The data streamed in, telling her the story, showing her the past of this unwanted child of Earth. She sat quietly in front of her console, trying to absorb the information as objectively as she could, striving to look at them as she would a truly alien race. It wasn’t working. Her people had suffered under these creatures, reduced to the few lucky ones that had been out of reach. The only things that had saved her grandparents were a holiday visa, a honeymoon and an unexpected friendship.

She needed someone else, some truly alien eyes to watch this with her, perhaps see what she couldn’t. She called the Second. ‘Sir, I need help. Could you assign one of your Xeno Culture nerds to me for a while? The Second was surprised, given what the Captain had told him, the Engineer was the greatest expert on humanity they could have asked for. Also, to his knowledge, they had never needed to send anyone from XCC to engineering. ‘ Are you sure, engineer? I thought we were dealing with humans? Surely this is your area of expertise.’

Tay struggled to put together the answer, to articulate the issue,’Sir, that's the problem. They look like my people, they sound like my people but they don’t behave like my people, or at least any people I want to meet. I’m having a hard time dealing with this.’ Aware of how thin that sounded ,she added, ‘Please?’ The Second thought for a moment, unsure of what was needed. ‘Alright Tay, I’ll send someone down. As you say, hold tight.’

Tay returned the datastream back to the beginning and paused it. She stopped her probes approaching the planet and waited. The Second chewed through the problem, unaware that to the crew he looked like he was hunting something. His minor crest was raising and falling, his tail high and his nostrils expanded. They all softly moved out of his way.

Finally he chose a candidate, someone who could be helpful, yet keep the Captain informed in case their human was in some way injured, damaged in some way that he didn’t understand. Xeno Psychology was a difficult field, prone to massive failure and insufficient data. One of the pitfalls was simply being able to conceive of the truly different and accurately describe it or measure it. However, this ship had one of the finest, an unusual benefit of the mission entrusted to his ship. Now he just had to persuade him to take the job.

Senior Xeno Psychologist, Reten Re was trying not to get impatient. Normally, his feed would be full of data, full of the voices and pictures of his new project. The Engineer had ended all his feeds. He didn’t know why, but he was left with nothing. He was, however, still surprised when the Second arrived at his door. ‘ Doctor, please excuse my interruption.’ Reten was amused by the Fay, of all the obvious predator class species in the union, they were the most mindful of others. He reminded himself to find out why, it might give him something to do. Being polite was hardly a survival characteristic with such a past. He pulled himself back to the present. ‘Come in, come in. I’m glad of the company. What can I do for you?’

The Second had preferred to stay out of conversation with the Doctor. He always seemed to be measuring him, searching for some strange insight that would make him transparent to the alien.It was unnerving. Reten was one of the few silicon species that enjoyed ship-based space travel, and he had an interest in organic life, which was even rarer. Apparently the insanely long lifespan of his people had given him time to observe all the briefly-lived aliens as much as he wanted. Only since human AI had developed, had they anyone that could, technically at least, outlive them. ‘Doctor, a situation has arisen, our human has a problem and the Captain and I would like your help.

Together they went through the issue, leaving the Doctor, after much pondering, to tell the Second.’ Very well. I will, of course, take a close interest. However, I am still a doctor. I will not be discussing any details of any treatments or conversations with the Engineer. If there is a danger to the ship or the mission, I will place Tay on sick leave. Is that sufficient? The Second, relieved that a solution had appeared, simply said, ‘Thank you, Doctor. That is perfectly acceptable. I will inform the Captain.’ At that he left, as quickly as he politely could.

Doctor Reten began by reviewing what he actually knew about humans. Not since the very early days of his profession had anyone seriously studied the species. They had produced endless, contradictory scientific literature on themselves, easily accessible if needed. Perhaps he would check his database for Xeno literature on them, perhaps even take the opportunity to develop a theory or two. Perhaps something interesting to publish.

Tay waited to hear back from the Second, or whomever had been appointed. In the meantime she had dragged out her own histories of the era. Humanity didn’t approve of this stuff floating around space unsupervised, but it formed a core field of study if you joined the military. Learn from the past or be forced to relive, it was a core tenet of naval training. The stark, unsubtle nature of military studies were evident: ‘The Fall of Australia and its Destruction’ was the title. It began by expanding the subject with reference to the initial collapse of international norms in human rights, commercial behaviors and the increased centralisation of power. Then the repudiation of international treaties and memberships, the multiplication of police powers and types. The increasing control of government expenditure, with an emphasis on border control, military spending and politically-allied industry. The collapse in education and health funding, followed by citizenship exclusion clauses being expanded, beginning with convinced criminals. Those now included those arrested for ‘ sedition’, a catch-all crime exclusively used against political enemies.

