Letter from an Astrosociologist
Colleagues,
Since our last review of the outer Orion arm two hundred cycles ago there has been an astounding rash of development. This portion of the galaxus is now host to three crossover civilizations, one of which will near the Tellen-Hatch terminus spiral within the next fifty cycles. While such growth is certainly not impossible, it is certainly unprecedented given the limited resources of the region, and has not occured in recorded history for nearly five thousand cycles. We would be wise to suspect and test for outside cultural contamination on these planets. What may appear to be cleverness may be merely be illegal meddling from some of the looser beings in our galactocracy.
I also cannot suggest harshly enough the erection of a darkspace bubble around this area of space. Interstellar traffic must be re-routed until these civilizations begin to show progress towards crossover or terminus. The Earthlings in particular are intensely curious about the existence of life outside of their sphere, and we cannot risk even an accidental meeting.
Somewhat poetically, this region of space is now a good deal noisier than it was when we last surveyed it. In a way it makes one feel paternal towards these civilizations, as if they were recently hatched young only just beginning to learn how to speak. All three civilizations in the Orion are broadcasting, although none of them have been doing so for more than eighty cycles. The Earthling and Folan signals are only just beginning to mix, and neither will receive a clear transmission from the other for at least ninety more cycles.
The Earthlings, the most fascinating of the three, may not have that long. As I mentioned earlier in this preliminary report, they are growing the quickest and are therefore in sight of the terminus spiral - the event horizon where a worldly civilization begins perpetual decline. A cloaked study of their history in the past two hundred cycles is a disturbing read, even among those of us who have been attending to pre-crossover civilizations for hundreds and hundreds of cycles.
In the past one hundred cycles the Earthlings have made bafflingly huge leaps in technology, going from heavy-industrial to post-atomic. In only one hundred cycles. It is miraculous that they have not yet destroyed themselves. It is this very miracle that keeps me from placing them in the terminus spiral already. A race this ingenious might yet be able to devise a way out of their own mess. As you know, fellow colleagues, such a reversal is so dramatic and rare that it has only occured eight times in recorded galactic history.
Their population has exploded exponentially along with their technological gains, though it is slowing and their planet will be able to sustain them for at least another one hundred and fifty cycles. There are numerous signs that correlate with other civilizations that fell victim to the terminus spiral: lowering standards of living combined with poisoning of their biosphere. They are in the beginning throes of a worldwide climate change that their industry has caused, but there are signs that life on this planet has survived much worse and the Earthling civilization has sufficient resources with which to adapt to and weather the climatological shift.
In contrast, the two other civilizations in the outer Orion arm: the Folans and Hyu, are progressing at a snails pace. The Hyu have the advantage of a single faith that dominates their sphere, maintaining a relative ease in the lives and regulating growth to a smooth climb. Provided they do not become a warring species, they may very well be the first civilization in this section to make it to successful crossover.
The Folans are a predominantly bio-technology based civilization that are currently going through their second mechanical abberation, which in itself is somewhat unusual. Up to this point, their progress has been slow and relatively benign. Violence between castes is common on this world, but the respect for their planet is deep, and as such they have little thought for what is beyond it. It is unknown whether their shift into mostly mechanical tech will change this.
This concludes my preliminary report on the outer Orion survey. Enclosed are a bevy of orders, detailed civilizational information, and suggestions for the follow-up teams.
Cordially,
Whenx Ourl J, III Class Socion
Since our last review of the outer Orion arm two hundred cycles ago there has been an astounding rash of development. This portion of the galaxus is now host to three crossover civilizations, one of which will near the Tellen-Hatch terminus spiral within the next fifty cycles. While such growth is certainly not impossible, it is certainly unprecedented given the limited resources of the region, and has not occured in recorded history for nearly five thousand cycles. We would be wise to suspect and test for outside cultural contamination on these planets. What may appear to be cleverness may be merely be illegal meddling from some of the looser beings in our galactocracy.
I also cannot suggest harshly enough the erection of a darkspace bubble around this area of space. Interstellar traffic must be re-routed until these civilizations begin to show progress towards crossover or terminus. The Earthlings in particular are intensely curious about the existence of life outside of their sphere, and we cannot risk even an accidental meeting.
Somewhat poetically, this region of space is now a good deal noisier than it was when we last surveyed it. In a way it makes one feel paternal towards these civilizations, as if they were recently hatched young only just beginning to learn how to speak. All three civilizations in the Orion are broadcasting, although none of them have been doing so for more than eighty cycles. The Earthling and Folan signals are only just beginning to mix, and neither will receive a clear transmission from the other for at least ninety more cycles.
The Earthlings, the most fascinating of the three, may not have that long. As I mentioned earlier in this preliminary report, they are growing the quickest and are therefore in sight of the terminus spiral - the event horizon where a worldly civilization begins perpetual decline. A cloaked study of their history in the past two hundred cycles is a disturbing read, even among those of us who have been attending to pre-crossover civilizations for hundreds and hundreds of cycles.
In the past one hundred cycles the Earthlings have made bafflingly huge leaps in technology, going from heavy-industrial to post-atomic. In only one hundred cycles. It is miraculous that they have not yet destroyed themselves. It is this very miracle that keeps me from placing them in the terminus spiral already. A race this ingenious might yet be able to devise a way out of their own mess. As you know, fellow colleagues, such a reversal is so dramatic and rare that it has only occured eight times in recorded galactic history.
Their population has exploded exponentially along with their technological gains, though it is slowing and their planet will be able to sustain them for at least another one hundred and fifty cycles. There are numerous signs that correlate with other civilizations that fell victim to the terminus spiral: lowering standards of living combined with poisoning of their biosphere. They are in the beginning throes of a worldwide climate change that their industry has caused, but there are signs that life on this planet has survived much worse and the Earthling civilization has sufficient resources with which to adapt to and weather the climatological shift.
In contrast, the two other civilizations in the outer Orion arm: the Folans and Hyu, are progressing at a snails pace. The Hyu have the advantage of a single faith that dominates their sphere, maintaining a relative ease in the lives and regulating growth to a smooth climb. Provided they do not become a warring species, they may very well be the first civilization in this section to make it to successful crossover.
The Folans are a predominantly bio-technology based civilization that are currently going through their second mechanical abberation, which in itself is somewhat unusual. Up to this point, their progress has been slow and relatively benign. Violence between castes is common on this world, but the respect for their planet is deep, and as such they have little thought for what is beyond it. It is unknown whether their shift into mostly mechanical tech will change this.
This concludes my preliminary report on the outer Orion survey. Enclosed are a bevy of orders, detailed civilizational information, and suggestions for the follow-up teams.
Cordially,
Whenx Ourl J, III Class Socion
posted by greenland at 1:33 AM
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