Harry remembered a novel called Alien Path Divergence, about a universe where FTL technology was so simple that even civilizations that only understood matchlock muskets could "just happen to discover" FTL and anti-gravity technology.
Then, a group of aliens still using matchlock muskets accidentally arrived on Earth—while Earthlings, aside from lacking FTL engines and anti-gravity technology, surpassed those aliens by centuries in every field.
By the end of the novel, six billion Earthlings had burst forth from Earth and spread the flames of war across the entire universe.
FTL in this universe was not quite that simple, and the aliens were not backward natives who only knew how to use matchlock muskets. Still, FTL was indeed not so difficult—it only required discovering the entrance to a Hyperspace Lane.
Passing through a Hyperspace Lane took but an instant.
The Hyperspace Engine activated, and the space before the ship suddenly became a mirrored expanse formed of hexagons. One hexagonal frame abruptly vanished, revealing the star system on the other side:
Three stars glittered: a Yellow Dwarf, an orange dwarf, and, farther away, a Red Dwarf radiating crimson light. It was a Triple Star System.
The Alpha Centauri System, also known as Proxima Centauri—the destination of this FTL voyage.
"The Hyperspace Engine is functioning normally. Comparing stellar data... comparison complete, sir."
Nearly every Osborn employee witnessed the scene. The transmitted image dimmed so faintly it was almost imperceptible, and then three stars of different colors appeared in the footage sent back by the Research Ship!
The data transmitted afterward further confirmed that it was their destination!
"This is amazing!" "Yeah!"
"We've surpassed the speed of light!"
"We've surpassed the speed of light..." Dr. Selvig dropped heavily into his chair, his face filled with disbelief.
He had spent years working with S.H.I.E.L.D. on