Jade Blackwind
Alexylva Paradox
Low-Class
164
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Posted - 2014.09.30 09:32:00 -
[1] - Quote
Depends if it's short-term or long-term.
Short-term, the independent capsuleer entities continue to grow and inevitably begin to fully expand into the imperial territory, at first through the exploits in the CONCORD and baseliner regulations. The empires - openly or not - embrace the new technology, with most of the ruling elite and core of the armed forces becoming "immortal" infomorphs, as opposed to the isolated cases of today.
Then, it would be wise to expect the new and improved infomorph empires with their new navies to attempt to crush the major independent capsuleer blocs and scatter or subdue the rest. At first, it might seem that the Aria Jenneth's scenario takes place; but by that point, the difference between the Amarr Empire and, say, Goonswarm would be only in ideology, numbers and organization. Loyalist structures like PIE or (sadly, defunct) EM will be included into the new order of highsec ( *snicker* ), losing their imaginary "free roaming demigod" status and becoming common paramilitaries on a tight leash. There'll be mass clone arrests and terminations in imperial stations, etc.
What remains of the capsuleer blocs becomes fully independent from the "old world", establishing full-scale planetary and stargate infrastructire and essentially, becoming empires themselves. Many will scatter through the wormholes and uncharted space beynd New Eden. The billions and billions of common planetside dwellers would never turn into infomorhs, of course.
When I look at the things long-term (intelligence and memory implants are really a fascinating thing), the danger of the infomorph or quasi-infomorph singularity becomes apparent. Sansha Nation, Sleepers and Rogue Drones are not just mindless things to shoot at: they are a glimpse into our own future. The Nation has failed, but there'll be other, more subtle projects and emergent entities, and, if humanity won't be destroyed before, sooner or later one of them will succeed. The spread of nanite-based technologies is especially dangerous in that regard - and I must note, that nanites are already used by both rogue drones and sansha to infect and assimilate human hosts.
That final singularity, that cluster-spanning, million-year old nanite cloud Overmind beyond our comprehension (and also beyond anything what we would call sanity) and a few remaining cavemen with sticks and stones down dirtside - that's probably what awaits us beyond history.
Perhaps, some day some of those cavemen will start it all again... Amarrian God anyone..? Hehehe.
But who cares. |