Voice of the Planet Special Issue #1: The Others

[Illuminatus]

Secrets of Progenitors revealed!

In this issue: *Breakthrough in understanding of Planet *Alien race - Progenitors *Alien Artifacts - what are they? *Monolith secrets revealed *Caretakers *Usurpers *Estimation of Progenitors Breakthrough in understanding of Planet In over four decades we have spent on Chiron, we have found numerous evidence of previous habitation by intelligent species. Monoliths, alien artifacts, battle ogres and even strange landmarks are all monuments to this ancient civilisation of alien beings. Having withstood the test of time, even after millions upon milions of years, we and other factions have stumbled upon this reminders of Planet's mysterious past. Having studied strange marks on several alien artifacts and monoliths for decades, Lordship of Progress has learned a great deal about race that created them, and some of discoveries are truly shocking and lead to understanding of their culture! Alien race - Progenitors Reconstructed from alien artifact and monolith data: Long before first ancestors of homo sapiens even walked the Earth, there was a race of wastly advanced lifeforms that traveled across universe - we shall refer to them as Progenitors. It is reasonable to believe that progenitor race, in some form, is existing even today. The Progenitor civilization is vast, extending across much of the galaxy. It is also very old, stretching back at least ten million years (and evidence shows that it maybe stretching hundreds of millions years back). Long ago the Progenitors attained a level of technological mastery that can only be considered godlike. They controlled time and space, studied the destiny of the entire universe, and rebuilt entire worlds in the course of complex scientific experiments. Sadly, the Progenitors could not maintain their civilization at its height. For millions of years they stagnated, undergoing no significant cultural or technological change. Then their society was torn apart by civil war. The cause of the war is unclear to human observers, especially from the data we managed to obtain, but the central issue of contention seems to have been what the Progenitors should do with their vast technology and resources. The majority faction, tagged the Manifold Caretakers by human xenologists, wished to conserve their society's condition, continuing to live indefinitely without further advance. The rebel faction, the Manifold Usurpers, wished to make a daring leap into true godhood. The Usurpers believed that they were on the verge of being able to transcend space-time itself. They insisted on pursuing this transformation, even if it meant the wholesale looting of their civilization's vast resources and possible fatal consequences for entire galaxies. The war lasted for centuries and millenias. It was devastating, wrecking dozens of worlds and costing the lives of trillions of sentient beings. The Progenitors lost much of their old wisdom and technology in the course of the struggle, leaving both sides sadly diminished from their days of glory. It is not known if the war wages to this very day, but data seems to show that majority of Progenitor civilisation has been destroyed in the conflict, and xenologists believe that ferocity of the conflict evident in data shows that factions will probably wage war until mutual annihilation. Their numerous artifacts and vast empire may ensure that true annihilation of one side is never possible, since data seems to show that the factions brought each other to brink of destruction numerous times, yet they would always rebuild themselves. However, even small group of survivors, regardless of faction they belong to, could be dangerous for humanity, if they happen to ran into us. Monolith secrets revealed Here and there about Planet, we find monoliths standing alone in the wilderness. Each monolith is a four-sided obelisk, just under 40 feet in height, surrounded by a low circular wall with a single gap for easy access. Wall and obelisk are both apparently made of stone and covered with carvings in the Progenitor language. Surprisingly, these "stone" artifacts are millions of years old, and had somehow avoided damage due to weathering or earthquake throughout that time. At first we assumed that the monoliths were simple markers or religious totems. We soon found out that people and machinery which lingered in the vicinity of a monolith were somehow improved. Machinery which had been damaged was repaired. Undamaged machinery sometimes began working with greater efficiency or effect. Even our fellow colonists who spent a few days within a monolith's wall found themselves stronger, healthier, thinking more clearly and with greater force of will. After decades of study, we built theories about nanotechnology that improves machines and people, and maintains monoliths. However, the data shows that the mechanism for these effects is something roughly called 'local manipulation of probability fields'. Our physicists have done extensive research on that particular stream of data and they have came to conclusion that it is actually a highly advanced technology, based on manipulation of various space-time continuums. Visitors are actually being "overwritten" by their healthier or more successful counterparts from an alternate universe(s). The same mechanism seems to preserve monolith itself, through the ages. Although we have a theoretical basis for this mechanism, we are far from developing anything like this technology, or even fitting it with the rest of known theories. Unless we complete Theory of Everything, which is trying to be achieved for two centuries, we probably never will manage to fully grasp it. Even then, we will need substantial technological development to replicate such level of advanced technology. What are manifolds? The Progenitor concept translated into English as "manifold" is actually a very complex thing, tied into the aliens' entire conception of the universe. To the Progenitors, the entire universe is a manifold, a single entity which presents itself to the sentient observer in an infinity of diverse manifestations. From quasars to quanta, the aliens believe that each layer of the universe's structure has its own unique properties, even its own kind of self-awareness. Meanwhile, the Progenitors claim that the multi-layered structure of the universe is a clue to the nature of reality itself. At the smallest scales of existence, one finds gateways into other worlds of experience, in a sense other universes. In this context, the English phrase "worlds within worlds" appears to translate precisely into Progenitor language. Thus the Progenitors use "manifold" also to mean not only this universe, but the complex of all possible universes. Confusingly, the Progenitors also use "manifold" to refer specifically to Planet. Indeed, the aliens refer to Planet as "Manifold Six," and speak of five other Manifolds with specific locations elsewhere in the galaxy. In this context, the Progenitors may be referring to Planet as a vast artificial apparatus, an experiment in cosmic intelligence. The connotations of the term also seem to indicate that the Planet was either built or massively engineered by Progenitors.

