Post by redsycorax on May 15, 2021 1:01:33 GMT
On Earth-75, one of the core founding events of Anglo-American history turned out quite differently. In its 1066, a chance storm killed the Viking invader Harold Hardrada and Harold Godwinson's rebellious brother Tostig, meaning that Harold II's Saxon Army was rested and replenished without a Battle of Stanford Bridge. Resultantly, they were able to outnumber and overwhelm the invading Norman army at Hastings. With his own sword, Harold II rode at William of Normandy and forever dispatched the usurper's claim to the English throne. As a consequence of the abortive Norman invasion, paradoxically England developed closer relations with the Scandinavian bloc than with adjacent Western European nations. Harold the Great went down in history as one of the great Saxon Kings of Angleland. In its twenty first century, things have diverged otherwise from our world in other ways too. France, Spain. Britain, Germany, Italy and Russia never became coherent nation states. The Papacy was replaced by a Convocation Council, able to make reforms and prevent the necessity of the Protestant Reformation. The Mongol Khanate regarded this Europe as too impoverished to be worth attacking and moved down into South East Asia and India instead, although the disintegration of its empire still occurred due to the death of Kublai Khan. With a smaller European population, there was still trade, but without Ferdinand and Isabella married to one another, Christopher Columbus never traversed the Atlantic and the European discovery of the Americas had to wait for Jorn Cabout in the sixteenth century. The effect on science was minimal- the Renaissance still happened and wasn't checked or obstructed by religious warfare in this world. Resultantly, by the sixteenth century, steam trains traversed the lands of Europa. By the eighteenth century, humans had mastered nuclear energy and begun the first journeys to Earth, the Moon, the Earth's Trojan asteroids, Mars, the asteroid belt and Jupiter By the nineteenth century, its first metahumans had started to develop...
+++
"Roll call!" The Gerihte Treowe of Angleland (GTA) was the mightiest band of heroes and metahumans on Earth-75. It held meetings in a satellite 22,300 miles above Eorth-An, which it designated its home Earth.
"Foratecenfemme. Hrethemusmann. Byrtunmann. Grennes Herestrael. Grennes Blaecern. Liget. Hathokmann. Hathokfemme. Ah. I see we are in order." [Editors note: The aforementioned are Wonder Woman, Batman, Superman, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Flash, Hawkman and Hawkwoman. On Earth-75, English never incorporated French loanwords, so something like Old English still prevails. For the purposes of this story, however, conversations are related in Datum English]
"What is our purpose here today, Stolmann Mote?" [Ed: Chairman Atom]
"Our interspace probes have returned from investigating the adjacent Eorth-Tweowa [Ed: Earth-73]. It is a desolate, methane stormed wasteland and the bones of its inhabitants litter its surface. From what we can tell from the musculoskeletal remains evident, Earth-Tweowa was subject to an alien invasion at least two centuries ago, perhaps before it could evolve metahumans or became a sanctuary or refuge for benign alien metahumans. There appear to be Gil'Dish'Pan settlements on its surface. It is not in a conventional Eorth-orbit and its surface also shows signs of severe gravitational stress, indicating it was moved into its current trajectory through the use of alien technology on a prodigious scale."
"Two centuries, Mote? But could it not have been detected here, through sorcery perhaps?"
Mote shook his head: "Friend Byrtunmann, I fear not. We estimate it to have occurred in about the Year of Our Lord 1820. There are some gravitational, electromagnetic and subatomic anomalies recorded that year, but the extinction of human life on our neighbouring Eorth left no other sign."
"Do the Gil'Dish'Pan on Eorth-Tweowa represent any danger to life and human civilisation or our interstellar neighbours here on Eorth-An and our encompassing universe [Ed: Earth-75]?
"I know the Gil'Dish'Pan Domains here are in severe decline. They are undergoing subspecies divergence, political dissension based on that, associated separatist movements, class conflict and escalating debate between various political and religious ideologies. The Domains are given a wide berth when it comes to interstellar trade and navigation as a result, Foratecenfemme."
