Official Diplomatic Dispatch: From Grushan Senate: To Terran Global Hegemony President's Office: 07/24/2175 1510 EST

To Yan An-Sing, President of the Terran Hegemony, from Almarith, Praetor of the Grushan Federation, Chairman of the Grushan Senate, Commander of the Federal Grushan Star Fleet

Greetings. Please extend our cordial greetings as well to Zahal of RN-06 and his people scarce as they are. It pleases us that his people have survived the bombardment of wars past as well as the thousands of years of stasis they endured. Despite the good fortune of your discovery, however, the Senate, and I, are concerned that you seem to have violated a Grushan quarantine zone without clearance from the Federal Grushan Star Fleet. We request you ensure that a violation of this nature does not occur a second time; both of our peoples profit by our mutual trade, and it would be rash of you to jeopardize it over so small a matter.

Official Diplomatic Dispatch: From Terran Global Hegemony President's Office: To Grushan Senate: 07/24/2175 1735 EST

To Praetor Almarith,

I have relayed your greetings to our distinguished guests of the Zaha-Katchem. However, they have learned of your quarantine, and they agree with myself and the people of Earth. Together, the Zaha-Katchem and the Terran Hegemony condemn this hateful act of Grushan xenophobia through which an entire race was abandoned to an uncertain fate due to the warnings of imperialistic conquerors. If all Grushan quarantines are of similar nature, Earth refuses to recognize their validity.

Signed Yan An-Sing, President of the Terran Global Hegemony

Official Statement: Ellensburg Police Department: 07/24/2175

The EPD has recently detained local high schoolers William Aucaman and Cynthia Mattingly on suspected terrorism charges. They were found holed up in a cabin Northeast of town overnight in possession of classified weapon technology. We are unsure of how they acquired this technology or what their target was. We are also unsure of Ms. Mattingly's involvement; it is possible she was taken captive. However, it seems that they resisted arrest and did significant damage to remotely piloted police SWAT forces. A third Ellensburg High School student, Brent Calhoun, was found dead at the scene. Aucaman is considered to be the mastermind behind the plot, and he appears to have been radicalized by Gennady Semyonov and pro-Novan sentiment, as well as anti-Ambience conspiracies. We are not yet sure what his target was, or how he planned to deliver the weapon. Current intelligence suggest that it was meant to be an attack on Ambience facilities in Helena. We will continue to give updates to the press as they become available. Thank you again.

Official Transcript: Security Camera Footage: EPD Interrogation Room 3: 07/24/2175

[Begin Playback at 1244 Local Time]

[Mattingly and Aucaman sit handcuffed to the table. Aucaman seems to be struggling to stay awake and his head nods occasionally. Mattingly stares ahead blankly]

MATTINGLY: I didn't have sex with him.

[Aucaman's head jerks up as if woken from sleep]

AUCAMAN: What?

MATTINGLY: They said they'd watched porn. Of me. I never had sex with Brent. He wanted me to, but I didn't. I don't know why. It just seemed like college and all that was always more important. I didn't know what he wanted other than that. I didn't want to get too attached. Sun Yat-Sen University doesn't take couples, especially girls. I didn't want to lose sight of that or let him think that we were for real or something. You know. I mean, in front of the camera, it was fine to have fun together and stuff like that. That can be good for your sesame score because people like couples. But they feel threatened when people put their sex tapes online or stuff like that. And I'm not a slut. He really wanted to, and so did I sometimes, but we didn't.

[Pause]

AUCAMAN: Okay. You didn't have to tell me that.

MATTINGLY: But where did it come from? What were they watching? Were they Brent's fantasies? Did he put those online? He told me he used to do that. Fantasize, I mean.

AUCAMAN: Well... it could be that, I suppose. Or the police could have staged something, or your friends could be lying. It could be anything. Those might not have even been your friends and your parents. You can fake nearly anything onscreen nowadays.

MATTINGLY: Do you really think that they did that? For real?

AUCAMAN: I mean... I hope so.

MATTINGLY: I don't think so. When I was in Atlanta, there was a girl named Kristy. I don't remember much about her except that I hated her. She did all the right things. She had a good online portfolio. And then, her dad, who was a neuroscientist or something, did some study about long-term Interlink usage that said something negative. And I can't quite remember what we did to Kristy. Was it like this? What did we do to her? [pause] I can't remember. I just remember that I hated her, but I don't know why.