Xenobiologist's corner We 've managed to reconstruct some data on progenitor appearance: Progenitors are considerably taller and more massive than humans, and have superior physiques. Progenitors are physically tough, with armored carapaces and a physiology that can soak up probably much more damage than the human body. Data shows that they can breathe Planet's atmosphere easily, as they are tolerant towards both nitrogen and carbon dioxide. They are inidications of claws, and most likely, they have heavily geneticaly engineered their bodies to be more resilient. They mature about as quickly as humans, but can expect to live three times as long even without access to advanced medicine (from what we reconstructed). They have a special sense which allows them to detect and analyze magnetic (and some electric) fields at ranges of over a mile. Finally, they have superb spatial orientation and situational awareness. Progenitors have poor vision compared to humans, and tend to rely on their superb "magnetic sense" instead. They are apparently not built for swimming and quickly drown in water over their heads. Progenitors seem to require large amounts of food, water and breathable air each day, consuming about twice what a human would. They run more slowly than humans. Humans find them to be incurious and inflexible. They have difficulty with creative or innovative thought, and often ignore new experiences. According to recordings, they despise any race other than their own. An average male Progenitor ) stands about 7' 8" tall and masses about 300 pounds. Female Progenitors stand about 4" shorter and are 40 pounds less massive than males. Alien Artifacts - what are they? Alien artifacts are conical devices, perhaps a foot from base to tip, with about forty pounds mass. At the time of its previous visits to Planet, they were apparently the most common data-storage devices of the Progenitor civilization. Once we learned to read the artifact's contents, we've found that each contained many terabytes of data regarding Progenitor activities, most of it bewildering and impossible to interpret. However, in some cases there are legible diagrams and schematics for specific items of Progenitor technology. Such artifacts often lead to breakthroughs in human technological research. Their high-tech components can also be used to help in construction of huge projects or prototype devices. Data retrieved from them was also used to learn a great deal about Progenitors. Caretakers The Caretakers represent the majority faction within Progenitor civilization. They oppose any innovation or change in the aeons-old patterns of Progenitor culture. In particular, they forbid any exploitation of the scattered Manifold experiments set up by their ancestors. Human observers have trouble understanding the nuances of Progenitor society. The Caretakers appear to live in a kind of theocratic state, although the focus of their reverence is not a deity or concept of the afterlife. Instead, the Caretakers revere their ancestors and the accomplishments of ancient Progenitor civilization. In the place of priests, they have counselors who are expert in history, genealogy, philosophy and ritual practice. Counselors have the task of helping their fellow citizens keep in line with the wishes of their ancestors. The Caretaker leader is apparently the most senior of these counselors, holding a position something like a cross between high priestess and prime minister. The Caretakers have an elaborate code of ritual purity. This code appears designed to constantly remind individual Caretakers of their duties toward society and their ancestors. Every action is preceded by a small ritual observance, rather like a devout human praying briefly before a meal or bedtime. These rituals may be millions of years old, and are thoroughly imprinted on the Progenitor psyche. Indeed, the Caretakers have trouble recognizing beings who do not use them as sentient. Usurpers The Manifold Usurpers represent the other faction in the Progenitor civil war. Theirs was a rebel