Contact

Within weeks, their new settlement is thriving. The life-support modules’ production can be ramped up by synergistically and non-destructively harnessing the resources on their new colony — humanity’s best hope for survival. During this period, they diligently built out the colony and started to plan for an expansion of the population — one they suspended during their 30-year voyage.

In the distance, they could see various crafts observing them from many miles away. These human settlers decide that should they want to be perceived as guests or refugees — and not invaders — they must make contact and explain why they have arrived.

They beam out messages in English — the lingua franca of their colony — and receive messages back in English, French, Spanish, Chinese, and nearly 50 other Earth-native languages. They understand the visitors, who they are, and where they came from. They also beamed back a message in a language they had never heard before. Hard to describe, it had the smooth and legato feel of French combined with the tone-shifting components of languages such as Vietnamese. Regardless of the language medium, all the messages said the same thing:

“We are the Glieseans. We want to meet you. Tell us your story. Come in peace.”

They sent a follow-up message that said “Come meet us when you are ready” with a map and geolocation coordinates. The meeting spot was a nondescript and uninhabited plateau approximately halfway between the human colony and the closest Glieseian city. The colony decided to send a small delegation in three days. Using the Earthly message versions as translations, they were able to decipher the Glieseian language. However, a human voice box didn’t have the means to reproduce this language; digital Glieseian voice emulators would have to suffice.

As the contact delegation approached the rendezvous point, they saw three ships waiting on the plateau. They landed precisely on the coordinates given and found themselves about 300 meters from the Glieseian crafts. As they opened the craft doors, the Glieseian doors opened in unison. The delegations walked towards each other on the moss-covered plateau.

Upon arrival, a Glieseian representative said: “We visited your home many millennia ago. We know of your kind, and of your early history. What brings you to us?” The visitors recounted the fateful conflict that destroyed Earth and nearly wiped out their species. While they found out that the Glieseans were very familiar with their solar system, news of this battle had not yet reached them.

The Glieseians did not seem surprised that they destroyed their home, replying: “We destroyed our home nearly a million years ago. We, like you, fled and found this planet. We invite you to share it with us, but you must practice nonviolence and learn to peacefully coexist with us, the other organisms that live here, and most importantly — amongst yourselves.”

The visiting delegation agreed to abide by those terms; they’d be foolish not to after what had transpired 30 years ago. They would beam each other daily communications and agreed to meet in-person on this plateau once a week. As the human colony developed and prospered, the Glieseans kept close tabs on them. As trust grew, they slowly gave away advanced technology that could be used to develop the city — but also could be used to wage war.

They continued these weekly meetings on the same plateau for years. Things never got out of hand, but there were times of increased hostility and animosity throughout these meetings. While at times the human visitors displayed signs of greed, anger, or jealousy, they slowly started to relinquish the warring and combative aspects of their species. Seeing the humans increasingly live the values they both espoused (equity, equality, inclusion), the Glieseans said to them: “Let those of you who wish, live with us in harmony. We will establish a space for both Glieseans and humans to live side-by-side.”

Slick City was founded during that meeting on the very plateau where they first made contact several years ago.

Not everyone on Gliese 667 Cc wanted Slick City to be a success. Those who chose to help build and live in Slick City were all volunteers. Initially, only a small percentage of humans chose to leave the comfortable colony they were in and move to Slick City. A small delegation of Glieseans also chose a new start, in a new place, with a new twist: Glieseian neighborhoods — and human neighborhoods — ensconced within the same city limits.

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