Chapter Twenty-Two: The Pitfalls of Two Civilizations

The Quata Army’s spaceship traveled at extraordinary speed, taking only a brief span to return from Centaurus to the planet Quatapah. The Quatapah officer who had been in communication with the Tar Army now brought numerous proposals from the Tar authorities to the supreme decision-making body of Quatapah civilization.

Above the planet Quatapah, Governor Abbot’s aerial palace continued its stately passage through the skies. As always, the governor convened his senior officials and other elites to deliberate on how to respond to the demands put forth by the Tar people.

Director Anan, head of the Space Administration and wartime intelligence chief, spoke: “According to the Tar side, their actions are entirely motivated by their religious beliefs and a survival crisis. They have clarified that their position will not change; evidently, they will proceed with their plans on Earth. They claim that the disagreement between Tar and Quata arises from certain outdated clauses in our prior agreement, which now need updating. However, they did not consult us in advance, treating matters that should have been public as secrets—a clear affront to us.”

Governor Abbot said, “Let us first carefully discuss their religious beliefs and the survival crisis they are facing.”

Anan continued, “In the Tar people’s ‘Bible,’ there is a passage: ‘After their creator god made the Tar star system and the Tar people, he created a more perfect, larger star system suitable for their survival—the Solar System. In that longed-for Solar System live their brethren, the Earthlings. Their god warned the Tar people that their own star system would one day walk the path of destruction. The wisdom granted by god was meant to guide the Tar people to migrate to Earth in the Solar System through their own efforts. They are also tasked, according to god’s will, to help and educate Earthlings, guiding them toward the right path. Only by fulfilling this mission will the Tar people ascend to a new stage in the galaxy; otherwise, they will perish alongside their aging homeworld.’”

A Quatapah astronomer spoke: “We can empathize with their sense of impending doom, for their homeworld is indeed in its twilight, nearing death. Physiologically, the Tar people are especially fragile, and planets suitable for them are few and far between in the galaxy. In fact, their migration project to the Solar System need not be explained to us; what requires explanation is why their Earth project was conducted in secrecy.”

Governor Abbot said, “Based on Anan’s and the astronomer’s analyses, I want to delve deeper into the information from our previous investigation of Earth’s environment and the relationship between Earthlings and the Tar people.”

Koss instructed a mantis assistant to collate all the data from their last expedition to Earth.

A large group of Quatapah experts and scholars gathered in a vast aerial pavilion. Before Governor Abbot and his senior officials, a mantis being used a remote to move a crystalline, polygonal object with seventeen facets to the center of the conference room. Ten meters away, a conical screen was erected. The mantis pressed a button on a device resembling a flashlight, and a beam of orange slow light passed through the spinning crystal, casting onto the rotating cone. Each of the seventeen facets, differing in length and angle, refracted the light into a kaleidoscope of scenes. The slow light, focused by the crystal, projected onto the cone, revealing to the audience an interactive micro-documentary—the entire data archive from Kanton’s team’s last Earth investigation, combining images, video, and radio audio, and capable of responding to questions from viewers.

The rotating cone displayed immersive videos of the Quatapah scientific team’s research on Earth. The content was vast: attendees analyzed Earth’s physical structure, genetic diversity, societal activities, and core cultures. Only Military Chief Sade and Governor Abbot focused primarily on information about the Tar people and their connection to Earthlings.

After thorough review and discussion, several conclusions emerged:

Governor Abbot said, “The Tar people’s actions on Earth are profoundly at odds with their declared religious doctrines. With their current capabilities, they should easily guide Earth’s people toward the right path. Yet, faced with internecine wars, outbreaks of disease, epidemics of depression, nuclear war risks, and severe destruction of the environment, why do the Tar people turn a blind eye?”

Many attendees nodded in agreement, sharing the governor’s doubts.

Military Chief Sade spoke: “Although our scientists successfully downloaded the pharaoh’s memory from his mind, the information was incomplete. Broadly, we can surmise the pharaoh was merely a highly intelligent Earthling, trained by the Tar people, to assist them in managing Earth’s population and imparting Tar civilization’s scientific and religious knowledge once they formally migrate. The Tar strategic blueprint is to gain control over Earth and its people, then develop the Solar System’s resources to bolster their power. This presents a substantial latent threat to Quatapah civilization—a direct competition at the very least.”

Kanton, who had personally conducted fieldwork on Earth, spoke with authority: “Our scientists still haven’t fully deciphered the secrets of the pyramids left by the Tar people. My mantis assistant installed a simple wave interceptor inside one pyramid, but it was promptly removed by the Tar. I believe we lack a comprehensive understanding of both Earthlings and the pyramids. What is certain is that the overwhelming majority of ordinary Earthlings have no direct contact with the Tar. Our statistical analysis of billions of WhatsApp users produced almost no evidence of Earthlings interacting with the Tar, nor has the Tar begun to exercise control over humanity.”

Governor Abbot: “We should respect the Tar’s religious beliefs and sympathize with their urgent need to migrate as their star nears its end. But why keep their migration to Earth a secret? It’s a non-secret secret.”

Military Chief Sade’s tone grew forceful; he stared at the governor and declared, “We must not be deceived by the Tar again. This so-called negotiation is merely a stalling tactic. We have underestimated or placed too much faith in them. The virus used in biological attacks against us originated from Earth. The key material for creating genetic weapons against Quatapah—M liquid substance—has already been found in the Solar System. With these two elements, it is only logical for the Tar to keep their actions secret.”

Sade’s words brought a sudden tension to the conference room; the participants seemed uncertain how to respond. The usually wise and commanding Governor Abbot shifted his hippopotamus-like form and shook the two linguistic tendrils atop his head. All eyes were on him, eager for guidance.

“Anan and Military Chief Sade, strengthen your coordination and prepare for war to the greatest extent possible. We refuse negotiation. The only way to avoid conflict is for the Tar to honor the treaty jointly established by both sides.” Governor Abbot spoke.

His words rallied the attendees, dispelling their anxieties. Most Quatapah elites regarded the Tar as the greatest threat to their civilization. After all, the Tar had twice provoked and waged war against Quatapah. The most alarming fact was the presence of M liquid substance on a planet at the edge of the Solar System. Whether the Tar had already discovered this substance and used it to develop genetic weapons aimed at Quatapah remained uncertain—some doubted, but others firmly believed the Tar’s secrecy regarding their Earth project was precisely to facilitate the creation of such weapons. Troubled by these issues, the Quatapah people were resolved not to sit idly by, but to continue using force to resolve the crisis.

In the galaxy, the two civilizations—Tar and Quatapah—utterly distinct in biology, culture, and faith, stood on the brink of another great war…