The Builders
Inktober 2019, 'Build'
No one knows what happened across the stars when Queen Emma Kubler fled to Sirius with her contingent of 300 scientists. She had with her the largest and most advanced spaceship that had ever been built, dozens of Travis O'Connor's deadly Self Replicating Robots, and over 30 years to do as she pleased. Rumors abound as to the massive projects she may have undertaken there, and answers remain indecisive.
Summary
There have been rumors of sightings around the Star Sirius, 15 light years from earth. Some people tell or believe stories that the Mad Queen of Mercury never completed her greatest project, and her legacy may yet harm the Solar System again. Reported sightings tell of massive lasers, hot enough to evaporate Earth's atmosphere, or spacecraft the size of moons preparing for total war across the Solar System. Every stories has one common thread.
When the Mad Queen left Sirius, she left some of her Self Replicating Robots there, and gave them orders. And for the 82 years since then, they've been building.
When the Mad Queen left Sirius, she left some of her Self Replicating Robots there, and gave them orders. And for the 82 years since then, they've been building.
Historical Basis
When Queen Emma Kubler fled the Solar System with her spaceship The Heart of Gold in 311, she had at least 300 crewmembers and 275 Self Replicating Robots with her. Based on scrap salvaged from Hermes base, the robots were model three mining drones. These drones were not capable of independent spaceflight, and would not have been useful assets without extensive modifications en-route. The 300 crewmembers were likely all scientists, handpicked from The Hermian Academy of Science and her own administrative board. These scientists were more than capable of modifying Travis O'Connor's original design, and likely did during their journey towards Sirius. Upon returning, the Self Replicating Robots that the Mad Queen would use to attack the Solar System were much more advanced and capable of independent spaceflight, reproduction, and coordination of attacks. It follows that any robots the Queen left in Sirius' system would be at least semi-autonomous.
A question greater than if there were robots left behind at Sirius is what they are doing now. Any gigantic construction would have been detected from the Solar System, as large-aperture lunar telescopes have been directed towards the star since the end of the Hermian war. Any construction involving more than several hundred robots would also require human intervention, as the robots had insufficient processing capacity to coordinate large-scale construction. At the Stahlpest's observed reproductive rates, and Sirius' metalloid density, analysts predict anywhere between 20 thousand and 1 billion Stahlpest in the Sirius system. Assuming the massive lasers Queen Emma Kubler used to push herself towards the Solar System are still intact, a human operator in the Sirius system could send all these robots crashing into the Solar System within a span of 20 years. Conversely, it is possible the robots are hibernating until further orders, and an ICG spacecraft detected by one of their sensors would trigger hostility throughout the entire swarm, awaking millions of Sirius' Stahlpest like ants in a hill. Given the dangerous and mysterious situation near Sirius, the Interplanetary Governance Council has avoided sending any probes or colony ships in that direction.
Spread
This myth is commonly believed throughout the Solar System, especially in the Jovian system where people have seen firsthand the destruction of Queen Emma Kubler's robots. The twelve citadels have been central points of skepticism, especially O'Connor Station. The residents there were influenced by Travis O'Connor, who often criticized such claims.
Date of First Recording
Rumors began to spread of the Mad Queen's projects in 337, after she was detected on a return course towards Jupiter.
Date of Setting
311 - present day
Telling / Prose
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Self-replicating robots building whatever someone mad told them to build? Yep, definitely a terrifying thought.
Will it be possible to learn whatever the robots are building in the future? Also, has anyone on their own and in a clandestine way tried to reach Sirius in hopes to learn what is going on there?
Great article and great work!
Oh yes, how the robots came to be is in my short story Journey to the Stars, and what they do at Sirius is the sequel.