As expected of the top scientists in the field of cosmology. Everyone had heard the theory about zero point energy, but no one knew how to make it work.
For the uninitiated, zero point energy also known as vacuum energy – referred to a theory of quantum physics regarding a dimension of energy that was hidden in the empty space of vacuum. Basically, by tapping into the energy hidden within the vacuum, we should theoretically be able to derive near unlimited amounts of energy.
At least I thought so, until the scientists present rained on my parade.
"Uh, no. Just no."
"Vacuum energy? Zero point energy? That's not how it works. You've been reading way too much sci-fi stories. I know a lot of sci-fi authors fantasize about harnessing infinite amounts of energy from zero point energy, but the reality is that there is no way to harness it."
"Then how…?" I began, but the scientists shook their heads.
"You see, even if you somehow extract energy from the vacuum, the laws of quantum physics say that you still have to maintain an equilibrium of energy, so the particles from which you took the energy from would have to need some way of recovering that energy."
"…oh." I should have known. Ian Douglas was one of my favorite sci-fi authors, but in the end this was all fiction. I had to learn how to differentiate reality from fiction. As much as I wanted to find a way to travel to the stars and expand mankind's reach across the galaxy, I still had to ensure we remained within the bounds of reality.
"We've been researching for about two centuries now and we still have yet to figure out how to travel faster than light." One of the astrophysicists sighed. "We'll need a lot more research and funding before we can eventually crack the formula."
"We do have a way around the theory of relativity, but right now we need to develop a way to generate that amount of energy."
"If you want to be practical…" One of the astrophysicists raised a hand. "Might I suggest antimatter propulsion?"
"Oh, that sounds like a good idea. But didn't they try that about a century ago?" I frowned. "There were problems with the containment system, if I remember correctly."
"I think they solved it toward the middle of the last century," one of the astrophysicists replied, thinking deeply. He consulted his smartphone. "Around 2016, there were a few engineers who claimed that they would be able to design practical antimatter propulsion systems, but the problem was funding. Then with a lot of problems in 2020, especially an economic recession and a pandemic that stretched for a couple of years, the project fell into the wayside. Furthermore, with global warming on the rise, most nations diverted their attentions, funding and energy into researching ways to launch green projects to combat rising temperatures. There wasn't much money left for space exploration."
"That sucks," I muttered. Then I brightened up. "That's my job. That's why I'm here. To provide you guys with the funds necessary. If you think antimatter propulsion engines are the best way to achieve the job, then let's go for it. The goal is to eventually produce enough antimatter to generate the energy required to power an Alcubierre Drive."
One of the scientists smiled wryly. "You still haven't given up on that, have you?"
"But it is plausible, right?" I pressed. The scientists, astrophysicists and engineers exchanged glances before nodding.
"Plausible, yes. But highly unlikely and incredibly difficult."
"Why do you think I hired you guys?" I grinned. "I'm paying you a lot of money to make the impossible possible. All right, let's get to it then!"
And so we began.
*
The first thing we did was set up a laboratory to produce the antimatter that we required. Take note, it was extremely difficult to produce antimatter, even in the twenty-second century. Furthermore, it was also very dangerous. A kilogram of antimatter and matter annihilating each other would yield more energy than even the most powerful thermonuclear weapon to have ever existed so far. In fact, antimatter bombs were far more powerful than hydrogen bombs.
If we weren't careful, we would blow a crater the size of Hiroshima into the remote region where I had built my lab. I had taken the necessary precautions to construct it far away from any city, but that didn't matter. The destruction would be way too…insane.
Not only that, we had to find a way to contain all the antimatter we planned to produce. In order to generate the amount of energy required for the Alcubierre Drive, we would need about 500 kilograms of antimatter. That was no small amount nor was it easily produced. And even if we did manufacture that much antimatter, we had to be extremely careful. If a kilogram of antimatter was more powerful than the most destructive thermonuclear bomb ever detonated, then 500 kilograms would be more than enough to destroy the earth.
"We'll start off small scale," I suggested, thinking hard. "Then we'll eventually set up a laboratory in an asteroid. You know, in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. That way, if any accident occurs, we wouldn't have to worry."
