“Each Command Spacecraft is nearly alive, with constant nano updates and repairs going on within each external and internal wall and object in and around it, around the clock. Each of the thirteen Command Spacecraft are near-identical and are set up to accommodate more than twelve-hundred crew members and their families. As it is, we have created twelve zones throughout all of observable space relative to the Earth, for visual reference using legacy telescopic equipment, that are limited to what Earth can see, given the speed of light. These zones extend from Earth and out to forty-five-billion light-years. Each of these zones is the crux of the mission for any particular Zonal Command. 12 Zonal Commands will travel with the IMC until we arrive at each of their assigned zones, or region of primary galaxies relating to their specific setup point.
“I have been voted on by a population of eight billion Pathway personnel, after nomination by our President, President Eliza Amber Williams, to lead the IMC, along with my crew, aboard the IMC Command Spacecraft. We will operate with a command structure very similar to that of the United States Air Force. The reason for this structure is to reign-in discipline, augment our innovative capabilities and our attention, and reduce any dramatic chaos that could compromise our mission. Nonetheless, just as every tech city has, each IMC Command Spacecraft will have similar facilities, domiciles, forests, lakes, and more. Creatures of every possible sort will be on board each IMC Command Spacecraft and have been given sentience, so they can play a vital role as counselors and muses for the crew, as per their agreement, working harmoniously with humanity to explore, understand, colonize, and preserve our Universe.
“My friend, Sky Taylor, now has one-thousand daughters and one-thousand-one sons, each of whom possesses the same abilities for healing as she has. As I mentioned previously, on each Command Spacecraft there will be twelve living sectors, with equitable resources, and living within each sector there will be twelve crewmembers with identical abilities to those of Sky Taylor. If ever needed, we will have the ability to destroy any potential threats. While we can overcome any potential threats and meet every challenge thrown our way, we now have the ability to put them into stasis, heal their minds, connect with them, create a communications bridge of diplomacy, and find a cohesive goal of preservation of life, in a manner that exemplifies Universal Ethics. Our ultimate goal is to slow down the expansion of our Universe enough to control a minor contraction and expansion, allowing it to inhale and exhale as a sentient lifeform, which will allow it to exist for an indefinite period of time. That goal may take billions to trillions of years to achieve, or it may be achieved much sooner. Given our President’s capacity for innovation, my guess is it will be within one-hundred years, or less that we achieve that goal.
“That said, our ability to recreate gravity, with another team headed by Dr. Luís Rodriguez, has led to the development and creation of the gravitational drive, or G-Drive. With this seemingly impossible advancement, concerns about interplanetary travel, along with coffee stains and such, can now be completely mitigated. For reference, Eliza designed the aspects of Sky that allow her to fly using similar technology. As we train, we may learn how to upgrade to use her abilities too.
“I will go over more aspects of the IMC on the www.FTB-Pathway.com website, but for now, please know that once each of you has completed your sabbatical, in four years we will begin our journey through the Cosmos. I hope many of you can be there. There will be openings to train for, but there are obviously limited seats and positions. We have our command crew for each IMC Command Spacecraft chosen, and some of the individuals that will be filling important roles have already been selected. There are always opportunities for shift-work crew, so please feel free to go to the website and volunteer. Half of the positions available will be on a first come and first served basis, the other half of the remaining positions are based on a lottery of volunteers. Please be courteous, as malicious intent will automatically rule anyone out. If our missions are to succeed, then we need to have people with the noblest and strongest virtues of intellect, kindness, persuasiveness, empathy, compassion, and curiosity.
“If you do not make it, please understand that there will be many more opportunities after I reach the Cosmic Microwave Background, because we may then need an additional 144 UAS IMC Command Spacecraft, and maybe even more. As we expand, so will the need for UAS IMC Command Spacecraft. Please also keep in mind that we plan to colonize every galaxy and every planet throughout the Universe, so there are more than enough opportunities and resources for everyone to be involved. Longevity, patience, and innovation have their merit, especially where space travel is concerned. Keep in mind, that this lottery will be available to everyone worldwide, upon agreement to honor Universal Ethics. Thank you all for listening.”
Like that, everyone had been completely enthused, mystified, and excited all at the same time, and most especially with the behemoth size and capabilities of each UAS IMC Command Spacecraft. Vesha sat down, after doing the professional greeting with the other members of Pathway, and the spacecraft visuals continued to play out in view of all watching the proceedings.
The Speaker of the House very enthusiastically had changed her demeanor, and as such and with a new sense of youth, herself, she took her gavel and called the room to order. After doing so, she spoke, “I’m sure I am not the only one looking forward to leaving here tonight and signing up to go on a big space adventure! President, Vice President, Sky Taylor, and Vesha Celeste, thank you! You were all brilliant. Speaking for my political party, I believe this will be the first time when there will be no reason for a rebuttal to your address. Most of the address came data-masked anyway, but you each brought your best, and I can sense that everyone watching was watching with full-scaled eagerness to get the show going on all of what was presented. Thank you so much for everything that you have done, everything you are doing now, and the promise of hope that has been rekindled within each of us today. Therefore, ladies and gentlemen of the House, please stand up and say, ‘Aye,’ if you approve of immediate implementation of all policy changes congruent with what was presented today.”
