NationStates Jolt Archive

You're in command of Odyessey, an interstellar exploration vessel sent from Earth. You have just awakened from suspended animation, which you've been sleeping in since you left home 50 years ago.

Triumphantly you sit in the Command Couch, ready to give orders to start your mission of exploration. Everyone you've ever known back home is now dead of old age or on the verge of it, but it was all worth it for this. You awaken the crew, and with barely contained anticipation you assign them to their posts, ready to start surveying a terrestrial world that may be good for colonizing in time.

Just as you prepare to send out the first probe, a recorded message plays for you, having been received some time during your long slumber.

"Odyessey, this is relay station Alpha Centauri IV. We've been awaiting your arrival! We discovered Stargate technology 10 years after you left and have already colonized this system! Wonderful to see you! We will send a ship to meet you in one hour...

What do you do?

That just sucks for that guy...

Ask if they have perfected the shower so the water is always the right temperature and there is a shower head on either side of you.

You're in command of Odyessey, an interstellar exploration vessel sent from Earth. You have just awakened from suspended animation, which you've been sleeping in since you left home 50 years ago.

Triumphantly you sit in the Command Couch, ready to give orders to start your mission of exploration. Everyone you've ever known back home is now dead of old age or on the verge of it, but it was all worth it for this. You awaken the crew, and with barely contained anticipation you assign them to their posts, ready to start surveying a terrestrial world that may be good for colonizing in time.

Just as you prepare to send out the first probe, a recorded message plays for you, having been received some time during your long slumber.

"Odyessey, this is relay station Alpha Centauri IV. We've been awaiting your arrival! We discovered Stargate technology 10 years after you left and have already colonized this system! Wonderful to see you! We will send a ship to meet you in one hour...

What do you do?

I arm and lock pie cannons on target. :)

kinky future person sex

Ask if I can go back to Earth real quick? I forgot my second pair of drawers...

I don't know how I would react... mainly because I'm not sure I would have ever undertaken such a mission.

I'd have to imagine that would be pretty devastating... I mean, it must have taken a serious commitment to undertake the mission... Knowing it's a one way trip but being willing to sacrifice all for the opportunity.

...and then find out it was for nothing. I'd be tempted to space myself.

If you're a good Mormon, you're going to get your own planet to rule, and populate it with your spirit children (you'll have to be a good married Mormon, that is).

Why would you care whether or not you get a planet in real life?

Think it was space aliens trying to trick me into revealing something of strategic importance.

"Sir, does that mean I have to sit in the chair?"
*reads OP*
Aww crap :(

Also you mean wormhole technology in general right? Because you wouldn't be able to transport a Stargate faster than the sh... I'll just shut up now...

"Sir, does that mean I have to sit in the chair?"
*reads OP*
Aww crap :(

Also you mean wormhole technology in general right? Because you wouldn't be able to transport a Stargate faster than the sh... I'll just shut up now...

Uhh... yeah!

('cause you have a good point there and I'm ashamed of myself for not having thought of that ;) )

Why would it matter? Presumably you left Earth knowing you would never see your friends and family again, and, as far as your perception of events goes, you've only been asleep for a moment.

Your first thought would probably be disappointment, but, after that, it would be exciting to be in this new world.

Why would it matter? Presumably you left Earth knowing you would never see your friends and family again, and, as far as your perception of events goes, you've only been asleep for a moment.

Your first thought would probably be disappointment, but, after that, it would be exciting to be in this new world.

Good point, but each person is different, hence the post.

I suppose the deciding factor would be what the person's inner motives are. Did they want to be the first to set foot on an extrasolar planet? If so, that's been taken from them unless they can get up to speed and explore somewhere else via wormhole.

They may feel the sacrifices they made, saying goodbye to family and friends, were no longer justified because now they could have been there and back much faster than the slow way.

They may feel all of their hard work and years of preparation were wasted, so even though they don't feel the passage of years during the trip itself, they may still feel that a significant portion of their life has been wasted.

They may have difficulty getting caught up with new science and technology and meeting a level of competence and training that would put them back on the cutting edge and have a realistic expectation of pursuing their astronaut career. They may feel it's more likely they'd be relegated to some sort of history teaching or preservation role. Very boring compared to what they originally signed on to do.

