FK 14 - Ancillary Documentation > The Amnion [1]

[Cord Hurn]

The Gap Into Vision: Forbidden Knowledge 14
Ancillary Documentation / The Amnion

First Contact

Opinion is divided as to what should be formally considered "first contact" with the Amnion. Some believe that humankind's relations with the only other (known) sentient--not to mention spacefaring--life-form in the galaxy cannot be considered to have begun until the first human met the first Amnioni. By some standards, this occurred aboard the Amnion ship Solidarity. when Sixten Vertigus, captain of the Space Mines, Inc., probe ship Deep Star, on his own authority, and against strict SMI instructions, took the risk of an EVA transfer to Solidarity's airlock and was assisted through the locks by a being which he later described as "a humanoid sea anemone with too many arms."

His instructions had been to establish proximity with any alien vessel or base, broadcast incessantly the tape which Intertech, a subsidiary of SMI, had prepared for the occasion, tape any returning broadcast his equipment could receive as long as possible without jeopardizing his mission, and then escape into the gap in a way that would confound pursuit. SMI Chairman and CEO Holt Fasner professed himself unwilling to risk Earth for the sake of profit: he did not wish to reveal too much to beings whose intentions were unguessable.

Sixten Vertigus' disinclination to follow instructions assure him of his place in the history of human-Amnioni relations.

He was an idealist.

The description of an Amnioni as somewhat human but with tentacle-like appendages makes them seem more dangerous and sinister, combined with their obvious intelligence. Rightly or wrongly it triggers in me a dread of this alien race because it could easily reach out and bind or strangle a human. But the description of the Amnioni adds to the tension around the story. so I find the Amnioni fun to read about.

Captain Vertigus sounds like an optimistic and courageous visionary, the kind of character I'd like to meet. And I notice nowhere in this A.D. chapter does it say he died, so hopefully we can meet Sixten as the story progresses. Vertigus sounds altogether admirable and interesting to encounter.

[Cord Hurn]

Sixten Vertigus took advantage of the opportunity to have first contact because he was far enough away from human power centers that he could justify his actions and not be countermanded (or punished). He meets a minor-ranking Amnioni, which leads to him meeting a "decisive" (authority figure) Amnioni. He does this within marginally breathable air long enough to recortd the AMnioni, and give the tape and its compatible player to the alien ship.

This tape contained a basis on which the Amnion could begin to translate human speech, begin mathematics and data coding. Not incidentally, the tape included a message offering alliance and trade with SMI itself. Preferably excusive.

The Amnion reacted with gestures and noises which meant nothing to Captain Vertigus. They were, however, not unprepared for his gift. And perhaps they understood the significance of the fact that he had come to them along and unharmed. In exchange for the tape and the player, they offered him a sealed canister which contained--research discovered this shortly after his safe return to Deep Star--mutagenic material nearly identical to the stuff that had brought him into this quadrant of space in the first place.

In their own way, the Amnioni were attempting to communicate.

The preferably exclusive trade proposition that Vertigus was authorized to negotiate suggests that his boss Holt Fasner was indeed willing to risk much for the sake of profit, despite his profession of not wanting to take large risks.

There is for me a feeling of being "creeped out" by the Amnion because of their shape-altering, gene reprogramming substance they gave to Captain Vertigus. Inside it feels like something akin the "flight or fight" response, a jumpy wariness to something that can move unpredictably and seemingly can transform absolutely. The Amnion mutagenic ability is creepy in an interesting way for me. And the apparently superior biological skills of the Amnion make them feel more formidable.

[Savor Dam]

A very perceptive interpretation of the subsurface currents running in the pool, the depth of which is not at all apparent.