I SPY
by Joel Fluker

Introduction:
On 24.73.10833, the IGC (Intra-Galactic Council) voted that, in spite of its dangerously rambunctious behavior, the sentient race occupying SP/A147/w4-09/P03, should NOT yet be exterminated but be given an additional chronum to show its potential as a future galactic co-creator. Although those favoring extermination rallied their forces, the vote was in the end 1,662 to 1,661 against extermination.

Since all observers had been withdrawn pending the outcome of the vote, after the result was announced, one ship was again dispatched on a standard non-interventionist mission. The ship, after a visit lasting 0.2 chroni, has submitted its report, which is attached in full.

Herewith, a precis containing the salient points of that lengthy document.

24.81.10837.
Re: SP/A147/w4-09/P03.

Religion:
Note: All these features of the leading religions of SP/A147/w4-09/P03 were noticed in the initial observation some 847 chroni ago. They continue unabated.
--Widespread depictions of a central deity in the final stages of tortuous death.
--An enthusiastically embraced belief that one can gain instant admission to heaven by killing those who do not share one's religious beliefs.
--Ritual worship of parthenogenesis.
--Widespread self-mortification, ranging from near-starvation to walled isolation from society to self-flagellation.
--Widespread mutilation of the genitals of both sexes, though that of the male is more common.

Science:
--The earlier observed tendency to confuse surface with substance has not only continued but accelerated. The most prestigious prizes are awarded once per stellar revolution for the cleverest new celebrations of surface.
--Simultaneously, the primitive urge to take things apart, to reduce everything to its smallest pieces also continues, leading to the reduction of visual and audio phenomena to ever tinier bits. The natives speak boastfully of this procedure as "high resolution."
--Since the last observers departed, the race has acquired a partial understanding of stellar reality, in the form of the ability to mimic the elementary nuclear trigger mechanism. Again, it is wholly superficial, lacking not only in awareness, but even suspicion, of the existence of any fabric or framework beyond the grossly material.

Governance:
--A bizarre ad hoc philosophy of governance based on greed and scalar exploitation, seen commonly elsewhere only during the earliest states of sentience, has here in the interim been elevated to the level of "highest good." On no other planet in the IGC archives can one find such a long-running development of a global system of governance based in unbridled selfishness, which, in the dominant native tongue, is referred to as "capitalism."

Arts:
Because of the omnipotence of reductive science and exploitative greed, the arts of SP/A147/w4-09/P03 have achieved a level of consumer-based commodification not seen elsewhere. As with other aspects of the culture, the arts are almost entirely superficial, celebrating surfaces and combinations of surfaces. Earlier observers had found, and brought back reproductions of, a number of worthwhile artifacts, some of which are now celebrated throughout the Confederation. On this trip, we regret to announce, we found nothing of value.

Germination:
The IGC seeds planted between 5,000 and 7,000 stellar revolutions ago are still in place but, though preserved, they are either ignored (by 99% of the populace) or have been so grossly distorted in various of the barbaric religions, sciences, and arts, as to be unrecognizable.

Recommendation:
Cease all observation. Though these creatures have ventured from the surface of their not un-lovely planet to its one natural satellite, and though they may manage to venture as far as SP/A147/w4-09/P04, we are confident that they will destroy themselves before developing any capability to expand beyond their own stellar system.

To conclude on a personal note: While we have long ago understood and incorporated into our very being the inevitability of catastrophe and annihilation in our experience of the Great Cycles, this observer sees no benefit to be derived from exposing any of us to the direct bombardment of negativity presently blossoming in such appalling abundance on SP/A147/w4-09/P03.

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