Brooks had considered calling a meeting of all of his officers that night. But ultimately, he decided to wait until morning.
Now, his ten department heads and Executive Commander were all eyeing him with interest. They knew him well enough at this point to know that this was something serious, but none let their concern show.
Knowing their consternation, Brooks decided to come directly to the issue.
“I’ve been informed that a new intelligent species is in negotiations to join the Sapient Union. As unlikely as this sounds, this intelligent species is from Earth.”
“With respects, Captain,” Doctor Y asked. “How have your people never discovered another intelligent species on your world?”
“Trust me that it is a shock to us, Doctor,” Brooks replied. “But a planet is a big place, evidently, and there are a lot of places beings could hide besides the surface.”
Brooks could understand why the alien AI could find that shocking; his kind did not even have a true homeworld, having been created in space by their parent species that had never been biologically capable of interstellar colonization.
Executive Commander Urle leaned forward. Despite most of his face being hidden behind cybernetic augmentations, worry was evident in him. “And why the secrecy? As shocking as this may be, there seems no reason to hide it.”
“It is an unusual move,” Brooks agreed. “But this species are different from anything else we’ve met before.”
“What are they called? Do they have a name?” Cenz asked, the screen that attempted to show an appropriate human emotion failing to keep up with the buzzing curiosity of his many minds. Emotions flickered across the screen, ranging from confusion to shock, as his many polyps tried to reach a consensus.
“They have informed us that they have a proper name – one we can pronounce. They are called Shoggoths. Other relevant information has been dispersed to your systems.”
As the data was given to the officers, he saw their eyes unfocus as information was projected into their personal heads-up displays.
“Captain, this says that they average 15 metric tons in weight,” Doctor Y said. “Again, how were these undiscovered before now?”
“If you keep reading, Doctor, you will see why. Shoggoths can change shape at will – they are, apparently, fantastically skilled at this. They are even capable of mimicking a human being well enough that their ambassador simply walked up to the First Minister on Earth and introduced itself.”
Now he saw the nervousness among his officers. “So that’s why,” Urle said. “Captain, do we have any method of recognizing a Shoggoth in human form?”
“As far as I am aware,” the Captain replied. “No. However, this is early information. Their existence has not yet been publicly acknowledged. The Shoggoths are . . . very private beings. Which is likely why they have remained hidden until now.”
“There are no images of them,” Doctor Y noted. “Do we have any? I understand that proceedings are cautious and it is an early date. But surely there is an image?”
Captain Brooks shook his head. “As of yet, I have not been given any images of the Shoggoths.”
The doctor’s voice was calm. “Distressing,” it simply said.
“I’d like everyone to look over this information over the course of the day. News of the Shoggoths and the treaty are likely to be revealed next week. I want you all prepared to field the questions that people will have – and to help them acclimate to the newest members of the Sapient Union. Dismissed.”
The heads of departments all rose and shuffled out. Brooks saw that Urle was dawdling, and when they were alone, he nodded to the man. “Did you have something else, Urle?”
“Yes, Captain, but I do not believe you are free to answer my question.”
It was probably true. But Brooks also was not going to keep the man from asking. “What is the question?”
“What is so strange about these Shoggoths that requires complete secrecy?” Urle asked.
Captain Brooks looked at his first officer in silence. He could not tell the man of Admiral Vandoss’s concern, or of his own. Or the myriad bizarre details of their existence that did not seem to match their understanding of the universe itself.
“Return to the bridge,” he finally told Urle, not harshly. “I shall join you there shortly.”
Other Terrestrial 