Challenge #00437 - A063: Hivemind Negotiations

“It was rather like being surrounded by a mob of very curious puppies with no regard for one’s personal bubble. He/she stood very still lest he/she step on one and tried to resist the urge to pick one up for a cuddle”

There was also an urge to flee, shrieking, from the environment because the Trrt'krr -or ‘Jelly Dancers’- resembled nothing more than a sparkling cloud of very small jellyfish.

These were the lowest of known low-grav cogniscents. They could survive without atmosphere and found anything more than point three standard gravity[1] to be torturous. If not deadly. If they wished to operate in the heavier zones, then they needed a protective grav-bubble and a team of fussing Nae'hyn.

Small wonder, then, that the Trrt'krr much preferred telepresence and negotiations on their home turf.

Lesli wore skins against the lower pressure, with the mandatory breath mask of course, and an exosuit designed to restrain her musculature from causing any damage. She had to remember to use plural identifiers, not only for herself, but for the Ambassador.

Jelly Dancers tended to equate individuality with brain death.

And even then, communication was difficult. She had to use a light board to match the Jelly Dancers’ natural flashes.

We recognise the colony of Lesli, said the Ambassador, via the translation app. The swarm withdrew to what the Jelly Dancers considered a polite distance. Which meant that only five individuals at a time were investigating places that only cleansers would normally touch.

“We recognise the colony of Blup,” said Lesli in turn. “I understand there is a trade problem with the Consortium of Steam?”

They did promise chocolate before the mating season, complained Ambassador Blup. Mating season is almost upon us and they have sent soap.

Lesli scanned the regrettable example. Her own instruments could not tell her if it was very good soap or very bad chocolate[2]. “I shall investigate on your behalf. In the meantime, the Gyiik Union is offering replacement chocolate in order to make amends. I suspect a translation error somewhere along the line.”

Which would only be natural. The Consortium of Steam was well known to be… erratic. And not everyone had access to the really good translation apps.

[1] One standard gravity is equivalent to 10 m/s/s fall acceleration. By comparison, Earth is point nine seven eight standard gravity.

[2] I’ve encountered very bad chocolate that is too much like this.

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