"And yet went undetected by my sister Mannetvrie, despite our advanced technology? This is a mystery, and one that I need to resolve."
"So what are you saying, Mother? That the Mannetvrie did receive cries for help from our sisters in alternity? But that you could not respond to it? Or would not?"
"Sculana, you were young when this happened. Moreover, we are limited in number and the Gil'Dish'Pan on Eorth-Tweowe were in multitudes."
Foratecenfemme angrily exclaimed: "So they were left to commit genocide, Mother, is that your true meaning?"
"Not to do so would mean that the alternate universe Gil'Dish'Pan might have discovered the existence of our own Eorth-An, daughter."
"Enough! This is unforgiveable cowardice, mother. I will not stand for it!"
And on Neorxnabeorden, land of the matriarchal Mannetvrie and the home of Foratecenfemme, Queen Hippolite sat and wept, concerned as ever for her headstrong daughter.
GIL'DAN'R- 73, GALAXY 0-79:
GIL'DAN'R is home to the aquatic annelidoid GIL'DISH'PAN species, which aggressively used its TELEPATHY and TELEPORTATION abilities, as well as vestigial ACID SPRAY organs, to subdue much of its native galaxy, 0-79 (See: GIL'DAN'R: GIL'DISH'PAN: GALAXY 0-79: TELEPATHY: TELEPORTATION). This took place over several hundred thousand years, with attendant problems in its wake. Given the longevity of the Gil'Dish'Pan Empire, there was enough time for localised species divergence to occur, resulting in differentiation into subspecies. Resulting, Gil"Dan'R, the Gil'Dish'Pan homeworld, became increasingly unable to control the ethnic, religious, philosophical and caste differentiation within its sprawling empire. According to data from MULTIVERSE traveller species or individuals, the Gil'Dish'Pan attacked the resource-poor peripheral worlds of the adjacent MILKY WAY GALAXY in several alternate universes in an attempt to unify its sprawling and increasingly fissaparous cultures through an appeal to SPECIES SUPREMACISM and XENOPHOBIA. (See: MULTIVERSE: MILKY WAY GALAXY: SPECIES SUPREMACISM: XENOPHOBIA). However, the expansionist surge produced additional economic strains and stresses within the Gil'Dish'Pan Empire and ironically further worsened existing divisions. Although the first recorded Gil'Dish'Pan encounter with Terrans supposedly occurred in 2783 CE, there is some evidence of a vanguard strike force covert operations group, designated THE BRAIN GLOBES OF RAKBAT, which attacked SUPERBOY of Earth in the 1960s (CE) after TELEPATHIC control of the LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES was achieved. The consequence was the establishment of the sapient NON-HOMINID LEGION OF SUPER-PETS, consisting ot KRYPTONIAN and ENHANCED TERRAN animals who repelled the attempted bridgehead. The Gil'Dish'Pan may have been involved in a collective attempted interstellar INVASION of EARTH in the 1990s (CE) as the aquatic species liaison. They are known to have definitely conquered HYKRAIUS during this period and have liased with the 30th Century DARK CIRCLE covert network. In one alternate universe, the Gil'Dish'Pan seem to have had notable military successes in the SOL CORRIDOR of interstellar space and occupied several planetary systems. It seems that their forces chose to invade an alternate EARTH before it had developed any METAHUMANS in significant numbers and using ECOSYNTHESIS, wiped out all sapient indigenous dominant species on that world, creating a planetary environment more akin to Gil'Dan'R.
...PLANETARY ATTRIBUTES: Gil'Dan'R is an ice giant world, akin to URANUS and NEPTUNE in the SOL PLANETARY SYSTEM. However, unlike these worlds, it is a "HOT NEPTUNE", orbiting its red dwarf sun within its planetary system's ECOSPHERE of potential habitability. Gil'Dan'R has over thirty five satellites and three of them are comparable in size to smaller range MESOPLANETS. Whether the Gil'Dish'Pan first evolved on one of those satellites and then colonised their primary is a moot point. Alternatively, they may have evolved in Gil'Dan'R's upper planetary atmosphere.