P.S. 5,000th post!

My question to them would be simple:

If we now have the technology to travel massive distances almost instantaneously, why the fuck did you just let me float in space for another 40 years instead of coming to pick me up?

Write my memoirs and enjoy my status as celebrity.

Become a delivery boy in space

My question to them would be simple:

If we now have the technology to travel massive distances almost instantaneously, why the fuck did you just let me float in space for another 40 years instead of coming to pick me up?

/thread

What do you do?
The guy driving the Jeep in MASH comes to mind... "God damned Army..."

I'd have to imagine that would be pretty devastating... I mean, it must have taken a serious commitment to undertake the mission... Knowing it's a one way trip but being willing to sacrifice all for the opportunity.

...and then find out it was for nothing. I'd be tempted to space myself.

Hace you ever read "Time for the Stars" By Robert A. Heinlein?;)

That being said, I'd cry, and then demand per-hour payment for all 50 years.:D

[shamelessly stolen from Wikipedia]

This disincentive to depart may even inhibit investment in interstellar travel. Kennedy shows that from any point in time to a given destination, there is a minimum to the total time to destination even with continuing exponential growth in the velocity of travel, and that voyagers can have the reasonable expectation of arriving without being overtaken by later voyagers by waiting a time, t, before leaving, where the relation between the time it takes to get to a destination and growth in velocity of travel can be formed at its simplest by,

(journey time now) / (journey time at time t) = (1 + r) exp (t / 2)

and r = mean annual increase in world power production

Taking a journey to Barnard's Star as an example, Kennedy shows that with a world mean annual economic growth rate of 1.4%, the quickest human civilisation might get to the 6 light year destination is in 1,110 years from now (2007).

...of course this assumes that "r" remains a constant. It's wholly possible that "r" could accelerate as time goes by and hit numbers as high as 5%. This would require (a) MAJOR event(s), such as new power sources (desktop fusion anyone?), technologies, etc.

You're in command of Odyessey, an interstellar exploration vessel sent from Earth. You have just awakened from suspended animation, which you've been sleeping in since you left home 50 years ago.

Triumphantly you sit in the Command Couch, ready to give orders to start your mission of exploration. Everyone you've ever known back home is now dead of old age or on the verge of it, but it was all worth it for this. You awaken the crew, and with barely contained anticipation you assign them to their posts, ready to start surveying a terrestrial world that may be good for colonizing in time.

Just as you prepare to send out the first probe, a recorded message plays for you, having been received some time during your long slumber.

"Odyessey, this is relay station Alpha Centauri IV. We've been awaiting your arrival! We discovered Stargate technology 10 years after you left and have already colonized this system! Wonderful to see you! We will send a ship to meet you in one hour...

What do you do?

Look forward to a hopefully brighter future? I don't know - but I can't imagine I'd be too surprised to find that technology had moved faster than we (the crew) had.

Since I'd have been in suspended animation for most of the last 50 years, I'd take a while to get used to the new environment, and then sign up for whatever new exploration technology was next up, I guess.

My question to them would be simple:

If we now have the technology to travel massive distances almost instantaneously, why the fuck did you just let me float in space for another 40 years instead of coming to pick me up?

Easy answer? The 'gates' are artifacts of some kind - or possibly requiring a significant gravity well?

Which would mean transports already IN space would have to wait unti they got to one, rather than being able to use the technology to 'shortcut' to a ship....

/geekmode

Well, I guess I'd be the only one activating the laser cannon in preparation to defend humanity against a mercilessly deceitful hostile alien force.

I'm sorry, but they would never say something like "discovered Stargate technology." For one thing, it's a trademark violation. For another, they'd sound a lot more plausible. If a corporation came up with the thing, there'd be a brand-name - specific like the Hyperspatial Wackum Drive, or generic like Kleenex. But you don't "discover" a "technology," and what they would really be talking about is the scientific breakthrough that made FTL suddenly no longer in violation of all known science. A Theory or somesuch.

So the message is obviously a fake, and probably designed to get the first interstellar humans to space themselves out of silly desperation. Probably a mind-game, a psychological thing - like hazing rituals for the new guy. Either way I'd pass, and you'd all fail.

