Home » Personal collection » Acorn ADFS disks » Electron_User_Group » EUG_43.ADF » +SING2

+SING2

This website contains an archive of files for the Acorn Electron, BBC Micro, Acorn Archimedes, Commodore 16 and Commodore 64 computers, which Dominic Ford has rescued from his private collection of floppy disks and cassettes.

Some of these files were originally commercial releases in the 1980s and 1990s, but they are now widely available online. I assume that copyright over them is no longer being asserted. If you own the copyright and would like files to be removed, please contact me.

Tape/disk: Home » Personal collection » Acorn ADFS disks » Electron_User_Group » EUG_43.ADF
Filename: +SING2
Read OK: ✔
File size: 1141 bytes
Load address: 2B204556
Exec address: 474E4953
Duplicates

There is 1 duplicate copy of this file in the archive:

File contents
This was no easy task. The whole venture was begun as a contribution to
the welfare of mankind and mankind had responded by concentrating much of
its thinking for the past 100 years on this one subject. This was not
another commercial venture which the larger GlobCorps could simply go
ahead with, suppressing information and opposition. The world governments
had used the debate to recapture some of the status which they had lost in
the 21 century and while the GlobCorps were still very powerful they
didn't want to risk a confrontation with world governments. They knew they
would win of course but their entire strategy since they were first
established was based upon encouraging and propping up these remnants of
political life.

One of the smaller GlobCorps took matters into its own hands. This was
Assend GlobCorp. They had been principally concerned with the running of
the transports to the orbiting platforms. They had always resisted
expansion into other areas since, as a Globcorp their principal business
was a monopoly. In any case they were widely regarded as being extremely
efficient. Their record of safety was almost perfect and like all the
GlobCorps they concentrated on their speciality.

Why they should wish to break ranks and launch themselves into such a
risky and untried venture is not known. However they announced on the eve
of the anniversary of the discovery of planetoid D that they had secretly
transported all the equipment necessary to the space site and were ready
to begin experiments.

Outrage burst out among world governments. Several GlobCorps also broke
ranks and voiced their opposition. Court cases were started in several
regional courts and some courts even began issuing court orders forbidding
Assend from proceeding. 

Ascend countered that courts didn't have jurisdiction in outer space.  The
arguments became heated. The courts claimed jurisdiction over the people
in outer space since they had originally come from earth. Ascend countered
that courts traditionally only had jurisdiction over people in their
immediate area. Once someone moved out of that area they became subject to
the jurisdiction of another court. A number of courts began issuing orders
to seize the assets of Ascend. Several Ascend transport sites were seized
and chaos began to ensue on space platforms when their inhabitants started
to panic over their communications.

Ascend then announced that if their assets were to be seized they would
have no business left in any case. They started the experiment.

The containment was set up, and the singularity was created. Initial
experiments demonstrated that the technology would worked exactly as
predicted. After initial reluctance and reticence gradually everyone began
to marvel at the achievement. 

The Singularity was the pinnacle of human achievement. Ascend wisely
refuted all attempts to apportion credit to them and insisted that this
was an achievement for mankind as a whole. Pamphlets were printed detailing
the history of of the singularity from its first theoretical beginnings to
the opening of the experiment. Everyone was to share in the glory.
Supporters for their drive and commitment, opponents for their modulating
effect. 

One unexpected result was the discovery of time distortion. The
tremendous gravity generated by the singularity had been predicted to
distort time but the manipulation of time distortion wasn't expected and
was seen as a remarkable effect. With time distortion long distance space
travel could be achieved in short periods of time not by travelling faster
but by distorting time itself.

After about 30 years the singularity had become commonplace. Everyone knew
about it. Most were familiar with many of the details since learning these
had become something of a necessity for the passage into adulthood in much
the same way as we now learn about the heroes of the new order. However
little more was needed to be said and discussion became unfashionable.

The time had come to shut the experiment down. The asteroid belt would be
coming near and suitable chunks had long since been selected for
annihilation as a means to 'filling the hole'.

The containment beam was switched off and simple explosive charges were
detonated on the selected asteroids with a view to diverting their orbits.

All appeared to be going well. The asteroids vanished into the spot.

Then something went wrong. 


