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As we enter the 31st century Human expeditions have explored much of our own galaxy, though a great deal remains unknown, due to either political situations or matters of navigational hazards. Missions have also reached the nearby galaxies, notably Triangulum and Andromeda, but also the Magellanic Clouds and other small satellite galaxies of the Milky Way. Other articles will discuss the civilizations discovered there. Planets, life, sentient life, civilizations and fellow space-farers have been found throughout the major galaxies. The number of sentient species has been somewhat low, a fact which perhaps is explained by the 21st century "Rare Earth" Hypothesis, that itself being an explanation for the 20th century Fermi Paradox. (The Fermi Paradox in a nutshell: if intelligent life is common in the galaxy, where is everybody?) Another famous alien-life concept from those times is the Drake Equation. It seeks to estimate the number of civilizations in the galaxy by estimating several factors. The equation and its revisions are interesting intellectual exercises concerning the number of various types of life. Taken as a whole, the three concepts have proven to be surprisingly useful to modern Xenobiologists. The Drake Equation, as it is currently written: Nftl=N* x fp x fe x fl x fE x fC x fv x fP x fi x ff x fL Nftl is the number of species possessing faster-than-light technology. For ease of the discussion, various Nations of the same species are not considered separately nor are species Raised or Educated by an older species.
The modifications made since the birth of this equation reflect refinements and observations about the concepts of life and technology. N* has been known for over a millennium. It is approximately 300 billion. These stars range from dwarf to supergiant, ancient to infant, red to blue. Most are in pairs or triplets, with the rare Sun burning in solitary splendor. (Sol is somewhat of an oddity, a fact that seems strange to the majority of Humanity still living on or near Earth.) Nearly every star has some sort of sub-stellar companion, ranging from asteroids to gas giants much larger than Jupiter. Even most double stars have planets orbiting in gravitationally stable regions. From this, a census of planets in the Milky Way has been conducted, with a planetary population of over a trillion vindicating the theories of Carl Sagan. Sheer mathematics would dictate this colossal result, though it may seem incomprehensible to the Human mind. Factor into to this the uncertainty about the exact definition of "planet." Many bodies considered moons, asteroids or Kuiper belt objects are themselves larger than other objects in the same solar system which are considered planets. No matter the convention, the sheer number of planets is prodigious. Thus, fp has been found to be 0.99, with the number of solar systems being nearly 300 billion. It is the rare star shining alone, with neither stellar nor gaseous nor rocky companion! That number, however, is far larger than the number of worlds on which life has evolved. (Perhaps it is worth noting at this point that planets seem to be required for life. No life form has ever been observed which evolved outside of a planetary ecosystem.) From observation, only one in ten worlds has played host to some form of life. fe = 0.1, a result which is partial verification of the Rare Earth Hypothesis. Nearly all life has been found on Terrestrial Type A, or TTA worlds. Many of these worlds are free-orbit planets, but many are actually satellites of large Jovian-type gas giants. In all known cases, life has been based upon the element carbon and has used water as a solvent. Thus, the water present on the planet must be in a liquid form. There is a spherical shell about stars known as the circumstellar habitable zone, or CHZ, in which water on a planet's surface will remain liquid much of the time. Seasonal variations may cause ice or steam to form, but in general, liquid water is present often enough to allow life's chemistry to function. There is also a Galactic Habitable Zone, or GHZ which extends from the galactic center to nearly the periphery. The galactic center is inhospitable because of the very large amounts of radiation present due to the central black hole and the formation of stars. The extreme periphery is also relatively poor in rocky worlds due to the lack of elements heavier than helium (or "metals" See below) in that region. Some such planets have formed there, and others have drifted with their stars to the region over the eons. Life has been found in some of the most inhospitable places known. Some of the first "extreme life" was found in thermal vents on the ocean floor of Earth. Other forms have been found in polar regions, in the upper atmospheres of gas giants, on cold Mars-like Terrestrial Type B planets, or even on the scorched surfaces of once temperate worlds incinerated by supernovae. Some of these planets orbit cool red dwarf stars which will probably outlive all other stellar types. Life on such worlds will have the time, but not the resources, for evolution to take over. Other life-bearing worlds orbit massive, hot blue supergiants. These stars will last only millions of years, trivially short compared to the time requires for complex life to evolve. As a result, the fraction fl is in many cases assumed to be nearly equal to 1. There are exceptions to this rule, as with every other, some of which provide a fascinating field of study. Nevertheless, it appears that life can beat many formidable obstacles; tens of billions of worlds are known to harbor life. Every year bring new discoveries of communities of life once thought impossible. Life-capable worlds may be rare, but on such worlds, life inevitably develops, even if it does not flourish nor evolve. This is rather a long way from saying that complex life has been found in such places. In most cases of extreme environments, the life in question is simple one-celled bacteria-like organisms. The evolution of complex one-celled organisms, known as eukaryotes, is itself a major step in evolution. fE has been observed to be 1 in 1,000. Again, harsh environments can support such life, but much less often than hardier prokaryotes; the leap from prokaryote to eukaryote is a large one. Indeed, many organelles characteristic of complex cells are themselves very similar to prokaryotes, examples being mitochondria and