Pilot X

by Tom Merritt

  Alendan diplomats make regular visits to the Sensaurian Mission at the Fringe Cascade but do not take up residence. The Sensaurians conduct diplomacy only in this mission.

  Progons—A race of pure electricity that houses themselves in great machines.

  Progons are often mistakenly thought of as a collective because of their basis in electricity. However, Progons are individuals and do not and cannot merge into a larger collective existence.

  Unlike for most biological entities, the Progon evolution was not driven by replication. Progons’ ancestral forms were driven by circuit completion, with replication later supporting that.

  The major step for Progon civilization was inhabiting Proroqs, which allowed them mobility. Proroqs are natural forms that can move easily, a feature of Tiel’s geology, like small boulders with limb-like projections that can manipulate objects. They are commonly referred to as “rock carts” by non-Progons.

  Primitive Progons were limited to inhabiting Proroqs but eventually learned to construct larger and more efficient machines. As they spread out on their planet, they programmed automata to build ever more impressive and complex cities. Eventually, Progons developed automata that could leave the planet and even explore other worlds.

  Actual Progon individuals exist in circuits inside the great machines on Tiel. They rarely leave or interact with outsiders. The Progons most Alendans might encounter are simply robots or other automata controlled from Tiel.

  Home planet: Tiel (which means “one”).

  Communication: Progons can send electrical signals over distance and through time. They can explore the universe without leaving their home planet. Their automata expand and sometimes conquer other worlds while under homebound Progon control.

  While Progon circuits are capable of traveling off planet, it is extremely rare for an actual Progon to leave the planet.

  Evolution: Some theories suggest Progons caused their own evolution by sending instructions to primitive Progons to guide them in creating machines outside the Proroqs. The Progons deny this, saying it is impractical to communicate anything of significance to primitive Progons.

  Most scientists believe the paradox could not be balanced and accept Progon assurances that it has not occurred. Alendans have visited Progon history and have not found any evidence of interference from the future in their evolution.

  Diplomacy: Progon automata are warlike, and the Progons have expanded to rule over large amounts of space centered around Tiel and the other Progon central worlds.

  Progons and Sensaurians have no diplomatic relations, but keep an uneasy distance between their two cultures. Alendans have fought fierce wars with the Progons at times but also maintain long stretches of peacetime. In eras of good diplomatic relations, diplomats are often placed on Tiel and Progon automata are stationed on Alenda.

  Accusations of a secret Dimensional War have persisted between the three cultures, but no evidence for such a war has yet been uncovered.

  Sensaurians—A unified megaorganism that can split up into smaller bits down to single cells. Sensaurians can send parts of themselves back in time. The culture is extremely isolated and little is known of their history.

  Home planet: Sensaur (meaning “us”).

  Communication: Instant hive mind thought transfer limited only by speed of light but enhanced through anticipatory nonlocal neural transfer.

  Evolution: Unknown.

  Diplomacy: Sensaurian mission at Fringe Base located off the Fringe Cascade. This is the only Sensaurian location for diplomatic business.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Tom Merritt is an award-winning independent tech podcaster and host of regular tech news and information shows. Tom cohosts Sword & Laser, a science fiction and fantasy podcast, book club, and publishing imprint, with Veronica Belmont. Tom has published several science fiction and technology books, including Citadel 32: A Tale of the Aggregate, The Year in Tech History, Sword & Laser Anthology, and Lot Beta. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two dogs.

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