act34side

The Little Handy moves to the center of the Pensivarium, its projection module emitting cold motes of light, slowly coalescing into the figure of an Ægir woman.

She sports a smile under her golden hair. Her eyes are focused on everyone in the room, as though she has been waiting for, or perhaps observing, them for a long time.

Consul Horatia.

Whyever do you look so fatigued, my little Gladiia?

Though the transmission efficiency of the Waterway is much higher than I anticipated, I fear our simulacra are still unable to transmit my feelings.

Otherwise I'd stroke your hair and give you a nice, big hug.

No need. You know the risks of doing so.

The changes on the sea's surface, as well as the sudden appearance of the 'Waterways'. Was this your doing?

Whether Ægir or Seaborn, we all find ourselves competing over time.

The Seaborn must keep sending nutrients to every region of sea they conquer. They wish to quickly transform the entire continental shelf into one great nest.

Every issue has two sides. This disaster has also blessed us with bio-energy beyond measure.

More than two centuries ago, the beacon launcher would have required a dozen cities' bio-energy systems to continually fabricate the nanomachines comprising the Waterways.

Now, those nanomachines are being fostered by the Seaborn, who regard them as harmless kin.

Using the data flow between the nanomachines as a medium, fleets and cities in squeezed state could traverse the oceans in an instant.

Though these machines cannot take Ægir to the stars as our forebears imagined, they are more than enough to carve a path of life for civilization in its time of need.

But that would mean that, for the foreseeable future, Ægir will have no choice but to enter into some kind of <i>symbiosis</i> with the Seaborn, using that... scum, as they in turn use us.

Is this another of your so-called 'games'?

It is how we will break through this siege.

The term 'Waterway,' the path ahead for Ægir, has never referred only to pure waters.

You have always had your doubts about the Program, and that is fine. But if that doubt serves only to put you in disarray, then it is useless.

As Ægir is determined to open a Waterway between sea and land, there was no question that it shall do so.

I do not doubt your success, but perhaps there is still room for debate as to your methods.

Dr. Kal'tist, I presume. Consul Horatia, of the Institute of Scientific Development Planning. It's a pleasure.

It pleases me that there are still those on dry land who have inherited the will of the prehistoric civilization. That Ægir is not alone in our duty.

I am also glad to see you have begun our discussion with a firm diplomatic stance.

Then can I take it that you speak for all terrestrial civilizations, and that we can dispense with establishing diplomacy with them one by one?

I, too, am glad to see Ægir abandon its contentment in isolation and seek out cooperation with the land.

But I regret to inform you, Madame Consul, that I do not represent it in its entirety. I merely understand it more than most.

That said, I believe what Ægir needs now is exactly a thorough understanding of the terrestrial civilizations.

You and I both know that this Waterway will not be used only for resisting the Seaborn. Ægir has its eyes on every unnatural existence in these lands.

It is the only means for us to ascertain the intrinsic nature of Terra, and to eliminate the disasters hanging above our heads at the source.

And I am sure you are aware of how such actions will be perceived by the terrestrial nations.

Compared to the Seaborn, you would be seen as the more direct threat.

We bear them no ill will. We need not stoop so low.

The cruelest thing we could do is ignore the need of help of other tottering civilizations we meet on the road to settling this crisis.

Of course, we will first help them to learn how to walk.

Bottlenecks of development, dilemmas of war, barriers of race, clashes of cultures, trends of ideology, changes in the structure of society...

Over the millennia, Ægir has grown freely beneath the waves. It has faced every issue a country might face.

We wish to share our experiences, without reservation.

And how would you do so?

Using Milliarium as our main port, we would send talent and technology ashore, to aid the Iberians in revitalizing their home.

Feranmuts perceive the oncoming crisis far more keenly than humanity. That young one will not shelter Kjerag forever.

We can aid that nation long trapped in snow in breaking through its developmental barriers in a few short years, so that it may stand equal with its neighbors.

We can aid the Sami in purging the demonic corruption permeating every inch of snow, and restart the abandoned stargate in the north.