chloroplasts. It is thought that a symbiosis has evolved, but one taking millions or even billions of years, when it develops at all. Despite the odds, tens of million of planets have been found with complex, one-celled organisms. A telling sign: nearly all of the worlds on which eukaryotic life has been discovered orbit about a star with a stellar classification between F7 and K1. Perhaps the most difficult hurdle in evolution is the development of multi-cellular organisms. A so-called Cambrian Explosion occurred on Earth some 4 billion years after the planet formed, while life itself began a mere billion years after Earth's birth. We find that barely 1 in 10,000 planets with life are inhabited by anything more complex than an amoeba. Thus, of the hundreds of billions of stars, barely 3000 are home to multi-cellular life, and all of them are of the above-mentioned stellar class F7 to K1, with most being in the G range. However, another surprise awaits us. Apparently, once the toehold of complex life is achieved, animals with skeletons often follow. fv is usually considered to be as high as 0.5. Some 1500 worlds in the galaxy are home to animals. Incidentally, though higher plants, such as trees, are often ignored in discussions of intelligent life, since all observed sentience has evolved from animals, these plants are considered to be as rare as vertebrates. Forests are rare and precious! It is also rare for a world to have given life to either animals or forests alone, without the other. Of all the places in which bones rule the world, on 2/10th has pre-sentient life evolved, and in most cases, more than one species displays the possibility of some day becoming thinking beings. This has provided the basis for the concept of Raising; that is, the creation, through genetic modification, selective breeding and other means, of sentient life from not-quite-sentient life. Our own genetic cousins, Chimpanzees, Bonobos, Gorillas and Orangutans, have been the not-uncontroversial beneficiaries of such creation. The Brin, named in honor of an ancient author who wrote fiction about the concept, were the first such species found on another world. Perhaps Homo erectus and Neanderthals might have been similarly Modified, had not modern Humans burst onto the scene. Though hundreds of such races are calculated to exist, only dozens have been found. This is no doubt due to the difficulty in encountering such races. After all, the entire galaxy is not yet known, not every world charted, and it would be difficult to find all pre-sentients, since they do not yet have the ability to leave their homeworld! However, the types of stars known to have a high probability of being life-capable have been given precedence by xenologers over others. Sentient life; aye, there's the rub! Perhaps 1 in 10 pre-sentients have become thinking beings. Many have gone on to develop civilization and technology, but not all of those have developed FTL. It is thought that 25 worlds have intelligent life. 19 have so far been discovered, either revealing a discrepancy with our calculations, or letting us know that more work has yet to be done. The observed number of FTL civilizations is 11. Of these 11, *all* are still alive, still thriving, still traveling throughout their sections of the galaxy. Though extinct civilizations have been found, it does not appear that any had developed FTL technology. It also appears that every known species that has developed at least an industrial society (with the exception of the Leviathans) is less than a quarter billion years old as a species. It is theorized that this is due to the fact that most Main-Sequence stars observed are third- or fourth- generation stars. That is, there were stellar "parents" and "grandparents" of the current generation of stars. These forebearers were poor in "metals," which, to astronomers, are any chemical element more massive than helium. Such elements include carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and true metals such as iron, titanium and uranium. The first group, along with hydrogen, comprise the CHON group of elements and are essential for all observed life. The true metals are required at different stages of technological development. All are synthesized in supernova explosions, which would not have occurred before the first generation of stars was formed. There would have been few such detonations after the first, as well. It is only now, after two generations of stars have come and gone, that sufficient metals have been produced and that life and civilization have appeared. All of this may also explain why there is not a great deal of technological disparity among the races. Though some races are more advanced than others, it seems that most started at the same time, within a few tens of millions of years. There has not been time for any one race to transcend the others, and it also appears that FTL technology represents an endpoint in technological development. At least, so we currently believe... In any case, no two races have followed the same path of technology. Some have pursued megascale engineering, some planetary construction. Some, such as our own, have demonstrated a zest for exploration, and have thus honed their FTL travel skills. Indeed, despite the large number of colony worlds, and the prodigious numbers of individuals of some races, and despite the great age of some societies, it was our own, young race, who was the first to circle the galaxy, and the first to leave it. The Fermi Paradox may at last be answered in three points:
To sum up:
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(Specifications subject to change without notice, etc.)
Notes: Ours seems to be the fastest-developing of all known species. Though our civilization and species are younger than many, much of our technology ranks with the best the galaxy has to offer. Indeed, ours was the first known species to circumnavigate and to travel beyond our galaxy. In many cases, national, religious and cultural identity ranks higher than than of our species. Indeed, many Humans feel a closer kinship with Nations, religions and cultures of the other three so-called "Fast developers." We have Raised three species to full sentience: Chimpanzees, Gorillas, Orangutans. Members of these species are every bit as sentient as we are, and have their own Nations, culture, etc. We are currently working on another, the Brin, the first such of a world other than Earth.
