✎ the_ananke_conference [chronos]

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======The Ananke Conference======

//On behalf of the Galactic Syndicate of Planets, I would like to welcome you all to this summit, an opportunity for all citizens of the Seven Systems – not just those gathered here today – to grow and learn from each other.//

-- An excerpt from the welcome speech made by Nuri O’Callaghan on Day 1 of the conference. 

  * The //GSS Ananke// was a space station formed as a collaborative effort between each of the Seven Systems. 
  * The ship was designed to host a pan-galactic conference in the name of unity. 
  * A variety of factors led to rising tensions both on-ship and otherwise, leading to mass panic when the comms went dark. 
  * The ship exploded on the eighth day of the conference, becoming the trigger point for a war that engulfed all seven of the Systems.  

//OC note: all information on this page will be available as print-outs in session. //

=====The Conference=====

The Ananke conference was meant to be a nine day conference dedicated to galactic peace and prosperity, as well as an opportunity for every planet to show off their native achievements. Over fifty thousand people were invited, and thousands of stalls, exhibits and panels were held. However, despite the optimistic vision, fate decreed that this was not to be. After heightening diplomatic tensions on the first few days of the conference, the comms went dark on the fifth day and, a scant three days later, the ship itself blew up. 

Many people credit the Ananke conference, and subsequent explosion, with being the trigger point that started [[the War]]. Even those who primarily blame other diplomatic tensions cannot deny that the revelations made at the conference must have played a significant role in making the War happen when it did. 

Among the many scientific marvels displayed at the conference was an experimental time travel device known as the [[chronos|Chronos Machine]]. While, to all appearances, a functioning time machine, the Chronos Machine was limited in that it could only send people back to locations and periods in which a very specific set of conditions hold. The one reliable cause of these conditions is a Chronos Machine (or similar device) being switched on.

The replica of the machine created in recent years appears to be able to send people back to any time that the previous iteration of the machine was switched on. Aside from extremely limited test conditions, the machine appears to have been switched on every day of the conference, except day one.  

=====The GSS Ananke======

The GSS Ananke ship consists of nine main areas, one for each of the Seven Systems (containing both their respective exhibition space and accomodations), one for the [[the_galactic_syndicate_of_planets|GSP]], and one as the common space for everyone (this is where the main hall and main conference room were located).

{{ :map_map.jpg?500 |}}

=====What we know about===== 

While many events on the //Ananke// remain a mystery, prior to the comms blackout the conference was heavily covered by news networks. These are some of the major events that took place over the five days we know about. 

====The GSP and organising committee====
By the time it rolled around, the summit had been almost a decade in the planning.  While it passed between hands multiple times, the woman who ultimately wound up in charge of the project was Sonya Ionescu, head of the organising committee. 

Ionescu led a team of a few thousand people to run the conference. This included both the core team running the ship from the centre and a number of liaisons with individual systems. It was estimated that a small army of cooks, cleaners, engineers and administrative staff would be needed to keep the conference running smoothly. Tragically, it appears that this estimate was a lowball one. 

====The CHRONOS team====
Some scientists from the CHRONOS project were on the ship. The team was a small one, led by Hesiod Jones and Delilah and Hussein Al’Maktoum. As the first public demonstration of the Chronos Machine, the team attracted a fair amount of attention as the tests appeared to run smoothly, producing the predicted results. The results of the tests were relayed back to the core team until the comms were cut on day five.

Some of the interest was notably commercial in nature. Interest from groups such as [[Kedalion]] corporations, the [[Kybele]] government and the [[eunomia|Eunomian]] government was generally seen as positive, before a bidding war on the machine and the technology behind it broke out on day five of the conference. The team’s efforts to defuse the situation were proven to be unsuccessful, considering the riot that ensued.

====Exhibitions and demonstrations====
The conference also served as an exhibition of the cultural and scientific achievements of the Seven Systems. Demonstrations, talks, panels and suchlike were common throughout the conference, with topics ranging from Achelian mining technology to a history of Cheimeran dance. 

