An Introduction to Aether

[LoAmi 0]

<< This log takes place just before the Thanksgiving sim, after our current plot ends -- assuming Arcadia doesn't blow up in the mean time. ;-) >>

 

Captain Lo'Ami took in the view -- all three dimensions of it. Nearest to him were the four "walls" of the tube, demarcated only by four thin, bright strips of light on at any corner.

 

He stood at the outer borders of the city. Just beyond to the left was the vastness of space. He could not too far left and up because of the light of the binary star about which the city orbitted. Below the brightness of the binary stars could be seen the background starfield. Within that starfield was one bright white object reflecting the light from the nearby stars -- Arcadia, looking small in the distance. Tubes of the thin light strips extended from the city to Arcadia, forming a retractable docking port.

 

The right, and most of up and down was bustling city of Aether. Tubes of light in all directions, forming corridors, houses, businesses, laboratories, and everything else a thriving, independent commonwealth could ever need. Everything, that is, except floors, walls, or even common directions defined as "up" or "down."

 

Aether orbits in binary star floating in space, and is entirely constructed of the plentiful energy derived directly from its stars. Everything in the city was replicated on demand. When the replicated objects went out of use, they're dematerialized back into energy. The entire city was composed of the energy tubes, produced and deconstructed on demand according to the needs of its citizens.

 

Most of the walls were transparent, with the citizens preferring the natural light from the binary stars and the ability to see "out" into space, even if it meant looking through half the city. On the rare occasions when privacy was desired, the energy-walls could be dimmed to any color in the spectrum.

 

Just ahead, the city manager approached the captain, walking along what looked to Lo'Ami like the left side wall of the tube.

 

The Commonwealth of Aether invited Arcadia's crew in for shore leave, scientific and cultural exchange. And it all began with Thanksgiving dinner...