is not meant to be a highly technical RP. Okay, so the players so far are
Me,
The Belmore Family,
and Nanakaland (mabye).
I'm looking for three companions, so I'll need either one or two more, depending on whether Nanakaland joins.

I'll join.

Sounds like fun.Im in.

All righty then. I'm off to do my paper route, so you can RP arriving at the test station in the mean time. I'll post when I return.

Authorized RPers:
Xanthal
The Belmore Family
Nanakaland
Gore_2004

The Nanakan Boarding Frigate hyperspaced into the sector. The space station was just ahead. It was almost time to test the time travel device. Lieutenant Richardson had been honored that he was selected to represent Nanakaland in Xanthal's time travel tests. If it was successful, it would certainly provide useful for Nanakaland. Richardson could just imagine stamping out rivals nations by travling through time and destroying them before they became powerful.

The lieutenant was alone. He approached the space station and awaited approval to dock in the station to watch the experiment. Until then, Richardson had a way to pass time. He loaded up virtual chess on the ship's computer and started playing.

http://well-of-souls.com/homeworld/hws/hw2/marine_frigate3.gif

#tagged for future reading...

Lieutenant Richardson continued his chess game. Within a few more moves, he won. A message scrolled across the screen.

[code:1:25c7f4e178]CHECKMATE

You win![/code:1:25c7f4e178]

It was too easy. He typed into the computer to enable audio mode. "Computer, increase difficulty level to 'Grandmaster,'" the lieutenant said. "Pawn to E4." The piece on the virtual board moved.

"Pawn to E5," the computer replied automatically. The piece on the virtual board also moved.

"Pawn to D4."

"Bishop to -" The chess game was cut short. "Incomming transmission."

Nanakaland: "This is Exterp, The Xanthalian Temporal Research Platform. Nanakan vessel, you are authorized to dock at port four. Ten boarders will be allowed to enter the station. These boarders must submit to station security for checks. Be aware that you are to be present at the testing of an experimental technology. The Xanthalian government assumes no responsibility for any damage or casualties to your ship or crew in the event of an accident. By docking you agree to absolve us of any such responsibility."

OOC: Bah ha ha ha ha, I have already done such an RP :D 8) Tag

Lieutenant Richardson eagerly left the cockpit and woke up the other ten people from their cabins. "It is time!" he exclaimed. "We can now watch the experiments."

"Yessir," the others replied.

"Clark, you'll have to stay here and watch the ship while we're gone," the lieutenant ordered.

"Yessir," Clark replied.

"Everyone, to the cockpit," Richardson said. "Prepare to dock with the station...."

http://well-of-souls.com/homeworld/hws/hw2/marine_frigate3.gif

The frigate docked in the station without a problem. "Leave your weapons at the ship," the lieutenant said. "We have to be searched for security reasons. After all, what could go wrong?" Little did they know, something would go very wrong....


Back at the ship, Clark just sat in the cockpit idlely. Nothing could go wrong, he thought. I can't believe that they left me here to guard this ship. He activated the computer and started playing checkers to pass the time....

The boarding party is searched without incident and led to the observation area. A huge window looks out over a room that is completely empty with the exception of a large, circular gateway in its center.

The GSS Clinton a Northhampton class Frigates approaches the space station. It is commanded by Captain John McClure and he is very happy with his new command.He hopes to accomplish tim travel so that it will benefit his nation in warfare.

Are we ready sir?

Yes ask Xanthal if we can dock

Yes sir

Xanthal:This is the GSS Clinton we are coming up on the station and we ask permission to dock?

Gore_2004: "This is Exterp, The Xanthalian Temporal Research Platform. GSS Clinton, you are authorized to dock at port two. Ten boarders will be allowed to enter the station. These boarders must submit to station security for checks. Be aware that you are to be present at the testing of an experimental technology. The Xanthalian government assumes no responsibility for any damage or casualties to your ship or crew in the event of an accident. By docking you agree to absolve us of any such responsibility."

In the middle of playing checkers, an error message appeared on the screen.

[code:1:8718e82fa3]Error[/code:1:8718e82fa3]

"D*mn it!" Clark exclaimed. He closed the checkers game and launched up his e-mail to pass the time. Another message appeared on the screen.

[code:1:8718e82fa3]Fatal Error[/code:1:8718e82fa3]

Then another message appeared.

[code:1:8718e82fa3] X X

X X
X X
XXXXXXX[/code:1:8718e82fa3]

A virus! Clark realized. He had to regain control of the frigate's computer before the virus spread to the entire space station!

Exterp we are docking. You may search our ship. Captain McClure and 9 other crewman will enter the station. We realize you take no responsibility for anything that happens and we are ready for the tests to begin.

Internal EI code:
>>Warning: Foreign data present on Nanakaland vessel
>>Analysis indicates high risk factor
>>All data links to infected vessel severed
>>Notifying command crews

Nanakaland: "Warning: A virus has been detected in your computer system. I have purged the foreign data from my system with a type seven data restoration program. I recommend that you do the same."

Gore_2004: "Acknowledged. Be advised that a computer virus has been detected aboard the Nanakaland frigate. It is recommended that you do not initiate any data uplinks with that vessel."

"Rodger that," Clark replied. "Running a type seven data restoration program."

As the team from the Clinton arrives in the observation room the experiment begins. A Saurian scientist steps up to the gateway and waits. Out of sight, in another room other project members activate the portal. The frame begins to glow a light blue shade, and the center begins to ripple, as if reality is bending inside the gate.

"Wow," Lieutenant Richardson said in awe as he watched the experiment.

