[ WP ] [ X-Post from /r/futurewhatif ] We send a small group of diverse people with supplies to a planet similar enough to Earth to allow them to colonize it . Soon after they land , Solar flares ( or whatever ) stop us from contacting them for 100+ years . After that time we are able to speak with them again .

`` And?'' Demanded General Sheng, without turning his gaze away from the viewport, and the Earthly vista below. 
 
 `` Well sir, they're definitely ships. We know that much. And they're big. And unless they make a major course correction anytime soon, they're coming our way.'' 
 
 `` Can you say where they're from?'' 
 
 The technician hesitated before replying. 
 
 `` Well, if you track their course back, one of the systems in line is GZ49.'' 
 
 The General nodded slowly, absent-mindedly, not really agreeing to anything. The lost colony, presumed dead - ancient history. 
 
 `` GZ49 is long gone. A hundred years has passed, and nothing. No communications ever made it back. We closed the book on that one a long time ago. `` 
 
 Sheng spoke in curt, staccato sentences. Stating facts, as if looking for a shred of explanation to fall into place and get everything to make sense. 
 
 `` Even if it was them, how are they sending ships back here? Colony vessels are one way - and do n't have enough resources to construct whatever we're facing now.'' 
 
 The command room was silent for a few long seconds, and then from across the room a voice muttered softly. 
 
 `` You, Lieutenant, speak up.'' 
 
 The man stood, a dark blue insignia that denoted a member of the science corp displayed proudly on his shoulder. The words `` L. Devide'' were embroidered in black across his left breast. 
 
 He coughed, cleared his throat, and spoke. 
 
 `` Sir, there's been a few theories recently - none confirmed, but rumours, speculation. I wo n't get into the details, but the gist of it is that we believe GZ49 to lie on the edge of a `` slow zone'' of space.'' 
 
 `` A slow zone? Come on man, get a grip, I-'' another science officer from across the room interjected, before being silenced by a wave of the hand from Sheng. 
 
 `` A slow zone.'' Devide continued, `` A region of space being thrown around by complicated gravity wave interference from three massive blackholes pirouetting around the region. 
 
 We would n't have noticed it when we first sent the ship, we were n't looking for it. But now, we have better sensors, better analysis techniques. The pieces are there if we look.'' 
 
 Sheng, again, nodded slowly, displaying comprehension where there was none. `` And the implications of this are?'' 
 
 `` Well.. to them, time would move slower. A hundred years to us would be..'' The scientist broke off, tapped at his terminal, and then fixed Sheng with stare. `` Twenty-five thousand years.'' 
 
 `` Twenty-five thousand years,'' Sheng repeated, `` Enough time to forget about us.'' 
 
 He turned to look out the viewport again, this time looking outwards, towards the stars. `` Enough time to carve out their own little patch of sky.'' 
 
 `` Uh, General? We're getting a signal. It's coming from the region of space directly in line with the approaching ships.'' A communications officer broke him out of his reverie. 
 
 `` My earbud, please.'' 
 
 Sheng listened, as the other command staff watched in unilateral silence. 
 
 The message was n't long. No pleasantries lay within. Despite this, Sheng began to grin, although there was no humour behind his eyes. 
 
 The silence stretched on for many minutes before he spoke. 
 
 `` I think.. that we should alert the colonies,'' his words were long, drawn out and ponderous, as if he did n't quite understand what he was saying. 
 
 `` I believe we are about to be annexed.''