ENCYCLOPEDIA GALACTICA (Terran Edition) CE 3021.
<Why are there hominid life signs on the surveillance screen?>
<How can that be possible? The current ecological condition of V'Dan'Shrr [Ed: Earth-73] is inimical to the development or survival of any carbon-based life form->
<There is tachyonic trace material there. These anomalous lifeforms may not be native to this world>
<We must remain here! Another loss of colonisable terrain will result in the fall of the current administration in the Gil'Dan'R Senate and more riots in the secessionist Imperial sectors. They are already making treasonous comments about the retrenchment of health and social services in their territories>
EARTH-73:
"What...happened down there?" Fortacenfemme exclaimed, looking down at the ruined, desolate landscape, the swirling clouds of ammonia and methane, the discoloured brown seas and the debris from the ruined cities. Through the skies, alien companion animals flapped and cried out and within the seas, monstrous annelids and giant echninoderm and coelenterate analogues rose and cried. Hrethmusmann had some ideas:
"That chemical composition looks introduced. There's no way that planetary formation could have naturally produced that hell's cauldron. So, I suspect ecosynthesis...eorthforming... is responsible for this. Clarek? What does your microscopic vision reveal?"
Byrtunmann frowned: "What you've said, Brus. There are no fossils here from any of those creatures evident in lower geological strata, but there is evidence of a massive extinction event here more than two centuries ago."
Hathokfemme indicated the Gil'Dish'Pan lunar base:
"The question is, what do we do now? That's the Gil'Dish'Pan, Kater and I know the species. We also know that it's subject to formidable stresses due to economic insecurity, political and religious factionalism, subspecies divergence and intraxenophobia, and other problems. I know, perhaps they need to be punished for invading Earth and obliterating its indigenous population here, but the consequences might reverberate beyond this immediate colonial outpost. It might involve innocent bystanders not directly responsible for this. Do we have the right to interfere?"
Byrthunmann shook his head: "This isn't up for debate, Sierrha. Genocide is genocide. The perpetrators must be held accountable."
"I know that, Clarek, but humanity's extinct here. Is there anyone to be accountable to?"
Fortacenfemme interjected: "When Germania started the Second Europan War a century past, there were those amongst the Mannetvrie who urged that our people not become involved in it. I didn't listen to them. Is this any different?"
"No, it isn't. Even if humanity is extinct here, Sierrha, the basic principle involved is the same. There is an interstellar rule of law and interstellar powers need to be held accountable for what they do to pre-starflight planets, especially when it comes to resource exploitation, colonial occupation and genocide of the indigenous inhabitants. Bris, is the local interstellar history here significantly different in any way from our own local neighbourhood?"
Hruthusmann shook his head: "No, Clarek, apart from... well, it's the Negus star system. This universe's Krypton still exists here and is engaged in interstellar exploration. Your father, Jor-El, is head of its Science Council."
"Then why haven't they done anything to intervene?" Byrthunmann replied.
"Depends. You've told all of us about how traumatic the Vrang invasion and occupation was for your world and your relationships with Dheron, Daxam and Rinoti were affected as a result. They may have chosen not to actively intervene for that reason."
"What are their interuniversal technologies like? Could they launch a reprisal attack on our Eorth or elsewhere in our universe?"
"I get no readings of singularity related tech from that starship, Clarek." Grennes Blaecern said as his power ring scanned the vessel and base.
"And so there'll be no kryptonite from our universe here, apart from any that might have exited a white hole."
"There aren't any in the areas of the Milky Way under Gil'Dish'Pan control. Moreover, the Gil'Dish'Pan aren't from a red sun world, nor do they have access to thaumaturgy or Q energy. You're free to go in< Clarek."