00000000  0d 54 68 69 73 20 77 61  73 20 6e 6f 20 65 61 73  |.This was no eas|
00000010  79 20 74 61 73 6b 2e 20  54 68 65 20 77 68 6f 6c  |y task. The whol|
00000020  65 20 76 65 6e 74 75 72  65 20 77 61 73 20 62 65  |e venture was be|
00000030  67 75 6e 20 61 73 20 61  20 63 6f 6e 74 72 69 62  |gun as a contrib|
00000040  75 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f  0d 74 68 65 20 77 65 6c  |ution to.the wel|
00000050  66 61 72 65 20 6f 66 20  6d 61 6e 6b 69 6e 64 20  |fare of mankind |
00000060  61 6e 64 20 6d 61 6e 6b  69 6e 64 20 68 61 64 20  |and mankind had |
00000070  72 65 73 70 6f 6e 64 65  64 20 62 79 20 63 6f 6e  |responded by con|
00000080  63 65 6e 74 72 61 74 69  6e 67 20 6d 75 63 68 20  |centrating much |
00000090  6f 66 0d 69 74 73 20 74  68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20  |of.its thinking |
000000a0  66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20  70 61 73 74 20 31 30 30  |for the past 100|
000000b0  20 79 65 61 72 73 20 6f  6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 6f  | years on this o|
000000c0  6e 65 20 73 75 62 6a 65  63 74 2e 20 54 68 69 73  |ne subject. This|
000000d0  20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74  0d 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72  | was not.another|
000000e0  20 63 6f 6d 6d 65 72 63  69 61 6c 20 76 65 6e 74  | commercial vent|
000000f0  75 72 65 20 77 68 69 63  68 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61  |ure which the la|
00000100  72 67 65 72 20 47 6c 6f  62 43 6f 72 70 73 20 63  |rger GlobCorps c|
00000110  6f 75 6c 64 20 73 69 6d  70 6c 79 20 67 6f 0d 61  |ould simply go.a|
00000120  68 65 61 64 20 77 69 74  68 2c 20 73 75 70 70 72  |head with, suppr|
00000130  65 73 73 69 6e 67 20 69  6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69  |essing informati|
00000140  6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6f  70 70 6f 73 69 74 69 6f  |on and oppositio|
00000150  6e 2e 20 54 68 65 20 77  6f 72 6c 64 20 67 6f 76  |n. The world gov|
00000160  65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 73  0d 68 61 64 20 75 73 65  |ernments.had use|
00000170  64 20 74 68 65 20 64 65  62 61 74 65 20 74 6f 20  |d the debate to |
00000180  72 65 63 61 70 74 75 72  65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f  |recapture some o|
00000190  66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74  61 74 75 73 20 77 68 69  |f the status whi|
000001a0  63 68 20 74 68 65 79 20  68 61 64 20 6c 6f 73 74  |ch they had lost|
000001b0  20 69 6e 0d 74 68 65 20  32 31 20 63 65 6e 74 75  | in.the 21 centu|
000001c0  72 79 20 61 6e 64 20 77  68 69 6c 65 20 74 68 65  |ry and while the|
000001d0  20 47 6c 6f 62 43 6f 72  70 73 20 77 65 72 65 20  | GlobCorps were |
000001e0  73 74 69 6c 6c 20 76 65  72 79 20 70 6f 77 65 72  |still very power|
000001f0  66 75 6c 20 74 68 65 79  0d 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20  |ful they.didn't |
00000200  77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20  72 69 73 6b 20 61 20 63  |want to risk a c|
00000210  6f 6e 66 72 6f 6e 74 61  74 69 6f 6e 20 77 69 74  |onfrontation wit|
00000220  68 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20  67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65  |h world governme|
00000230  6e 74 73 2e 20 54 68 65  79 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 74  |nts. They knew t|
00000240  68 65 79 0d 77 6f 75 6c  64 20 77 69 6e 20 6f 66  |hey.would win of|
00000250  20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20  62 75 74 20 74 68 65 69  | course but thei|
