The World Of Alcubierre

Episode IV

"Overseer Verus, there is a Priority inbound from X-4831," Operator Tilenne made a series of intricate gestures, casting the information from her downloadable to Verus'. Her oculary slits fluttered, the hue shifting from the red of oversight to knowledge consumption green.

After a moment, the slits returned to the pulsing red, fixed on Tilenne, "Most interesting, it is confirmed?"

"Yes Overseer. The Zix break their long silence. Or some other entity has gained control over the wormkey." Tilenne replied. Verus frowned, considering Tilenne's conjecture. An operator was generally cautioned against supposition, but the circumstances were unusual enough to warrant some latitude. It seemed very unlikely that any other species would manage to obtain and then use the Zix wormkey, but enough time had passed since the last contact that radical changes may have occurred in the interregnum.

Verus' eyes filtered toward blue as she spread her four hands in front of her, swiping them into a broad circle before punching the air in a staccato fashion. "This is of sufficient importance the Premier Valast should be informed, I have also thought-cast the report to the broadest set of channels as we will be unable to mask these developments. We must exercise what control we can." The enigmatic Zix were the subject of much idle speculation and active research within Halycon. In each interaction, little had been gained. Their representatives would sporadically appear, issue a statement or make a single decision and then disappear. Attempts to engage their emissaries further had been unsuccessful.

Attempts at isolated contact had been met with everything short of outright hostility. Given the apparent unwillingness or inability to communicate individually, some had posited that the Zix were actually a hive mind, one of the few on record. This theory was belied by the fact that in many cases their statements were accompanied by notes they labeled "Disagreement Addendum," which suggested a lack of the uniformity hive minds typically exhibited. In any instance, the opportunity to interact with the most elusive member of the Pan-Universia Combine would be greatly anticipated. The Overseer would be expected to manage the situation accordingly.

Overseer Verus waited, attuned to the thought-web pulsing through her mind, searching for a response from Premier Valast. Her original thought-cast had immediately provoked a rustling in the web, a great murmur as interested parties consumed the morsel of information and toyed at the meaning. Soon, a great cacophony arose as researchers, merchants, and bureaucrats clamored for more information. Annoyed, Verus isolated the thought-channel for Premier Valast's office, content to let the others complain until she had secured her orders.

Finally, a response came. "We will welcome them." Simple. Direct. The Premier preferred an economy of words, something Verus found unusual in a politician. Not unwelcome though.

The command and its import clear, Overseer Verus turned back to Tilenne. "Premier Valast's office will organize a welcoming party. Please ensure that X-4831 is clear of obstacles and they are not detained by interlopers."

Tilenne ducked her head, "Yes, Overseer."

---

Xy and Zyy were in consensus: they did not like travel.

The sensation of the wormhole was difficult to describe beyond the fact that it was miserable. As they traversed the pathway between here and there, the wormhole exerted itself upon their float, causing it to vibrate. The constant fluctuation in pressure wreaked havoc on the delicate membranes across their bodies, placing them both in a state of debilitating suffering. They huddled close together, seeking comfort in each other presence, though neither could find much solace. Even Zyy could not muster a Right's enthusiasm for novelty in the moment. There was simply nothing to like about the process.

After a short period of time, though indeterminably long by Xy's standards, they made their exit from the wormhole and entered into the vicinity of Halycon. Data began to flood in as schematics from the last Zix envoy were compared to this one. Zyy managed to shake off the numbing pain of the journey first and did what observation-specialization's did best: consumed data on their surroundings.

Xy elected to remain annoyed for a period longer, though it did peek in on Zyy's efforts via a single cilia. Even the most Left of Lefts could not resist the magnitude of the situation, though Xy made sure to be sensibly dour about it.

Zyy flung out another cilia, creating an emotion-thread to accompany the thought-thread. It was quite rude to do so without a request, but Xy allowed itself to be carried along for the moment. It soon understood why Zyy felt compelled to share its excitement. The Pan-Universia Combine had expanded considerably since their last contact. When the Zix had been inducted and awarded a wormkey, they had been the four thousand, eight hundred and thirty first species.