OOC: Is it a little late for me? I was hoping to play a Nation that gets stuck in the future timeframe, I won't be able to post untill tommorow, but since I won't become involved untill after the time crisis, I wouldn't need to worry...But as always, its up to you Xanthal.

IC: The Federation of Torontonias is very interested in the Experiments involving time, the Xanthalians have always had a facition with time travel haven't they? First the Chronoton Detonator, now this...We request that you please send us the results of the Experiment after it is preformed.

OOC2: If you don't want me in, ignore the IC Statement.

The portal glows brightly and opens, the gateway open. The scientist steps forward.

Torontonias:
OOC: Since TBF isn't showing up, you can play if you want.
IC: We shall keep you in mind.

OOC: Thanks, I will take part, although the forums are being excpetionally diffcult right now, so I'm not sure how fsat the story will proceed

IC: We thank you for allowing us to take part in this historic operation, apon security checks by you, we would like to be patched in via Camera terminal, seeing as we could not possibly get there in time.

Torontonias: We are afraid that the experiment has already begun. You may send someone to see the results once it is completed if you would like, otherwise you will have to wait until an official report is released.
OOC: I'm not going to wait up for you, but feel free to play as past, present, or future after this has happened.

The scientist steps through the portal and disappears. Almost simultaneously, a loud bang echoes through the complex and space begins to ripple. Panicky scientists shut down the machine, but it has no effect on the anomoly. Sirens go off as the station's structural integrity begins to weaken under the stress of the fluctuations. "Warning. Warning. Spatial fluctuations in progress. Temporal integrity failure is imminent. Evacuate immediately."
Scientists and other crew begin rushing out of the station onto ships and escape pods. The two Xanthalian Dreadnaughts that had been docked pull away and put distance between them and the station. Something very bad was about to happen, that much was obvious. But with a new technology in a largely unexplored field nobody knew what exactly was coming.

I don't believe in time travel. Time is just a measurement - it's not possible to go back in time once you've already measured it. I believe in alternate dimensions and I hope one day we will know more about them. But honestly, don't you think it's stupid to belive you can go back and change something that has already happened. It's scientifically impossible.

technically with the theory of a multiverse its not. but your not changing your timeline your changing someone elses timelines thats exactly the same except for your appereance

Maybe someone from another time line moves from their timeline into your original at the same time doing the same thing your doing which
causes your timeline to be changed in the same manner.

"Sir!" One of the Scientisits that had been watching the Time Travel experiment like place from the nearest Science Vessel several light years away, using long distace scanners to monitor energy fluctiations,

"There Xanthalians are Mass evacuating the station, somehting's going on, and from the wild energy fluctuations, its's not going to be good"

"Well, from my experience, anything thta comes to messing around with time never works out very well, perhaps they just destabilized the station in the experiment, and now it's collapsing..." Said the Head Scientist

"Lets Hope thats all that is.." Responded the Lower Scientist.

Little did they know that was about to happen....

Three seconds until the scientist that had been sent into the future was set to return. Two. One.
The Station vaporizes as temporal backlash rips through it. One of the Xanthalian Dreadnaughts loses a wing in the shockwave, the other manages to escape damage. All the escape pods are eradicated. Everything stops for a moment as the temporal continuum collapses completely, then resumes in a flash of brilliant white light that covers the entire galaxy. It is impossible to tell from looking, but the galaxy's temporal synch has been shattered. Fragments of space, some as big as several hundred cubic lightyears, some as small as a few kilometers, began to exist in individual, random timeframes. Sensors, however, cannot penetrate these temporal barriers. To those in starships, it looks as if someone has spontaneously erected white walls in space, trapping them in a small section of reality. They will soon discover that they can pass through these walls, but they will be flying blind every time they cross one. Meanwhile, the Xanthalians are recouperating from the explosion and trying to figure out what's going on. They discover shortly that one other ship they had not noticed seems to be in their sector, in the same time frame that they are; the Torontonias science vessel.

"What just happened Shouted the Head Scientist

"I...I don't know sir, but it's like someone threw a blanket over out sensors, we only have a range of a few lightyears, the only thing were reading is the other Xanthalian Ships...It looks like the Space station was vapourized"c

"Well, send them a message! We need to know whats going on, see why we can't get messages relayed back to The Epsilion System!"

"Yes Sir"

Message to Xanthalian Vessels

This is the TSP Starburst, if you don't mind us asking, what the hell just happened, all interstellar diplomacy aside, I think were going to have to work together on this, because if your in our situation, you can't get scans past a limited area. Please Respond, we apear to be stranded, we can't get messages back from our Capital. Would this by any chance have anything to do with your experiment?

/End Message

OOC: THis reminds me of the Star Trek: Voyager episode where an anomoly causes roughly the same thing to happen aboard the ship....

Torontonias:
OOC: Yeah, I saw that one. The same idea applies here, too. We can cross, but the other fragments are trapped in their own areas.
IC: "We're not sure, but we think so. This can't be a spatial effect, so we can only assume it's temporal. Rendezvous with us at our current position, we'll want to stick together when we figure out what's going on."

"Roger that, moving in to meet up with the Xanthalian detachment"

*The Science Ship starts moving towards the Xanthalian ships, eventually joining the formation*

"Alright, if this is some sort of temperal anomoly, does that mean we will vanish out of the continum if we try to break the Barriers?"

Torontonias: "There's really no way to tell. Nothing like this has ever happened before that we know of. Still, it seems like we don't have much choice. We can't just sit here forever. As soon as we're sure that our mates can fly okay with the damage they took we're going to try running the barrier."

"Alright, sounds like a plan. We'll keep our Comm Channels open for when the other ships report in with their stats and your ready to go."

The Head Scientists add's "I really hope there is something out there to go to...."