Notes: The Reptils and Humanity were mutual official first contactees. This pair of species is often referred to as being "Kindred Spirits" because of the great deal of similarity in their history and evolution. Perhaps the most different trait between the two is their outward appearance. The Reptils are the second of the four "Fast Developers." The Human name for their species means "Reptile" in German.
Notes: The only winged race in the galaxy, they have Raised several other species from their homeworld and colony worlds. They have been involved in wars among themselves for most of their history, but have been known to unify in conflicts against the Mandrofino. Their languages are unpronounceable to Humans. Their name is that of an ancient Greek city-state.
Notes: An ancient race considering Raising to be an abomination. They are often at odds with the Agrigentum over territory. Their language is unpronounceable to Humans. Their name is that of the American explorer who made first contact.
Notes: The third of the "Fast developers." They were mutual first-contactees with the Timanere and are often considered "Kindred spirits" with them. See Timanere for more details.
Notes: The fourth of the "Fast developers." With the Camanai were involved with trade between the Agrigentum and Mandrofino region and the Kufoo hierarchy inhabiting the Dyson Sphere. These races were often considered "Middlemen" in such trade. Their two realms are at very nearly the exact opposite side of the galaxy as those of Humanity and the Reptils.
Notes: By far the oldest race, and the only one inhabiting water. They have a great deal of interest in aquatic pre-intelligence throughout the galaxy. They have met and interacted with Humpback whales and dolphins, among other Earth ocean dwellers.
Notes: An ancient unified empire undergoing a period of great change. (Parts of their empire are rebelling.) They are masters of planetary engineering, having actually constructed new planets in Lagrangian points throughout their realm.
These beings are insect-like (thought they do not resemble insects) in the sense that there is extreme sexual dimorphism and the vast majority of the members of the species are considered non-sentient. (i.e. workers, soldiers.) There are three genders: Male, female and Alpha-female. Males are barely sentient, able to communicate via chemical messengers, or pheromones. Females are also barely sentient and act merely as the repository for sperm and egg, providing the gestation "chamber," if you will, for the developing offspring. Alpha females are the sentient ones, competing amongst themselves for the males' sperm and the females' bodies. Alpha-females' gametes leave their bodies for the females' after fertilization. It is for this reason that this gender is not called Alpha-males. After several months, the females give birth to several dozen genderless offspring. These offspring nurse from nutrient-containing cells on the exterior of the female's body. Those cells are developed during the time when the female is not pregnant; she forages for food, much as grazing animals do on Earth. It is during the period of nursing that the genderless offspring either die, become a worker or fully mature into one of the genders. Hormones and social dominance play a major role in this selection. Physical activity and physique influence the production of pheromones which can suppress the development of other offspring in the litter. Once a certain stage in development is reached, the individual's development ceases, and merely growth occurs afterward. Workers cease their development first, and are able to leave the "nest" on their own, becoming workers within the society. Those with gender undergo further development. Not all broods will produce an Alpha-female. Indeed, some do not produce offspring with gender at all. To have more than one Alpha-female offspring in a litter is considered a great honor, though no shame is placed upon those without such offspring. Only those Alpha-females who produce males and Alpha-female daughters will pass on their genes. Alpha-female children are loved and cared for much as Human children. To lose an Alpha-female child is as devastating to a Calari as it is for a Human or Reptil to lose a child. The workers are genderless, non-sentient beings performing most labors of the species. They have no capability for spoken language but communicate via pheromones. Alpha-females communicate amongst themselves via spoken language, with some use of pheromones, which are their means of communication with the other genders and the workers. Their language is not intelligible to Humans, nor are ours to them, so artificial aids must be used. It is also thought that in addition to spoken words translating devices, pheromonal translating devices are often employed by the Calari. Discrete research concerning this matter has not been conducted during the limited contact with their species. Pre-sentient species on their homeworld have a similar system of reproduction and culture. Three have been genetically modified and taught the ways of the Calari, but are not considered to be Raised, and are not completely sentient. They perform the duties of Calari workers, but are able to do more complex tasks. They are in general a very peaceful race. They were mutual first-contactees with the Mzz'phon some millennia ago, and their relationship has been mutually beneficial.
Notes: Hysterical xenophobes, virtually nothing is known about them, save for their hatred of Humanity, regardless of nation, race or culture. Their technology is rather behind ours, so they are not considered a major threat.
Notes: Fanatical xenophobes, even more so than the Mierda del Mar. It is not known if the two species have contacted one another.
Non-FTL
Notes: The most populous of all species, they are the constructors of the great Dyson sphere in orbit about a red star near their homeworld's star. Some 6 sextillion beings live within the sphere. They consider their homeworld a shrine. They have Raised one pre-sentient species, the Kufon. The Kufon in turn Raised the Nikufon, who in turn Raised the Stodnikufon. Each Raising was done by one species with guidance from those that came before. Where "Kufoo" in their language is the name for their own species, roughly analogous to "Humanity" in English, "Kufon" means "second Human," Nikufon means "third Human" and "Stodnikufon" means "fourth Human."
Notes: Inhabiting the Small Magellanic Cloud, this race is the only one known not inhabiting the Three Galaxies. |
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