U-1

This universe may also be referred to as the "HG Wells" Universe. It is primarily known for its extremely strong gravity.

Old records scavenged from Confederacy technology:

This was the first universe discovered in 5018 during the Portal Experiments. In U-1, the force of gravity is nearly a billion times stronger than in U-0 (SC universe) or U-2, making initial exploration and settlement challenging. Despite this, innovative solutions that used the increased force of gravity in their favor allowed for new styles of ships, stations, and habitats to fan out from the site of the initial universal gateway. As a result of that higher gravitational constant, stellar objects and processes are scaled down by nearly a billion times. Main sequence stars are the size of a neutron star from our universe, smaller than many U-0 planetbound cities and space installations. Planets (called worldlets) are closer in scale to city buildings. A piece of matter the size of a Human body generates an appreciable gravitational field, capable of being detected by tactile senses.

Clouds of gas the size of small gas giants dot this bizarre cosmos (simply called...Clouds). These Clouds form within regions of higher matter density called 'Mist' (because it is less dense than a Cloud, but more dense than...open space), with those embedded within the empty Void (basically just your conventional interstellar space). The Clouds have different layers of gas and dust depending on density, with stars forming in the hydrogen/helium outer layers and falling through the denser inner layers, either falling straight into the center or moving in semi-stable orbits. Every now and then, worldlets are formed (either from the cores of dead stars or coalescing heavy material). Many of these worldlets are flung out into the Mist or even beyond in the Void, but worldlets which orbit within Clouds, as with the stars if they last long enough, will eventually fall into the centers of the Clouds and be destroyed due to 'air' friction.

As the tiny stars fall through the Clouds, they scatter heavy elements into the air and heat them, forming complex molecules that drift through the turbulent atmosphere. Over time, just like on Earth, they resulted in the birth of life\*. Expedition teams have catalogued hundreds of species so far in just the two explored Clouds alone, ranging from bacteria-like organisms to enormous bags of skin rivaling the size of U-1's planets, built like a living blimp and retaining their own thin atmospheres. Some Confederate scientists have documented some life forms even migrating between the Clouds, relying on gravitational slingshots to propel them across the thin "intercloud medium". Perhaps the most remarkable form of life of the Ameisen, with some having developed intelligence and advanced societies.

There are some that theorize Clouds with breathable atmospheres exist, but none have been detected so far by the probes sent out in all directions from the portal. To deal with the uninhabitable conditions, the Confederacy has established spherical stations in various locations, using the stronger gravity fields of this universe to generate usable fields for their inhabitants. There is even a project undergoing to build a new planet from scratch, which would eventually have people living on a rocky planet with an Earthlike atmosphere under a transparent shell (Almost like on Luna). Despite this being the first universe outside of its native one which the Confederacy accessed, the their presence here is far smaller than elsewhere, such as U-2. The vibratory coordinates are classified by the central Confederate government, with the only authorized access being via the initial wormhole.

Many Confederates speculate that the more complex lifeforms in U-1 are not native, since the universe is far younger than U-0 and would have less time for life to develop.