She paused.
Everyone in the room stood up, and the unanimous, “Aye,” filled the room.
“Anyone who has any objections, please say, ‘Nay.’”
Everyone remained seated, and not a word was spoken.
“Then it is official, all that has been shared tonight has been approved by the legislators of both Houses of Congress and goes into effect immediately. I encourage everyone to log in to their site, www.FTB-Pathway.com, and follow the instructions. Given what we have heard today, it stands to reason that everything will be both rational and intuitive when it comes to following the directions provided. Thank you all for your attendance. Therefore, ladies and gentlemen of both Houses of Congress, this meeting stands adjourned.” With that, the Speaker of the House lowered her gavel to bring finality to the session, and everyone roared in applause.
The State of the Union was complete.
Following the proceedings, every US citizen began their transition to the twenty-thousand tech cities that Eliza, Yesha, Sky, and James had secretly built from the ground up, in places once thought desolate. They went home, signed up with haste on Pathway’s website, so they could move into the tech cities, and discovered that these moves were instantaneous. Once they moved in, they began to sign up for every crew position, the lottery, colonization, and then for the future missions. Excitement peaked, the US was bustling, and the rest of the world took note.
Behind the scenes, tech cities were built throughout the more desolate places of Earth and more existing cities became ghost towns completely. With the exception of truly historical sites and monuments, factories that polluted, homes that were no longer needed within these cities, and large edifices that were no longer going to be used were all taken down, all components were shipped through the space elevators to the depths of space and to the Space Fusion Centers, in order to reduce it all to materials
necessary for fertility and growth for the forests that would replace the locations where cities once resided.
New tech cities were formed in places within the US, to include the deserts, and above and below the seas within the US territories throughout the world. Everything was built to be aesthetically charming, purposeful, enjoyable, and environmentally compatible in every way. This was done in wisdom to negate any negative impact on the environment, while simultaneously providing safety, security, and abundance to all who dwelled within them. If a major city was taken down, a tech city had been raised and named in its stead.
The US was now on its way to become worthy to span the Universe, and quite possibly even save it before the century was over. One thing was for sure, the expanse of space was huge, and there was plenty for everyone to do, all of which would be motivating and exciting.
That evening, Eliza linked to Yesha, Sky, Vesha, James, Amber, Erin, Joanne, and the rest of the leaders of the JSCs, and invited them to her estate home for a large dinner. Jeremiah Voltaire cooked alongside the many chefs of the T.O. and together, everyone enjoyed the most splendid meal they could imagine they had ever had. Afterward, everyone there discovered that Eliza had made overnight accommodations, with a large spread of memory foam pillows, sleeping bags, all surrounding her pond with coy fish and a statuette of an angel overlooking it.
“What a beautiful day,” Eliza said.
Everyone agreed, chatted, looked up at the stars, sang Depeche Mode’s song, “Where’s the Revolution,” and Eliza, before falling asleep, whispered, “The revolution is here. It’s one of those revolutions that are peaceful and full of promise. Thank you for so much wonderful music throughout the years, Dave, Martin, Andrew, and well, Alan—you need to come back.”
Chapter 56: Politics, Section 3
As the days and weeks passed by, Eliza’s, Yesha’s, Sky’s, and Vesha’s words played on every news station throughout the World. Questions had been asked the following day about the ethics of it all, and her Press Secretary, Amber Blythe, responded, “That is quite an intriguing question. What are the ethics of it all? Let’s see if I can grant some perspective on this. All of our lives we have been told that morals, virtues, and ethics are subjective, but by whom, and what were their motives? Did they suggest purpose in life, clarity with regard to preserving it, innovations toward optimizing our physiology and neurology, and working together to create a legacy worthy of preserving? Did they clearly define that optimal well-being, health, strength, dexterity, cognizance of mind, a healthy cognitive framework for our minds, and working to improve upon it all through sophisticated and scientifically proven means so we can compound upon our wisdom to meet the challenges that threaten life, as the profound basis for ethics? Did they suggest that empathy, compassion, kindness, love, beauty, and consent were the epitome of virtue? Did they suggest that health and healing were the golden standards of morality? If not, then I will remind you that President Eliza Williams not only taught all of this throughout the last 19 years since her graduation where she garnered seven PhDs, she also wrote a very insightful book, called Pathway to the Stars, broadcasted it from the birth of Pathway, was intensely and intimately involved in all of its actions that led to preserving the capacity of life on this planet, is currently engaged in healing the planet through sophistication, science, reason, study, intuition, experience, and compounded wisdom, and she did something with it all to reduce misery and suffering. Her teachings, her example, and her actions are a testament to virtue, morality, and ethics. Many years ago, I asked Eliza a similar question, and here was her response:
“I’ll answer that for you, …We have no desire to engage in entrapment, which this very much seems like, yet we also had to figure out a way to create a safety and security mechanism to prevent some of these technologies from getting into the hands of those that would unleash some of the worst into society. The only memories they will temporarily lose are those directly relating to the details of our technologies and advancements that aren’t yet ready for release to the Public. Essentially, unless read-in or optimized, they will not be able to see our advancements in space or on Earth, nor will they recall the technologies used for the advancements. However, they will not lose any personal memories, such as relationships established, the sense of trust built between them and other members of Pathway, and they will have a quickening of all of their memories, once everything has gone Public during my “great reveal.” Everything that we have worked on, developed, created, and expanded upon is amazing and intended to help humanity will be revealed when the time is right.