"Many thanks, Harald." As a vanguard, Fortacenfemme, Byrthunmann, Grennes Blaecern and Liget moved into the proximity of the vessel
<Intruders! Cease and desist! V'Dann'Shrr is sovereign Gil'Dish'Pan territory! You have no right or claim to it!>
"You destroyed this world's indigenous inhabitants! Don't you think you should be held accountable for that?"
<What, the loss of primitive, pre-starflight savages? Centuries ago? You believe we should be made to leave this world for that?>
"That sort of philosophy stinks on our world and it's just as obnoxious here." Grennes Blaecern retorted.
"Enough!" Byrthunnmann and Fortacenfemme led the way, tearing into the vessel, shrugging aside the attempted telekinetic bombardment. Liget's speed enabled him to accelerate forward and grip the largest Gil'Dish'Pan by its teleport organ, while Fortacenfemme and Byrthunmann battered at the ecosynthesis consoles and environmental controls.
<Our people cannot survive here without ecosynthesis! What have you done?>
"There are only a few thousand Gil'Dish'Pan here and this is on the periphery of your empire. The deterioration of this artificially constructed environment will take time, just as establishing it did. And judging from the condition of this vessel and the equipment, it was economically marginal here to begin with. Your backers won't risk further investment in this sector of fringe Gil'Dish'Pan space. Incidentally, we're also capable of transtemporal travel, so there will be further retaliation from us if you ever attempt to return here." Fortacenfemme said coldly.
<But they have lived here for generations!>
"So did the species and ecosphere whose world you usurped. Leave. Now."
While it took several years to fully close down the failing V'Dann'Shrr colony, it was accomplished. Several Gil'Dish'Pan corporations were imprudently exposed and went bankrupt, and on distant Gil'Dan"R, the better aspects of the species were horrified to learn that its imperial government had suppressed the fact that V'Dann'Shrr had had its own planetary ecology and sapient species, and noisy and volatile riots took place throughout Gil'Dish'Pan space. Finally, the political parties and corporate interests involved fell from power. There were a few unregenerate irredentist souls calling for vengeance and reoccupation, but in such a vast, sprawling and complex interstellar empire, its financial institutions and non-aligned corporates chose to reorient its mercantile, religious and social interests away from that undistinguished but troublesome yellow main sequence star and its retinue of planets. After a while, even these tiny pressure groups went into hiatus as their last stubborn remnants gave way to mortality and old age illness, financial accounts were closed, electronic records were archived and then forgotten and the cause lapsed into quiescence and then oblivion. And on the ravaged V'Dann'Shrr/Eorth-Tweowe/Earth-73, primordial molecules reformed, lightning struck and the first hesitant beginnings of life arose from its seas. It would take many billions of years for sapient life to arise on this Earth again, but at least it now had the chance to do so, left to its own future.
THE END
+++
"Roll call!" The Gerihte Treowe of Angleland (GTA) was the mightiest band of heroes and metahumans on Earth-75. It held meetings in a satellite 22,300 miles above Eorth-An, which it designated its home Earth.
"Foratecenfemme. Hrethemusmann. Byrtunmann. Grennes Herestrael. Grennes Blaecern. Liget. Hathokmann. Hathokfemme. Ah. I see we are in order." [Editors note: The aforementioned are Wonder Woman, Batman, Superman, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Flash, Hawkman and Hawkwoman. On Earth-75, English never incorporated French loanwords, so something like Old English still prevails. For the purposes of this story, however, conversations are related in Datum English]
"What is our purpose here today, Stolmann Mote?" [Ed: Chairman Atom]
"Our interspace probes have returned from investigating the adjacent Eorth-Tweowa [Ed: Earth-73]. It is a desolate, methane stormed wasteland and the bones of its inhabitants litter its surface. From what we can tell from the musculoskeletal remains evident, Earth-Tweowa was subject to an alien invasion at least two centuries ago, perhaps before it could evolve metahumans or became a sanctuary or refuge for benign alien metahumans. There appear to be Gil'Dish'Pan settlements on its surface. It is not in a conventional Eorth-orbit and its surface also shows signs of severe gravitational stress, indicating it was moved into its current trajectory through the use of alien technology on a prodigious scale."