====The Model Galactic Syndicate Ananke Summit====
The best teams from each system's Model Galactic Syndicate were invited to the summit on the Ananke Conference as a way of fostering interplanetary links between the youth. Model Galactic Syndicate was a popular educational competition simulating the negotiations which took place in the actual Galactic Syndicate prior to the War.

In the first few days of the conference, the MGS delegates were frequently seen interacting and socialising with delegates from other systems. This was widely publicised, as it was seen as an optimistic sign for the future. A Cheimeran delegate, Esota Clayborne, gave a memorable interview stating a hope that Cheimeros would end its isolationist policies and start opening up to interplanetary culture. The response of the older Cheimeron delegation is not recorded. 

====Briarean Food Ultimatum====
On the second day of the conference, the [[briareos|Briarean delegation]], led by Oscar Letts, announced planned trade sanctions against any systems threatening war. The gerontocrats hoped that by refusing to trade with belligerent planets, Briareos would be able to maintain peace between the Seven Systems. 

Unfortunately, rather than encouraging peace and stability, this move served to heighten tensions between systems. As Briareos supplied a significant proportion of the food eaten in the Systems, several systems saw this as a significant threat. 

====The Kedalion-Eunomian weapons deal====
One of the most significant announcements of the conference wars the [[Kedalion]]-[[eunomia|Eunomian]] weapons deal. The two nations had a longstanding alliance, and the deal was not necessarily unexpected. However, when it was revealed to the Systems as a whole by an enterprising Kybele journalist known as Jem, the scope of the deal was seen as a large andimmediate threat. 

The details of the deal were never revealed to the public due to the Kybele comms cut on day four of the conference. Whether this is related to the complete failure of the comms on day five is unknown, but it is known that Selas in particular took the deal as a threat and immediately strove to make protective alliances against it. This could be to blame for some of the worsening tensions within the War.  

====The Selasi bioweapon====
There were rumours of a fungi-based [[selas|Selasi]] bioweapon being smuggled onto the Ananke. The GSP were informed of this, which resulted in a full-scale search of the Selasi Petal. No trace of bioweapon was found. The Selasi delegates protested heavily at this act of mistrust, but the seeds of doubt were planted and it is difficult to tell how much this rumour affected the attitude of the Systems towards Selas in the aftermath. 

It is known that during the later stages of the war, Selasi agents released a devastating fungal contaminant onto the surface of Eunomia, perhaps lending credence to the idea that such a weapon was brought onboard. 

====The assassination of Princess Eusenia====
Princess Eusenia, daughter of the ruler of [[Eunomia]], was present on the Ananke as an ambassador of peace. However, on the fifth day of the conference, she was assassinated on live television shortly before all the comms died. The last thing heard on broadcast was a panicked accusation thrown at an [[achelia|Achelian]] delegate by someone off screen. The assassin's identity was never confirmed, as the Ananke was lost shortly afterwards. 

=====A Day-By-Day Breakdown=====

The following is a report compiled by Mirza Ruan, general secretary to the CHRONOS team. It summarises known events on each day of the conference.

===Day 1 – 1262.22===

  * **11:00** The ship is declared open. Delegates from across [[the Seven Systems]] start to arrive.
  * **13:00** A light lunch is provided in the central zone to encourage delegates to mingle.
  * **15:00** Opti Automation Solutions, in a display of incredible organisation skills, open up their demo lab, allowing conference attendees to test out the latest generation of Optis in a simulated environment, and see how they perform in various situations.
  * **19:00** A welcome dinner is provided. The food was themed around traditional Cheimeron cuisine. A number of delegates announce hitherto-unreported shellfish allergies at the revelation of the meal, consisting mostly of shrimp paste and algae. The Cheimerons present were reported to express surprise at how good the food was. 
  * The Chronos Machine was not switched on, although it attracted a fair amount of attention form curious delegates. The scientists noticed some minor technical issues with the machine, but these were quickly resolved.  
  * Delegates with exhibitions set them up and ensure that everything was running effectively to open the next day. 