faction, bent on breaking free from the aeons-long stasis of Progenitor civilization. While the Caretakers fought to protect the Manifold experiments, the Usurpers demanded the right to exploit them. Their goal was participation in a "Planetary Flowering," a transformation which would grant them a kind of godhood. The Usurpers are radical individualists, who believe that Progenitor civilization has failed to benefit its citizens as they deserve. They believe that every sentient being has a right to as much life, knowledge, wealth, power, or pleasure as he can seize from the universe. If civilization exists to restrain its most powerful members, then civilization is something to be rejected, or destroyed if need be. The core value of Usurper society is questioning. The faction questions all received wisdom, demanding justification for the controls imposed upon Progenitors by their society. When a satisfactory answer fails to appear, they demand that the controls be abandoned, to allow the individual Progenitor to seek out his own destiny. This course is one that requires great courage within Progenitor society, where all such questioning has long since been bred out of the species. As a result, the Usurpers emphasize a warrior ethic, which pits the brave fighter against both physical and philosophical foes. Of the two Progenitor factions, the Manifold Usurpers have an ideology and a lifestyle that is more recognizable to human beings. The Usurpers have thrown off many aspects of traditional Progenitor culture. They have no counselors to help them adhere to ancient traditions, and they ignore most of the ritualism that permeates Caretaker society. Instead, they act as independent beings, competing for power and status by any means that come to hand. The central institution of Usurper society is the military. All Usurpers receive combat training, and can form a tenacious militia when needed. Full-time soldiers hold high status, with officers and senior veterans in almost all high-status positions. The military does not control every aspect of society, but a faction member will have grave difficulty pursuing his own economic or cultural goals without dealing with the military. Estimation of Progenitors We believe that Progenitors have survived, since the data we recovered indicates that their civilisation was so vast that it could hardly be completely destroyed. Indeed, this is the reason why the war lasted for countless millenias - Progenitors were simply so advanced that they could rebuild their civilisations from scratch, on countless worlds spread across the galaxy, using technology relics from previous generations to accelerate their growth. It is puzzling why progenitors did not visit Earth, since they are a spacefaring race for millions of years. Possible explanation is that galaxy is filled by life, and progenitors did not pay any attention to Earth due to their civil war and lack of inteligent life. In any case, if progenitors were to run into humanity, we would be in great peril, regardless of faction which finds us. Caretakers would probably want us to leave the Chiron , while Usurpers would eliminate us so they could have the Planet for themselves. With their superior technology, and ability to draw reinforcements, we would be badly outmatched. If both factions were to find us, we would find ourselves in midst of alien crossfire. Luckly, progenitors haven't discovered us, and they hopefully never will, or our future is at stake. Authors of the Issue: Jon F. Zeigler's material, with additions and moderation by Illuminatus No native lifeforms have been harmed in making of this newspaper. No Earth plants or animals have been harmed in making of this newspaper, although victims of colony pod Hope shall be remembered forever. No Gaian life has been harmed, most of staff is still running naked through the trees (what stamina) and has not yet met the punishment for not submiting promised articles. Be prepared for more special issues in the future! Gaia's Landing MY 2141->567ght-fhj/*sdg4.ff5367.tr27f.