[Pause]

MATTINGLY: You can tell me you told me so.

AUCAMAN: Huh?

MATTINGLY: Two weeks ago? In Exocultures? We were studying for the final paper and you said all that crazy stuff about the Interlink device and how it made you do crazy things that weren't like you. You told me all that back then and I blew you off. I don't remember why. I just couldn't stand what you said and I thought you smelled like fish all the time. But you can tell me you told me so. You were right about everything. I'm sorry.

AUCAMAN: I don't even remember that.

MATTINGLY: But it wasn't all that long ago!

AUCAMAN: No, but I have a terrible memory for things happening. There's only a handful of things I actually remember at a time, and it's mostly just facts. That's why I write everything down.

MATTINGLY: That's why you were writing at every stop last night? To remember it all?

AUCAMAN: Well, and as something of a coping mechanism. I had to stay calm, after all, and I couldn't do that if I was just waiting around for that thing to come for us. And also because it is now the only record that exists of what actually happened, for the fat lot of good that's done us. But yeah. That was basically the idea.

MATTINGLY: I don't think I'll need the help.

AUCAMAN: But even if I did say those things, and it sounds like something I might have said, I don't think I'd say I told you so. I'm not sure how much I believed it myself before today, you know.

MATTINGLY: What do you mean? You were so sure of it. I know I'm remembering that right.

AUCAMAN: Well, my parents were. They were determined to raise my brother and me without Ambience peeking into our heads. They told me all that stuff I probably told you. But I'll be damned if I didn't want one anyway.

MATTINGLY: What? Why on earth?

AUCAMAN: Do you think I didn't want to fit in? Do you think all this time I've just enjoyed being a complete asshole to everyone except for the two or three weirdos like me? You have no idea what it's like to be the only one without an Interlink. I was bullied for years for it. You have no idea how bad it got. Brent was actually one of the worst; he was the ringleader. He would organize everybody in the class to gang up on me. I was left out of everything because I didn't have an Interlink, kicked, spat on, literally spat on. One of my youngest memories was Brent holding my face in a toilet bowl filled with my own shit. And teachers didn't care. They only get alerts on students when their Interlinks send auto-distress calls, and I had none. So for me, all that tough talk about Hegemony conspiracies is... all true, of course, but it's also an easy way to feel superior to all of you. It was either get tough and do that or go completely insane. [pause] I almost got one once. We were in Helena for the day, I don't remember why. But at one point I was on my own on one of the streets, and I looked up, and there was Ambience Corp. right there. It would have been so easy to just walk in and get an installation. They make them free, after all. My parents would have never had to know. Then it would have been over and I could have been normal like everyone else. I was moments away from doing it. But I chickened out. No moral superiority or anything like that; I was just plain too scared to do it. So I don't think it would be appropriate to say I told you so. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said all that. I guess... I just haven't slept or something.

MATTINGLY: No, don't be sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't know.

AUCAMAN: No one does. Not even my parents. I don't even know why I told you.

MATTINGLY: Well, when was the last time you slept? Did you sleep at the cabin?

AUCAMAN: No. Somebody had to watch. I was uninjured.

MATTINGLY: Well, sleep now.

AUCAMAN: We're still in danger.

MATTINGLY: For heaven's sake, I'll wake you if Mr. Calvin comes back. You'll be no help if you've had a nervous breakdown or something.

AUCAMAN: True.

MATTINGLY: Yeah. Sleep.

AUCAMAN: Promise you'll wake me?

MATTINGLY: Fine, whatever.

AUCAMAN: Okay. Thanks.

[Aucaman lays his head in his arms on the table. He falls asleep shortly. Mattingly watches him absently for a moment]

[End Transcript]

The Thoughts of Yong An-Hong: Translated by Alexandra Yuan: Copyright 2205, Centauri University Press: Hanson Harbor, Nova

07/24/2175

The state dinner arranged for Zahal and his companions from the black ship was one of the most elaborate affairs I have ever attended. Even the Grushan Praetor was not treated to such riches when he first came to Earth at the founding of the Hegemony, an event that he helped personally to bring about. The Grushan never provoked the people of Earth, or met them in battle, save a few overzealous crusading civilians who volunteered in the Novan uprising. But no Terran fleet has fought them, and the Hegemony and the Federation have been allies for as long as they have known one another. The black ship and its crew attacked and destroyed 17 Terran warships and a science vessel sent by the Hegemony that, according to Zahal, rescued them from a thousand years of cryo-sleep. Is this the behavior of a just people?