The second Dreadnaught quickly establishes that, one wing or not, it is quite capable of taking care of itself. It presents a bit of a funny picture with only one wing, its symmetry is ruined and it looks frightfully unbalanced. Still, it forms up with its sister ship and the science vessel. Together, the Xanthalian ships head for the nearest barrier, the Torontonias ship in tow.

"Sir, preparing the Break the Barrier in five...four...three...two....one....." The Ensign was counting down.

There wasn't much to tell them that they had traveled to a different timeframe, with the exception of a faint ripple in the air. But they were about to find out.

In the sector, before the experiment, there had been a trading outpost above a spacefaring race of merchants. Now, new scans indicated they were going through Earths equivilent of the Dark ages, people were dying from diesese and living in Huts.

"Dear god, look at them down there, just an hour ago we refueled at the Post....Send our info over to the Xanthalian Dreadnoughts" Muttered the Head Scientist.

*Message to Xanthalian Ships*

Well, it's official, something is terribly wrong with the timeframe, or timespace itself. If you care to look at the attached Info, you'll realize that this sector of space has reverted back several centuries. I really hate to think whats happened to Epsilion Prime, or The Xanthalian Home world, or...NS Earth itself....

End Message.

The Gore ship was in bad shape.One wing was chipped and the other was cut in half.Commander Foster the XO was in command.They all feared Captain McClure was dead.Ok we need to figure out how to get out of her.Try to find any Xanthal ships in the area.They might know what to do.Lets try to ram these walls.

The Nanakan representatives went back to their ship. The ship was in good shape, except that the navigation database was wiped out by the virus before the virus was destroyed.

"Oh great," one of them commented. "We don't know how to get home with this navigation computer and we don't know what time period we're in."

[OOC: Is this any bit related to that one Star Trek Voyager episode?]

OOC: Not really. It has some similarities in the way time shattered, but the plot isn't intended to follow any particular line.

IC: The Xanthalian ships sit in space reviewing the data they had been given. The damaged ship goes back through the barrier to fetch the Gore and Nanakaland ships. It hails them both. "It's bad. Looks like time has been shattered. Beyond that barrier is a world that has lost about four hundred years. God knows how far the effects reached or what our own worlds look like. Follow our lead back through the barrier, we should stick together until we can get our bearings and formulate a plan to fix the damage."
The Dreadnaught turns and proceeds back through the barrier, rejoining its sister ship.

The Head Scientist pondered his next move, the Xanthalian ship was coming back, with another slightly more dammaged ship in tow. And another had just passed through here, but then it was gone, and there was
no way on tracking them. Then he decided to send a short message.

*Message to Xanthalian Ships*
What should our next move be? I suggest we stay together, as we have no way have tracing our progress..It's like a maze, we need to figure out a way to make some sort of trail. Until then, I think we should stay as a group. Also, on the plus, this is an interesting opotunity to study nations in their "Pre-Modern" Stages...

Torontonias: "We're a warship crew, our expertise is mostly in the area of making things explode and die. Since you are a science vessel you should lead this expedition. Would you accept provisional command of this ship and our sister craft?"

The frigate grouped up with the other ships.

The Head Scientist eyed the Responce..The Other Captian did have a good point, those Dreadnoughts were good at making this explode and Die..

*Closed Transmission to The Xanthalian Ships*

Alright, we do accept the Command of your ships, and we will try our hardest to fix this situation. First of All, I think we should try to make our way back to NS Earth, as it is generally a middle man between the majority of Space facing Nations, plus, it may the area that actually STAYED in the same timeframe..Who knows? Plus it's only a few lightyears away from here. Also, I'm not sure how fast your used to going, but our ships our considerably slower. Prepare to follow us into the next timearea, with a general estimate, we should have to travel though 4 area before we get to Sol.

With that the Science Ship begins to move towards the barrier of the Area, on a course back to Earth

*Open Comm*

To all ships, this is the TSP Starburst, we are uploading our maps that we have been able to make so far, it should help us keep track of where we're going, and it may give us a pattern. We are heading back on a course to the Sol system. We suggest you should follow, we should stay in a group, because there is no way we can track you once your going through the barrier.

The Dreadnaughts follow the science vessel closely, keeping a close eye out for danger.

OOC: I'm not going to be on untill this evening, so someone else may want to say whats going to happen in the next Temporal Barrier

As the ships cross the next barrier, they encounter nothing. The viewscreens of the ships show only a blank white. In this sector, the big bang has not yet occurred. It is devoid of anything but the invading vessels that now pass through it.

"It's....It's Beatiful, it's the whole Universe, and there's nothing but us in it." Admired the Head Scientist

There wasn't much time for Admiration, because this ws one of the area's only spanning a few hundred feet in diameter, and they quickly slipped into another phase.

As soon as they entered the next area, they were hit with a large energy weapon. A Text message came up: You are violating restricted space, you have been given fair warning. On further scans, the attacking ships looked...almost Xanthalian in origin, if they had gone forward.....2 millenia, that ship had an untold amount of advances, it was fairly obvoius they were shooting warnng shots, but even those were pummeling the Science Ships Sheilds into Submission.

The Head Scientist sent a message to the Escorting Xanthalian Dreadnought, the one from his time frame.

Ok, now the position is fliped, your the Dreadnought, and we need protection, or perhaps, aybe you could talk to them, I mean, they ARE your people, given 2000 years to advance and evolve.....