"Two centuries, Mote? But could it not have been detected here, through sorcery perhaps?"
Mote shook his head: "Friend Byrtunmann, I fear not. We estimate it to have occurred in about the Year of Our Lord 1820. There are some gravitational, electromagnetic and subatomic anomalies recorded that year, but the extinction of human life on our neighbouring Eorth left no other sign."
"Do the Gil'Dish'Pan on Eorth-Tweowa represent any danger to life and human civilisation or our interstellar neighbours here on Eorth-An and our encompassing universe [Ed: Earth-75]?
"I know the Gil'Dish'Pan Domains here are in severe decline. They are undergoing subspecies divergence, political dissension based on that, associated separatist movements, class conflict and escalating debate between various political and religious ideologies. The Domains are given a wide berth when it comes to interstellar trade and navigation as a result, Foratecenfemme."
"And yet went undetected by my sister Mannetvrie, despite our advanced technology? This is a mystery, and one that I need to resolve."
"So what are you saying, Mother? That the Mannetvrie did receive cries for help from our sisters in alternity? But that you could not respond to it? Or would not?"
"Sculana, you were young when this happened. Moreover, we are limited in number and the Gil'Dish'Pan on Eorth-Tweowe were in multitudes."
Foratecenfemme angrily exclaimed: "So they were left to commit genocide, Mother, is that your true meaning?"
"Not to do so would mean that the alternate universe Gil'Dish'Pan might have discovered the existence of our own Eorth-An, daughter."
"Enough! This is unforgiveable cowardice, mother. I will not stand for it!"
And on Neorxnabeorden, land of the matriarchal Mannetvrie and the home of Foratecenfemme, Queen Hippolite sat and wept, concerned as ever for her headstrong daughter.
GIL'DAN'R- 73, GALAXY 0-79:
GIL'DAN'R is home to the aquatic annelidoid GIL'DISH'PAN species, which aggressively used its TELEPATHY and TELEPORTATION abilities, as well as vestigial ACID SPRAY organs, to subdue much of its native galaxy, 0-79 (See: GIL'DAN'R: GIL'DISH'PAN: GALAXY 0-79: TELEPATHY: TELEPORTATION). This took place over several hundred thousand years, with attendant problems in its wake. Given the longevity of the Gil'Dish'Pan Empire, there was enough time for localised species divergence to occur, resulting in differentiation into subspecies. Resulting, Gil"Dan'R, the Gil'Dish'Pan homeworld, became increasingly unable to control the ethnic, religious, philosophical and caste differentiation within its sprawling empire. According to data from MULTIVERSE traveller species or individuals, the Gil'Dish'Pan attacked the resource-poor peripheral worlds of the adjacent MILKY WAY GALAXY in several alternate universes in an attempt to unify its sprawling and increasingly fissaparous cultures through an appeal to SPECIES SUPREMACISM and XENOPHOBIA. (See: MULTIVERSE: MILKY WAY GALAXY: SPECIES SUPREMACISM: XENOPHOBIA). However, the expansionist surge produced additional economic strains and stresses within the Gil'Dish'Pan Empire and ironically further worsened existing divisions. Although the first recorded Gil'Dish'Pan encounter with Terrans supposedly occurred in 2783 CE, there is some evidence of a vanguard strike force covert operations group, designated THE BRAIN GLOBES OF RAKBAT, which attacked SUPERBOY of Earth in the 1960s (CE) after TELEPATHIC control of the LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES was achieved. The consequence was the establishment of the sapient NON-HOMINID LEGION OF SUPER-PETS, consisting ot KRYPTONIAN and ENHANCED TERRAN animals who repelled the attempted bridgehead. The Gil'Dish'Pan may have been involved in a collective attempted interstellar INVASION of EARTH in the 1990s (CE) as the aquatic species liaison. They are known to have definitely conquered HYKRAIUS during this period and have liased with the 30th Century DARK CIRCLE covert network. In one alternate universe, the Gil'Dish'Pan seem to have had notable military successes in the SOL CORRIDOR of interstellar space and occupied several planetary systems. It seems that their forces chose to invade an alternate EARTH before it had developed any METAHUMANS in significant numbers and using ECOSYNTHESIS, wiped out all sapient indigenous dominant species on that world, creating a planetary environment more akin to Gil'Dan'R.