===Day 2 – 1262.23===

  * **0:00** The Chronos machine is switched on to begin its warm-up phase. 
  * **06:30-18:30** Visionary historians deliver a public lecture programme on the [[pre-ananke_timeline|history of the galaxy]] from 0 GC to the present day. The programme, delivered in the Eunomian exhibition hall, lasts the entire day, with short breaks for refreshments. 
    * The tone of these programmes is, on the whole, very hopeful, with a focus on unity and the achievements of Eunomia. There are reports of some foreign delegates walking out, with accusations of ‘blatant propaganda’ and ‘under-documented research methodology’ being reported. 
  * **12:00** The Chronos Machine is turned on for its first demonstration in a central exhibition stage. This is marked by the appearance of a couple of delegates who were known to be in other locations at the time. They place a note, a chronometer and a brooch into the box, before disappearing. Observing delegates are mostly baffled, but the scientists report a resounding success. 
  * **13:45** The Achelian petal hosts a display of what is termed in the programme as ‘interpretive strip-mining’. The large rock that formed the majority of the centre of the petal is quickly hollowed out by an expert team, making more room for later events. 
  * **17:34** The leader of the Briarean delegates, Oscar Letts, announces an ultimatum demanding formal promises of peace from all systems, threatening food trade sanctions. 
    * No formal response is recorded from any other systems at this time. 
  * **23:58** The Chronos machine ends its cooldown phase and is switched off. 
  * A programme of social events for members of the Model Galactic Syndicate occurs on this day. A number of members were reported to have set up a ‘philosophy café’ in a corner of the Briarean petal. 

===Day 3===
 
  * **0:00** The Chronos machine is switched on to begin its warm-up phase. 
  * **09:00 – 18:00** The first day of the Model Galactic Syndicate conference starts.
  * **10:00** Myriad Manufacturing unveil their new rapid prototyping station, able to quickly make small batches of just about anything.  Early reports suggest that the system can create and build with composite materials with any required physical properties (e.g. rigidity, elasticity, thermal conductivity, or electrical properties), but can't mimic chemical properties, or radioactivity, and the resulting prototypes would not be safe and sterile for use as cybernetic implants.
  * **12:00** The Chronos Machine is given its first demonstration. The two people who appeared the day before volunteer to go back in time and place a chronometer, a note and a brooch belonging to one of them in the box. Once they return, the box which was sealed the previous day is opened to reveal the items placed within. People are less baffled. 
    * As with the previous day, a couple of people appear and place objects in a box, which is then sealed.  
  * **13:00 – 17:00** A selection of research, hand-picked by the government, was shown on the main stage of the Selasi area. Reviews of the display were poor, with many saying it felt more like a sales pitch than an exhibition of scientific merit. Some were disappointed, saying that they expected better from a nation known to be on the cutting edge of research.
  * **15:16** A display of new and improved gasbag technology in the Briarean petal goes wrong when one of the gasbags explodes, causing an unpleasant smell to fill that sector of the petal. 
  * **19:54** Princess Eusenia reported as being involved in a fierce public argument with an [[achelia|Achelian]] delegate regarding a new mining technology developed by Eunomia and the environmental impact of asteroid mining.
  * **21:30** Xanthe Criss, a prominent Kybele singer, suffers a wardrobe malfunction on stage. She blames it on Tulip Aster, leader of a rival group of singers, who denies all knowledge. 
  * **23:58** The Chronos machine ends its cooldown phase and is switched off. 
  * Many hushed conversations between politicians were reported in the wake of the Briarean ultimatum. 


