ARK
The Haven world lay below, shrouded in frigid clouds.
For æons now the Ark and the simulacra it housed had maintained an anchored
orbit over Skamal in the sub-polar latitude, always watching. Always analysing
the changes wrought since the Ark made planet-fall.
No
living creature scrutinised the data recorded here at the forgotten edges of
the ruined galaxy, though this would change when sentient life returned to the
Shadow system, after the Ark released its incubator capsules.
For now, the sun and many moons of Haven rose and set in their circling arcs, reflected
in the glinting of pearl-burnished plasteel and gleaming lenses of optics that extrapolated
the readouts against ancient records begun millennia before. No heed was paid
to the iridescent beauty of auroras dancing at the poles across the cloud
canopy; or the fiery glittering of cosmic debris as it burned out in the outer
atmosphere; or the pleasing symmetry of impact craters formed on the placid
earth; or even the azure ravishing of concentric wave patterns, undulating
their way across the vast oceans towards the continental shelves, that marked
the inevitable fractured death of astral material that had survived gravitational
plucking from the oblivious heavens.
The Arks main information indices had
no concept of aesthetics. Their function dealt with atoms, molecules and
minutiae. Calibrations, postulations and scans. For the simulacra however, the
analysis of data did include a measure of artistic appreciation, banked as they
were with the knowledge gleanings of civilisations that had long perished, even
before the Ark began its voyage to the edges of the explored cosmos. Their
interpretive functions, combined with increasing mobility around the vessel,
had already established basic social conventions that would eventually assist
the incubated life forms in ultimately populating the planet. Not yet. Not for another
thousand years, or more. But that was irrelevant, because a thousand years was
no time at all in the schemata that the simulacra served.
This planet cycle however was
slightly different. There were only twelve meteorological simulacra aboard the
Ark. Four were concerned with the whole of Haven, especially its tundra and
polar regions. The other four paired teams specialised in readings from the
Ark's subsidiary satellites that circled the temperate and equatorial latitudes.
Since the Ark had entered the Shadow system, as well as monitoring the planetary
weather patterns that were their primary concern, the simulacra had undertaken overall
supervision of data collection on all life-forms on Haven. Both subjects were
fascinating of course, even if the terra-forming manifest was already
well-documented, because the simulacra also observed the adaptive evolution of all
native species. This was not an inherently manipulative process, as the simpler
plant and animal populations needed little or no interference whatsoever. For
the higher vertebrates some tweaking was inevitable, but, for the most part the
simulacra were judicious, even conservative, in their genetic marker shapings,
especially amongst the mammalian consonants. The singular exception to the
simulacra's remit as regards the genetic aspects and classification protocols
had arisen somewhat unexpectedly, and to quirky amusement, amongst the
equivalent of the reptilian and avian evolutionary paths. This had resulted in
a highly intelligent species that the lead simulacra had rather cavalierly
dubbed Pyrvyrns or, more exactly, dragon flammae.
The Pyrvyrns had quickly formed
co-operative proto-communities, based around life pairings and their progeny
and, although slow to develop tools, had made spectacular progress with
linguistics and the mastery of flight. So great was the Pyrvyrns' social and
sentient advancement, the simulacra had, over the last ten cycles, debated the
efficacy of first contact, since the creatures evolutionary tangent would not
conflict greatly with the projected model for Homo Sapientissimus, when introduced into the eco-systems on the larger
land masses of Haven. Indeed, the Pyrvyrns tended to migratory behaviour, and
favoured breeding colonies in the eastern archipelagos that suited their
preferred volcanic island habitats, and would be barely viable for humanoids .
The
simulacrum designated as Veritas was especially persuasive in advocating a
physical intervention during their debates addressing this situation, not least
because of the need to ensure safe integration of the incubated species under
their care when they dispersed on the world below. Before, any samples needing
to be taken from the planetary interior, surface or atmosphere had been
undertaken by sensor drones and relayed digitally or intact to the Ark, or one
of the satellites. However, the
simulacra had capacity to perform exploratory passes on Haven themselves, which
now happened more frequently.
We
are agreed then. Our specifications must be upgraded earlier than anticipated, so
our forms equate to eventual biological parameters of the Allfolk. Veritas'
transmission lacked interrogatory inflection, but then there was no sound
carrier. Nevertheless the statement invited comment from the counterpart
simulacra.
This
would appear the best course. The dragon flammae have no conception of
artificial intelligence, so we must appear in as natural a state as their own,
in order to interact effectively. Sagax had made the
most detailed study of the Pyrvyrn's embryonic social hierarchies.
This
unit concurs.
This
unit also. Although. The simulacrum designated
as Erudictio excelled in the cut and thrust of debate, and could occasionally
deliberate unnecessarily by means such as this elongated pause. They are curious and clever creatures. Will
they not question our sudden appearance in their territories.
All
the more reason not to appear too different to other higher life forms they
have encountered. Our transport will intrigue them, but our own form must have
affinity with theirs. Sagax was adamant that
bio-incarnation was necessary.
How
soon can the flesh be grown. Conperio was eager to
embark on this new phase. The other three expressed anticipation silently.
It
will take two more cycles. We will need time to adapt to the exterior cladding.
Veritas closed the data interface with a
swift pass of its plasteel palm, as discussion was at an end for the time
being.
Veritas
vincit. Erudictio observed to Sagax as they
returned to work. Sagax did not need to concur, since this was obvious.
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