“Good evening. Here is some sage advice from President Eliza Williams, something she told me when I went through the Virtual Universe with her training me there many years ago. She said, “Live and love life, be so curious about our Universe, our solar system, our Earth, and our communities that you are swelling with meaning, purpose, and drive sufficient to desire to live forever with the desire to multiply your talents and experiences exponentially. Do everything you can to help others in whatever way you are driven, to bring joy, release from tension and despair, and to be there following great and shared achievements. Do all of this, and then if the day comes that we move on from this mortal realm, then you'll know your life was full and worth every moment.” I intend to do just that with each of you. I desire to live forever, because there is so much to understand, but should my time come for no reason of my own, then I will know my life was full. With General Forall, I have no doubt our Zone’s crew will go to great lengths to do the same. With so much to cover and so many journeys ahead, I’ll begin our brief.
“Each of the Regions within our Zone is scattered between 300 and 90 Degrees Galactic Longitude, and can be seen through our Galactic Disc, as well as above and mostly below it.
“Virgo is an interesting region, due to the fact that while it lies in Southern Quadrant 3 a majority of this region is beyond and just north of our Galactic Disc. This is the direction our Galaxy travels through space, along with other galaxies belonging to our Local Cluster. This, our Local Cluster, including many of the galaxies we see in this region are heading toward the Great Attractor in the Norma Region,” Katya looked toward Scarlett and Christian, smiled, and then looked toward Yonn with a peaceful glow about her. “Of the thousands of galaxies, we have detected all of them using legacy systems within that Constellation Region, from Earth to the Cosmic Microwave Background, the one that has intrigued us most does not belong to our Local Cluster at all. We’re still learning about its present through physics, mathematics, and statistics. Scientists identified Quasar-3C-273, which is classified as a “blazar,” which occurred at the heart of a giant elliptical galaxy about 2.443 billion light-years away. We will keep you up-to-date on everything we learn as we observe and explore this and any Region or Sector, and you’ll be able to access the details of them, along with volunteer opportunities in our Zone-11 Matrix inside the Virtual Universe. Of course, we would be remiss if we didn’t at least set up a few observation posts around and within M104 or the Sombrero Galaxy. This is an unbarred spiral galaxy, along with the southern portion of the Virgo Cluster. This galaxy has between twelve hundred and two thousand Globular Clusters and lies about 29.3 million light-years away.
“Aquarius, with a beautiful mythology if you ask me, like the remainder of our regions lies in Celestial Southern Quadrant 4, and as you view it, you are looking toward our Galactic Disc, and both above and below it. NGC-7252, or the Atoms for Peace Galaxy, is a peculiar elliptical galaxy about 220 million light-years away. What is truly intriguing about this is, unlike your typically pristine elliptical galaxy, this has clearly undergone a merger recently, or more than 220 million years ago. This will be our opportunity to add significant knowledge to macro-galactic biology, physics, and history. It will help us understand what to expect from mergers such as these in the future. While we plan to help our Universe slightly expand and contract to provide indefinite life to all within, there will be times where we send sensors out in the middle of blazing and cosmically hot firestorms, with little to no feedback coming back at all. We’re only beginning to understand black holes, how they work, and how to take back was has been lost for untold periods of time. This and all strange events are all an important part of natural macro-cosmic behavior. To bring life and abundance, and expand as needed, we’ll observe this location thoroughly, explore it, and eventually colonize it. There are also many nebulae, globular clusters, and objects within our Milky Way that we are excited to work on with the President.
“Capricornus is absolutely amazing. With legacy systems, we understand little more than the fact that within the distant regions of space lies the Capricornus Void, and within our Galaxy lies globular clusters of stars, among a few other stars in the Region. Because we are gazing toward the northern region of the Galactic Disc, most of what we see is within the Sagittarius Arm, just west of the center of our Galaxy.
“Corona Australis lies below the Sagittarius Arm of our Galactic Disc, looking toward the Galactic South Pole. With legacy systems, deep space is difficult to see, due to the high count of the brilliantly beautiful nebula, stars, and globular clusters.