After a few hours of reading about what she could only describe as a ‘How to break a Human State, in ten easy lessons!’ handbook, she needed a quiet cup of tea. It was simmering in her mind as she reflected that Humanity had armoured itself heavily against these sorts of failures, multiple points of power ruled her society, safeguards and education were mandatory. The prospect of a shattered humanity spilling into space had shocked enough people that, with the endless bounty of resources and opportunity on offer, humanity had forged a new consensus. Secretly, she wondered how many times some colony had tried to slip the leash, and what had happened to them. Perhaps the Navy wouldn’t actually be all that surprised if she told them that Australia was alive in space..

Tea now in hand, she returned to her book. The story continued, this time expanding on the cult leader, who by consensus remained nameless in the history books. The consolidation of power had continued, ultimately resting entirely in this one person. Minorities, both racial and religious, were now actively pursued and criminalised. Then the military history began. In a nation with little manpower for standing armies, and with much of that manpower already invested in police paramilitary units, its government had instead built a comprehensive drone network.

A country well supplied with technology and heavy elements had created self-regulating drone fleets, covering the entire continent. Humanities alliance with AI started here, in the blood of innocents. Initially seen as simply a police asset, they gradually turned to darker purposes. With the ability to stay airborne permanently, except for occasional re-arming, and carrying cheap but effective sensors, they could hunt and kill anyone or anything seen as a threat by the cult government. Dispersed and hidden communities in the ‘Outback’, that had successfully defeated all attempts to police them, turning themselves nomadic in response, were the first victims.

Tay paused at that point. Those were her people, mixed with the sort of bloody-minded individualists that had once been a core identity of that nation, that the government had sought to crush. Had crushed. The infamous order for the ‘Drone Depopulation Initiative’, had set the drones on the largest murder-spree in modern times. They attacked anything human shape or human temperature, twenty-four hours a day for weeks. Months. Even now, no-one knew the actual casualty rate. All that was clear was that nothing was moving in the Outback anymore. This was followed by attacks on other perceived enemies, until only the major roads and urban centres were safe to travel.

At this point, International forces had mobilised. The Australian state had expelled all embassies, refused to allow the repatriation of other countries citizens and then ‘disappeared’ them. Now declared a criminal state, a diverse and confused coalition of states fused into a formidable force to attack and destroy the cult, and its leadership.

The cult leader, aware that he could raise little opposition to a military immune to his drones and unafraid of his bloody-handed police, chose something else. As the first international troops began landing, over eleven thousand nuclear-armed drones detonated over the country, including over the attacking forces. The drones, while not particularly powerful, devastated and sterilized over ninety-percent of the country, including much of its human population. At that the tale became one of collecting up the few miserable survivors, obtaining new citizenship for those few that had been trapped abroad and declaring the entire landmass a war crime and memorial. Re-colonising was forbidden, due to high levels of radiation and a general disgust with the event. By the time anyone would have reconsidered it, space had been opened to Humanity.

Tay sighed, closing the book, wondering how she would explain any of this to a Xeno.

Doctor Reten put down his data. Astonishing, practically everything published by Xeno Psychology about the humans, since they had joined the community was, self-evidently, wrong. The major ones were that they had a consensus government and that they were culturally peaceful, given to negotiation above all. The lack of a visible military had led, or had been allowed to lead, to the assumption that no such military existed. Even a cursory look at humanities own studies and histories proved that impossible. He didn’t know what had led the Captain to the same conclusion, but even a quick looked proved his theory. Well, now he needed to go and speak with a real, suffering human and follow her lead. This was, in the face of all expectation, a truly new species to study. It was disconcerting to find out that it had been traveling with them for decades, unwatched and unknown.

The Captain and his Second were sitting in his quarters, reviewing everything they knew about humans and how much, exactly, of the ship systems were in the Engineers hands. The results were sobering, since the answer was ‘not much’ and ‘everything important’. The Captain stared out his port,’ Well, we must hope the good doctor will succeed. However, please ask the Tolkien to join us here, in case we need a ride home.’

