“Are you saying that thing has intelligence?”
“What creature lacks intelligence? The problem is what’s needed to communicate with it.”
To Stomato’s question, Kaito scratched his head. No creature lacks intelligence. It was Terapolapanecio who said that if a species can employ survival strategies sufficient to increase their numbers, there’s no need to develop intelligence. They also said that creatures who must develop intelligence to survive adequately can’t be considered happy.
The planet-eater was indisputably an apex predator. After all, what it ate were planetary cores. Everyone living in the Federation, everyone belonging to the Corporation—all their origins ultimately traced back to planetary surfaces.
“I guess I need to ask once.”
To confirm his theory wasn’t wrong, Kaito requested to use the communication function. Since there were no objections, he decided to contact the most familiar individual he could think of.
“Sorry to bother you during your busy time, Representative.”
[No, I always welcome contact from you, Kaito, Third-rank Citizen, Enek-Ragif]
The representative of artificial celestial body Zodgia, who was commanding the forefront of Earth’s restoration work, looked somehow more radiant than during their previous communication. Huh. Could it be… that they’ve been sneaking down to Earth to commune with Earth jellyfish?
Moreover, having developed something resembling individuality through communion with Earth jellyfish, they sometimes weakened inter-individual connections to keep secrets. The fact that these secrets were about communion experiences with Earth jellyfish was rather amusing.
“As you probably know, I’m currently at Radia. A space eel approached, so I came as reinforcement.”
[I know. So you’ve made contact.]
“Yes. The fact that the councilor didn’t explain about the space eel is bothering me a bit.”
The Representative said nothing about the “space eel” expression. If the conversation still made sense, there was no problem. Being the Representative, he was probably gathering biological information for Earth’s environmental restoration.
[You want to ask about the existence of intelligence in that creature, is that correct?]
“So it was as I thought.”
“What!?”
It was Stomato who screamed. Other staff members were also stirring upon hearing this.
While Kaito had gotten an answer to his theory, the problem was why they had thrown this at him. This didn’t seem like something an Earthling who’d barely begun venturing into space could resolve.
With staff members murmuring behind him, Kaito continued questioning the Representative.
“Can you tell me why you thought to entrust me with handling that creature? I think the fact that I was nearby and that you tried to make contact with the Earthlings in the Corporation were honest reasons, but your most important objective was to involve me in this situation, right?”
[We learned of its intelligence during the second elimination. The first time, we attempted communication but got no response at all. That’s why we eliminated it, but the next time, a fleet was assembled with the goal of elimination using Federation forces]
Kaito could somewhat understand why the Federation assembled a fleet. Having space disasters that only Terapolapanecio could handle wasn’t good. While acceptable initially, with time it would affect the Federation’s organizational foundation.
During the second space eel elimination operation, Terapolapanecio had followed from the rear in case elimination with existing forces failed.
And during combat, they noticed.
[We didn’t realize the first time. Probably because we finished it with one strike and were focused on combat. During the second elimination, because the Federation fleet was gradually weakening it and we weren’t participating in combat, we finally noticed the massive emotional waves that colossal body possessed]
“Enormous?”
[The difference in size and form between us and it as living beings is too great, which is probably also a reason. We were slow to notice.]
Terapolapanecio said they were slow to notice.
This raised more questions. Kaito honestly tilted his head.
“Why didn’t you respond when you noticed?”
[We had already submitted the conclusion to Federation Parliament that “harmonious coexistence with that creature is impossible.” Parliament also created elimination methods based on that conclusion. If we later said “it seems that creature has intelligence after all,” we judged it would only confuse the field]
“I understand that, but…”
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
[While we were discussing policy among individuals, the Rare Organism Protection corporation issued a protection statement for it. If they succeeded in protection, the Federation wouldn’t need to force elimination. We thought we could present the matter to Parliament again after that happened]
However, in the third encounter, the Corporation failed in protection and their fleet was annihilated. Terapolapanecio’s planned approach to Parliament was deemed impossible.
In the previous fourth encounter, while the Corporation fleet wasn’t annihilated, they couldn’t control the space eel’s movements, and it was eliminated by Federation forces, resulting in failure. This meant the Corporation also couldn’t reach the space eel’s intelligence.
“So, the reason you decided to entrust me with handling it…”
[The reason is simple. We ventured into space alone and gained intelligence afterward. Most other species living in the Federation have long been separated from their home planets. There are almost no species with experiential knowledge of interacting with non-communicating alien creatures]
“I’m not particularly knowledgeable either, you know?”
At most, he’d seen animals at zoos as a child. During his education in the organization, he’d learned somewhat about animal ecology, but that was the extent of his knowledge. Thinking of being satisfied with just theoretical knowledge back then, he started to reflect but stopped. Obviously, his past self couldn’t have foreseen the current situation.
By the time Kaito was born, the boundary between humanity and wild animals had been quite clearly drawn. The Representatives’ expectations weighed heavily.
“Well then. I think I’m more knowledgeable than the Captain.”
“Even so, it’s not like you’ve actually interacted with them, right, Emotion?”
“That’s true, but I have countless manuals memorized.”
To Emotion, who was somehow burning with competitive spirit, Kaito quietly shook his head. Even so, there had been countless creatures on Earth with which interaction methods didn’t exist.
“Then if there’s a manual for contacting creatures of that size, please submit it.”
“…kyuru kyuru kyuru”
It seemed Emotion didn’t think it was possible either. She responded with his usual sound to Kaito’s words.
“Ultimately, just because I’m involved doesn’t guarantee I can communicate with it. I might end up having to eliminate it after all.”
[That’s fine too. Our priority is protecting the Namibifu planetary system’s ecosystem first, with that creature’s life or death being secondary]
Hearing this brought some relief. Well, he still hadn’t figured out how to deal with that massive body.
According to the Representative, this was the fifth discovery of a space eel. Most of their ecology remained unknown, and they’d been discovered throughout various parts of Federation territory. It wouldn’t be strange if they existed in large numbers outside Federation or Corporation territory, and they might not even be creatures that originated in the same galaxy.
In other words, the Rare Organism Protection corporation’s designation of it as rare was based purely on impression, without any special foundation.
“I feel somewhat more relaxed. I’ll try to figure out some method while consulting with Radia’s staff.”
[Please do]
Glancing back, he saw Stomato and the others looking at Kaito and Emotion with expectant eyes. Ah, this is the type where ideas won’t come from them.
Sighing internally at the presence of these reliable companions, the Representative spoke in a somewhat serious tone.
[By the way, Kaito, Third-rank Citizen, Enek-Ragif]
“What is it?”
[That naming of “space eel” for it—I think it’s quite splendid. When reporting this incident through the councilor, I’ll petition to make “space eel” its official designation]
“P-please do as you like.”
Such a lack of crisis awareness, really.
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