[GeoModder]

Data Angel investigation on the matter above has clearly shown that the Gaian Lord of Progress is a tad off for his estimations on how long the Progenitors were a dominant species in our galaxy. If even the whole galaxy was theirs.

The Gaian comprehension of how Progenitors handled large numbers is the basic of this error. Their time as a spacefaring species may be put down by a factor of hundred, although their 'civil war' was pretty close to the better part of an earth millennium.

[Illuminatus]

Response from our Lordship of Progress: The data does show Progenitors as sentient species are indeed milions of years old - minimum of ten milion years old. However, the physical appearance is not natural,there is clear evidence that Progenitors indeed have engineered their physical appearance long ago, and evolution could not result in some peculiarities of their xenobiology. Since their appearance has not changed a bit since then (one of peculiarities of their biology), we must assume that they had at least ten to twenty thousand years before that to develop themselves in their original form.
Backup for our hypothesis that their civilisation may be hundreds of milions year old, is our research on native lifeforms. There are substantial evidence of tampering with gene codes in most of xenolifeforms we found mostly in xenofungus (although fungal towers seem to be free from tampering). Since we have geological evidence that xenofungus is planet's dominant lifeform since the time of Lower Paleozoic (Lady Deirdre is working on this extensively), one of hypothesis suggests Progenitors did it. Since all data describes Manifolds with xenofungus ecosystem, we should assume that xenofungus was created by Progenitors. Even more, if we do not believe that and assume that xenofungus was born through evolution but tampered with, and transferred to other manifolds, then we must set the age of progenitors to a minimum of one hundred milion years, There is possibility that some other race did it, however there is no archeological evidence showing that any more advanced race existed. Also, it is unclear why is an M class planet orbiting a binary system - considering the rest of alpha system, it is unlikely for two M class planets to be in such near distance, especially since all research showed that even gas giants form with difficulties, and even then, they are the predominant type of planets populating solar neighbourhoods (although many rock based planets have been found). Since databases show that entire worlds were rebuilt, not only engineered but rebuilt, we should wonder if this planet is not of their working too, thus increasing their age tenfold. It is also noted, that Progenitors were on top of their technology already ten million of years ago, and since they were able to manipulate time-space continuum for trivial purposes, it is reasonable to assume that they held that level of technology for perhaps much longer than that.

There is evidence that shows that Progenitor civilisation is at least ten million years old and that last phase of the war lasted for only centuries (although there were millenias of minor skirmishes). However, Progenitor civilisation seems to be locked in unending circle of violent conflict (there is no record of truce between Caretakers and Usurpers ever) so it is likely that progenitors reduce their numbers to near extinction, then use alien artifacts from previous generations to rebuild themselves and then engage in brief centuries of warfare that result in total or near destruction. Their search for Manifolds (there is five of them besides this Planet) seems to be the only way to break this circle - if Usurpers were to find one of them, they would be able to ascend to goodhood (at possibly fatal consequences). Caretakers refer to an incident at yet undetermined manifold, where experiment went wrong and wrecked havoc on Progenitor empire, and intend to prevent any such attempts (we are not able to pinpoint the age of this incident, but we may assume that both factions formed or at least strongly manifested themselves after the Progenitors rebuilt themselves from this manifold accident). If Progenitors were not able to resolve this ideological conflict in millions of years, it is foolish to reduce civil war to timeframe in which is data shown by alien artifacts, and assume there were more strong violent episodes in Progenitor history.

[GeoModder]

There is no dating method as today which can proof independently from the 'translated' records that Xenofungus was tampered with that long ago, as goes the same for the Progenitor constructs. Also, a sentient spacefaring race being stable for millions of years is wishfull thinking. Or they should have transcended long ago, or gone extinct.
Planets being 'rebuild' would show quite well in the geological make-up of Chiron, and as today no evidence for such has been found in Data Angel territory, despite the presence of geological 'malfunctions' in our territory. In such features there is more chance to discover such rebuilding, but again, this could not be confirmed by our geologists.

