As days turned into weeks and weeks into months, the lingering effects of radiation began to wane, allowing some cities to become havens for survivors. The future remained uncertain, with the greatest immediate threat being the radioactive clouds that hovered perilously close to the ground.
Various spacecraft descended upon Earth to rescue survivors, as the planet could no longer sustain its inhabitants with enough food and water. However, despite collaborative efforts on Luna Citadel space station on the moon and Mars Odyssey space station on Mars to expand production farms, production rates were woefully inadequate to support the millions of remaining survivors.
Months passed, and the majority of survivors clung to a fragile existence on Earth, with dwindling resources offering only a temporary reprieve. Minor skirmishes and conflicts continued to erupt among various factions, and the hope of rescue from Luna Citadel and Mars Odyssey space stations dimmed due to numerous limitations.
Hidden bases and surviving organizations began to rise once more, vying for both rescue and resources, even though some had stockpiles that could last for decades. Luna Citadel and Mars Odyssey space stations became overcrowded, leading to chaos among their inhabitants as they reached the limits of their capacity for housing and production.
Two decades earlier, in the 2040s, a secluded science laboratory known as "The Void" had pioneered revolutionary technologies capable of transforming humanity's future. These innovations included oxygen production machines, batteries with multi-year lifespans, and much more. While powerful nations coveted these technologies, The Void declined to share them with any organization. Instead, they aimed to provide a comfortable life for all, ensuring access to food, shelter, and basic necessities. The realization of The Void's projects could potentially lead to mass unemployment and the collapse of many companies.
Opponents of change, motivated by a desire to maintain their influence and other reasons, sought to halt The Void's projects and compel them to relinquish their technologies. However, The Void had anticipated these challenges, and before anyone could react, the massive science laboratory and its brilliant scientists vanished, leaving behind statements expressing their loss of hope for humanity. Consequently, scientific progress on Earth stagnated, and a few remaining groups struggled to make meaningful advancements.
Over the span of two decades, anger and conflict escalated, turning former allies into enemies. As fossil fuels dwindled, the world was pushed into a devastating third world war.
Four months into the war, the space stations faced an impasse, halting rescue plans as they had reached their maximum capabilities. Meanwhile, those left on Earth faced an uncertain existence, with some holding onto the hope of new rescue plans and others vying for resources, predominantly remnants of powerful military groups with superior firepower.
While Earth showed signs of improvement, it was far from fully recovered. The space stations required significant time to stabilize and formulate new rescue plans, and the timeline remained uncertain, leaving everyone longing for a brighter future.
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Everyone at Luna Citadel space station worked tirelessly to expand it as swiftly as possible. One moonlit evening, Luna Citadel received an unexpected message from an unknown source. The station's head scientist, John Brown, examined the message, discovering it concerned a spacecraft called "Noah's Ark." The message claimed that this vessel, capable of housing hundreds of millions, would reach Mars' orbit on November 17, 2060. It offered a lifeline for both space stations to transfer their survivors to Noah's Ark.
John Brown skimmed through the extensive message detailing Noah's Ark but was taken aback when he reached the end. "Noah's Ark project is complete; you must handle other matters. The Void."
Stunned, John Brown hurried out of his office. He couldn't be certain if this was a genuine message from The Void, but considering Earth's lack of internet and satellites, combined with the gravity of the situation, it seemed plausible. The news surprised and relieved everyone at Luna Citadel space station. The Void had finally reconnected with humanity after two decades, resolving their current survivor crisis.
John Brown and his team disseminated Noah's Ark's detailed information to Mars Odyssey and the other space stations and hoped that The Void's message was indeed genuine. Although doubts lingered, they had no choice but to trust it.
Space stations rallied their crews to manage Noah's Ark, which, according to The Void's message, included carriers capable of transporting tens of thousands of people and essential resources more efficiently than current spacecraft. Noah's Ark also carried a diverse array of Earth's life forms The void had reserved, potentially expediting Earth's recovery.
Rescue plans resumed, and all survivors were evacuated, with restrictions against carrying dangerous weaponry. Armed groups relinquished their weapons for the sake of peace on Noah's Ark. Though Earth had a long road to recovery, Noah's Ark's size could inadvertently trigger earthquakes and tsunamis if placed in Earth's orbit. As a result, it would orbit Mars while Earth healed.
By November 28, 2060, all survivors from Earth had relocated to Noah's Ark, a spacecraft hundreds of thousands of times larger than the two space stations combined. Those aboard discovered an abundance of memories from Earth's past, including video games, movies, songs, and nearly everything a human from 2040 would have cherished.
Noah's Ark came with a comprehensive set of plans and regulations for humanity's future. Some found them overly stringent, particularly the rule that only children born on the Ark, educated under The Void's guidance, and passing the "Proof of a Human" test could return to Earth. This test aimed to ensure they treated fellow humans with respect and unlearned the misconceptions of the past.
These strict rules sparked debates and discontent among Noah's Ark's inhabitants. Some argued that The Void should allow all humans to return to Earth, while others plotted covert returns. Meanwhile, space stations refrained from intervening, having lived separately from Ark's inhabitants for years.
Life on Noah's Ark offered security but came with stringent rules, requiring residents to report their plans for leaving their homes and limiting interactions with strangers, despite having access to amenities like pools, parks, and food. Simulated gravity and atmosphere allowed for a lifestyle akin to Earth, yet strict AI management restricted residents' freedoms.
News from Luna Citadel and Mars Odyssey space stations about Earth's rapid recovery, thanks to the life samples from Noah's Ark, filled residents with hope. The planet was becoming greener and fresher, resembling Earth in the 1700s when pollution had yet to mar its beauty, except for trees, which still required decades to grow.
All space stations decided to return to Earth, but Noah's Ark's inhabitants were to remain indefinitely. Only their children, born and raised on the Ark, would have the chance to return to Earth as adults.
On November 17, 2061, all space stations relocated to a rejuvenated Earth, where the atmosphere was cleaner than ever, and the world was on the path to recovery, thanks to the collective efforts of the space stations and The Void's innovations.
However, the inhabitants of Noah's Ark grew increasingly dissatisfied with their limited options. As they learned more about Earth's progress, their longing to return intensified. Some believed The Void imposed strict rules due to the atrocities committed by armed groups on Earth.
Space stations were aware of these problems but had no authority to alter the rules or govern Noah's Ark's inhabitants. They chose to let Noah's Ark and its inhabitants be, as peace.