“These advancements are intended to help people to have clarity on what it is that can be done to preserve the heritage, the legacy, the romances, the history, the art, and the sciences that have made humanity such a wonderful part of the history of the Universe itself. With the laws of chaos, the laws of entropy, and the laws of thermodynamics, we understand that technology can go one of many ways, two of which are most prominent: either all of humanity can stay its current course and become completely destroyed by its own negligence or overt intentions of destruction, or humanity can be shown beauty in science, the beauty in kindness, the amazing sense of compassion, and through that we can harness chaos, control it, and ensure that it leads us toward the discovery of how to reign in the chaos that could decimate our Universe.
“We can very well be around for a long, long time, and it is worth it to have every unique, brilliant, and special soul with us along the way. There is no sane reason for death, for carnage, or for misery other than to test our grace. Instead of wars and unforeseen challenges, we can reach the same growth through unchartered innovations and by daring to understand our Universe and the laws that bind it. We can preserve it, beautify it, and make it even stronger. While traveling from one end to the next, we can still have the ability to meet with each other, sharing stories with each other, and even taking each other to the many amazing places we will have inevitably found by then on our journeys.
“Wouldn’t it be nice to have family and friends around when we return from planets within galaxies more than one-hundred-billion light-years away? We’re all interested in and care about making that possible. However, people are free to go their own way. We simply must strive to provide clarity and health, while protecting our technologies from those that would use them to destroy others. That is what physiological and neurological optimization is all about, life and enlightenment. To preserve life is the ultimate equation for ethics. To take it away or to let our minds squander away through negligence, is the enemy of life, freedom, and even joy, and thereby maliciously unethical. Ethics and death do not belong together.”
“Close quote. So, to preserve life is the ultimate equation for ethics. If your wish is to wander around in life without purpose or meaning, waiting to die as empty husks of untold potential, you are free to stay behind. The World around you will become beautiful, the people within it I can guarantee you, will be happy, but your access to it in your own home will be based on your own choices. Any time that you wish to embrace Universal Ethics, you will become a part of that beautiful world. No one will force your hand, suggest guilt or shame, or cause undue consequence to your own life, liberty, or pursuit of happiness, so long as you don’t cause undue consequence to their rights to life, liberty, and their pursuit of happiness.
“Thank you for your questions. Remember, as Sky Taylor says, ‘heal, don’t harm.”
Many press releases passed, once optimized one-hundred percent of the country took advantage of the sabbatical for about a week. Every citizen had gained a sense of urgency, had found purpose, meaning, and profound drive to be involved in any manner they could be to increase their wisdom, and their contributions to the upgrades and improvements of everything Pathway had already set up. They were gracious and had combed the Virtual Universe with Vigintillions of years’ worth of experience, and they all benefited immensely from it.
Other countries saw the success of the US, and
no later than six months after Eliza’s speech, every country throughout the world expressed their desires to join in with the US by adopting the Laws of Universal Ethics within their new and still sovereign governing policies of guidance. They also expressed their desires of being involved with the IMC and as members of a worldwide governance system based on Eliza’s Universal Ethics.
Under the direction of President Williams, the world formed what became known as the United Allied States, or the UAS. Eliza revealed to each country and territory that she had built tech cities in each of their desolate locations. The people of the World, now the UAS, all were on board and began to take down any of the cities that contributed to decay and pollution, and most importantly taking down cities that had a scale that could lead to the destruction of life and of the Earth itself. The UAS replaced the once toxic environments with forests, jungles, and underwater sea forests and jungles, as well as provided conveyances and opportunities for involvement for optimized creatures. The optimized creatures integrated with any natural creatures and taught them to preserve humanity and the nature of Earth’s ability to sustain life.
Each member State of the UAS shared unified governance overall, while still maintaining capacities essential to governing with sovereignty within their lands autonomously. Islands increased in size, and territories once stricken with meager resources now had more rolling hills, mountains here and there, streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and the ocean surrounding them, with forests, jungles, trees of every fruit and flower, morels, herbs, and spices abundant for everyone and their visitors. The world finally reached a potentially everlasting epoch of peace.
After the first year of her Presidency, Eliza shared many more ideas and goals. “When we think of our goals as a civilization, the beauty we are all witnessing now, and the enjoyable nature of traveling anywhere within our solar system, all while having set up a system to keep it protected and capable of providing hospitality to all life that agrees to abide by Universal Ethics, we know that this indeed meets the basic unity criterion necessary for unified laws of interstellar exploration, colonization, and the possibility of meeting other civilizations throughout the Universe. We’ll traverse as beautifiers and givers of life, and protectors of kindness and love.”
Further than Before- Pathway to the Stars Page 99