Critical Mass

'Critical mass' was a term coined to define the smallest amount of fissile material required to sustain a nuclear fission reaction. In the 29th century, it took on a new meaning. Critical mass is now also defined as the size a society can attain, based on available resources in a system, before it eats itself alive trying to continue living. The laws of entropy dictate that a civilization can only attain a certain size before it will eventually experience total system collapse. In the past, a society could reach critical mass and achieve a balancing point, unable to grow further by reaching an equilibrium between the available resources and demand. Now, due to advancements in technology and science, it will run up to that cliff, and hurl itself screaming over the edge. Resource scarcity, population overcrowding, disease, violence, all symptoms of a society reaching critical mass.
Simply put, we can only have so many people. With the development of life-extension technology, whether through augmetics or biohacking, populations can expand so rapidly that they will be unable to sustain themselves within only a few generations, exacerbated by the tight-fisted regulation of UC colonization planning. Without a backup plan, entire systems will burn themselves from both ends and be lost forever. That's where the Eidolon Program comes in. By supplanting the need for physical bodies, and thus the space required for a life, and uploading consciousness to a centralized neuro-grid simulation, it is possible to allow these lives to continue to exist, without needing to take up physical space.
The Eidolon Program will secure the continued existence of life in systems around the galaxy by backing up generations of knowledge and memories, entire civilizations on the neuro-grid. All that we require is permission to construct a small number of dyson spheres in key galactic locations to ensure the supply of energy to the simulation systems. We expect resistance from some at first, but it is anticipate a large number of individuals will be in favour of joining the grid, as it will free them from their day-to-day existence. Test programs for small-scale grid simulations have already been carried out to much success in a number of systems that have been approaching critical mass, delaying the inevitable collapse by 12.65 years on average.
We understand the skepticism regarding the backup process, but we assure that it is operated in accordance with UC policies regarding synthetic intelligence, and measures have been put in place to safeguard against control algorithm rampancy. The Eidolon grid has been developed with security in mind, and while upload is irreversible, the complete transfer of consciousness has been ensured. All minds transferred to the neuro-grid have been checked to guarantee completeness, and the Project leadership continues to promise that 100% integrity is a commitment they fully intend to maintain. Critical mass can be avoided, and we have a duty to the universe, and all the souls living in it, to never reach it. Else we condemn ourselves to the fate we built ourselves.