00000260  72 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65  20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67  |r entire strateg|
00000270  79 20 73 69 6e 63 65 20  74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72  |y since they wer|
00000280  65 20 66 69 72 73 74 0d  65 73 74 61 62 6c 69 73  |e first.establis|
00000290  68 65 64 20 77 61 73 20  62 61 73 65 64 20 75 70  |hed was based up|
000002a0  6f 6e 20 65 6e 63 6f 75  72 61 67 69 6e 67 20 61  |on encouraging a|
000002b0  6e 64 20 70 72 6f 70 70  69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 74  |nd propping up t|
000002c0  68 65 73 65 20 72 65 6d  6e 61 6e 74 73 20 6f 66  |hese remnants of|
000002d0  0d 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63  61 6c 20 6c 69 66 65 2e  |.political life.|
000002e0  0d 0d 4f 6e 65 20 6f 66  20 74 68 65 20 73 6d 61  |..One of the sma|
000002f0  6c 6c 65 72 20 47 6c 6f  62 43 6f 72 70 73 20 74  |ller GlobCorps t|
00000300  6f 6f 6b 20 6d 61 74 74  65 72 73 20 69 6e 74 6f  |ook matters into|
00000310  20 69 74 73 20 6f 77 6e  20 68 61 6e 64 73 2e 20  | its own hands. |
00000320  54 68 69 73 20 77 61 73  0d 41 73 73 65 6e 64 20  |This was.Assend |
00000330  47 6c 6f 62 43 6f 72 70  2e 20 54 68 65 79 20 68  |GlobCorp. They h|
00000340  61 64 20 62 65 65 6e 20  70 72 69 6e 63 69 70 61  |ad been principa|
00000350  6c 6c 79 20 63 6f 6e 63  65 72 6e 65 64 20 77 69  |lly concerned wi|
00000360  74 68 20 74 68 65 20 72  75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 6f  |th the running o|
00000370  66 0d 74 68 65 20 74 72  61 6e 73 70 6f 72 74 73  |f.the transports|
00000380  20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20  6f 72 62 69 74 69 6e 67  | to the orbiting|
00000390  20 70 6c 61 74 66 6f 72  6d 73 2e 20 54 68 65 79  | platforms. They|
000003a0  20 68 61 64 20 61 6c 77  61 79 73 20 72 65 73 69  | had always resi|
000003b0  73 74 65 64 0d 65 78 70  61 6e 73 69 6f 6e 20 69  |sted.expansion i|
000003c0  6e 74 6f 20 6f 74 68 65  72 20 61 72 65 61 73 20  |nto other areas |
000003d0  73 69 6e 63 65 2c 20 61  73 20 61 20 47 6c 6f 62  |since, as a Glob|
000003e0  63 6f 72 70 20 74 68 65  69 72 20 70 72 69 6e 63  |corp their princ|
000003f0  69 70 61 6c 20 62 75 73  69 6e 65 73 73 0d 77 61  |ipal business.wa|
00000400  73 20 61 20 6d 6f 6e 6f  70 6f 6c 79 2e 20 49 6e  |s a monopoly. In|
00000410  20 61 6e 79 20 63 61 73  65 20 74 68 65 79 20 77  | any case they w|
00000420  65 72 65 20 77 69 64 65  6c 79 20 72 65 67 61 72  |ere widely regar|
00000430  64 65 64 20 61 73 20 62  65 69 6e 67 20 65 78 74  |ded as being ext|
00000440  72 65 6d 65 6c 79 0d 65  66 66 69 63 69 65 6e 74  |remely.efficient|
00000450  2e 20 54 68 65 69 72 20  72 65 63 6f 72 64 20 6f  |. Their record o|
00000460  66 20 73 61 66 65 74 79  20 77 61 73 20 61 6c 6d  |f safety was alm|
00000470  6f 73 74 20 70 65 72 66  65 63 74 20 61 6e 64 20  |ost perfect and |
00000480  6c 69 6b 65 20 61 6c 6c  20 74 68 65 0d 47 6c 6f  |like all the.Glo|
00000490  62 43 6f 72 70 73 20 74  68 65 79 20 63 6f 6e 63  |bCorps they conc|
000004a0  65 6e 74 72 61 74 65 64  20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 69  |entrated on thei|
000004b0  72 20 73 70 65 63 69 61  6c 69 74 79 2e 0d 0d 57  |r speciality...W|
000004c0  68 79 20 74 68 65 79 20  73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 77  |hy they should w|
000004d0  69 73 68 20 74 6f 20 62  72 65 61 6b 20 72 61 6e  |ish to break ran|
000004e0  6b 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6c  61 75 6e 63 68 20 74 68  |ks and launch th|
000004f0  65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73  20 69 6e 74 6f 20 73 75  |emselves into su|
