Project Gaia : The arrival of humanity

Chapter 7 : The First Signs

"To leave the world better than you found it, sometimes you have to pick up other people's trash."

-Bill Nye

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UN Headquarters, New York, April 6 2038

The once-bustling metropolis of New York lay silent, a ghost town where the echoes of the past seemed to linger in the empty streets. The bright lights of skyscrapers, usually a beacon of commerce and life, were dimmed, and only the vigilant eyes of the U.S. National Guard and UN peacekeepers roamed the deserted avenues. The world had changed, and the threat of extinction loomed large over humanity.

In the depths of the United Nations headquarters, representatives from the major nations gathered in a fortified chamber, a stark contrast to the vibrant city outside. This room, reserved for the Security Council, was filled with tension as delegates from the Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Pakistan, Israel, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States prepared to discuss the next steps in humanity's great exodus to the new world.

As the meeting commenced, the air was thick with urgency. The mood was a mix of determination and unease, as the clock was ticking down to the asteroid's predicted impact in 2050-2051.

"We cannot afford to delay any longer," stated Ranabura Njendi, the Nigerian representative, his voice steady but filled with urgency. "The completion of the portal in Anambra marks a significant milestone in Africa. But we must accelerate the process of evacuation."

"I agree, but we must also consider the repercussions of our actions," interjected Ruldu Dheer from India. "We have to ensure that the new world is ready to accommodate the influx of colonists. We cannot, we cannot make a mistake or millions of people will die..."

"Mistakes?" scoffed Zhu Liwei from China. "With over 400 million applications for colonists in just a month, our priority is survival. The new world is a fresh start, free from the climate change that has plagued us for years."

"But we must consider the long-term effects of our actions," Ruldu Dheer cautioned in a follow-up meeting, his voice steady as the representatives gathered once more. "We are not just sending millions our population to a new world without sufficient housing accommodation."

"But what choice do we have?" countered Zhu Liwei, frustration seeping into his tone. "We are facing extinction. If we do not act now, humanity will perish!"

"But at what cost?" countered Amar Mudaliyar from Indonesia. "If we exploit the resources without considering the consequences, we might create another disaster. The environment in the new world-"

"Is ours to control," interrupted Menshikov Andrei from Russia, adjusting his glasses. "We've successfully developed a simple version of the portal technology that can be mass-produced. This will allow underdeveloped nations access to the new world, we can start a new beginning!"

"New beginning?" replied Rémi Marais from France. "We're just gonna restart the same shit on another planet and this time we have the potential to destroy an untouched world. We need to be careful."

The debate intensified, the room soon erupted in a cacophony of voices, each representative vying to make their case heard. The discussion shifted rapidly from one point to another-construction supplies, the outflow of workers, environmental regulations, and the moral implications of colonization.

"If we are to proceed, we must open contracts for private organizations," suggested Jonathan Reynolds from United States, gaining control of the conversation. "They have the resources and the expertise to accelerate the colonization project."