The scientists didn't seem pleased. I sighed and thought about it.
"Okay, how about we do it on a space station orbiting Earth? Eventually, I mean. We should take as many precautions as possible. I don't want our research to destroy the planet."
"I understand your concerns." One of the scientists nodded. "We'll do that then. But for now, we'll just focus on producing antimatter and running experiments."
"Sounds good."
"We'll also have to continue refining the Alcubierre Drive," another astrophysicist remarked. "I believe that if we oscillate the intensity of the bubble, we should be able to reduce the amount of energy required."
"Excellent." I breathed a sigh of relief. "Let's go with that then."
Then I suddenly remembered something. Picking up my smartphone, I called William. He answered after the first ring.
"What's up?"
"Just checking on the nanotechnology side of things," I explained, trying to keep my voice guarded. I knew William disapproved of my space project. "How is the nano-assembly project going? Can they assemble and disassemble material at the atomic level yet?"
"So far, no." William sounded frustrated. "That's quite the impossible task you saddled us with. We will keep trying, but right now our current level of technology doesn't allow us to perform assembly and disassembly at the atomic level. Not yet, anyway, but the head engineer thinks he will be able to achieve it when given enough funding over the next year or two."
"Sure. Money isn't an object." Having raked in billions from selling war walkers, shield technology and other stuff to Country A, I should be able to afford the expenses. But I was playing a dangerous game. If everything failed, I would go bankrupt and lose everything.
However, nobody succeeded without taking any risks. I was determined to push through with this, no matter the cost. It wasn't about being at the forefront of technology or taking money. I wasn't interested in becoming rich.
No, my ambitions stretched beyond the accumulation of wealth. I wanted to build a star spanning empire for humanity, to claim the galaxy and colonize entire systems. Yeah, perhaps I wouldn't live long enough to see my plans come to fruition, but by the heavens I had resolved to lay the groundwork for it. Mankind will rule the stars or I will die trying.
"Why are you so impatient anyway?" William asked, trying not to sound too exasperated. "You know that these things take time. They will take years of research. You're not going to develop nanotechnology overnight."
"No, I just had an idea," I admitted. "But it would only work if I have the proper nanotech."
"Huh? What idea?"
"I want to produce antimatter," I explained. William choked on the other side of the smartphone, his voice turning into a gargle. I waited for him to finish coughing before wincing when he shouted from the other end.
"Are you insane?! What do you need antimatter for?!"
"Fuel for spacecraft." I hesitated, and then sighed. "Sorry, I decided to go with the space exploration project. I won't be persuaded. I know you think it's a waste of money, but it's not about the money. I'm not interested in becoming rich. I want to make use of the money I earn to develop more technology, to build more advanced technology…to expand our reach to the stars. So that mankind can rule the galaxy."
"Dude…you're sounding like a chuunibyou now." William sighed. "I mean your last sentence. The rest…I won't say you're deluded – that will be me being unreasonably cynical. I know it's difficult and costly, but I'm not blind to the benefits that space exploration will bring mankind. I'm just worried that our company can't afford the expense. You do know that it's less than a year since we almost got bankrupted, right?"
"Wow…it has only be less than a year?"
So many things had happened that the whole thing felt like a lifetime ago. I didn't know why or how, but time had flown by so quickly. I was vaguely under the impression that several years had passed. Now that William had mentioned it, he was right about the length of time. I couldn't believe it had only been about nine or ten months.
We had come a long way…from being on the verge of bankruptcy to building shield generators, war walkers and even a fleet. And now I was working on spacecraft.
Of course, the experience gained from all that would be valuable in constructing a space armada – which was my dream. Battleships floating in space, protected by energy shields and hurling macro-plasma bolts at the enemy. Marines piloting war walkers and armored suits, dropping onto alien planets and weathering whatever threats the hostile flora and fauna threw at them. Their arrival would pave the way for terraforming and eventual colonization.
Then we would crush all aliens, mutants and heretics. I could already envision the future. In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war.
For humanity to not just simply survive but prosper and dominate the galaxy, they were going to need my military inventions.