Infinity Unlimited

Infinity Unlimited, usually called
“Infinity,” is the multinational corpo-
rate entity through which Homeline
exploits the fruits of – and tries to con-
trol – parachronic technology. It is a
huge, wealthy organization. It is not
always efficient, but it is effective.
Infinity operates under the joint aus-
pices of the United Nations Interworld
Council (consisting of the ambassadors
of the permanent members of the U.N.
Security Council) and its own board of
directors. The board is half elected by
Infinity’s
own
shareholders,
half
appointed by the Council.
Infinity owns, and has the right to
police, all parachronic equipment.
When others build such equipment,
they do so by permission. Any use of
projectors is under Infinity’s direct
supervision, and licensing fees are
Homeline. Infinity tries to keep the very existence of
these worlds secret. Reasons for this include:
Hell Parallels: Timelines depopulated by uncontrol-
lable disease, nanotech gone awry, or forces not yet
understood. See p. 528.
High-Tech and Aggressive: The world would present
an obvious danger if the locals learned about crosstime
travel. The Nazi-dominated “Reich” parallels are the
best example.
Mysterious Forces: Worlds that harbor magic, wide-
spread psionics, or any ability under the general head-
ing “super powers.”
Nonhuman Intelligence: Timelines in which aliens
are the dominant species.
Ultra-Tech: When a world has technology more
advanced than Homeline’s (or Centrum’s), it is consid-
ered hazardous even if its culture seems benign. The
researchers’ objective here, of course, is to learn the
native science without being caught! No Earths with
interstellar travel have been discovered so far.
War Zone: The world is the site of a major struggle
between Infinity and Centrum, or between different
native factions.
There are a few “special” closed worlds that don’t fit
into any of the categories above; e.g., a mysterious par-
allel where the inhabitants suddenly began to shrink.
They are usually closed for good, one-of-a-kind reasons!
required. Infinity has the power to con-
fiscate or destroy any unauthorized
conveyor or projector – but in practice
this right is limited when the device is
in the hands of major powers operating
on Homeline.
Infinity considers itself the custodi-
an of all other timelines – although its
practical hegemony extends only
through Q4, Q5, and Q6. Its sub-
sidiaries have a monopoly on the
research and penetration of new time-
lines. As the “legal guardian” of the
alternate worlds, Infinity leases devel-
opment rights to other Homeline enti-
ties: governments, corporations, or
even individuals. In effect, Infinity
regards itself as the owner of any world
below TL6, and limits or forbids con-
tact with worlds of higher TL.
Infinity also requires that outtime
interlopers “better the lot” of the people
whose worlds they infiltrate and use.
This is often interpreted very loosely . . .
Infinity’s ability to enforce these
policies is strong but hardly absolute.
Many interests explore and exploit
timelines clandestinely, simply because
it is so profitable to find and monopolize
a new world!
Infinity has a number of subsidiary
organizations. Each performs a differ-
ent task. They try to cooperate closely,
but communications breakdowns and
low-level infighting are not unknown.
Additionally, no matter how carefully
Infinity screens its employees, there is
always the chance that Centrum infil-
trators, government and corporate
spies, and ordinary thieves are among
them – leading to adventures with no
outside enemy.