The Pan-Universia Combine now stood at over eighty-five thousand species. The associated races claimed millions of worlds spread across unfathomable distances. The wormhole network spread broader and deeper than anything Xy might have considered possible. Xy cast away propriety, layering in additional cilia to enhance the emotion-thread to a full meld, it wanted to experience the wonder of the moment through Zyy, if only for a brief period.

Such marvelous progress. Xy wondered whether their news of a Universal First might already be stale. Or perhaps the odd species from Sol were already in contact with the Pan-Universia. It seemed unlikely, the Zix observed a hinterland in the galaxy, but all things felt possible in light of the Combine's scope.

Shuddering, Xy pulled back a few cilia. Weeding out the Right thought was leeching into its own, corrupting it with silly fancy. Zyy registered some offense, upset that Xy did not share its enthusiasm, but such indignation was common between them. A Left and Right may share a tank, but they would never share a mind.

Xy pulled the list of Universal Firsts. No mention of Sol. More importantly, no progress had been made against the ten lights barrier. Even with the considerable breadth of the Combine, none had managed it. In each case, progress was stymied, often for a combination of reasons: the superior efficiency of wormholes, the exponential threat of faster than light objects, the inability to develop force resistant material. The current record stood at 9.832 lights.

Their mutual revery was put to an end when the float tank docked with the Halcyon way-station. The typical set of perfunctory greetings along with a series of requests from Premier Valast arrived shortly thereafter. Xy combed through the accompanying archives and assembled an accession chart, detailing the reign of various Premiers and their notable accomplishments since the Zix last arrived. Premier Valast was of Species X-14, the first outside of Species X-1 to be selected in thousands of years. This was an interesting development as X-14 was known for their somewhat aggressive posture toward non-members. Perhaps his selection was a reaction to the considerable expansion of the Pan-Universia. Change of this nature might provoke a shift in leadership preferences. Xy wished it had more time to make more sense of this, but the requests began to pile up. It seemed every denizen of Halycon wished an audience.

Xy and Zyy sidelined all requests not issued from Premier Valast, dispensing with them quickly. The Zix Moot had achieved a narrow consensus and they were uninterested in becoming sidetracked from their obligations. Once they had established official, secure communication with the Premier's office directly, Xy and Zyy broadcast their message.

Communication Path: Zix Collective to Pan-Universia Combine

Species Identifier: X-4831

Consensus: Species

Purpose: Information transfer.

Plenipotentiaries: Xy, Left Float Superior. Zyy, Right Float Superior

Consensus Content: On Interstellar Date 2310.393.123, the Zix Collective observed a Universal First. The initial observers, Xy and Zyy, have been dispatched as Plenipotentiaries on behalf of the Zix. Instrumentation deployed along Spiral Scutum recorded a manufactured object traveling at 78.3 lights and accelerating. The object has not since passed through a secondary observation net, though it is likely to do so should it maintain current course for the near future. Telemetry was unable to discern the nature of the travel technology beyond recordings of space-time fluctuations.

At 78.3 lights, the manufactured object is calculated to be a galactic neighborhood threat. In the event of a sizable collision, it is expected the Zix, as well as all inhabitants within a 350,000 light year radius, will be destroyed.

The initial report, as well as various subsidiary reports, have been appended to this communication. Xy and Zyy are authorized to transmit this report as well as any response to the Zix. Singular contact will be ignored.

Cross Reference Reports: Sol Project, Divinity Angelysia, Galactic Neighborhood Impact Analysis, Travel Technology Assessment.

The message sent, Xy and Zyy waited for the response, occupying their time by consuming the information flooding in. Xy set about creating a new taxonomy for the eighty-five thousand races, curious to see whether there were any with a similar biochemistry, social structure, or culture to the Zix. Zyy was consuming an inordinate amount of entertainment from foreign species, attempting to make sense of the preposterousness of singleton non-consensus interactions. Xy could only hope the Right didn't become infected by it.