Lake Vostok, under the Antarctic ice, has been sealed off from the rest of the world for millions of years. When a Russian probe finally brought back samples of the lake water, the scientists were amazed to discover that it was rich in microscopic life.
Deep in cold Lake Vostok, the life was dormant. The heat and light of the Russian laboratory brought a remarkable transformation and soon the samples were buzzing with life. In particular, the samples swarmed with a kind of primitive midge larvae that had hatched from tiny eggs.
The larvae grew and over a period of weeks matured and eventually grew into adults. The adults lived for three days in which they mated and each laid thousands of eggs in the water. The cycle continued.
Eventually, the inevitable happened and some of the midges escaped one of the Russian laboratories where they were being studied. (By this time samples had been distributed to a number of laboratories around the world.) The midges vanished into Siberia and no more was thought of them. The scientists continued their studies.
The midges colonised ponds and lakes in Siberia. During the winter they would go dormant, becoming active each spring and summer. Eventually they reached 400 mile long Lake Baikal in southern Siberia.
Five years after the midges escaped the laboratory (and only six years since being first discovered) the first superswarm appeared over Lake Baikal.
Possibilities
1 From their stronghold in Lake Baikal, the midges rapidly expand. A year later, midges have been found in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa, transported by migrating birds. A year after that a superswarm appears over Lake Victoria – and the year after that Lake Eerie.
Projections indicate that within ten years every freshwater body on the planet will be home to what becomes known as the supermidge. Superswarms will become regular features over any body of freshwater bigger than ten cubic miles. In tropical climates supermidges blacken the skies and threaten the viability of mankind’s already fragile drinking water supplies.
In cooler, temperate climates, winter brings at least some respite. But not for long, as the warmer weather is never more than six months away.
2 Although the midges individually live for no longer than three days, a superswarm typically lasts for about ten. At its height, when trillions of midges make up the superswarm, a kind of mental critical mass occurs and the superswarm develops a rudimentary intelligence.
Awareness typically starts on day three of the superswarm and is at its peak at about day seven. During these few days the superswarm is self-aware, and communicates in writhing patterns. It is aware that it only has a few days to live, but it is hungry to learn how it might live longer.
3 The midges are the heralds of the many-angled ones. Millions of years ago, when the many-angled ones last walked upon the Earth, Lake Vostok was open to the air. The many-angled ones left their spoor upon the Earth, but over time all was erased from the land, air and sea. Only Lake Vostok was left. Untouched. Unspoilt. Dormant. Waiting.
Now, with the Lake Baikal superswarm containing many trillions of midges, something begins. The superswarm starts to dance. Complex, fractal patterns appear, and the superswarm pulses rhythmically. The superswarm is tearing a rift in space-time, a doorway to where the many-angled ones dwell...
© Steve Hatherley
Deep in cold Lake Vostok, the life was dormant. The heat and light of the Russian laboratory brought a remarkable transformation and soon the samples were buzzing with life. In particular, the samples swarmed with a kind of primitive midge larvae that had hatched from tiny eggs.
The larvae grew and over a period of weeks matured and eventually grew into adults. The adults lived for three days in which they mated and each laid thousands of eggs in the water. The cycle continued.
Eventually, the inevitable happened and some of the midges escaped one of the Russian laboratories where they were being studied. (By this time samples had been distributed to a number of laboratories around the world.) The midges vanished into Siberia and no more was thought of them. The scientists continued their studies.
The midges colonised ponds and lakes in Siberia. During the winter they would go dormant, becoming active each spring and summer. Eventually they reached 400 mile long Lake Baikal in southern Siberia.
Five years after the midges escaped the laboratory (and only six years since being first discovered) the first superswarm appeared over Lake Baikal.
Possibilities
1 From their stronghold in Lake Baikal, the midges rapidly expand. A year later, midges have been found in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa, transported by migrating birds. A year after that a superswarm appears over Lake Victoria – and the year after that Lake Eerie.
Projections indicate that within ten years every freshwater body on the planet will be home to what becomes known as the supermidge. Superswarms will become regular features over any body of freshwater bigger than ten cubic miles. In tropical climates supermidges blacken the skies and threaten the viability of mankind’s already fragile drinking water supplies.
In cooler, temperate climates, winter brings at least some respite. But not for long, as the warmer weather is never more than six months away.
2 Although the midges individually live for no longer than three days, a superswarm typically lasts for about ten. At its height, when trillions of midges make up the superswarm, a kind of mental critical mass occurs and the superswarm develops a rudimentary intelligence.
Awareness typically starts on day three of the superswarm and is at its peak at about day seven. During these few days the superswarm is self-aware, and communicates in writhing patterns. It is aware that it only has a few days to live, but it is hungry to learn how it might live longer.
3 The midges are the heralds of the many-angled ones. Millions of years ago, when the many-angled ones last walked upon the Earth, Lake Vostok was open to the air. The many-angled ones left their spoor upon the Earth, but over time all was erased from the land, air and sea. Only Lake Vostok was left. Untouched. Unspoilt. Dormant. Waiting.
Now, with the Lake Baikal superswarm containing many trillions of midges, something begins. The superswarm starts to dance. Complex, fractal patterns appear, and the superswarm pulses rhythmically. The superswarm is tearing a rift in space-time, a doorway to where the many-angled ones dwell...
© Steve Hatherley
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