===Day 4===

  * **0:00** The Chronos machine is switched on to begin its warm-up phase. 
  * **06:00 - 21:00** An all-day religious ceremony (open to all) is held in the Eunomian chapel. Throughout the service, alongside the sermons, there are music and dance performed by Eunomian artists sponsored by Princess Eusenia. Famous Kybele artists make guest appearances. Some see this as a gesture of reconciliation between the two cultures that are traditionally hostile to each other, others are simply confused.
  * **09:00 – 18:00** The second day of the Model Galactic Syndicate conference starts.
  * **10:05** Selasi delegates announce that they have signed a protection and nonaggression treaty with Briareos. 
  * **12:00** There is another demonstration of the Chronos Machine. 
  * **12:20** A Kybele journalist known as Jem (last name unrecoverable) sends out reports that expose the [[kedalion|Kedalian]]-[[eunomia|Eunomian]] weapons trade deal to Kybele and the whole galaxy. Despite eager inquiries made by a number of news outlets, no further reports are made. 
    * It is suspected that the Kybele comms array went down shortly after the announcements. The cause of this is unknown.
    * Jem is suspected to have died in the immediate aftermath of the comms failure. Her body was recovered the next day with wounds fitting the profile of electrocution.
  * **16:00** The Briareon delegation, attempting to recover their dignity from the previous day’s gasbag disaster, unveil some bioengineering said to allow people to survive with less food. The results are described as ‘horrifying’ and ‘ingenious' in equal measure. 
  * **23:58** The Chronos machine ends its cooldown phase and is switched off. 
  * Unknown to the public until after the conference, at some point during this time an official alliance was forged between Kybele and Selas in response to the Kedalian-Eunomian arms deal. 

===Day 5===


  * **0:00** The Chronos machine is switched on to begin its warm-up phase. 
  * **11:23** The GSP receive a report from a Kybele journalist known as Hiro (last name unrecoverable) that the Selasi delegates have smuggled a highly dangerous bioweapon onboard. The GSP security forces make enquiries and conduct a full-scale search of the Selasi petal, but no bioweapon is uncovered. 
    * Selasi delegates make a formal protest against the GSP. 
  * **17:45** A bidding war breaks out for the Chronos Machine in the main hall of the ship. Scientists responsible for the development of Chronos, led by Hesiod, attempt to calm people down, revealing that the machine was still in development stage and in no state for sale.
  * **18:00** The Tungsten Roses hijack the gathering and the onboard speaker system, blasting music and spray painting slogans. This quickly devolves into a riot that spills out into the main conference room next door. 
    * This conference room was in the process of broadcasting a peace talk led by Princess Eusenia.
  * **18:40** Princess Eusenia is shot and killed on live broadcast. Someone off-screen accuses an Achelian delegate of the crime. 
  * **18:42** The comms go out. No further broadcasts are made from this time.  
    * Long-ranged sensors ([[space travel#ftl_sensors_-_zidar|ZIDAR arrays]]) suggested that the ship was still extant, but the internal fate was unknown.
  * **23:00** The nearby planets of Achelia and Selas both send out probe ships to attempt to establish what happened on the ship. 

===Day 6===

No information could be gleaned from the ship - communications efforts failed to make contact, but the ship still appeared on long-range sensors. 

===Day 7===

No information could be gleaned from the ship - communications efforts failed to make contact, but the ship still appeared on long-range sensors. 

===Day 8===

No information could be gleaned from the ship - communications efforts failed to make contact, and at 15:00 the ship disappeared from long-range sensors.

Events known to have been planned for this day include a closing dinner showcasing the finest cuisine from all of the systems, and a collaborative performance of cultural highlights from each system.  

===Day 9===

Investigatory ships from [[Selas]] and [[Achelia]] arrived at the last known coordinates of the //Ananke//. They found exotic matter which suggested that some the cause of the destruction may have been a collision between the station and an object travelling at [[space travel|faster than light (FTL)]] speeds - something that should not have been possible given the design of the station, as any FTL object should have decelerated to rest at a safe distance.
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