Tay was glad when Doctor Reten arrived. Of all the people on the ship, he was known as the greatest authority on Xeno studies. She had only ever met him at social events and had got the impression that he regarded humans as a simple part of the engines themselves, rather than people individually. From the look on the good doctor, that had changed.’Thank you, Doctor, your input is most welcome. I find myself in a difficult position, and I hope I can rely on your support?’ Doctor Reten had decided to begin as if he had never met a human before. He regretted that the reality was, he had never paid the Engineer even a cursory glance in the past, so it wasn’t a great leap. This was an opportunity, if she was willing to agree. He began,’Engineer Tay, I owe you and your people a deep apology. My profession has failed you completely. From lack of curiosity, poor research, and terribly misplaced complaceance, I find I know little of your people. Would you be willing to do an assessment with me?’

The Engineer froze. This wasn’t supposed to be about her. Humanity had been flying about for years, why the sudden interest? ‘Doctor, I’m sure we are well enough known, please this is a different issue.’ The Doctor gravely indicated no,’Engineer, you are all I have. I need some kind of control. You are a highly respected member of this crew, we trust our lives to you everyday. If you are bringing me to a deviation on that, some dark version of your people, I need a place to start. If you wish me to help, please.’

Tay had seen the questionnaire many times, she had even used it once or twice herself. She resolved to move through it quickly. She made herself comfortable and waited for it to begin. The Doctor looked more uncomfortable than she felt.’ Go ahead, Doctor. I’m happy to help.’ That cheered him up, she thought, as the atmosphere eased. ‘Thank you, Tay. Let us begin.’ He had taken a moment to rewrite a few of the questions, given her familiarity with space, he could skip quite a lot. ‘Tell me, as you look at me right now, how would you describe me? Start with a purely physical description and, if you wish, expand on that.’

She responded promptly, ‘You’re a silicon-based species, mostly inhabiting extremophile worlds, with an extended lifespan, by galactic norms, you…’

The Doctor stopped her. ‘Please, I know you are aware of my species. Simply describe me, as an individual. You don’t need to be uncomfortable, simply say what you see.’

Tay hesitated, then decided to take him as literally as possible,’ You are around two meters tall, weigh in at about four times the weight for a human of the same size. Your skin is a grey, whorled series of filaments, with four limbs. Like us, no tail. Your face is, well, odd to me. Your eyes are dark, glasslike orbs, unmoving. Your mouth is set higher than mine and you have no detectable nostrils.I have learned to watch your eyebrows and forehead for emotional cues. Also you appear to have burn scars on your shoulder, something I have never seen on your people. Is that what you mean?’

The Doctor nodded, almost exactly what he would have expected to hear from an Engineer. Almost no emotional response, a survey of sensors,surfaces and system failures. ‘Engineer, are you afraid of me? I am, after all an old creature made of stone, not a simple fleshling like you.’ Tay looked surprised, ‘Of course not Doctor! The debate between silicon and carbon-based is one of the best reasons to be in space, the possibilities are endless. You might live longer, but we live faster. We threw parties when we discovered silicon-based life!’

Even the Doctor had to smile at that, something so rarely said to his people. It was true that, sometimes, it was hard to be made so differently to the rest of the galaxy. It was also true that humanity treated them well. It shook him a little that he had never asked why. Also it demonstrated the emotional response he had been looking for. ‘Thank you for that, Tay. May I begin to ask a little about your people? I must admit, I was expecting to find much more in the records.’

Tay laughed. ‘You have just begun to touch on human information control. We lie by omission, until something turns up, as it has today. Our history is the struggle of every species. Resource control, ideological supremacy and expansion. We set out to rebuild the honor of humanity when we arrived in space. Our weapons over the fireplace, as it were. For ourselves, for our future selves at least. We wish to be the best version of humanity.’ Her face darkened,’ You are about to meet the worst. Remnants of the last human war, which extinguished my people.’

Retent paused,’ You were not there. Do you always make such judgments on the past?’

Tay let a grim smile show. ‘They wiped out my people, just before we could have reached space. After sixty thousand years, they killed us all. What they didn’t kill, they burned. I have no forgiveness for them, nor has humanity. As I told the Captain, a fleet would arrive and burn this planet to bedrock, and I would help. That is my problem. Part of me wants to put on my HDF uniform and call the Navy in, the rest of me wants this mission to work. To reunite, to heal. That is why I need you. Because this contact carries a sentence of death over it, and I make a poor judge. That will be for you to decide.’

That silenced the Doctor. The burden had passed to him. If he relieved the Engineer, then the human warrior would emerge. Without a doubt, if he refused the task, Tay would go and put on the uniform. She might debate it, she would definitely regret it, but she would do it. ‘Perhaps, Tay, we could begin to look at the data together.’ Perhaps he would find hope there.