Point Nemo (Star Ark Mission)

Chapter 10: 'It is not down on any map; true places never are.', AD 2165

In the post-apocalyptic era, South Korea, Kazakhstan, India, the region formerly known as Vladivostok, Singapore, and New Zealand spent almost one hundred years reinstating their scientific, engineering, and infrastructure amid a mixture of chaos and frustration, casting doubt on the sustainable future, which they had once taken for granted.

In the aftermath of the first nuclear strike in AD 2068, survivors didn't even want to recall what triggered the nuclear domino effect globally. They had to tackle unprecedented fear arising from environmental issues in order to survive with their core functions and resources still intact.

The surviving countries contributed their own specialized technologies and available resources to realize the Star Ark Project, seemingly one last chance for humans:

South Korea: Leading developments in Neuromorphic Semiconductor technology and Nuclear Fusion Reactor research, later applied to AI through its deviated scientific fields and the foundation of long-term interstellar voyage.

Kazakhstan: Contributed its rich Uranium deposits, rare earth natural resources, and lithium resources, crucial for the development and operation of nuclear fusion reactor components as the backbone of the energy system. It was substantially the only future energy resource in the supply chain.

India: Retained advancements in Deep Space Telecommunication systems, quantum communication networks, and artificial intelligence. India had also developed wireless power transmission through space, the foundation for empowering space infrastructure and communication systems.

Vladivostok Region: Intact capabilities in Astrophysics, Space Navigation Control Systems, Rocket/Satellite Manufacturing and Launching Facilities, which steadily secured spacecraft deployments.

Singapore: Significant role in Artificial Intelligence and AI Ethics, Singapore developed AI technologies, which were not only advanced but also ethically governed, focusing on safe and controllable use of AI in long-term space missions.

New Zealand: Accumulated know-how and expertise in Artificial Photosynthesis, Space Agriculture, Bio-Engineering, and Genetic Science rendered New Zealand a center of sustainable food systems in space, troubleshooting key challenges for long-term space life.

One way or another, the Star Ark project became the only narrow path brought to humanity on thin ice. And at the same time, it would be the last attempt to conserve the legacy of humankind. Humanity had no choice but to bet on the best cost-effective way-finding with the limited resources in its hands.

That was: the human brain consumed only 20 watts of energy to process information through its organic circuits, while AI computing demanded 13 megawatt-hours to process data on some subject. It could be both a driver and impediment to surpass, igniting the need for development of neuromorphic semiconductors to mimic the efficiency of human organic circuits.

Earth had once been both a cradle and a giving mother to humanity as a home of all life forms. But now, humanity was in the face of both a bleak and toxic environment on Earth and hostile-extreme space. It was the greatest irony to find another home after destroying the existing habitable planet relentlessly without caring.

Humanity had to conflate all these indispensable integral parts into one functioning harmonized entity, mimicking the seamless balance long incubated by Earth. Survival in space required exceptionally seamless controls beyond contingent or accidental errors of human judgment, where even adjustments smaller than a millisecond were critical.

Under the extreme environment of space, the overall control systems were the foundation to guarantee the crew's survival during their around-the-clock space life. Humanity acknowledged the pragmatic needs to navigate them through their risky and once-in-a-lifetime interstellar voyage. It was the master AI named 'AI Sherpa' guiding them to the bottomless deep space.

Humanity still had philosophical questions over AI's role and its identity in the real world, even though primary control is under human judgment as the last bastion. However, great philosophies and ethical concerns became powerless in the face of life-threatening situations and the limits of the fragile human body and senses in space.

Was humanity ready to leave its home forever? The question was raised, not just technical but philosophical, ethical, and emotionally unprecedented as a collective mind. The time on Earth was running out.

That's how and where surviving countries formed collective leadership, called the Collective of Star Ark Nations (CSAN), in order to unravel complex challenges.

Thus, humanity tried to unfurl the sails to the immeasurable space without the bottom. Nobody knew that it could be the path leading to a new world or a pricey dead end.

'It is not down on any map; true places never are.' – Herman Melville, Moby Dick