Glasships (pronounced as 'glass ships') are quasi-living interstellar arks, by means of which the Crystalline spreads across the galaxy. Glasships possess means of faster-than-light transportation. They are built, or rather grown, by Crystalline-transformed creatures under the command of the Voice. Earth-like planets provide the building materials for Glasships. Object X that caused the Strafe was in fact a Glasship, which exploded in Earth’s orbit.
Life Cycle[]
The life cycle of a Glasship is as follows:
- A new Glasship launches into interstellar space;
- The Glasship finds an Earth-like planet, inhabited by advanced life forms;
- The Glasship explodes in the planet’s orbit and its shards ‘sow’ the planet’s surface;
- The shards terraform the planet and transform its living creatures;
- Transformed creatures build several new Glasships.
Thus, the Crystalline strengthens its presence in the Galaxy cycle by cycle, and sooner or later it will subdue all existing life forms.
Design[]
A Glasship is assembled of parts, like a construction kit. These parts are Crystalline Constructs. When ready, each Construct is transported to the Red Realm, where a Glasship is assembled. The Engine is the most important (and largest) component of a Glasship. This is a Construct that allows for FTL transportation. When the Engine is ready, the Glasship construction process is at the ‘finish line’. The only way to stop that process is to destroy the Engine.
Perspectives[]
Each Impact Zone on Earth would produce a new Glasship. If humans do not stop the Crystalline, our planet will become a cradle for several dozen Glasships. The Earth’s resources will be depleted, and the planet will lose its magnetic field and stop spinning around its axis. This will mean the end of all life on the planet, except for that transformed by the Crystalline. This process might take years, or even decades, but it is inevitable. If no effective global counter-measures are taken against the Crystalline, our planet is doomed.