Ever since Durus avoided a collision with Earth by a hair, scientists had
been trying to figure out where they were going. There wasn’t any particular
reason for this. They could alter their speed using time powers, but
altering direction was an entirely different matter, and could lead to
disastrous results. Calculating the exact vector of the planet’s journey
through interstellar space was quite difficult, what with its random
accelerations and decelerations, and the lack of proper equipment. It wasn’t
until 2183 when they were sure they knew where they were headed. If they
continued on their present course—which they expected to—they would
eventually encounter a binary star system that the Earthans called 70
Ophiuchi. While the speed they were traveling was constantly going up and
down, the average was pretty steady, so barring any dramatic change, it
would take them over a hundred years to arrive. Now, there was nothing wrong
with waiting this long. Not only did they still have the connection with
Earth that kept them alive, but the close encounter seemed to have made it
stronger. The borrowed sun was shining, there was now more than one source
of water, plantlife was spreading at an alarming rate. Perhaps all of this
was exactly what drove the people of Durus to want to break free from their
mother world’s protection and support. They wanted to go off on their own,
orbit their own sun, and provide for themselves. It was what they were
supposed to do. This was going to be the largest endeavor they had ever
tried, and if they wanted to do it faster, it was going to be even more
difficult. Not only did it give them far less time to prepare, but they were
going to push the speed of the planet faster than it had ever gone before.
They were already traveling at relativistic speeds, so time was passing
faster for anyone outside of the planet, but the disparity was going to grow
so large. If they went through with this, they would reach their destination
by 2200.
Of course, the first thing they needed to do was to make sure the majority
of Durus was on board with this. There was no election coming up, but they
wanted to decide on it quickly, because the longer they waited, the faster
they would have to accelerate the planet in order to make their timetable.
Well, things didn’t go according to plan. People were not happy about being
forced to respond to the question quickly, without any real discussion, or
time to gather all of the evidence. Plenty of people were against the idea,
and if the proponents wanted to convince them, it was going to take time.
They still had two years left until the next election, so they were just
going to have to be patient with this, and get it right. Like always, the
people weren’t going to simply say yes, and leave it at that. There were
questions about how they were going to accomplish their goals, and whether
they needed to rethink those goals in the first place. After careful
consideration, they realized that the 2200 deadline was not a viable option.
As powerful as the paramounts were, and as durable as the rogue world had
proven itself to be, they just could not handle such high speeds. The speed
itself wasn’t a problem, but acceleration was a tricky thing. Any change in
velocity would seriously throw off any normal planet’s stability. If the
Earth were to start spinning or revolving just a tiny bit faster, or slower,
it would cause mass destruction all over the world. It’s not the speed that
kills you, but the changes in speed. The only thing allowing Durus to
fluctuate this much was its unique relationship with time. Still, there were
limits for how far this time magic could go, and by the time the vote went
through, if it passed, and everything was set up, 2204 was a far more
realistic goal. They did vote, and it did pass—with the necessary conditions
and precautions—and Durus did reach 70 Ophiuchi in 2204.
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