Point Nemo (Star Ark Mission)

Chapter 11: Time-and-Life Continuum

Since the Star Ark mission began, global efforts to enable human hibernation had proved infeasible. Decades of research into artificially inducing hibernation ended in failure due to irreparable damage caused by extreme temperature fluctuations. Human metabolism, evolved over millennia to thrive in stable, narrow temperature ranges, could not withstand the prolonged suspension of vital functions without suffering neural degradation and irreversible metabolic damage.

Instead, cloning technologies emerged as a more viable solution for the continuum of time and life. Scientists and ethicists realized that this approach could maintain long-term research, mission consistency, and crew stability across the extended duration of interstellar travel. However, to fully implement this strategy, two breakthrough technologies were required: continuous memory implants and adult cloning.

The first technology, Memory Implant, allowed for the seamless transfer of an individual's memories, knowledge, and identity from one cloned body to the next, ensuring continuity in identity and experience. The second, Artificial Womb, bypassed the lengthy childhood phase by directly cloning adult bodies ready to assume their roles as soon as they were imprinted with the prior clone's memories.

In an unprecedented ethical move, a voluntary consent process was introduced for the selected crew. Each crew member had to fully understand and agree to the cloning process, ensuring that their participation was based on free will. The Collective of Star Ark Nations (CSAN) subcommittee on ethics and technology rigorously debated and reviewed the implications of cloning, stressing that the preservation of human dignity and identity must remain intact. Only after each crew member gave explicit, informed consent did the subcommittee proceed with their selection.

With these advancements and the crew's consent, the subcommittee selected the 10 most promising volunteers who would carry the torch of human progress and knowledge for more than a century, living on through their cloned bodies while ensuring the success of the mission.

The crew, now known as the Time-and-Life Continuum (TALC), were chosen not only for their scientific expertise but also for their resilience, adaptability, and unwavering commitment to the mission, backed by their ethically sound decision to consent to the generation cloning.

Elena García – Shipbuilding and Civil Engineering, Female Crew
Elena was responsible for overseeing the construction of the Star Ark and ensuring the structural integrity of both the Mothership and its modular ships. Her expertise ensured that the vessel would survive the harsh conditions of space travel for centuries.

Ayesha Khan – Nuclear-Fusion Physics/Mechanics and Logistics/Female Crew
Leading the team responsible for managing the nuclear fusion reactors, Ayesha's knowledge of propulsion systems and resource optimization was essential for maintaining the Ark's energy supply. Her logistics management ensured that every resource was maximized for the long voyage.

Mei Chen – Environmental Science/Systems Engineering, Female Crew
Mei was responsible for maintaining the sustainability of the Ark's biosphere. She worked tirelessly to stabilize the Artificial Photosynthesis system and the semi-closed ecosystem known as the Ecosphere, ensuring that life aboard the Ark could continue indefinitely.

Nia Williams – AI-Neuro Cognitive Science/Ethics, Female Crew
Nia oversaw the ethical alignment of the AI system, Sherpa, ensuring that its decisions remained in harmony with human values. Her expertise in cognitive science allowed for a seamless integration of human thought processes and AI logic, guiding the crew ethically through the stars.

Sofia Moreau – Psychology/Philosophy, Female
Sofia maintained the psychological well-being and philosophical alignment of the crew. Her role was crucial in ensuring that the crew members remained mentally resilient and unified in their purpose, even as they faced the vast, isolating unknown.

Liam O'Connell – Mechanical/Electrical Engineering—AI and Robotics, Male Crew
Liam was tasked with integrating AI systems and robotics within the spacecraft's mechanical infrastructure. He ensured that both the Ark's AI, Sherpa, and its autonomous systems operated with precision, from navigation to robotic maintenance.

Ravi Patel – Astrophysics, Male Crew
Ravi specialized in space navigation and the study of stellar environments. His calculations determined the safest and most efficient paths for the Star Ark, guiding them through unknown stellar systems.

Ibrahim Mansour – Military Strategy/Tactics, Male Crew
Ibrahim's expertise in strategic planning and security ensured that the Star Ark was prepared for any unforeseen challenges. He developed contingency plans for potential threats and emergencies the crew might encounter in the void of space.

Mateo Rossi – Geology/Chemistry, Male Crew
Mateo worked closely with Mei, providing geological and chemical expertise to optimize the conditions within the Ecosphere. His knowledge of chemical processes ensured that the Ark's environment remained balanced and habitable.

Kay Johnson – Survival Skills/Improvisation, Male Crew
Kay's background in survival skills and resource improvisation made his indispensable in times of crisis. Whether it was navigating the Ark through unexpected challenges or adapting to limited resources, Kay's quick thinking and adaptability ensured the crew's survival.

These ten individuals, now known as TALC, carried with them not just the knowledge and survival of humanity but also the weight of their decision to consent to the cloning process, understanding the implications it had for their identities and humanity's future. With their agreement, they would live on through generations of cloned bodies, continuing their work and guiding the Star Ark forward, as the ship and its mission moved far beyond the lifespan of any single individual. Multiple cloning was deemed technically impossible due to principles of identity and ethical concerns. If an attempt was made to create a duplicate clone, the Artificial Womb would detect the genetic sequence conflict, and the previous clone would be automatically terminated through its memory implant.

This marks the beginning of a new era, where humanity's most valuable assets—intellect and life—are intertwined with technology, extending beyond natural lifespans. The TALC crew were no longer just people. They had become the living embodiments of continuity, the stewards of time and life, ensuring the Star Ark's mission would persist as long as it took to reach a new home.

The CSAN subcommittee did not make clones for Park Han and Naomi Fernández initially, as a precaution against any unforeseen failures in the cloning process. By withholding their cloning until it became absolutely necessary, they sought to avoid over-reliance on the technology and brace for any potential setbacks. However, both Park Han and Naomi were given the option to be cloned later during the Star Ark mission, should circumstances demand it.

As the mission unfolded, they understood that uncertainty itself could offer a hidden opportunity—a calculated risk that reflected humanity's inherent drive for survival.

Calculating the imponderables of humanity is beyond the reach of science. Yet, humanity itself is the imponderable—capable of turning uncertainty into opportunity.