00000500  63 68 20 61 0d 72 69 73  6b 79 20 61 6e 64 20 75  |ch a.risky and u|
00000510  6e 74 72 69 65 64 20 76  65 6e 74 75 72 65 20 69  |ntried venture i|
00000520  73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e  6f 77 6e 2e 20 48 6f 77  |s not known. How|
00000530  65 76 65 72 20 74 68 65  79 20 61 6e 6e 6f 75 6e  |ever they announ|
00000540  63 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74  68 65 20 65 76 65 0d 6f  |ced on the eve.o|
00000550  66 20 74 68 65 20 61 6e  6e 69 76 65 72 73 61 72  |f the anniversar|
00000560  79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65  20 64 69 73 63 6f 76 65  |y of the discove|
00000570  72 79 20 6f 66 20 70 6c  61 6e 65 74 6f 69 64 20  |ry of planetoid |
00000580  44 20 74 68 61 74 20 74  68 65 79 20 68 61 64 20  |D that they had |
00000590  73 65 63 72 65 74 6c 79  0d 74 72 61 6e 73 70 6f  |secretly.transpo|
000005a0  72 74 65 64 20 61 6c 6c  20 74 68 65 20 65 71 75  |rted all the equ|
000005b0  69 70 6d 65 6e 74 20 6e  65 63 65 73 73 61 72 79  |ipment necessary|
000005c0  20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20  73 70 61 63 65 20 73 69  | to the space si|
000005d0  74 65 20 61 6e 64 20 77  65 72 65 20 72 65 61 64  |te and were read|
000005e0  79 0d 74 6f 20 62 65 67  69 6e 20 65 78 70 65 72  |y.to begin exper|
000005f0  69 6d 65 6e 74 73 2e 0d  0d 4f 75 74 72 61 67 65  |iments...Outrage|
00000600  20 62 75 72 73 74 20 6f  75 74 20 61 6d 6f 6e 67  | burst out among|
00000610  20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 67  6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e  | world governmen|
00000620  74 73 2e 20 53 65 76 65  72 61 6c 20 47 6c 6f 62  |ts. Several Glob|
00000630  43 6f 72 70 73 20 61 6c  73 6f 20 62 72 6f 6b 65  |Corps also broke|
00000640  0d 72 61 6e 6b 73 20 61  6e 64 20 76 6f 69 63 65  |.ranks and voice|
00000650  64 20 74 68 65 69 72 20  6f 70 70 6f 73 69 74 69  |d their oppositi|
00000660  6f 6e 2e 20 43 6f 75 72  74 20 63 61 73 65 73 20  |on. Court cases |
00000670  77 65 72 65 20 73 74 61  72 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20  |were started in |
00000680  73 65 76 65 72 61 6c 0d  72 65 67 69 6f 6e 61 6c  |several.regional|
00000690  20 63 6f 75 72 74 73 20  61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65  | courts and some|
000006a0  20 63 6f 75 72 74 73 20  65 76 65 6e 20 62 65 67  | courts even beg|
000006b0  61 6e 20 69 73 73 75 69  6e 67 20 63 6f 75 72 74  |an issuing court|
000006c0  20 6f 72 64 65 72 73 20  66 6f 72 62 69 64 64 69  | orders forbiddi|
000006d0  6e 67 0d 41 73 73 65 6e  64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 70  |ng.Assend from p|
000006e0  72 6f 63 65 65 64 69 6e  67 2e 20 0d 0d 41 73 63  |roceeding. ..Asc|
000006f0  65 6e 64 20 63 6f 75 6e  74 65 72 65 64 20 74 68  |end countered th|
00000700  61 74 20 63 6f 75 72 74  73 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74  |at courts didn't|
00000710  20 68 61 76 65 20 6a 75  72 69 73 64 69 63 74 69  | have jurisdicti|
00000720  6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 6f 75  74 65 72 20 73 70 61 63  |on in outer spac|
00000730  65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 0d  61 72 67 75 6d 65 6e 74  |e.  The.argument|
00000740  73 20 62 65 63 61 6d 65  20 68 65 61 74 65 64 2e  |s became heated.|
00000750  20 54 68 65 20 63 6f 75  72 74 73 20 63 6c 61 69  | The courts clai|
00000760  6d 65 64 20 6a 75 72 69  73 64 69 63 74 69 6f 6e  |med jurisdiction|
00000770  20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68  65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65  | over the people|
00000780  0d 69 6e 20 6f 75 74 65  72 20 73 70 61 63 65 20  |.in outer space |