“Grus gives us a beautiful view of a number of galaxies as we gaze toward the Region just below our Galactic Disc. About 56 million light-years away lies the closer galaxy of the Grus Quartet, and the furthest is about 69 million light-years away. These four galaxies are currently known as NGC-7552, NGC-7582, NGC-7590, and NGC-7599. All four are barred spirals that are a part of the same galaxy group. We intend to observe, explore, and colonize these locations, as well as many others. IC-1459 Galaxy Group is another of many in this region. Included in this group are the following:
“The IC-1459 elliptical galaxy, which is about 68.8 million light-years away
“The NGC-7418 barred spiral galaxy, about 64.9 million light-years away
“The NGC-7421 barred spiral galaxy, about 68 million light-years away
“The NGC-7552 barred spiral galaxy, about 56 million light-years away
“The NGC-7582 barred spiral galaxy, about 69 million light-years away
“The NGC-7590 barred spiral galaxy, about 60 million light-years away
“And, the NGC-7599 barred spiral galaxy, about 58 million light-years away.
“Each of these sectors will call for plenty of volunteers, and every volunteer, no matter the Zone, Region, or Sector, will be able to stake an equitable claim within the regions they observe, explore, colonize, and preserve, so long as the laws of Universal Ethics are abided by.
“Indus is another region of space where it is easier to see if using our legacy systems. Here, as you can see, we are looking just to the south of the center of our Galaxy, just below the Sagittarius Arm. The IC-5152 irregular galaxy is actually an outlying member of our own Local Group, about 5.8 million light-years away, which is relatively close given the size of our Observable Universe relative to Earth and Sol. The NGC-7029 bright elliptical galaxy is about 118.4 million light-years away. The NGC-7041 elliptical galaxy is about 80 million light-years away. The NGC-7049 elliptical-spiral galaxy is very unique, and possibly two separate galaxies, one resting many light-years in front of the other, with the closest lying about 100 million light-years away. NGC-7064 is a barred spiral galaxy about 34 million light-years away. NGC-7083 is a barred spiral galaxy, where we spotted supernova activity in 2009 giving it a reference number of SN 2009hm, and this galaxy is about 154 million light-years away. NGC-7090 is a spiral galaxy, about 30 million light-years away. Finally, NGC-7140 is a spiral galaxy about 122 million light-years away. All of these locations will receive at minimum an observation post.
“Microscopium is our final Region, within our Zone at this time. As you can tell, we have a beautiful view of the west portion of the Sagittarius Arm, and slightly to the south of the Galactic Disc. Our legacy systems have tracked one NGC-6925, which is a barred spiral galaxy that lies edge-on in our field of view. This is a wonderful example of what our galaxy might appear like gazing at the side of it from about 100.13 million light-years away. We very much plan to do that. There will, as you can see, be a lot of opportunities to be involved.
“Please keep up-to-date by visiting our Zone-11 Matrix in the Virtual Universe often.
“Thank you!”
With that, the audience was amazed at the visuals she had provided and looked forward to the impending opportunities that lay ahead with Zone-11. They watched as she passed General Anastasia Renae and Lt General Evan Bauer, gave them each a hug and a smile, and sat down next to Yonn. Thus far,
every brief was spectacular in every conceivable way.
Chapter 72: IMC Zone-12
General Anastasia Renae and Lt General Evan Bauer stood before their audience, made the podium appear invisible so as to see and appreciate their entire physical aspects on display, and the crowds were pleased. Both were outstandingly attractive, yet radiated brilliance, savvy, kindness, and drive. Representing IMC Zone-12, they had gone in together to share galaxy dye-like accents, highlights, trim, iris flare, and embroidery of light pinks and baby blue, with Evan’s colors the same, but several shades darker. Both fit their uniforms well, and not only did their presence raise morale, they also garnered deep respect from everyone throughout Sol. Here naturally light-blonde hair and his dark raven hair complemented their accent color choices quite well. She wore her hair up, with spiral curls and a series of braids coming up to where her hair gathered and then nicely scattered beyond the coil of her up-do. His hair was clean-cut on the sides and back, yet wavy on top, in a classic hairstyle. She stepped forward to the pulpit as he stood slightly behind her and to her left.