In fact, my argument makes so much sense to my knowledge of human society that frankly, I'm starting to suspect you all are aliens, too. Well whatever your nefarious plans are, you won't get away with it!

My question to them would be simple:

If we now have the technology to travel massive distances almost instantaneously, why the fuck did you just let me float in space for another 40 years instead of coming to pick me up?

That, along with lots of anger, frustration and alcohol.

That, along with lots of anger, frustration and alcohol.

I would be asking, "where are the one-eyed women with the huge tits?"

Think about the possision you're in. You gave up everything to be the first to explore a new world, and now its for nothing. In fact, your so far behind the times that your skills and knowledge are utlerly behind the times, and your probably useless for anything more than manual labor, if that. You've gone from being societies best and brightest to being in many ways lower than a backwoods hick who dropped out in grade 4.

Shock and disbelief would likely come first, followed by blinding rage, inconsolable grief, or both. Then you would have a number of basic choices: somehow muster the courage to start from scratch, knowing that half your life has been wasted; take your ship and go find some other world to colonize, if you last that long; sit around doing nothing, and accept that your life is a failiur, or go into a suicidal/murderous rage. Remember that your flying what is, essentially, a giant missile. "If I cant colonize it, then no one can!"

Or you could just go nuts, deny reality, and perhaps spend your life plugged into to VR pretending it was all a bad dream. So many possibilities...:D

Think about the possision you're in. You gave up everything to be the first to explore a new world, and now its for nothing. In fact, your so far behind the times that your skills and knowledge are utlerly behind the times, and your probably useless for anything more than manual labor, if that. You've gone from being societies best and brightest to being in many ways lower than a backwoods hick who dropped out in grade 4.


Actually, being 50 years behind the times, so to speak - would probably actually make you an expert in big demand. At least - if the pattern of the last 50 years holds true.

I would demand that Captain Kirk put me and my crew on a habitable planet where I would plot my revenge.

id be excited. id schedule a massage and a good meal at the finest restaurant on the closest planet and hope that my bank of america ATM card was still good because i would be sitting pretty after 50 years of accumulated investments.

If they could get to the destination planet, why the hell couldn't they get to my ship and unfreeze me? I'd slap the first baby-faced commander I saw, drink his whiskey and have sex with his wife.

My question to them would be simple:

If we now have the technology to travel massive distances almost instantaneously, why the fuck did you just let me float in space for another 40 years instead of coming to pick me up?

This is why I should read before posting.

If they could get to the destination planet, why the hell couldn't they get to my ship and unfreeze me? I'd slap the first baby-faced commander I saw, drink his whiskey and have sex with his wife.

Ryadn, you confuse me very often.

Ryadn, you confuse me very often.

Thank you! But how?

I just imagine for some reason that the guy in charge in this 50-years-in-the-future world would be an obnoxious 20-something guy from Westpoint with a hard-on for regulations and no practical experience. Don't ask how my mind works.

If they could get to the destination planet, why the hell couldn't they get to my ship and unfreeze me? I'd slap the first baby-faced commander I saw, drink his whiskey and have sex with his wife.

By that time in the future, everyone would probably be a homosexual.

I'd blow up the damn ship.

By that time in the future, everyone would probably be a homosexual.

Hmm. Well at least his wife would be into it, then.

Thank you! But how?

I just imagine for some reason that the guy in charge in this 50-years-in-the-future world would be an obnoxious 20-something guy from Westpoint with a hard-on for regulations and no practical experience. Don't ask how my mind works.
No, no, I mean, one moment you're talking about your old boyfriend, next, about doing the ship captains wife. That's how.:confused:

No, no, I mean, one moment you're talking about your old boyfriend, next, about doing the ship captains wife. That's how.:confused:

Ah, that. Well, my ex boyfriend isn't here, and the fictional ship captain's wife is fictionally hot. I'm not sure if your question is "how can you talk about doing some random woman when you're still pining over a lost love?" or "how can you determine desirability of sexual partners independent of gender?"

Or possibly "how have you managed to escape being shuttled into a psych ward these many years?" :D

I would be asking, "where are the one-eyed women with the huge tits?"

