Let's say that the initiative is taken, and we get off Earth. What will we get off Earth in? What will our chariots look like?

The problem is, my vision will be forever polluted by Star Trek, Star Wars, and Babylon 5. Whatever I see will somehow mirror them.

What propulsion system will we use? Artificial gravity? Weapons?

So many questions.

Now, let's say, that those who design our ships have also been affected by Science Fiction. What if our REAL ships resemble Galaxy class vessels, Star Destroyers, or Omega class destroyers.

Odds are, they WILL resemble the crappy little EarthForce ships. When we do rise to the stars, that is what we will be. We won't be at the center of the Universe. We'll be an abused newcomer. Our crappy little fleet of ships will inevitably come across armadas of ships from civilizations older than our star. We will meet up with vessels built with technology that defies everything we think we know about the Universe. We will see all powerful mammoth ships, which eclipse our own.

We will also come across those even newer than ourselves.

Of course, we have to get there first.

---

Peter Tatara
2.17.1999