00000790  73 69 6e 63 65 20 74 68  65 79 20 68 61 64 20 6f  |since they had o|
000007a0  72 69 67 69 6e 61 6c 6c  79 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 66  |riginally come f|
000007b0  72 6f 6d 20 65 61 72 74  68 2e 20 41 73 63 65 6e  |rom earth. Ascen|
000007c0  64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65  72 65 64 0d 74 68 61 74  |d countered.that|
000007d0  20 63 6f 75 72 74 73 20  74 72 61 64 69 74 69 6f  | courts traditio|
000007e0  6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 6f 6e  6c 79 20 68 61 64 20 6a  |nally only had j|
000007f0  75 72 69 73 64 69 63 74  69 6f 6e 20 6f 76 65 72  |urisdiction over|
00000800  20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20  69 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72  | people in their|
00000810  0d 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61  74 65 20 61 72 65 61 2e  |.immediate area.|
00000820  20 4f 6e 63 65 20 73 6f  6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 6d 6f  | Once someone mo|
00000830  76 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20  6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20  |ved out of that |
00000840  61 72 65 61 20 74 68 65  79 20 62 65 63 61 6d 65  |area they became|
00000850  20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 74  20 74 6f 0d 74 68 65 20  | subject to.the |
00000860  6a 75 72 69 73 64 69 63  74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20  |jurisdiction of |
00000870  61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20  63 6f 75 72 74 2e 20 41  |another court. A|
00000880  20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20  6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 74  | number of court|
00000890  73 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20  69 73 73 75 69 6e 67 20  |s began issuing |
000008a0  6f 72 64 65 72 73 0d 74  6f 20 73 65 69 7a 65 20  |orders.to seize |
000008b0  74 68 65 20 61 73 73 65  74 73 20 6f 66 20 41 73  |the assets of As|
000008c0  63 65 6e 64 2e 20 53 65  76 65 72 61 6c 20 41 73  |cend. Several As|
000008d0  63 65 6e 64 20 74 72 61  6e 73 70 6f 72 74 20 73  |cend transport s|
000008e0  69 74 65 73 20 77 65 72  65 20 73 65 69 7a 65 64  |ites were seized|
000008f0  0d 61 6e 64 20 63 68 61  6f 73 20 62 65 67 61 6e  |.and chaos began|
00000900  20 74 6f 20 65 6e 73 75  65 20 6f 6e 20 73 70 61  | to ensue on spa|
00000910  63 65 20 70 6c 61 74 66  6f 72 6d 73 20 77 68 65  |ce platforms whe|
00000920  6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20  69 6e 68 61 62 69 74 61  |n their inhabita|
00000930  6e 74 73 20 73 74 61 72  74 65 64 0d 74 6f 20 70  |nts started.to p|
00000940  61 6e 69 63 20 6f 76 65  72 20 74 68 65 69 72 20  |anic over their |
00000950  63 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 63  61 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 0d  |communications..|
00000960  0d 41 73 63 65 6e 64 20  74 68 65 6e 20 61 6e 6e  |.Ascend then ann|
00000970  6f 75 6e 63 65 64 20 74  68 61 74 20 69 66 20 74  |ounced that if t|
00000980  68 65 69 72 20 61 73 73  65 74 73 20 77 65 72 65  |heir assets were|
00000990  20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73  65 69 7a 65 64 20 74 68  | to be seized th|
000009a0  65 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64  0d 68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f  |ey would.have no|
000009b0  20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73  73 20 6c 65 66 74 20 69  | business left i|
000009c0  6e 20 61 6e 79 20 63 61  73 65 2e 20 54 68 65 79  |n any case. They|
000009d0  20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64  20 74 68 65 20 65 78 70  | started the exp|