“I’m impressed with each and every crew and individual who will journey on board the various IMC Zonal Spacecraft, those who have helped prepare for this, and the many who are preparing now for the various journeys that will arise as time goes by. I’ve had an opportunity to work with many of you throughout the last almost two decades, and with some of you who are physicists even longer, and I will say that your spirit of fun, balanced with your astounding work ethic, is what has brought us to this point in history, today. Each of you is phenomenal and I have no doubt that your knowledge, experiences, and contributions in all of their details, written in text, would fill up the Library of Congress several times over. What you do in the spirit of preserving our Universe is something I appreciate deeply.
“No matter how far we think we have come, there will always be more challenges ahead. One need not find themselves ever consumed with concerns of boredom, since there will always be something exciting to enjoy, of merit for our focus, and with profound purpose on a macro scale. From the words of a favorite contemporary of mine, Astrophysicist Vera Rubin, “In a spiral galaxy, the ratio of dark-to-light matter is about a factor of ten. That's probably a good number for the ratio of our ignorance-to-knowledge. We're out of kindergarten, but only in about third grade." She was wise beyond her years, and may she rest in peace. No matter where we go or how much we think we know, there will always be untold adventures, journeys, and things to learn that will fill life with clarity and even more profound meaning.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to introduce my fellow crewmember, Lieutenant General Evan Bauer. His resume would take many years to read, so let’s just suffice it to say that he is well-deserved at his enviable position in IMC Zone-12 as Vice Commander. This is a rather large area of our observable Universe with literally billions of galaxies and untold potential, so I am very honored to work and serve with him in the many efforts ahead, not just because of his many accomplishments, but also because of his impeccable demeanor and immutable character. Evan?”
Anastasia stepped aside, shared an embrace, and then returned to her seat as he stepped forward to the podium. The audience was inspired by Anastasia’s words, they were impressed with her humility, and they were entranced with every aspect of her character. As their attention transitioned to Evan, they found they were inspired likewise and in every way.
“Hello.” Evan smiled. He looked down, then up, then back toward Eliza, sitting in the chairs behind him, just to his left, but far enough away to where her view hadn’t been blocked when he was standing by Anastasia. “Madam President, I just want to thank you for your incredible vigor despite every tragedy that unfolded throughout your life in those earlier days. I was beginning to understand the intricacies of optogenetics and neuroscience when you approached me all of those years ago and somehow you saw something in me that I did not. Perhaps through my earlier years, I was more timid and shy, but it could have been because the world that I perceived at that time was brutal, fatalistic, and cruel. I studied what I did because I knew there had to be a better equation for neurological health than that. You, you came to me and provided the means, the facilities, and the capacity to realize neurological optimizations, improve upon them, and secure private thought, and so much more, only after you had already contrived of it in so much depth to where it was already in full-swing through use of your biopods. I felt an instant connection the day I met you and a surge of confidence as we journeyed through the Virtual Universe as you supplied my training. As Anastasia has said, everyone here has contributed immensely, but I do not believe that any of us would have done so much to this degree had it not been for you. So, thank you, President Eliza Amber Williams. Thank you for this day.”
Every person throughout Sol got up from their seats and applauded. If there had been a microphone in the Oort cloud, in due time an alien would have thought that the sound of our solar system would have been a large and roaring applause. They would have inadvertently felt welcomed, which they would have been, nonetheless, but that was entirely beside the point. The living beings, led by the humanitarian among the living, had finally and solidly graduated to a Level 1 Civilization, based on the Kardashev Scale of civilization, and had quite possibly surpassed it altogether. Sol was ready for interstellar travels, and intergalactic would be not too far behind. Evan continued.
“We have a beautiful Universe and to that, I can truly attest to. Whatever we needed to be, or whomever we needed to become, I believe we are now well on our way. I agree with Eliza’s sense that the Universe is beckoning to us to preserve life, to continue to evolve, and to find a way to do this throughout all of space and time. We will preserve life wherever we go, find ways to work together, and then bring life, beauty, and abundance where life currently does not exist.
“Soon we will discover this within our Galaxy, within our previously introduced Zones, and within Zone-12, or the Constellation Regions of Octans, Pavo, Piscis Austrinus, Sagittarius, Scutum, Telescopium, and Tucana. All of our Regions are within Southern Quadrant 4 relative to Earth, and for reference of calculable based on Epoch J2000.0. Our Regions are between 270 and 90 Degrees Galactic Longitude, toward the center of our Galaxy, and below it toward the south of our Galactic Disc.