Leela reference = threadwin.

I chose "Pretend to be a good sport about it but secretly daydream about mass murder", but that's what I do now about everything so it shouldn't come as a surprise....

Make millions sharing my memoirs of the journey, my bravery in undertaking such a dangerous journey, my emotional response at learning my journey was for naught, and what life was like when I was growing up.

Make millions sharing my memoirs of the journey, my bravery in undertaking such a dangerous journey, my emotional response at learning my journey was for naught, and what life was like when I was growing up.

Yup, I think endorsements would be on offer as well.

What product would be best?

Ah, that. Well, my ex boyfriend isn't here, and the fictional ship captain's wife is fictionally hot. I'm not sure if your question is "how can you talk about doing some random woman when you're still pining over a lost love?" or "how can you determine desirability of sexual partners independent of gender?"

Or possibly "how have you managed to escape being shuttled into a psych ward these many years?" :D
The second and third ones.:D

If they could get to the destination planet, why the hell couldn't they get to my ship and unfreeze me? I'd slap the first baby-faced commander I saw, drink his whiskey and have sex with his wife.

I um...didn't know you swung that way.

I um...didn't know you swung that way.

Of all the things I've said on NSG, I didn't expect this to be the one that shocked.

The way I feel about it, some people only date inside their race, and some people are attracted to individuals of many races. Most people only date the opposite gender--I'm attracted to individuals of both genders. *shrug*

Depends on how many people are aboard my ship...If there's enough to form an army...I think its time to Conquer this planet in the name of the "true" colonists, lol...

Of all the things I've said on NSG, I didn't expect this to be the one that shocked.

Of all the things I've said on NSG, I didn't expect this to be the one that gets taken seriously
I'm attracted to individuals of both genders.

That's hot *nods*

. . . .

don't hurt me.

Of all the things I've said on NSG, I didn't expect this to be the one that gets taken seriously

Point. I think I got thrown off by CM and didn't quite recover.

That's hot *nods*

. . . .

don't hurt me.

Sure?

Sure?

Yeah, I tend to be the hurter and not so much the hurtee

Why would it matter? Presumably you left Earth knowing you would never see your friends and family again, and, as far as your perception of events goes, you've only been asleep for a moment.

Your first thought would probably be disappointment, but, after that, it would be exciting to be in this new world.

Indeed. In essence the crew would have timetravelled: step into a machine, step out in what they experienced as a very short time, and find oneself 50 years in the future.

*stares at the posting commercials of jolt*

Indeed. In essence the crew would have timetravelled: step into a machine, step out in what they experienced as a very short time, and find oneself 50 years in the future.

*stares at the posting commercials of jolt*

Aren't they gastly? Like that one for manwich or whatever at the top wasn't bad enough.

Aren't they gastly? Like that one for manwich or whatever at the top wasn't bad enough.

apparently britney25f who happens to live in my area would like a word with me.

apparently britney25f who happens to live in my area would like a word with me.

And I'm a winner :o Of dollars no less.

The "you 've got 1 new message" one fits a bit too seamlessly into the new layout though, especially if it is in the title bar. I almost clicked it, thinking I got a TG ;)

I sure do like Stargate.

apparently britney25f who happens to live in my area would like a word with me.

She said the same thing to me! That ho.

And I'm a winner :o Of dollars no less.

The "you 've got 1 new message" one fits a bit too seamlessly into the new layout though, especially if it is in the title bar. I almost clicked it, thinking I got a TG ;)

I keep getting confused by them, thinking they're the end of the page. :(

I don't like things that tell you that you have messages. It gives me a false sense of self-worth and lovability. :(

She said the same thing to me!

OK, now THAT is hot.

I don't like things that tell you that you have messages. It gives me a false sense of self-worth and lovability. :(

awww....I can send you a message if it helps...

awww....I can send you a message if it helps...

No, no, it's fine... I don't need your pity messages. *sniff*

No, no, it's fine... I don't need your pity messages. *sniff*

Really, it's ok, I want to.

