CRATER OF CHAOS

The Underworld of Answers. Planet Millennium’s dark realm. A world beyond compare, the black biosphere (as it’s known to all Millenninites) ranks as one of the most unusual subterranean environments within the entire Andromeda Galaxy. Few subterrestrial worlds compare to what lays below Millennium’s surface. Although cloaked in perpetual darkness for the most part, the Underworld reveals as many interesting life forms as its counterpart, the Upperworld of Wisdom. Because of her unique subsurface geology and hypogeous environment, incredible creatures have evolved, adapted, and flourished in Millennium's Underworld of Answers. Millions of them.

To comprehend the strange landscape of the Underworld, an explanation of the internal dynamics of Planet Millennium is imperative. Once the geophysical factors are understood, it becomes easier to appreciate and marvel at the size of Millennium’s four subterranean seas; the vastness of her four grand caverns and grottoes; the length of her raging rivers of fire and ice; her network of endless tunnels, caverns, caves, sinkholes, and passageways.

One natural force is responsible for the creation of Millennium’s vast subterranean realms: dynamic geological activity. Change. The majority of planets in the universe lack dynamics—the ability to change significantly through time.

One critical component for change is water. Most planets lack sufficient water. There exist, however, a few million exceptions. For example, in Planet Millennium’s neighboring galaxy, the Milky Way, a planet called Earth represents a life-rich planetary body with a dynamic geological history.

From space, Planet Earth and Planet Millennium appear similar. The major difference, at first comparison, is Planet Millennium’s red and black gyroscopic rings—cosmic belts—circling her atmosphere. Both planets possess an atmosphere comprised of a thin, gaseous envelope that surrounds their entire surface. Both planets have bright, swirling clouds. Both planets’ organic realms—biospheres (includes all living things)—reveal similar terrain. From dark green tropical forests, to bright yellow deserts, to aqua-white glaciers, to deep blue oceans; they look alike. Earth and Millennium share spectacular topography, both on their continents and ocean basins. However, there is one terrain, one landscape, they don’t share.

Below the crust of the two planets, the similarity stops.

Earth exists as a dynamic planet without significant underground topography or notable sub-ecosystems. Except for a few major cave systems, caverns, and sinkholes—most less than a thousand feet deep—Earth does not have extensive underground features, nor open terrain. The reason: Earth’s internal structure.

A thick mantle of solid rock, covered by a thin crust, forms the foundation of the Earth’s continents and ocean basins. Change has occurred throughout geological time because the thin crust remains in motion, causing deformation. The planet’s crust (approximately 186 miles [300 km] thick) forms the tectonic system—plates. The tectonic plates—massive continents—move. Earth experiences never-ending sea-floor spreading, continental drift, volcanism, earthquakes, and mountain building.

So goes Planet Earth.

--- Octilogy : Part III - Chapter XV