[Maniac]

Really great issue!

Btw, do the Gaians still use the archaic system of pounds and feet?

[Illuminatus]

We know that result of tampering with xenofungus was the failed cycle of leaps towards sentience of xenofungus -we know that there were at least two such cycles, and there is a hundred or so millions of years between them (joint work telepaths and xenobiologists reconstructed this data). Therefore, Progenitors must be at least a hundred years old if they tampered with xenofungus.
Angels are missing the point - Progenitors went to civil war over the issue of Manifold experiment which should have enabled them to transcend, after millions of years of tech stagnation that included only expansion. Whole division of the society was the result of question whether to transcend or not.
Our geologists have not found these evidence for rebuilding of planet either, however, since it is explicitly mentioned that Progenitors rebuild entire worlds, it is possible that Chiron did not only have suffered tampering with native lifeforms, but perhaps even larger planet reconstruction projects. Even then, evidence would be buried well beneath the surface, and Angels do not have the technology to reach to Mohorovièiæ discontinuity where this evidence might exist, if they are not hidden in Planet's crust, where it will be out of reach for everybody for a very long time.

[Illuminatus]

Originally posted by Maniac
Really great issue!

Btw, do the Gaians still use the archaic system of pounds and feet?

I think Voice of the Planet may have a spinoff in this special editions series (which will be used to inform public about other general things - currently it is pure roleplay). I thank Jon F. Zeigler for making great material on which this articles are mostly based.

Since this is a public edition, not an internal VotP edition, and GAIA tells us that most of people on Planet origined from countries that used imperial system, every technical data is shown in this system for Americans them to understand easily.

[GeoModder]

It is not mentioned of proposed pré-sentient leap of the Xenofungus was triggered by the Progenitors in the past, for all we know it can be a natural phenonenom on which the Progenitors tried to work upon. After all, doesn't the scriptings mention that the very existence of the Caretakers is the halting of such a project if initiated, as to keep Planet pristine. This indicates that when the Usurpers went too far with their Transcendent experiments their civil war broke out. Why would that not have happened then in the previous cycle if the race is in the business of 'planet -and intelligence sculping' that long?

No, this is even more proof that the Progenitors were not around that long ago (100-200 eons ago).
They may or may not had a stable society untill the point their dispute about the 'Manifolds' started, but it is hardly possible that, looking at their technological remnants, they wouldn't have transcended the first time if that opportunity arose and an agreement about this matter was within their society.

And about our so-called lack of knowledge about the conditions on the Mohorovicic Discontinuity, I assure you we have probed deeper in this matter then the Gaians sofar.

Further more, closer examination on the appearantly most recent scriptings on a central located Monolith in our territory shows that the Progenitors were not that much spread out over our Galaxy. This Manifold, Chiron, is considered to be a rim world. On those world(s) were the Usurper faction the strongest, until the Caretakers who predominantly inhabited their core worlds (somewhere in the general direction of Ursa Majoris if our astronomists are correct). The main stars of the 'big dipper' constellation are about 60-70 lightyears away. This is hardly very far-flung seen in galactic standards.

[Illuminatus]