The way I feel about it, some people only date inside their race, and some people are attracted to individuals of many races. Most people only date the opposite gender--I'm attracted to individuals of both genders. *shrug*

*puts on the professor glasses and the lab coat*

Gentlemen, this is what we call "perfect three-way date material". A woman who is attracted to both genders will be more likely to introduce another woman into the equation, or be more accepting to another woman in the equation. Because both sexual partners turn her on, it will be a gratifying sexual experience for both you and your primary partner.

Any questions?

I wake up. Both the mission and the stargates are dreams.

apparently britney25f who happens to live in my area would like a word with me.

But she's not 25...

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s102/kahne8198/ChrisHanson.jpg

Yup, I think endorsements would be on offer as well.

What product would be best?

"Nike: Just do it. I mean, it's not like you're going to end up spending half a lifetime drifting through space for what turns out to be no apparent reason."

"Spy Kids 3D: I watched that movie like, 300 fucking times while I was in space. After around the 230th time it actually doesn't seem that bad."

"KY: When you're all alone in space for several years on end, you turn to KY."

And for anyone who gets the reference: Executive Powder.

i would join the space navy or if that doesn't exist the army.

I'd probably go all evil movie villan and spend the rest of my life doing bad guy stuff. You know, planning ot conquer the universe and that sort of thing.

Why no "nuke the planet" option?

Why no "nuke the planet" option?

Well, one assumes an exploratory interstellar sleeper ship is unlikely to carry nuclear weapons... ;)

I'd go crazy but at least I'd still be looking fabolous.
http://blog.vh1.com/files/2008/06/med_ny_fabulous.gif

I think i'd cheer myself up with a nice killing spree... and of course a hot coco.

Of all the things I've said on NSG, I didn't expect this to be the one that shocked.

The way I feel about it, some people only date inside their race, and some people are attracted to individuals of many races. Most people only date the opposite gender--I'm attracted to individuals of both genders. *shrug*

Ah. Okay. *Explanation accepted*

Well, one assumes an exploratory interstellar sleeper ship is unlikely to carry nuclear weapons... ;)

You shouldn't assume NB.;)

You shouldn't assume NB.;)

So it would seem...

*puts on the professor glasses and the lab coat*

Gentlemen, this is what we call "perfect three-way date material". A woman who is attracted to both genders will be more likely to introduce another woman into the equation, or be more accepting to another woman in the equation. Because both sexual partners turn her on, it will be a gratifying sexual experience for both you and your primary partner.

You'd really think I'd be more popular, wouldn't you? Maybe it's the height. I should stop wearing heels over 3", it's intimidating (I also fall down sometimes and the kiddies laugh).

No, no, leave the lab coat on.

You'd really think I'd be more popular, wouldn't you? Maybe it's the height. I should stop wearing heels over 3", it's intimidating (I also fall down sometimes and the kiddies laugh).

No, no, leave the lab coat on.

I don't have anything on under this coat. I'm naked for about 60% of my day every day.

You'd really think I'd be more popular, wouldn't you? Maybe it's the height. I should stop wearing heels over 3", it's intimidating (I also fall down sometimes and the kiddies laugh).

No, no, leave the lab coat on.

Bite your tongue! Or better yet, allow me.

NEVER apologize for being tall. I'm only six feet tall, and while height has nothing to do with who I love, it has some effect on who I lust. I'd love to not have to bend over or look down to dance, kiss, converse, what have you. Again, nothing wrong with being 5'3" or anything like it, but once in a while you yearn to look someone in the eye instead of the scalp. Mind you, I have seen me some very sexy scalps.

"Nike: Just do it. I mean, it's not like you're going to end up spending half a lifetime drifting through space for what turns out to be no apparent reason."

"Spy Kids 3D: I watched that movie like, 300 fucking times while I was in space. After around the 230th time it actually doesn't seem that bad."

"KY: When you're all alone in space for several years on end, you turn to KY."

And for anyone who gets the reference: Executive Powder.

Made from real executives (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3001/2375047569_e5b1f60dd6_o.jpg&imgrefurl=http://flickr.com/photos/tiagon/2375047569/&h=352&w=640&sz=55&hl=en&start=8&tbnid=GD-l9u3KQHMRYM:&tbnh=75&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dexecutive%2Bpowder%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG)!