000009e0  65 72 69 6d 65 6e 74 2e  0d 0d 54 68 65 20 63 6f  |eriment...The co|
000009f0  6e 74 61 69 6e 6d 65 6e  74 20 77 61 73 20 73 65  |ntainment was se|
00000a00  74 20 75 70 2c 20 61 6e  64 20 74 68 65 20 73 69  |t up, and the si|
00000a10  6e 67 75 6c 61 72 69 74  79 20 77 61 73 20 63 72  |ngularity was cr|
00000a20  65 61 74 65 64 2e 20 49  6e 69 74 69 61 6c 0d 65  |eated. Initial.e|
00000a30  78 70 65 72 69 6d 65 6e  74 73 20 64 65 6d 6f 6e  |xperiments demon|
00000a40  73 74 72 61 74 65 64 20  74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65  |strated that the|
00000a50  20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c  6f 67 79 20 77 6f 75 6c  | technology woul|
00000a60  64 20 77 6f 72 6b 65 64  20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79  |d worked exactly|
00000a70  20 61 73 0d 70 72 65 64  69 63 74 65 64 2e 20 41  | as.predicted. A|
00000a80  66 74 65 72 20 69 6e 69  74 69 61 6c 20 72 65 6c  |fter initial rel|
00000a90  75 63 74 61 6e 63 65 20  61 6e 64 20 72 65 74 69  |uctance and reti|
00000aa0  63 65 6e 63 65 20 67 72  61 64 75 61 6c 6c 79 20  |cence gradually |
00000ab0  65 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65  20 62 65 67 61 6e 0d 74  |everyone began.t|
00000ac0  6f 20 6d 61 72 76 65 6c  20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20  |o marvel at the |
00000ad0  61 63 68 69 65 76 65 6d  65 6e 74 2e 20 0d 0d 54  |achievement. ..T|
00000ae0  68 65 20 53 69 6e 67 75  6c 61 72 69 74 79 20 77  |he Singularity w|
00000af0  61 73 20 74 68 65 20 70  69 6e 6e 61 63 6c 65 20  |as the pinnacle |
00000b00  6f 66 20 68 75 6d 61 6e  20 61 63 68 69 65 76 65  |of human achieve|
00000b10  6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 41 73  63 65 6e 64 20 77 69 73  |ment. Ascend wis|
00000b20  65 6c 79 0d 72 65 66 75  74 65 64 20 61 6c 6c 20  |ely.refuted all |
00000b30  61 74 74 65 6d 70 74 73  20 74 6f 20 61 70 70 6f  |attempts to appo|
00000b40  72 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 72  65 64 69 74 20 74 6f 20  |rtion credit to |
00000b50  74 68 65 6d 20 61 6e 64  20 69 6e 73 69 73 74 65  |them and insiste|
00000b60  64 20 74 68 61 74 20 74  68 69 73 0d 77 61 73 20  |d that this.was |
00000b70  61 6e 20 61 63 68 69 65  76 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 66  |an achievement f|
00000b80  6f 72 20 6d 61 6e 6b 69  6e 64 20 61 73 20 61 20  |or mankind as a |
00000b90  77 68 6f 6c 65 2e 20 50  61 6d 70 68 6c 65 74 73  |whole. Pamphlets|
00000ba0  20 77 65 72 65 20 70 72  69 6e 74 65 64 20 64 65  | were printed de|
00000bb0  74 61 69 6c 69 6e 67 0d  74 68 65 20 68 69 73 74  |tailing.the hist|
00000bc0  6f 72 79 20 6f 66 20 6f  66 20 74 68 65 20 73 69  |ory of of the si|
00000bd0  6e 67 75 6c 61 72 69 74  79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 69  |ngularity from i|
00000be0  74 73 20 66 69 72 73 74  20 74 68 65 6f 72 65 74  |ts first theoret|
00000bf0  69 63 61 6c 20 62 65 67  69 6e 6e 69 6e 67 73 20  |ical beginnings |
00000c00  74 6f 0d 74 68 65 20 6f  70 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 6f  |to.the opening o|
00000c10  66 20 74 68 65 20 65 78  70 65 72 69 6d 65 6e 74  |f the experiment|
00000c20  2e 20 45 76 65 72 79 6f  6e 65 20 77 61 73 20 74  |. Everyone was t|
00000c30  6f 20 73 68 61 72 65 20  69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 67  |o share in the g|
00000c40  6c 6f 72 79 2e 0d 53 75  70 70 6f 72 74 65 72 73  |lory..Supporters|
00000c50  20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65  69 72 20 64 72 69 76 65  | for their drive|
