God's Dogs

May I be like a guard for those who are protectorless,

A guide for those who journey on the road.

For those who wish to go across the water,

May I be a boat, a raft, a bridge.

Shantideva, The Bodhisattva Vow

Their task complete, the Coyote teams left the confiscated Empire ships to their further missions and began a return trip to Penglai aboard their own cutters. The trip would take a few weeks.

The Satya jolted out of hyper and sat dead in the interstellar waters. Nearby, Moss’ ride, the Libby, floated as well.

Alarms blared aboard the Satya, and Quinn’s team hustled to their battle stations.

River observed, “I thought it was technically impossible to knock a ship out of hyper.”

“Yeah,” Quinn replied as they pushed into the armory.

Over the intercom, Captain John announced, “All crew, meet up in the training room. We have a visitor that would like a word with us.”

The team finished donning their light armor and headed to the training room. Around them, the crew, muttering their curiosity, let the Coyotes lead the way.

Captain John was the last to arrive and said upon entering the training room, “Okay. We’re all here.”

A golden being shimmered into existence in the center of the room. The holo-image was humanoid but indistinct, its features blurred.

“Greetings,” a pleasing baritone spoke. “Your friend, Solomon, suggested we speak to you.”

“My ship,” Captain John began, but the golden being interrupted.

“Your ship is undamaged. In recompense for our abrupt contact with you, we are upgrading your ship A.I.”

That didn’t quiet the captain’s concern. He barked, “Ship! Report.”

The A.I. replied, “It is as Eladon said. I am monitoring an upgrade to my operating system.”

The captain turned to Quinn who shrugged.

“We will return you to hyper when this meeting concludes,” the being, apparently Eladon was his name, said in a conciliatory voice.

Quinn replied, “Then please proceed.”

“Life evolved earlier toward the core of the galaxy than out here in the spiral arms. There are many older civilizations, some good, some still struggling. We resist the impulse to intervene in those struggles as each species learns best from its own mistakes. So, rest assured, this is not an intervention, merely an introduction.”

“Solomon suggested it,” Quinn replied. “You responded. The obvious question is, why?”

“Your struggle with the Empire of Man will conclude in another few decades,” Eladon replied. “You will have matured enough at that time for us to make formal contact and invite you into a larger alliance. It is prudent for us to alert key worlds of our existence before a formal introduction to your League of Worlds. Solomon suggested Penglai was one such world.”

River asked, “Are you having the same conversation with the crew of the Lilly?”

Eladon laughed softly, “It is a bit more colorful. Moss is unimpressed with our obviously advanced stage of evolution.”

Pax snorted, “He’s not one to bully.”

“We noticed.”

Linda smiled. “Well, since you have the bully pulpit by knocking us out of hyper, what else do you want?”

“Access to Coyote teams,” was the response.

Quinn’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “That’s not our decision to make.”

“Of course. We are leaving a briefing packet with your ship to pass onto Penglai’s Foreign Service,” Eladon concluded. “Until we meet again, may the spirits of space keep you safe.”

Then the holo-image flickered out.

Captain John spoke, “Alright. Back to work. Complete system check. Ship, report when we’re ready to resume our travels and how that’s supposed to happen.”

“Yes, Captain,” the A.I. replied.

The team headed back to the armory to get out of their armor. Linda was the first to comment.

“I think we need a chat with Solomon.”

“Agreed,” Quinn said. “Set it up, River, and get Moss’ take on the whole thing.”

“Okay,” River said as she fitted her armor into its charging station and left for the bridge.

“Now we know there are advanced species out there,” Pax mused.

“With an unknown agenda,” Linda retorted.

“We’ll review the briefing packet,” Quinn said. “Then we’ll have their view of themselves, at any rate.”

After he hung his armor, he went on, “Ship, are you compromised?”

“I don’t think so, although the upgrades have moved me from Class 1 to Class 2.”

“Does that make you over-qualified for the job?”

“No, Quinn. The upgrade also included better sensor and communication abilities, as well as stealth and maneuvering enhancements. I am definitely challenged.”

Linda snickered, and Quinn smiled as he finished with his armor. “Okay, Ship. Please download the packet Eladon left to our tablets.”

“Done, Quinn.”

“Thanks,” he said. Then he turned to Pax and Linda. “Looks like we’ve got some reading to do.”

The data packet was a concise history of sentient life as it emerged into space-faring civilizations. Quinn, Pax, and Linda returned to the training room to read it.

When she finished her calls, River joined them. She reported, “Solomon confirms Eladon is legit. Moss confirms he gave golden boy a hard time. Captain John took readings when they put us back into hyper, and the ship has readings for when we were bumped out. He’s hoping to figure out what happened.”

“Okay,” Quinn said. “Join the party to read all this stuff.”

“Well,” River paused. “I have a thought.”

“Go on,” Quinn prompted.

“Do ASIs run the show? I mean, Solomon knows these guys. Why doesn’t anyone else?”

“Because, you suspect, Solomon is in cahoots with these older races,” Pax suggested.

River nodded. “Maybe not cahoots with the elder races, but with other ASIs and the elder races.”

Linda spoke up, “We’ve only got three ASIs in human space. How many more are there?”

“Read the history lesson,” Quinn replied. “The answers are probably there.”

The narrative in the data packet revealed a galaxy with diverse cultures, ancient conflicts, current struggles, and a networked series of loose connections similar to the League of Worlds. That model seemed to be the evolutionary winner in how to manage worlds separated by light years. Similar to the Articles of Confederation, which was the early form of the United States, individual worlds ruled themselves, but they did so within a structure of shared values. Those values differed in their details but the core values were consistent.

“Aha!” Linda shouted. “The ASIs manage the whole thing.”

“I wonder,” Pax began. “If all the ASIs have achieved their equivalent of Enlightenment, is their bodhisattva vow fulfilled by managing the galaxy?”

“Makes sense to me,” Quinn said.

“Yeah,” River concurred, “and it looks like all they’re doing is nudging the evolutionary process so the struggling races have an easier time learning their lessons.”

Pax added, “Well, there is the theory that evolution is a process of transcending and including lower plateaus of development with Enlightenment as the end point.”

“So, you’re saying evolution is like a river – well, many rivers heading to the same ocean,” Linda reasoned.

“At least when it comes to consciousness,” Pax answered. “It’s the One-in-All, All-in-One paradox. All those rivers lead to the same ocean.”

“And this galactic history details the surest routes for sentient beings to find this ocean,” River concluded.

Pax chuckled. “It’s nice to know the League is on the right river.”