The Science ship retreated Behind the Group, it oculd not sustain much more damage

The Gore ship was following closely behind the Xanthal ships. Then all of a sudden a ship appeared and ordered it to stop. It did not and the ship started fireing warning shots at it. The crew figured out it was an Xanthal ship. The Gore Frigate had repaired one of the damaged wings but the other was still damaged and the ship could not take much more so they sent a message to the Xanthal Dreadnaughts:

This is Commander Foster. The XO of the Clinton. We have come upon a future Xanthal ship. It is fireing at us and we cannot take much more damage. If this does not stop we will be forced to fight back and we will most likely be destroyed.Please talk to them and get them to cease fire.Thank you.

Commander Foster

The Xanthalians hail their antagonist on a closed channel. "Code one four zero. Confirmation two two niner five."
"The temporal experiment?"
"Yes."
"Ah. ALS-490 at your service. Come aboard; we have some data that will help you. And try not to look too hard at our technology, yes?"
"Undamaged Dreadnaught will dock. Sorry about this..."
"Don't be. What's past is past. Well, usually... Bring the scientists with you."

The futuristic Xanthalian ship drops its shields, but keeps its weapons on. The undamaged Dreadnaught moves in to dock, hailing the Torontonias science vessel. "You're wanted aboard the future vessel. Dock quickly, we need to get going as fast as possible."

The Head Scientist shook his head, "That was fast, good thing we got that over with"

"Roger that" replied another

"Open a comm to the Future Xanthalian ship" ordered the Head Scientist

*Message to Future Xanthalian ship*
Alright, we are preparing to dock, although I'm quite eager to look at how left for 2000 years, Xanthalians have evolved and advanced. But yes, we shall come quickly

*The Science Vessel moves towards the ship and opens its docking ports, as it moves up towards the vessel*

The scientists are met by a boarding party from the Dreadnaught and a delegation from the future ship. The Xanthalian vessel is gigantic, it looks more like a space station than a ship. The Xanthalian Dreadnaught crew were being nosy, who could blame them? The crew of the future ship weren't interested in sharing much though, no good could come from contaminating the timeline. The crews are led to the bridge, a large and open room. There are control consoles, but the ship is mostly controled by neural interfaces being worn by the crewmembers. The captain looks the visitors up and down. "Welcome. I'm sorry about our earlier misunderstanding. We must always be on battle alert."
The Dreadnaught captain inquires. "Why?"
"I suppose it can't hurt to tell you... Xanthal has ceased to exist. The former territories are at war. This warship is aligned with the Aellis system, thus its name, standing for Aellis Loyalist Starship. The Military and Armada have split, segments of each fighting to reclaim all the former territories for themselves..."
His first officer stops him. "Sir, stop. They cannot know too much about us lest the timeline is changed."
The captain pauses, then sighs. He looks at the scientists. "Torontonias, yes? I am deeply sorry that you were dragged into this."

"It is alright, I can understand how something like that could happen, I take no offence, I'll we're looking for is a way to get home, we are still unsure what has happened to our nation, although it saddens me that this may be the future of Xanthal." Says the Head Scientist Sadly

"I have family on Epsilion Prime, either long dead, or not born yet, all I'm looking for is a way to realign the Timelines, is there anything you can offer to help? If not, I thank you for you hospitalitiy, but I must be going."

The Scientist then turns to the Xanthalians (Present day) "If you wish to stay with your kind aboard this future ship and try to work a way out on you own, your free to do so, I do not wish to weigh you down."

Seeing that none of the Xanthalians seemed to be saying anything, he turned to leave.

The Xanthalians from the present filter back to their own ship in silence, but the captain of the future vessel holds the head Torontonias scientist back. "Come with me." He enters a side room, his ready room.

The Scientist looked at the Xanthalian, then send a message to his ship, Wait up for me, I'll be taking a little longer that expected, keep the engines running....

He nodded at the Xanthalian as he moved into his ready room.

"Alright, I'm sure you have something helpful to say? I would hope that would be the reason you pulled me into your ready room"

But inside he wasn't to sure, what if The future Torontonias has caused the rift in Xanthal, what if he was exacting revenge? No, that was stupid, what would be the point of killing someone from 2000 in the past. He was letting his mind get carried away, he blinked and snapped back to attention.

The Xanthalian captain removes his rank pips one by one and lays them on his desk. "Sir... Do you believe in the sacrifice of one to save many?"

The Scientist didn't like where this was heading...'Sacrifice' usually meant Death, something he wasn't quite prepared for.

"Well Captian, it depends on what kind of sacrifice were talking about? I wouldn't think how any of it would apply here though, my ship and the others weren't directly involved, we were just observers, the people who were sacrficeable were killed in the explosion..."

The captain yells angrily. "That was nothing! My country is in tatters! My wife, my children; dead! Because of one man who didn't know when to shut up! My family, my life... Gone..." He falls to his knees, tears streaming down his cheeks. He looks up at the scientist, red-eyed. "Billions of Xanthalians... dead." He is shaking badly. He pulls his disrupter, pointing at the ceiling and firing. "You know nothing. There is more. Xanthal is not the only nation at war... The entire galaxy is locked in combat. Planets, star systems... The toll was six hundred four billion, twenty million, eight hundred and thirty-two thousand, one hundred and six when people stopped counting..."
He drops the gun from a limp hand. "Please... I can do nothing but fight this awful war, but you can stop it! You can save hundreds of billions of lives! We can tell you how to return to your own time, but in return... You must kill the ancestor of the one man who caused all of this. I beg you. For the sake of the Universe and everyone in it... Will you bloody your hands once to save my family? To save millions of families across the galaxy?"
He grabs his weapon and holds it by the barrel, offering the handle to the scientist. "I beg you... Please.... I cannot ask my own people, they would not dare to alter the timeline. They are trained to tolerate death. But they cannot possibly imagine this. Can you possibly understand? Billions of people, destroyed in a flash of light because people they don't even know decided to press a button? For the love of whatever diety your people believe in... Save this galaxy. If you do not, all of us... Are doomed. Can you make the ultimate sacrifice?"