The dinner was held in the palace of Versailles itself, the museum cleared of many of its displays. Decorations were flown in from across the world, tapestries and rugs from Europe, beautiful modern art from America and beyond, ancient works from India. The Imperial Way was lit with a thousand lamps and flames lit the surrounding area. Food was brought in from every part of the Hegemony. Ethereal holographic displays reenacted Earth history in smoke and steam. Music resonated across the entire palace, ancient Chinese, classical European, modern American and Indian, endless variety and beauty. It took my breath away.

The guests of honor spent much of their time indoors, never straying far from their leader. They spoke only to a few people, with the exception of Zahal their leader, who greeted dignitaries and senators and celebrities from across the Hegemony. Once he spoke to Ambassador Dumarith. It was an absurd sight to behold, Dumarith only reaching Zahal's knees at his full height. Their conversation seemed tense from where I sat, and Dumarith did not look pleased when he left. I could not make out Zahal's expression; his people are very difficult to read, since I cannot make out faces for any of them. That is difficult for a politician such as myself, and it does nothing to ease my fears.

I spoke to him shortly after that. I think I can imagine how Grushan feel when they speak to us, for Zahal towered above me. I first welcomed him to Earth. He greeted me cordially but asked first who I was.

I introduced myself. "But surely, I was introduced to you at least from a distance?"

"Perhaps, but many were introduced to me, and I am alien to your people. All of your people look very similar. In any case, I do not know you," he replied.

"I hope to change that for the better, then," I said. "Tell me, are you enjoying the banquet assembled for you?"

"It is tolerable. The setting is rather quaint, and the food is of course interesting. However, food and decoration ceased to amuse me long ago. But I suppose this is the best your people can create thus far."

I was surprised at his indifference. "We had hoped that you would appreciate the history of this building and the beauty of is construction. For it is one of the most beautiful structures in this world, to my view; its colors are vibrant, its architecture magnificent, and its art exquisitely created. It was the palace of some of history's most powerful men and the place where the most important treaties of history were signed. I could not have thought of a more appropriate venue."

"I am sure that it is a palace of great importance to humans," Zahal replied. "Yet I find no interest in art or what you describe as beauty. It is pleasing to the eye. Yet my people have discovered far more intense pleasures, compared to which the extravagance of palaces and things you call beautiful seem frail and dull."

I was intrigued. "What pleasures are these?" I asked.

"You may learn in time," was his reply. It was an odd reply, to which I had very little to say. I chose to turn the conversation back, therefore, to more practical, immediate matters

"You spoke to Ambassador Dumarith a few moments ago. I suppose he conveyed the greetings of the Grushan Federation?" I asked.

"The Grushan spoke to me. I have no love for his people, though. They would have left us to die on that world because of a warning left by our enemies. They would not help us, nor would they steal our technology for themselves. A race that will do neither in the face of such a situation is weak, unambitious, unintelligent. We are not interested in such petty peoples. A race such as mine need not concern itself with such people. I told the ambassador as much. He took it as you might expect."

I frowned. "I hope you have not angered him too much. The Grushan are valued allies of the Hegemony. I had hoped they would become yours as well."

"We shall see," Zahal replied.

Nothing in this conversation puts my mind at rest that something may not be write in all of this. I wonder if we are making the right decision about these visitors from the black ship.

Official Transcript: Security Camera Footage: EPD Interrogation Room 3: 07/24/2175

[Begin Playback at 1640 Local Time]

[Mattingly watches a news broadcast on the broken screen of the table. The program switches to coverage of the banquet at Versailles. Mattingly starts]

MATTINGLY: Billy, wake up! Billy!

[Aucaman jerks upright]

AUCAMAN: What is it? What's wrong?

MATTINGLY: Look at this.

[Aucaman watches the broadcast with a startled expression]

AUCAMAN: Is that...?"

MATTINGLY: I think so.

[Pause]

AUCAMAN: We are so screwed.

[End Transcript]

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