00000c60  20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6d  6d 69 74 6d 65 6e 74 2c  | and commitment,|
00000c70  20 6f 70 70 6f 6e 65 6e  74 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74  | opponents for t|
00000c80  68 65 69 72 20 6d 6f 64  75 6c 61 74 69 6e 67 0d  |heir modulating.|
00000c90  65 66 66 65 63 74 2e 20  0d 0d 4f 6e 65 20 75 6e  |effect. ..One un|
00000ca0  65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64  20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 20  |expected result |
00000cb0  77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20  64 69 73 63 6f 76 65 72  |was the discover|
00000cc0  79 20 6f 66 20 74 69 6d  65 20 64 69 73 74 6f 72  |y of time distor|
00000cd0  74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 54 68  65 0d 74 72 65 6d 65 6e  |tion. The.tremen|
00000ce0  64 6f 75 73 20 67 72 61  76 69 74 79 20 67 65 6e  |dous gravity gen|
00000cf0  65 72 61 74 65 64 20 62  79 20 74 68 65 20 73 69  |erated by the si|
00000d00  6e 67 75 6c 61 72 69 74  79 20 68 61 64 20 62 65  |ngularity had be|
00000d10  65 6e 20 70 72 65 64 69  63 74 65 64 20 74 6f 0d  |en predicted to.|
00000d20  64 69 73 74 6f 72 74 20  74 69 6d 65 20 62 75 74  |distort time but|
00000d30  20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e  69 70 75 6c 61 74 69 6f  | the manipulatio|
00000d40  6e 20 6f 66 20 74 69 6d  65 20 64 69 73 74 6f 72  |n of time distor|
00000d50  74 69 6f 6e 20 77 61 73  6e 27 74 20 65 78 70 65  |tion wasn't expe|
00000d60  63 74 65 64 20 61 6e 64  0d 77 61 73 20 73 65 65  |cted and.was see|
00000d70  6e 20 61 73 20 61 20 72  65 6d 61 72 6b 61 62 6c  |n as a remarkabl|
00000d80  65 20 65 66 66 65 63 74  2e 20 57 69 74 68 20 74  |e effect. With t|
00000d90  69 6d 65 20 64 69 73 74  6f 72 74 69 6f 6e 20 6c  |ime distortion l|
00000da0  6f 6e 67 20 64 69 73 74  61 6e 63 65 20 73 70 61  |ong distance spa|
00000db0  63 65 0d 74 72 61 76 65  6c 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20  |ce.travel could |
00000dc0  62 65 20 61 63 68 69 65  76 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73  |be achieved in s|
00000dd0  68 6f 72 74 20 70 65 72  69 6f 64 73 20 6f 66 20  |hort periods of |
00000de0  74 69 6d 65 20 6e 6f 74  20 62 79 20 74 72 61 76  |time not by trav|
00000df0  65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 66  61 73 74 65 72 0d 62 75  |elling faster.bu|
00000e00  74 20 62 79 20 64 69 73  74 6f 72 74 69 6e 67 20  |t by distorting |
00000e10  74 69 6d 65 20 69 74 73  65 6c 66 2e 0d 0d 41 66  |time itself...Af|
00000e20  74 65 72 20 61 62 6f 75  74 20 33 30 20 79 65 61  |ter about 30 yea|
00000e30  72 73 20 74 68 65 20 73  69 6e 67 75 6c 61 72 69  |rs the singulari|
00000e40  74 79 20 68 61 64 20 62  65 63 6f 6d 65 20 63 6f  |ty had become co|
00000e50  6d 6d 6f 6e 70 6c 61 63  65 2e 20 45 76 65 72 79  |mmonplace. Every|
00000e60  6f 6e 65 20 6b 6e 65 77  0d 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69  |one knew.about i|
00000e70  74 2e 20 4d 6f 73 74 20  77 65 72 65 20 66 61 6d  |t. Most were fam|
00000e80  69 6c 69 61 72 20 77 69  74 68 20 6d 61 6e 79 20  |iliar with many |
00000e90  6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64  65 74 61 69 6c 73 20 73  |of the details s|
00000ea0  69 6e 63 65 20 6c 65 61  72 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 68  |ince learning th|
00000eb0  65 73 65 0d 68 61 64 20  62 65 63 6f 6d 65 20 73  |ese.had become s|
00000ec0  6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67  20 6f 66 20 61 20 6e 65  |omething of a ne|
00000ed0  63 65 73 73 69 74 79 20  66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20  |cessity for the |
00000ee0  70 61 73 73 61 67 65 20  69 6e 74 6f 20 61 64 75  |passage into adu|