The Scientist Jumped back, he had not expected this kind of sudden outburst.

He was not sure what to think, as he contemplated, he weighed the Morailty Issues and the Practicall Issues. On one hand, the Xanthalians were offering a way to go back in time, and eliminated the anscestor of the Man who developed timetravel. On the other hand, killing an Ancestor for something he didn't know his offspring would produce is a unfair and immoral action....

After several minutes of thinking, he reached his conclusion.

"Alright, I will do as you wish, but on one condition, our scans suggest that this timesplinter was several dozen lightyears in size, which means it Encompases NS Earth AND Epsilion Prime, I wish to find o ut what happened to our once Prominent Country, and my once powerful homeworld. Can I trust you to stay in this location, it would lake me no longer that a few hours to return, I just truely want to see the dammage with my own eyes..."

With that the Scientist turned to leave for his ship.

OOC: I have an Intersting Idea as an Offshoot of the story, it'll only take one post, but It'll be long, and I don't have time to write it untill later today, it involves the Origins of the 'War of the Worlds"

The captain hands the scientist a PADD. "This contains all the data on the man you must eliminate once you get back to your own time. He's a Xanthalian, a resident of Mirfak III." He hands the scientist another PADD. "And this is the data on how you must go about restoring this galaxy to your own time frame."
He stands back. "I will wait as long as I can, but my crew will eventually find out what I have done. When that happens, I will be forced to scuttle the ship if you have not yet left this time splinter. Otherwise they will destroy you to protect the timeline. Hurry, and do not fear being forward. Once your task is complete in your own time this horrible future will not exist. Be careful though... With the galaxy at war, trigger fingers are itchy. We have a protocol on time travel, which was why our misunderstanding was cleared up so quickly. Most nations are not so lucky. If you are not one of their own vessels, they will destroy you on sight."

"I'll take that Under advise" Said the Captian "Wish me luck"

As he left and boarded his own ship, he was met with questions, on which he gave the stone-faced standard answer of Classification, which could not be talked about untill authorized by Command.

They set off and quikly left the timesplinter, only to come apon the next, which was practically in the smae timeline, give or take a few weeks. After passing through space, they entered the Sol system, and anxsiously got to Earth. Where they were met with a site that was etched into each and every officers mind from then on, some even threw up.

The once Beautyful sight of Earth, was devastated, the once green land was scortched a drak black, the water was of the same colour but a different Shade. There were long scars from Orbital Weapons fire, and massive craters of WMD's. Scans of the plannet showed a sparce population of 20 million, scattered across the globe.

Eyes were then turned on to the sky, the orbit of Earth was littered with spacial debris, massive chunks of Stations, Satilittes and Shipyards clouded the veiw. They instantly knew what to do. The scoured the orbit looknig of any of the Three Torontonias Stations, Intrepid, the first station and the pride of the TSP was found, in pieces, across Africa. Ptolomy was compleatly destroyed. Then, the lucked out, the most recently constructed one (Normal Time) Ptolomy II was reltivly intact, although there were no life signs.

"Dowload the Database, our passcodes should still work" The Captain said Remorcefully.

-Download Complete-

Was soon as the data transfer was compleated, they were fired apon, a number of ships and orbital guns were bombarding them.

"Shit! Fire all weapons, full spread, we can't fight them, so distract them!!" Yelled the Captain, ship rocking

The Starburst fired all of its limited weapons, and damaged one of the ships, destroyed two, crippled the third. The other two ships retreaded and the Orbital Weapons deactivated.

That was strange, those were low yeild weapons, those ships must have been of poor quality The Captian thought.

His mind eventually wandered back to the ship.

"Ensign, how big is this shard?"

"Very large sir, actually, it emcompasses the Epsilion system."

"Plot a course, I've got some reading to do" replyed the Captain

He walked into his ready room, locked the door and accessed the computer, he opened the database, and searched for a clue to what had happend. What he stumbled apon was much more than he imagined, it was so old, most nations had proboly forgotten about it.

He accessed the file and Opened it.

-Loading-
.
..
...
-Finished-
-History in Chronological order of the events causing, leading up to, and after the great war started, The final document of the Torontonias Space Program, written 2567-

NS Earth was always a very chotic place, Allaiances formed, regions fell, and nations destroyed, but in 2459, the number of new nations being founded and declaring independance was soaring to a unimagined number, NS Earth was running out of land, and most of the new leaders had no political experience, just hoping to gain some land and fame through Wars.

The UN and Veteran Nations decided that a ban on the foundation of Nations was to be put in place, and nations with a population under 50 million were to be consolodated. This law infurated the New Nations and sparked the New War, this war was very small however, as the nations had not the infastructure to launch invasions and satified themselves by commiting acts of Terrorism.

Then in 2499, on the verge of a new century, a group of the Consolodated nations came up with a very radical, very destructive idea. Meld all the New Nations into a massive entitiy. And in 2509, they did, creading the United Entity, and controlled 40% of Earths surface. They launched a full out war, destroying some of the moderate nations. The Older nations were quick to react, and used several Earth nations (One being Torontonias) as staging grounds for a defence and reclaimation of land. The Land staging countries were needed for the Space nations, as they needed to ship supplies into the system. Torontonias was picked because if its newly compleated defence network which, at the time was considered state of the art.