...PLANETARY ATTRIBUTES: Gil'Dan'R is an ice giant world, akin to URANUS and NEPTUNE in the SOL PLANETARY SYSTEM. However, unlike these worlds, it is a "HOT NEPTUNE", orbiting its red dwarf sun within its planetary system's ECOSPHERE of potential habitability. Gil'Dan'R has over thirty five satellites and three of them are comparable in size to smaller range MESOPLANETS. Whether the Gil'Dish'Pan first evolved on one of those satellites and then colonised their primary is a moot point. Alternatively, they may have evolved in Gil'Dan'R's upper planetary atmosphere.
ENCYCLOPEDIA GALACTICA (Terran Edition) CE 3021.
<Why are there hominid life signs on the surveillance screen?>
<How can that be possible? The current ecological condition of V'Dan'Shrr [Ed: Earth-73] is inimical to the development or survival of any carbon-based life form->
<There is tachyonic trace material there. These anomalous lifeforms may not be native to this world>
<We must remain here! Another loss of colonisable terrain will result in the fall of the current administration in the Gil'Dan'R Senate and more riots in the secessionist Imperial sectors. They are already making treasonous comments about the retrenchment of health and social services in their territories>
EARTH-73:
"What...happened down there?" Fortacenfemme exclaimed, looking down at the ruined, desolate landscape, the swirling clouds of ammonia and methane, the discoloured brown seas and the debris from the ruined cities. Through the skies, alien companion animals flapped and cried out and within the seas, monstrous annelids and giant echninoderm and coelenterate analogues rose and cried. Hrethmusmann had some ideas:
"That chemical composition looks introduced. There's no way that planetary formation could have naturally produced that hell's cauldron. So, I suspect ecosynthesis...eorthforming... is responsible for this. Clarek? What does your microscopic vision reveal?"
Byrtunmann frowned: "What you've said, Brus. There are no fossils here from any of those creatures evident in lower geological strata, but there is evidence of a massive extinction event here more than two centuries ago."
Hathokfemme indicated the Gil'Dish'Pan lunar base:
"The question is, what do we do now? That's the Gil'Dish'Pan, Kater and I know the species. We also know that it's subject to formidable stresses due to economic insecurity, political and religious factionalism, subspecies divergence and intraxenophobia, and other problems. I know, perhaps they need to be punished for invading Earth and obliterating its indigenous population here, but the consequences might reverberate beyond this immediate colonial outpost. It might involve innocent bystanders not directly responsible for this. Do we have the right to interfere?"
Byrthunmann shook his head: "This isn't up for debate, Sierrha. Genocide is genocide. The perpetrators must be held accountable."
"I know that, Clarek, but humanity's extinct here. Is there anyone to be accountable to?"
Fortacenfemme interjected: "When Germania started the Second Europan War a century past, there were those amongst the Mannetvrie who urged that our people not become involved in it. I didn't listen to them. Is this any different?"
"No, it isn't. Even if humanity is extinct here, Sierrha, the basic principle involved is the same. There is an interstellar rule of law and interstellar powers need to be held accountable for what they do to pre-starflight planets, especially when it comes to resource exploitation, colonial occupation and genocide of the indigenous inhabitants. Bris, is the local interstellar history here significantly different in any way from our own local neighbourhood?"
