A form of Von Neumann Probe, this device was created by a more advanced civilization to rid the universe of any life forms other than themselves. It is said that the Forge Of God travels from planet to planet, star system to star system, and galaxy to galaxy destroying any life forms it encounters. The civilization that created it had of course set up multiple protection mechanisms against their sinister device in order to avoid being destroyed themselves... (It's not real, its a plot device from a Greg Bear science fiction novel)