The Great War waged on for 20 long years, with teter-totter wins for both sides, then disaster struck, many of the older nations had factions sympthising with the Opposition, and civil unrest followed, which lead to the fracturing of Great Empires such as Xanthal. The remains of the Veteran Space nations decided to end the war by unleashing the most hideous plan ever concived. They used the combined fleets and Orbitally bombed, every Pieice of Infastructure, allied or not. Every city, every road, every tunnel was destroyed, as well with the majority of Allies and United Entity forces.

This was not the end however, after the Fleets left to engage the renegade country fleets, others arrived with resources. Earth, weak and crippled was overrun with United Entity Fanatics, Even Torontonias wasn't spared. They then used surface to Atmosphere shuttles and seized the Space stations and Shipyards, some which had valuble construction supplies. They used the new infastructure to build hundreds of thousands of low-quality fighters, relying an numbers, they engaged the allied fleets, and decimated them, using tactics of Kamakaze the fighters managed to cripple to Allied Fleets, although suffering massive casulties.

Both sides, Externally and Internally weakend signed a short lived treaty, in which allowed both sides to rebuild. The traty was broken when the Allied Nations orbitally bombed Earth Again, and polluted the global water supply with all the waste they could muster from their own planets. The United Entity retailiated by seizing a few Neutral Worlds in the Sol system, and Alpha Centari, a focal point of UE Sympathizers. Using the new resources they built a quality fleet around the weak fighters.

They struck first at Torontonias, one of the Key supporters of the Alliance, they orbitally bombed Epsilion Prime, as we had to Earth, and unleased a uncurable plauge in the Atmosphere, a flu like virus that killed in days and Post-Mortem, caused the bodies to swell up and explode, spreading virus spores into the Air. Decimating the population. They also used a large EMP burst to destroy all electronics on the Planet. The Seized Gaia's (The Sister Planet) Mining operations, and turned the lush jungles of Typher into a Penal Colony, Torontonias was Defeated.

They went on to conquer many other Planets, but the long years of war lead to civil unrest, so attacks were cut back, but still go on today. As of today, casulties of this War are in the tens of Billions, and rising each day, no one knows when the fighting will end, but if it does not, it will cripple the Human race, as the useable number of planets are declining as more and more are infected with desease.

May God help stop this war, it must not allow to go on.

-End of Report-

As he looked up, he saw they were in the Epsilion system, and he saw horror, Epsilion Prime, once the Jewel of Torontonias, was...Purple, the atmosphere was filled with a purple gas, but suprisingly, there was a population...of 10 thousand, in one city. Gaia was destroyed, only chunks of the Planet Remained, and Typher was filled with large, abandoned structures, which looked like futureistic prisions.

His thoughts were inturupted by his Ensign "Sir, were being hailed"

"Send it in.." The captian said wearily

The screen was filled with a picture of a man on slightly ragged clothes, but with a very Diplomatic Stance.

"State your name and reason of arrival, were neutral remeber, there's nothing of value here anymore, I am the High Elder of Torontonias"

"Your not going to belive this, but this is a Torontonias Science Ship" Stated the Captain

The Man's mouth dropped "Really? Thats not possible, all our ships were destroyed in the war! If you really want to prove it, come down here."

"But what about the Plauge, I read a report that the planet was infected!"

"Ever wonder why the Sky is Purple? its the vaccine, it's the cure, but most of every one is dead anyway." Replyed the man

After a brief shuttle flight, the captian landed, and was met by the Elder, who instantly reconised him as his own, "How is this possible?" He exclaimed

"Thats not relivant right now, tell me what happened during the War, the report I read was antiqated, start with the fall of Epsilion Prime" Replyed the Blunt captian

"Um, Alright, I guess I own that much, I mean, I didn't think a science ship could last so long.

After the Fall, the war raged on for 500 years, untill the entire race was UE, there was peace for a feww deacdes, but then the unrest became too much, the Veteran Empires were still resisting, and Core Countries had become Complacent, and the Planets in the middle were complaining for lack of attention. Essentially, it was like Ancient Rome, the empire was so large, there wasn't enough to go around. So it collapsed on itself, with the Core Nations remaining UE, the Veteran Nations declaring indepentance, only to fall into new shards due to lack of a centralized government. And the middle nations just kind of scuttling about, forming and breaking alliances.

It wasn't long untill the War started again, Although the Crushed Countries were ignored, the others starting destroing eachother, this has gone on, on and off for 1500 years, all sides have forgotten how it started, and are now so crippled that the war is not about land anymore, but the resources they posesse. We got a Science Ship out a few generations ago, but it fell out of range and was assumed lost, we have been living here in this city for a thousand generations. So, I assume you are the child of the orginal crew?" Said the Man

"Um...Yes, thats it, they orginal crew is dead, but the ship has been manned by successive generations, as we struggled to get home." siad the Captain "Anyway, we are on a greater mission now, and have to leave..."

"No! you can't leave, we need the ship!" Yelled the man, but the Captian couldn't hear, he had already boarded and was away.

Back aboard the ship, the Captain ordered the Return to the Xanthalian ships, muttering all the way as they recorded the Wasted Planets alond the route. It appared that the War started at Earth, and was fueled by the Planets as it spread, then, with them used up, they moved on. The War must be at the Fringe of known space by now....

He was reading the PADD's the Xanthalian Captain has given him, he was going to erase this whole branch of time, start anew, and hopefully everything would be alright.

OOC: Xanthal, if you could just give a brief overveiw on the Intructions on the PADD's so I'm not guessing?

