novel method of FTL travel | Glowfic Constellation

"The gates are not mine to give. You would need to speak to the Queen."

warpfairy

"Yes, but if you have one unfamiliar technology you may have more. This is not a trading vessel, though, and I did not expect to find anyone to talk to here."

She describes several technologies, most well behind federation standards. Though apparently they released dozens of custom engineered bacteria into the planet's atmosphere to speed up terraforming.

warpfairy

"Your bacteria are interesting and not an avenue the Federation has investigated as deeply."

"I have neglected my duties of birth long enough. If you wish to discuss this further I would have you speak to my geneweavers."

warpfairy

"...All right."

"The one you will speak to is called Chief Geneticist Kutlt. I would speak to you again about whatever technology drives your vessel after you finish conversing with him."

warpfairy

"There are some complications in sharing that information, but I am not necessarily unwilling."

"I would not expect you to give away technology." She sounds vaguely insulted, as much as one can detect 'insulted' on an unfamiliar species.

The image changes. "Hello! You are our visitor, correct? It is extremely interesting to meet you! I am told you wish to know about our terraforming bacteria, and that you may be willing to tell me about your species' biology."

warpfairy

"I can certainly tell you things about my species' biology. I am not best equipped to use the information on the bacteria, but I would like to hear descriptions of what they can do."

He explains the bacteria rather enthusiastically, but fails to avoid technical detail completely. This one consumes sulfur dioxide and excretes it as a solid, gradually clearing the atmosphere. That one has been hacked to photosynthesize, and designed to convert carbon dioxide to oxygen as efficiently as possible.

They were all designed with mutation-failsafes so that any mutation will almost certainly be lethal, thus sharply slowing the process of evolution. They are designed to die out in the wild once the world's conditions become more like the Hiver ideal. These precautions are to prevent rogue bacteria from causing problems later.

His questions about her biology are relatively basic at first, do you use DNA and RNA, overall anatomy, what's your cell structure like...

warpfairy

It is necessary to disclose fairly early in this conversation that she is in fact a hybrid of two similar species.

He is extremely fascinated and asks lots of intrusive questions about reproduction in Vulcans and Humans! And will explain Hiver reproduction if she asks.

warpfairy

Isabella answers the intrusive questions in clinical, general terms, and yes, she's curious about the reciprocal, having gotten a few puzzling hints.

Hivers are usually born in a translucent not-quite-an-egg sac. The breeder caste (the queen, princesses, and sub-princesses) can generate one Hiver every ten minutes if supplied with an excess of food and sufficient... Genetic material. He speaks of the breeders in reverent, almost religious terms.

Breeders can also semi-reliably reincarnate dead Hivers by consuming their memory crystal and implanting it into a new body. It takes much longer than standard reproduction and doesn't always work, but almost every Hiver's life goal is to serve brilliantly enough that their hive princess cannot stand to lose them.

warpfairy

This is very interesting. Species of which Isabella was previously aware cannot do that, except insofar as it would theoretically be doable by the unethical application of particularly versatile psi powers.

He explains the results, but doesn't want to get into the details of exactly how it works. Incidentally, Hivers who are not reborn usually want their memory crystals to be consumed by someone because this imparts a bit of their skills and memory even to non-breeders. The harshest possible punishment is execution followed by deliberate destruction of one's crystal.

warpfairy

That makes sense.

The geneticist turns the topic back to Vulcan and Human biology, leaning into the 'technical detail' side of things now. RNA transcriptase, immune response, blood types. He asks why she was designed with hair, what purpose does it serve?

warpfairy

"In both humans and Vulcans, fur or hair is common to the clades they evolved from as an insulator, sun protection, and other purposes. In sapients it is mostly vestigial. We don't actually know why it can grow so long on the scalp in the first place but it's often allowed to do so as a form of ornamentation."

He accepts this explanation with mild confusion. There are a few more questions, but he recognizes that they're venturing into 'research scientist' territory, and cuts off by imploring her to get someone who knows alien biology well to visit.

warpfairy

"...My actual job is surveying uninhabited systems, or systems with less advanced life. The Federation will be surprised that I found you, and more surprised that I talked to you. They might not be glad that I talked to you."

"Tk! Politics always get in the way of scientific investigation! You will want to speak to the princess about that. I am but her loyal geneticist."

warpfairy

"Yes, but it sounded like she was busy. Perhaps you know enough to guess - would your people be interested in learning how to warp like my ship does and then pretend you invented it yourselves?"