Even before civil war, there were ideological conflicts. Caretakers and Usurpers There is no mention that Usurpers started the Transcendence project - infact, Caretakers and Usurpers probably originate from original political factions that discussed what to do with their race after millions of years of stagnation. Strong proof that it was not Usurpers who started the experiment, is that Usurpers refer to experiment as science of the ancients - thus a significant period of rebuilding must have happened for Usurpers to refer to them as 'ancients'. Moreover, it is highly unlikely that xenofungus leap to transcendence is a natural occurence - although xenofungus probably evolved to be Planetspanning, there is absolutely no reason at all for neural pathways to be evolved in it. Every biologist will tell you that xenofungus was already dominant planet lifeform. There is no known predator that fed on fungus, and no overall threat to xenofungus (except cataclismic geological or meteore catastrophes). Why would then such a complex pattern appear in xenofungus? Only answer is that it is not product of evolution.Given the evidence on DNA code tweaking, it is likely that tendence for transcendence leaps was added to its gentic code, in greater plans of manifold experiment. Progenitors must have added that abbility, or modified structures that allowed creation of mind worm nervous system in transitions from xenofungus to mindworm. Adding Planetwide neural networksSince 'flowerings happened on Planet dozens of millions years before, and no mentioning of other advanced races, it is likely that Progenitors are that old.
Also, existence of Manifold Nexus (which sends signals to five other points in galaxy) is clear evidence of planet wide engineering of both native lifeforms and the planet itself. The Nexus itself was designed to be control center for planetary intelligence.
To answer Angel questions - why did Progenitors not transcend - there is explicit mentioning of previous 'flowering' that plunged Progenitors to chaos - this is the evidence why Caretakers attempt to keep Manifolds pristine - premature flowering leads them to belief that the experiment is too dangerous - this is the event that probably led to direct military conflict between two factions. Why did not one faction win for so long? Constant cycles of wars perhaps? It is known that trillions of sentients and entire planets were destroyed in conflict - which would probably reduce both faction to ruins, losing much of their technological knowledge. Survivors would have to rediscover their technology, rebuild their infrastructure, increase their numbers, and then seek their rivals again, in order to proceed with conflict. We cannot tell how much data would be lost in that time, but enough has been lost to ever attempt recontruction of one of the manifolds - which prevents them to transcend without finding one of original Manifolds. There is no reason to believe that this process isn't cyclical and hasn't repeated for several times. Indeed, the very nature of Progenitors (especially Caretakers) makes them passive to greater changes. We can assume that whenever Usurpers are close to transcending to godhood by discovering one of manifolds, Caretakers nearly destroy them, or failed flowering happens (this happened at least once).
Also, Angels still fail to recognize the fact that there was no agreement between Progenitors - Caretakers and Usurpers never reached truce, thus never reaching agreement amd thus preventing them to transcend easily - there is no evidence that initial manifolds were constructed by 'ancients' (as Progenitor refer to their ancestors) by agreement of overall society.
Regarding your comment, you still don't have technology to indenpendently explore discontinuity unlike Gaians . You are merely probing at Progenitor works (yet again Boreholes that withstood geological movements for thousands and millions of years).
Your interpretation of scriptings is clearly wrong, since if Usurpers inhabited Manifold(s), they would surely transcended before. Moreover, if they inhabited one of neighbouring worlds, they would find it within months or years of their search (having ability to manipulate spacetime itself). Also, they would have found Earth, and given their intolerance for lower species would have colonised it or meddled with life severly, preventing humans from developing. Far flugness of their empire is supported by the fact that Usurpers never visited Earth, as well the fact they would have easily found all manifolds within short time if Progenitors inhabit space of mere 150 lightyears in diameter. Although it is true that Usurpers, as rebel faction inhabited outer reaches of galaxy, Progenitor could simply not have inhabited such a small space within a period of minimum ten milion years - it is simply implausible even given the terrible consequences of their civil war. Manifolds are explicitly mentioned to be far-flung in space (although not equally spread through galaxy which indicates that one of other manifolds may be relatively near in astronomical terms), and hard for both factions to find. Moreover, Caretakers would have to be near them or actively searching the same area to prevent Usurpers from finding them. Our exploration of text has pinpointed only Tau Ceti as one of places of inhabitation, however it is to see if this system is still inhabited. however mentioning of trillions of sentients, far flung manifolds, mentioning of homeworlds scattered through uspace and evidence of planet wide engineering, it is our conclusion that Progenitors explored or inhabited most of this galaxy, if they've not have visited others, given their abbility for manipulating the spacetime continuum.