Ursus? Kazdel? If the flames of war rage, we will calm them. If there are disputes, we will resolve them.

Bolívar? Higashi? National unity is but a few fruitful negotiations away.

Ægir will aid them in every predicament. Ægir will guide them towards the only goal they need. Under the leadership of Ægir, the land and sea will share a common future.

Madame Consul, I do not doubt Ægir's sincerity, but... I fear your proposals will not have the effect you expect.

I am sure you have the means to bring Kjerag up to par with the Core nations in a few years.

But will dialogues between equals necessarily center around peace and development?

Were Ursus's internal problems to be resolved, who is to say they would not bare their fangs once more, and attack their neighbors to satisfy their regained appetite?

Bolívar's many regimes might reach a consensus under Ægir's pressure, but how will you eradicate the profound, deliberately provoked hostility?

Dr. Kal'tsit, are you saying that Ægir's efforts to aid the terrestrial civilizations will only result in the opposite?

I am saying that we can establish a more equal and profound cooperative relationship between us.

With only your probes, you are unable to understand a civilization's needs. With only your experiences, you are unable to force a nation to skip over its path to development.

Before you act, you must learn more. Otherwise, the winds you stir on land may become some great storm you cannot turn a blind eye to.

We would be more than happy to hear your suggestions, then.

On the condition that you do not allow us to be held back by excessive caution and meaningless apprehension.

Seeing the gulf between us, between land and sea, I understand that we will need many more discussions before we can make progress.

Once the Waterway opens, I look forward to meeting you in the flesh. Whether on land, or in Ægir's home territories.

I as well, Madame Consul.

What about you, Gladiia?

Do you agree with Dr. Kal'tsit on this matter?

The IDP need not question Rhodes Island's sincere wish for cooperation, nor Dr. Kal'tsit's ability. I can vouch for both of those.

And there are indeed essential differences between Ægir and the nations of the land.

The land dwellers are shortsighted and clumsy, which makes them frail. Forcibly removing the differences between them would be no different from destroying them.

It is truly necessary to show good faith.

Hmm.

I've never seen Gladiia place so much trust in someone, Dr. Kal'tsit. A feat, to be sure.

Perhaps she can be a bridge between our peoples, and aid us in coming to a consensus.

You will see that Ægir's plans are no mere idle pratter.

Now, do allow me a moment alone with Consul Clementia.

Secunda, a fleet approaches from the land!

Iberia.

Hail them via the drone matrix.

This is Praefecta Secunda, of the Milliarium Sea Patrol.

Err... It's me.

Irene?

We're currently in a head-on battle against the Seaborn. Don't come any closer.

Your ships are too crude. I'm sorry, but they may get sucked into the eddies around Milliarium.

You're saying that Iberia should just wait quietly on land?

That I should just watch Milliarium get invaded by Seaborn, and let the Waterway transform into some kind of god-knows-what that even you Ægir never foresaw?

We've already talked about this, Secunda. I'll be there in five minutes.

Halt all attacks.

If we are going to pick up the Iberians, we'll just have to open the access channels to the rear. Why stop attacking?

Look at the screen.

The Academy of Technology just sent an urgent communique.

This...

What do we do?

Are those light-emitting nanomachines components for the Waterway?

But the Seaborn are still attacking the city. If they've fused with the nanomachines and bear identical bio-signatures, our weapons won't be able to locate and attack the Seaborn only...

Don't tell me the Legions want us to halt our covering fire and rely only on Milliarium's force fields to hold them back?

May as well slit our wrists and be done with it.

Scribbling on your device again? You know, sometimes I really admire your ability to keep a cool head.

Use the images from the drone matrix to render a 3D model.

Rendering in progress.

Perhaps the answer lies within the riddle itself.

The bio-signatures of the nanomachines and the Seaborn are identical, but we still know clearly that the nanomachines have formed a Waterway.

How?

We can see them! Each machine emits a particular light that's clearly visible!