“Octans gives us the vantage point of looking through the southern portion of the Orion Spur, from the Interstellar Cloud in which we dwell. Using legacy systems, not a whole lot is understood about that region, but we will, in short, learn more. Perhaps there is much we can learn on our journey with the Presidential Command Spacecraft throughout the 88 Constellation Regions within the Milky Way and as we set up the extra-galactic observation posts beyond our Galactic Halo.
“Pavo is seen as we look between the Orion Spur and the Sagittarius Arm, through one of the southern Regions of our Galactic Disc. This gives us the advantage of seeing a variety of galaxies, including NGC-6744, which is a twin-like intermediate spiral galaxy similar to ours. Because of its unique yet shared nature, this galaxy, about 31 million light-years away, is where we will set up our Zone-12 Headquarters. We will also primarily observe, explore, colonize, and seek to preserve the life-giving capacity of the following galaxies:
“IC-4687, IC-4686, and IC-4689, which are triplet interacting and merging galaxies, about 250 million light-years away
“NGC 6782, which is a barred spiral galaxy, about 183 million light-years away
“NGC 6872, which is one of the largest known barred spiral galaxies, estimated at 380-thousand light-years wide, and IC-4970, which is an elliptical galaxy currently interacting with NGC-6872, approximately 220-million light-years away. I presume that given time, despite its size, NGC-6872 will become absorbed by IC-4970 due to the size of their galactic cores. We will endeavor to preserve life there, but we may not interfere if there is no life detected in either galaxy. This will give us a more profound understanding of Galactic Physics and Biology. That said, there
is a very high possibility that we will interfere, to preserve both life and the ability for life to exist within those two regions.
“Piscis Austrinus lies to the southwest of the center of our Galaxy, giving us a view between the Orion Spur and Sagittarius Arm areas prior to the point at which they intersect along the southern face of the Galactic Disc. NGC-7176 and NGC-7173 are two elliptical galaxies currently merging with the spiral galaxy, NGC-7174. The three galaxies are a part of the Hickson Compact Group 90, or HCG-90, Trio, between 100 to 114.8-million light-years away. NGC-7172 is a spiral galaxy about 120-million light-years away. NGC-7314 is a spiral galaxy with activities that are very peculiar and have won the categorization of a Seyfert Active Galaxy, about 65 million light-years away. Each of these locations, which lie well beyond our own Galaxy, will be observed, explored, and more.
“Sagittarius, beyond the Zone of Avoidance, is an area that by using our legacy systems were not at the time viewable. That said, there is plenty of intriguing data to consider for integration into our Galactic and Intergalactic Databases that will give us a fuller picture of that region of space. The Sagittarius Region happens to give our gaze a sense of where the center of our Galaxy is located, and we are currently about 25 thousand light-years from it and approaching the apogalacticon, within one or two million years, out of a 250 million. This is rather close to the point at which we are actually closest to our barred Galactic Core.
“What you see behind me, or in your Neural Displays, is Sagittarius A, which is our Galactic center. This legacy information indicates that our own Galaxy has three major spiral arms, however, many other sources point to two initial arms, Norma and Scutum, splitting into four, Perseus and Cygnus from Norma, and Scutum-Crux and Sagittarius from Scutum, and then regions with spurs connecting these arms in a random yet flowing manner. Through an examination of the various Regions, there are models that suggest several ideas, yet we will infer that we are in a spur, the Orion Spur, emanating from the Sagittarius Arm, which begins and emanates from the main arm about seven-twelfths of a revolution around the Major Arm’s trip around the Galactic Bulge to the point at which our tight Galactic Spiral Arms have made about ten-twelfths of a revolution around and out toward the galactic anticentre connecting to the Perseus Arm. The actual center of our Galaxy is located about twenty-six-thousand light-years away, while we’re closer to one of the edges of our Galactic Bar by about one-thousand light-years in our Solar System’s revolution around the center of the Galaxy.
Further than Before- Pathway to the Stars Page 112