Hruthusmann shook his head: "No, Clarek, apart from... well, it's the Negus star system. This universe's Krypton still exists here and is engaged in interstellar exploration. Your father, Jor-El, is head of its Science Council."
"Then why haven't they done anything to intervene?" Byrthunmann replied.
"Depends. You've told all of us about how traumatic the Vrang invasion and occupation was for your world and your relationships with Dheron, Daxam and Rinoti were affected as a result. They may have chosen not to actively intervene for that reason."
"What are their interuniversal technologies like? Could they launch a reprisal attack on our Eorth or elsewhere in our universe?"
"I get no readings of singularity related tech from that starship, Clarek." Grennes Blaecern said as his power ring scanned the vessel and base.
"And so there'll be no kryptonite from our universe here, apart from any that might have exited a white hole."
"There aren't any in the areas of the Milky Way under Gil'Dish'Pan control. Moreover, the Gil'Dish'Pan aren't from a red sun world, nor do they have access to thaumaturgy or Q energy. You're free to go in< Clarek."
"Many thanks, Harald." As a vanguard, Fortacenfemme, Byrthunmann, Grennes Blaecern and Liget moved into the proximity of the vessel
<Intruders! Cease and desist! V'Dann'Shrr is sovereign Gil'Dish'Pan territory! You have no right or claim to it!>
"You destroyed this world's indigenous inhabitants! Don't you think you should be held accountable for that?"
<What, the loss of primitive, pre-starflight savages? Centuries ago? You believe we should be made to leave this world for that?>
"That sort of philosophy stinks on our world and it's just as obnoxious here." Grennes Blaecern retorted.
"Enough!" Byrthunnmann and Fortacenfemme led the way, tearing into the vessel, shrugging aside the attempted telekinetic bombardment. Liget's speed enabled him to accelerate forward and grip the largest Gil'Dish'Pan by its teleport organ, while Fortacenfemme and Byrthunmann battered at the ecosynthesis consoles and environmental controls.
<Our people cannot survive here without ecosynthesis! What have you done?>
"There are only a few thousand Gil'Dish'Pan here and this is on the periphery of your empire. The deterioration of this artificially constructed environment will take time, just as establishing it did. And judging from the condition of this vessel and the equipment, it was economically marginal here to begin with. Your backers won't risk further investment in this sector of fringe Gil'Dish'Pan space. Incidentally, we're also capable of transtemporal travel, so there will be further retaliation from us if you ever attempt to return here." Fortacenfemme said coldly.
<But they have lived here for generations!>
"So did the species and ecosphere whose world you usurped. Leave. Now."
While it took several years to fully close down the failing V'Dann'Shrr colony, it was accomplished. Several Gil'Dish'Pan corporations were imprudently exposed and went bankrupt, and on distant Gil'Dan"R, the better aspects of the species were horrified to learn that its imperial government had suppressed the fact that V'Dann'Shrr had had its own planetary ecology and sapient species, and noisy and volatile riots took place throughout Gil'Dish'Pan space. Finally, the political parties and corporate interests involved fell from power. There were a few unregenerate irredentist souls calling for vengeance and reoccupation, but in such a vast, sprawling and complex interstellar empire, its financial institutions and non-aligned corporates chose to reorient its mercantile, religious and social interests away from that undistinguished but troublesome yellow main sequence star and its retinue of planets. After a while, even these tiny pressure groups went into hiatus as their last stubborn remnants gave way to mortality and old age illness, financial accounts were closed, electronic records were archived and then forgotten and the cause lapsed into quiescence and then oblivion. And on the ravaged V'Dann'Shrr/Eorth-Tweowe/Earth-73, primordial molecules reformed, lightning struck and the first hesitant beginnings of life arose from its seas. It would take many billions of years for sapient life to arise on this Earth again, but at least it now had the chance to do so, left to its own future.
THE END