ATM
by Chukwudi Ogbonna

Earth's history had been powerfully shaped by the relationship between the two species, a relationship that had not always been amicable and that had continually raised questions, questions of a fundamental nature. There had been wars, and dynastic successions fraught with controversy, and the tortured stories of half-breeds, and prejudice on both the most grand and the pettiest of scales. There had been racist empires and epic rivalries between disparate peoples, with the species barrier serving as the significant distinction. There had been the differentiation of peoples and great migrations, and in this there had always been the recognition that the species could not mix and that their histories were nonetheless inextricably connected. It was a story of epic proportions, and now it would be writ large across the face of a universe.

There was evidence that the two species appeared to have had close biochemical affinities. It had been clear to even the most primitive cultures that there were two groups of people and that these two groups nevertheless had much in common. It took the sophisticated techniques of modern science to indicate these differences and similarities on a rigorous level. The study of the two species by scientists had a huge effect on biological science in general and on genetics in particular. Aside from the pioneer researches of Mendel the science of genetics owes its origins to the work of the alpha Nulder, who conducted groundbreaking research on heritable traits in the two species, using extensive early modern records and the folk traditions of European and Igdathalian villages. Like Mendel's work, Nulder's research was misunderstood, and actually overlooked, by the scientists of his age, and its importance was only recognized with the accomplishment of more sophisticated research by scientists

of subsequent generations. The molecular biological revolution vindicated Mendel and Nulder for their work was found to have prefigured that revolution and was readily integrated into it. Unknown to their contemporaries, Mendel and Nulder had solved problems that had puzzled people since time immemorial, questions that had spawned vast bodies of myth and superstition, and caused people to look upon nature with irrational awe. This was the general societal response to scientific advances that exceeded the bounds of what was considered normal science however. Radical science always had to be absorbed gradually into the scientific mainstream. It was sometimes necessary to access the abnormal to be able to understand the normal.

In a remote, midnight region of the cosmos the Federation superplatform Heordiga floated amidst a swirl of exotic energy fields, surrounded by its usual huge retinue of smaller platforms and systems. Complex warning and detection systems, mediated by huge, multi-layered computer programs monitored the environment and the vast world that it was operating in. The Heordiga was the master of a huge swath of the cosmos, silently watching that world's drama like some wise creature. The great machine was even a little jaded, a little cynical. Its programmers had given it that complex ability, perhaps without recognizing the implications, perhaps as some huge joke. The machine could create worlds if it considered that this was called for. It was a world onto itself. The humans who worked on it and interfaced with its systems were becoming increasingly alienated from it, many of them without realizing that. Such was the nature of all sophisticated modern technology, the nature of modern sci

ence itself. The product had exceeded the abilities of those who had produced it. Entire disparate scientific and technological fields had had to be consulted to create the Heordiga. Its creators were proud of their grand work of art, proud of the wonder it generated even among the most technologically sophisticated. The Heordiga had become a technological standard.

On the bridge of the great platform captain Sypt was watching a great screen, a screen of the sort that had become a dominant feature of life in that epoch. Despite his advanced scientific education Sypt was totally flummoxed, totally bewildered. What he had been taught at school provided no guide or succor in that difficult hour he was facing. He felt completely alone, completely ignorant, and it did not help that everyone around him looked bewildered and confused as well. The shape of this new world was something he had not anticipated.

He looked around the bridge, and saw Hafnor, the Aristean lieutenant who would seem at most times to be more level headed than most other people. Hafnor looked a little panicked, maybe even terrified. They were all terrified. Nobody could be blamed for being a coward just then, for they were all facing a threat that was surely unique in all of human history.

"I've got a double plane read on a ripple effect, northeast".

Sypt scarcely heard the young ensign's report; so absorbed in his thoughts was he. He caught himself however and turned and noted the complex graphical display on the ensign's screen. He could understand a little of the graphical forms, and he found this encouraging. At least he wasn't totally redundant.

"We've got them closing in on the target. Can't decipher much else".

"There's a platform located on the north-north at four-zero-ten. It seems to be unarmed."

"How dumb can they get? They've got enemy fighters all around their sector".

Sypt had been watching the Earthmen with close interest of recent. Their legendary scrupulousness had begun to show cracks. Added to that was the not inconsiderable problem that their society was split according to their great fracture line. One could not understand the Earthlings without understanding that great division. At least that was what Sypt had heard. His view of the problem with the Humans was a lot less prosaic. He simply recognized compromised standards and a decline of vigor. Though the Humans were rivals he would have to say that a world without their influence would be impoverished. He recognized the nobility in them, the grand scale of the visions they sought with their efforts to actualize, their persistent heroism, the energy and inventiveness that had conquered a long succession of societies and worlds. He celebrated these, for he was a partisan of power and achievement.

We've had two species since the dawn of history, and clearly they have existed for far longer than that. It is clear as well that there have been multiple species in the human story since practically all of the history of the human races. There's been a narrow niche since then and all those groups have been contesting that niche.