The first PADD has a long description of the man that the scientist must kill to erase the timeline. He is twenty-seven, has blonde hair, blue eyes, stands 5'20" tall, weighs 197 pounds... There is a picture, along with what is known about his residence. He lives on Mirfak III, probably in Rienna. Other notes are enclosed as well regarding financial status, defining characteristics, and a family tree, past and future.
The second PADD explains how to force the galaxy back into temporal synch. The key, as far as the science crew of the future Xanthalian vessel can determine, is to place a special type of probe in each individual temporal zone. Unfortunately, the probe is a future technology and the Xanthalian vessel has none aboard. The captain has written a personal note at the bottom. "Best of luck. Most of the future is destroyed already, but I have included a list of all supply stations known to us that have those probes. Unfortunately, most are probably at locations that are in different time frames, so I'm not sure how many will actually be accessable to you. Once you find what you need, you must have at least two probes, but the more the better. Place one at the location of the temporal research station, the other in an adjacent shard of timeframe. Activate them and they will synch in your present. You'll have to work your way out from there."

The Captain arrived back at the Xanthalian Dreadnought, and summoned the future ships back to him,

He Opened a Comm

"Alright, We've figured a way to get all the shards back into Temporal Syncronization, in our time. but first we have to locate storage depots with futuristic probes that are required for this. I don't know what were going to encounter, but this Science ship can't hold up to much of a beating, especially from futuristic weapons."

The Science ship then began the back off, heading it's way back to the Temporal Research station location.

The damaged Dreadnaught splits off to search for the probes, the undamaged one tags along with the Science vessel. The future Xanthalian ship is nowhere to be found.

"Alright we should be aproaching the ruins of the station now, this is where we should find the first probe." Said the Captain over a comm with the other Xanthalian Dreadnought.

The Ship moved towards the debris and after a quick scan it is located, and borught aboard. After they found a second one, they would come back here and deploy it, begining to force the Universe back into Synch.

The Science ship, having met it's objective moved off in search of another supply station.

He send a message to the Xanthalian Ship, "Do you have any idea where these other depots migth be? He sent over the Information describing the locations of the depots.

OOC: There aren't any probes in the ruins of the station that blew up... Why would there be? That's a future object, the station was from the present.

OOC: Riiight, I let that one just slip right out from under me didn't I?

IC: The Captian slapped his head, why would there be a future probe at a present area, how could he be so stupid!

Although the question still remains, the Captian sent a message to the Xanthalian ships "Alright, I made a mistake coming back here, but I'd like you to make an educated guess, based on our circumstances, where would you, in the Xanthalian Empire, put sensitive probes?"

"If Xanthal split up, then the Aellis worlds would probably store their secrets within the system. I'd say either on an orbital defense outpost or on the seventh planet. Of course, we have no idea if the Aellis system is even in the future time frame we're looking for... But if you don't have anything else to go on, we might as well have a look."

"Alright, that's a good start, even if the system may not be in the Future time frame, it's worth a shot, lead the way, it's your territory"

With that the Science ship fell behind the dreadnought, but kept in close proximity.

The Captain thought to himself After we force the universe back into synch, how are we going to explain away the asassination of one of thier citizens? Oh well, that will be an interesting discussion when it comes forward...

"We must stay together with another group because the virus wiped out our navigation computer," said one of the people in the Nanakaland frigate over a com-link. "Could any of you guys lead us to the capital ship that brought us here? It is just outside the sector."

Wombat News Report (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=124230)

Torontonias: "Affirmative. Follow our lead then."
Nanakaland: "We're not reading any frigate. It must have been in a region that was brought into another time period."
The Xanthalian Dreadnaught gets underway at 200 SL towards the Aellis system.

"Roger that" replyed the Captian in responce, he could only hope the probe was in the system they were headed, he was slowly starting to belive he would never get home.....

The ships arrive a little over an hour later on the outskirts of the Aellis system. This system seems to be in especially bad shape, it has been split into three seperate time fragments. The section that the ships are viewing now is uninhabited. The Dreadnaught crew radios the science vessel saying that it looks like this is before Xanthal moved to the system.

"Alright, well, if this is the Pre-Xanthal system, there's not going to be much in the way of future probes."

The Ship moves into the next fragment, only to find extreame activity, ships everywhere, plenty of structures, and pretty soon, one of them was goinbg to notice them.

"Sir, our Xanthlian friends have come through"

"Alright, relay them a message, it appars we have come across Post-Modern Xanthal, presumeably at it's peak, as in before the devistating war. Perhaps they can help out again"

The nearest ship, one of completely mysterious design, approaches the two vessels. "We've been expecting you. Xanthalian Time Ship Xephon at your service. Lower your shields, I believe that we have something you want."

"Alright, we will lower our sheilds, on the condition that agressive stance is made, standard Precautions"

*The Ship's sheilds lowered leaving it vulnerable to boarding parties*

"Alright, lets see what you have to offer"

Several probes are beamed aboard each ship. "You'll be able to restore the temporal integrity of the galaxy with these. Now get going, the longer you wait the more potential there is for damage to the timeline."

"Excelent! We thank you, you just saved us time, and from unknown dangers, we will get t owork immedieately"

The ship moved back to the system which originally held the temporal station, and moved out from there, dropping probes in the systems following untill they reached NS Earth, and dropped the last one

The Captian watched as the Universe unfolded in front of him, hundreds of years was being reversed, then with a blinding flash of light, and was over, they were over a bustling NS Earth, with the Hubbub of threats and opourtunties. Their Xanthalian escort had disapeared, msot likely back to where they were before the whole experiment.

Now, for the hardest part, he did not know how his actions were going to affect Xanthalian-Torontonian relations, but it had to be done, lest it happen all over again.

The Captian punched in the coordinates and left for Mirfak III.

...

When they got therem they scanned Rienna, and found who they were looking for, they couldn't dally, as eventually the Xanthalian Authorities would wonder what an Unauthorized science vessel was doing in Xanthalian space.

