Encounters Out There

Dr. Mark Jacobson tried convincing the world he could solve interstellar travel by folding space. His technology would instantly access ends of the known universe, galactic travel, space colonization, or simpler tasks such as mining the nearest asteroid.

The scientific community balked at Jacobson's proposed technology calling it impossible or catastrophically too risky. So he went rogue. He found an anonymous trillionaire investor willing to embrace his ideas.

The professor developed a prototype interstellar folding drive but with considerable uncertainty. Activating it on Earth could haphazardly destroy the planet or the entire solar system.

Fortunately for Jacobson, the trillionaire eyed space colonization on exoplanets. He sent the professor along with an experienced pilot and the interstellar spacecraft far into deep space beyond the solar system.

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Before they left Earth's orbit ...

The trillionaire radioed the professor ...

"Professor, it's all yours. When you reach the heliopause, I ask that you aim your space folding drive at Proxima b, where there's hope you'll encounter intelligent life."

"That makes sense. We'll do that for starters."

Professor Jacobson spoke to Captain Susan Watson, an ex-astronaut and veteran fighter pilot.

"Susan, deploy the tethers, engage the e-sail, and set the computer for an automatic Jupiter flyby to the heliopause ..."

"Yes, sir, Professor."

Susan and the professor entered bio-suspension chambers for a ten year cryosleep period.

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Ten years later, they awoke ...

"Professor, everything checks out. We're ready for stage two, interstellar travel."

"Fantastic. Susan, set the folding drive for Proxima b at 100 femtosecond fluctuations to avoid gathering or crushing too much space debris."

"Yes, sir. All set, Professor."

"Susan, engage ..."

The entire spacecraft spun and vibrated, and inside, the capsule heated up.

"Susan, what's wrong? Why are we overheating?"

"There's a power surge Professor. I'm trying to ..."

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Through the ship's viewing portals appeared a slightly different star arrangement. Deep scans detected at an 'astronomically safe distance' a black hole's event horizon. On further scanning, Earth remained the same distance. So did the entire solar system.

"What in the H did we do, Susan?"

"Professor, calculations show the surge folded all of the space between our solar system and the destination."

A signal transmitted from around Proxima b ...

"Earthlings! Thank you!"

"Who are you? How do you speak English?" asked the professor.

"Telepathic technology ... We come from far away, but they enslaved us on this prison planet. You crushed the entire Volugaian Empire. How'd you do it? Oh no, where did that black hole come from? It's rapidly growing ... We're all getting pulled in."