00000ef0  6c 74 68 6f 6f 64 20 69  6e 20 6d 75 63 68 0d 74  |lthood in much.t|
00000f00  68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20  77 61 79 20 61 73 20 77  |he same way as w|
00000f10  65 20 6e 6f 77 20 6c 65  61 72 6e 20 61 62 6f 75  |e now learn abou|
00000f20  74 20 74 68 65 20 68 65  72 6f 65 73 20 6f 66 20  |t the heroes of |
00000f30  74 68 65 20 6e 65 77 20  6f 72 64 65 72 2e 20 48  |the new order. H|
00000f40  6f 77 65 76 65 72 0d 6c  69 74 74 6c 65 20 6d 6f  |owever.little mo|
00000f50  72 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e  65 65 64 65 64 20 74 6f  |re was needed to|
00000f60  20 62 65 20 73 61 69 64  20 61 6e 64 20 64 69 73  | be said and dis|
00000f70  63 75 73 73 69 6f 6e 20  62 65 63 61 6d 65 20 75  |cussion became u|
00000f80  6e 66 61 73 68 69 6f 6e  61 62 6c 65 2e 0d 0d 54  |nfashionable...T|
00000f90  68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20  68 61 64 20 63 6f 6d 65  |he time had come|
00000fa0  20 74 6f 20 73 68 75 74  20 74 68 65 20 65 78 70  | to shut the exp|
00000fb0  65 72 69 6d 65 6e 74 20  64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 54 68  |eriment down. Th|
00000fc0  65 20 61 73 74 65 72 6f  69 64 20 62 65 6c 74 20  |e asteroid belt |
00000fd0  77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65  0d 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20  |would be.coming |
00000fe0  6e 65 61 72 20 61 6e 64  20 73 75 69 74 61 62 6c  |near and suitabl|
00000ff0  65 20 63 68 75 6e 6b 73  20 68 61 64 20 6c 6f 6e  |e chunks had lon|
00001000  67 20 73 69 6e 63 65 20  62 65 65 6e 20 73 65 6c  |g since been sel|
00001010  65 63 74 65 64 20 66 6f  72 0d 61 6e 6e 69 68 69  |ected for.annihi|
00001020  6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61  73 20 61 20 6d 65 61 6e  |lation as a mean|
00001030  73 20 74 6f 20 27 66 69  6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 68  |s to 'filling th|
00001040  65 20 68 6f 6c 65 27 2e  0d 0d 54 68 65 20 63 6f  |e hole'...The co|
00001050  6e 74 61 69 6e 6d 65 6e  74 20 62 65 61 6d 20 77  |ntainment beam w|
00001060  61 73 20 73 77 69 74 63  68 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20  |as switched off |
00001070  61 6e 64 20 73 69 6d 70  6c 65 20 65 78 70 6c 6f  |and simple explo|
00001080  73 69 76 65 20 63 68 61  72 67 65 73 20 77 65 72  |sive charges wer|
00001090  65 0d 64 65 74 6f 6e 61  74 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74  |e.detonated on t|
000010a0  68 65 20 73 65 6c 65 63  74 65 64 20 61 73 74 65  |he selected aste|
000010b0  72 6f 69 64 73 20 77 69  74 68 20 61 20 76 69 65  |roids with a vie|
000010c0  77 20 74 6f 20 64 69 76  65 72 74 69 6e 67 20 74  |w to diverting t|
000010d0  68 65 69 72 20 6f 72 62  69 74 73 2e 0d 0d 41 6c  |heir orbits...Al|
000010e0  6c 20 61 70 70 65 61 72  65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65  |l appeared to be|
000010f0  20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 77  65 6c 6c 2e 20 54 68 65  | going well. The|
00001100  20 61 73 74 65 72 6f 69  64 73 20 76 61 6e 69 73  | asteroids vanis|
00001110  68 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f  20 74 68 65 20 73 70 6f  |hed into the spo|
00001120  74 2e 0d 0d 54 68 65 6e  20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69  |t...Then somethi|
00001130  6e 67 20 77 65 6e 74 20  77 72 6f 6e 67 2e 20 0d  |ng went wrong. .|
00001140  0d                                                |.|
00001141
+SING2.m0
+SING2.m1
+SING2.m2
+SING2.m4
+SING2.m5

© Dominic Ford 2021–2024.

Our privacy policy is here.
Last updated: 28 Jul 2024, 23:31 UTC
Website designed by .