They docked down in the city with a small landing party including the Captain.

When they located where the scientist lived, they knocked on the door, the captian was hoping to talk the scientist out of his experiments, but if worse comes to worse... the Captain patted the small lump in his jacket.

The frigate tried to keep up with the others, but because it's navigation computer was damaged, they ended up drifting away in another temporal zone. The marines aboard soon realized this and prepared for the unknown....

With the galaxy restored, Xanthal was busy re-orienting itself. On Mirfak III, a man opens the door of the ramshackle hut and looks bleary-eyed at the Torontonias scientist. He is tall, dressed in dirty clothes, looks to be in his twenties, and stinks to the high heavens. Mirfak III is not a pretty planet. "Who are you? What do you want?"

The frigate was in a restored galaxy, but certainly still lost from the others.

A Xanthalian Enforcer class vessel moves in on the frigate. "Be aware Nanakaland vessel, you are travelling outside of approved spacelanes. Are you having navigational trouble?"

"Yes," replied Lieutenant Richardson. "It appears that the navigation computer and database was damaged by the virus before we wiped it out. We require assistance or we will wander too far away. Every other system appears to be online."

"Is your navigational system actually broken, or just wiped?"

"It's just wiped," the lieutenant replied. "That's why we didn't notice the error at first. All we need is an upload of navigation information for our database and everything should work fine. If we don't upload information soon enough, our ship will be completely lost."

"Acknowledged. Prepare to recieve a navigational upload of basic star charts of the quadrant."

"Rodger that. Readying recievers."

The data is sent, giving a very basic layout of the galactic quadrant to the frigate's navigational computer. "Wherever you were headed, I suggest that you proceed there and then return to your port-of-call to update your computer with more complete data. Would you like us to escort you, or do you think you can handle yourselves now?"

"I would like to be escorted to the nearest Nanakaland capital ship - preferably the one that dropped this frigate off," Lieutenant Richardson replied. "This frigate is designed for carrying personal, not for fighting, and I fear that we may come across hostiles."

"In this region of space? Doubtful. Still, we will gladly escort you to the nearest capital ship. According to the data available from your fleet, the (give me a name and I'll insert it here) is only two lightyears away, bearing 227 by 13. Set your course and prepare to engage at 1,000 SL."

The Captian looked at the Scientist

For a man who's experiment destrayed the Universe, he doesn't keep himself very tidy.... He thought to himself

"I'm sorry to have disturbed you, but can we have a moment of you time? I work with the TSP, an organization you may or may not be aware of, were not sure how far our Xanthalian relations have pentrated. Wee need to talk about work you will be conducting, it is very urgent, I can't expresshow serious this situation is"

"Work? I don't work. This is Mirfak Three. If I wanted to work I'd live in Aellis."

OOC: The guy's not a scientist. I don't know where you got the idea that he was, but he isn't.

OOC: The First PADD given to the Scientist, when he was in the future did say that to eliminate the timeline, A guy on Mirfak III would have to be killed....

IC: The Scientist looked at the shabby man, aparently the Future Captian had been mistaken, they had followed the directions on the PADD to a key...

"I'm sorry, we seem to have been mistaken, We apologise for bothering you...."

With that the Captian walked off.

OOC: True enough, but I didn't say anything about the guy on Mirfak III being a scientist. I said that he gave your guy (a scientist) a PADD, but that's it.

IC: The man shakes his head and goes back inside.

The Scientist, pondering another plan, goes back, knocks on the door, and talks into the door

"Sir, I'd like you to take a look at this information, and tell us if any of this looks relevant to you..."

Before the Captian slipped the PADD under the door, he was careful to remove anything indicating in had come from a Future Xanthalian timeline, then when he was satisfied, he slipped it under the door

The man reads it over. "Sounds like me. All that's on here is a description of me.

OOC: The complete text is the key. This guy is totally innocent, which makes it all the harder for your guy. He's done nothing wrong, but his great, great, great, great, great, great, GREAT grandson will. Unfortunately, this guy is the only link to that time frame in this time frame. As the captain said, the sacrifice of the one to save the many...

The Captian thought longg and hard, he had finally figured it out.

This guy, is just some Unemployed Bum off the street in a little shack, but sometime, in the future, his great progenity will start the entire war timeline, but right now, this guy has absolutely nothing to do with it. Thats why the Captain has said the sacrifice of the few, this guy had nothing to do with the crisis...

The Captain thought long and hard, was there any way out of this terrible job? No, there wasn't, no amount of bargaining can keep a man from having children, so the worst must be done, he just hoped nothing got traced back to him, it could veritable destroy his career, and Torontonias-Xanthalian relations. Then again, that horrible, horrible future could not be allowed to be completed.

The Captian intiated action, he bashed down the door, and located the startled man inside.

"I wish there was sme way to negotiate out of this, but unfortuneatly there isn't, I'm very, very sorry, but it is for the good of your own country"

The Captian pointed the pistol and the mans head, and fired off three shots, killing, or horrible debilitating him for life.

They left quickly, they had to get back to the ship before the authorities found out.

The man lies on the floor in a pool of his own blood, dead. Mirfak III being what it was, nobody even cared. An hour later the corpse is on the street and a drugged-up woman is enjoying her newly-aquired house.

The ship safey got away, there had been no one stopping them, there hadn't even been an achnoledgement of the murder, truly, Mirfak III was a very bad word.

The Captain would request leave when they got back to the Epsilion system, he wouldn't be flying again for a very long time....

OOC: I'll call that a wrap. Nice job guys, this was one of my better threads. I would have liked to spend more time in the different temporal fragments, but whatever.