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1.
— 'Humanism' is calling Earth. 'Humanism' is calling Earth.
— Earth is on the line.
— A civilization of the seventeenth type has been discovered on the planet Sirle. I am sending the data. I have an incomplete crew; a contact specialist is missing. I need clarification on how to proceed.
— Act according to the situation. I will try to find a suitable person. However, I cannot promise anything—contact specialists are in short supply.
— Understood, Earth. Understood.
2.
He found Varya in the conference room.
The yellow Sirle hung beautifully framed by stars outside the viewport. Portraits of Leonardo da Vinci, Copernicus, Dostoevsky, Mendeleev, Irakli Abazadze, and a smiling Varya were hanging between the viewports.
Ronan had hung Varya's portrait for a laugh, and of course, for beauty. The girl, captured against the backdrop of the blue sky, smiled—just the way only Varya can.
— So, did you get through to Earth? – she asked from her chair.
The chairs in the conference room had wheels. During flights, they were secured, but at other times, when artificial gravity was working, you could roll around. Space pilots love to roll in wheeled chairs—that was a tradition inherited from their ancestors.
Ronan plopped down in his seat and stretched out his legs.
— I got through.
— Did they advise you to act according to the situation? – Varya sniffed.
Ronan nodded.
— Why do I have to pull everything out of you with pliers?! Did they promise to send someone?
— In any case, he will be delayed.
— In other words, you decided to make contact independently?
— What else can I do? – Ronan shrugged, fully aware that he had no choice. — A civilization of the seventeenth type, and there are no contraindications. We can't just leave the explored sector empty-handed, can we?! Let's conduct the autopsy ourselves.
The girl pushed off with her feet and rolled a little closer to Ronan.
— Roma, you don’t have clearance. You’re a pilot.
— But I have enough experience. I participated as a second person in interviews twice. No admission is required for second persons. Don't worry, Varya, everything will go smoothly, we will make contact. Then we will invite the Sirlyans on board and have a discussion. It's Lebedinsky's method, nothing complicated. Essentially, it all comes down to reciting standard phrases and demonstrating training videos.
— Will you take the role of the second person?
Roman smiled and tried to look a bit duller.
— Who should be the second person? Who to take? Considering there are only two of us on the starship, I guess I have to take you as my second. I recommend you familiarize yourself with some specialized literature, my second. But first, we need to conduct a psychological and physiological compatibility test.
He grabbed Varya's chair by the armrest and pulled it towards him.
— Well, I knew it, another test! – the girl exclaimed. – Why did I even agree to fly to space with you?!
She didn't think about resisting.
3.
The delegation of Sirlyans who arrived on board the 'Humanism' consisted of a man and a woman. The man was slender and tall, while the woman seemed like a mere girl. Their hair was golden, and their chins were painted yellow – that was the entire national specificity of the residents of Sirlya.
Roman once again realized: intelligent life, with all its psychological diversity, is confined within strict anthropomorphic bounds. There were, and could be, no exceptions to this rule.
Naturally, he was a bit nervous. However, it was a familiar situation. The key here is the first phrase. For this reason, Roman did not activate the translator: if the Sirlyans decided to interject a word, he still wouldn't understand.
He led the delegation to the meeting room, where Varya was waiting, and made it clear: the interview would take place here. He took a position opposite and exhaled deeply. He clicked on the translator and quickly pronounced:
— The people of Earth, the oldest and strongest in the galaxy, welcome the friendly people of Sirlya aboard the starship 'Humanism'.
The task was half done; now all that remained was to wait for a response.
— Yes, — the man said.
The girl unexpectedly placed her palm on the top of her companion's head.
Understanding is possible thanks to earthly technologies of mental translation, Roman articulated the second phrase according to Lebedinsky’s method. On Sirle, such technologies are absent, so you cannot communicate with other space peoples by yourself.
The girl suddenly squealed:
— What! Why???
And pointed at Var's portrait.
— Sirleans cannot stand the color blue, — the man explained. — Sirleans love the color yellow, especially the females.
Roman jumped to the wall and turned the portrait around.
— Is it better now?
— Now my female is fine, — the sirlean confirmed.
The girl laughed, a bit too loudly, making it sound silly. But it was actually not so bad because the problem turned out to be not worth a penny.
— My name is Roman. And my… female's name is Varya.
Varya threw a playful glance at the commander but remained silent.
— My name is Gril. And my female's name is Rila, — the sirlean said.
Everyone sat down in their chairs, except for Rila, who stood behind Gril, arms crossed behind her back.
Roman began the autotranslation:
— We invited the most distinguished representatives of Sirle to the spaceship "Humanism" for communication. And we are glad that the distinguished representatives have appeared. Both earthlings and sirleans are biological beings. Each biological being is a separate material individual with its own psychology. Misunderstandings and contradictions can occur between biological beings, up to the emergence of conflict situations.
When Roman mentioned separate material individuals, the sirlean began examining his hands with surprise. At that moment, the girl stepped aside to examine other portraits hanging between the windows.
When Roman mentioned possible misunderstandings and contradictions, the sirlean said with displeasure:
— Rila, what are you doing?
— Looking at pictures, — the girl replied.
— Stop immediately.
Rila had to return to her place and put her hand on Gril's head.
Lebedinsky’s method worked flawlessly.
— Curiosity, like conflict, is characteristic of all biological beings, — Roman continued. — However, the contradictions that arise between biological beings must be overcome. To better understand each other, we will share our accumulated unique knowledge – to the extent that you are capable of perceiving it. You will learn a lot about the universe, including your planet. We have been observing Sirlya for generations.
— The Sirlyans were unaware of your existence, — interjected Gril.
— We have unique technologies. At first, we didn't want to be discovered. But when we decided that the Sirlyan people were ready for contact, we activated visibility mode. The rest you already know. We extended an invitation to the most deserving of the Sirlyans to visit the starship, and you came here.
Rila laughed again, this time for no apparent reason.
— Why is she laughing?
— Rila is playful, — explained Gril.
— Females are the most unstable of biological beings, — Roman remarked offhandedly.
— Females need to restrain themselves, especially in the presence of representatives from other space civilizations, — added the clever Varya.
The girlish laughter ceased. No, Lebedinsky's methodology was definitely working. However, for the first time, it was enough – time to wrap it up.
— Will you convey to your people what you heard here?
— Yes.
Rila placed her second palm on Gril's head. It seemed she placed her hand on her man's head with every 'yes.' An interesting local custom. I wonder what will happen if a Sirlyan has to answer 'no'?
— The volume of knowledge that will be provided to you is so vast that several meetings will be required. Therefore, our conversations need to be made a regular occurrence. I propose we meet once during the Sirlyan's orbit around the star.
— I will come, — promised Gril.
Roman summarized:
— We will transport you here for discussions. And now let’s watch a short informational video about the people of Earth. We know everything about Sirlya, while you know nothing about our planet. This knowledge gap needs to be filled.
4.
The video began. A warning message flashed in the corner: "Exclusively for extraterrestrial civilizations." The message was not voiced, so the guests could not understand it.
The narrator read with an evocative voice:
"Dear extraterrestrial! The cradle of intelligent life in the vast expanses of the cosmos is Earth. Here, civilization emerged much earlier than on other planets. While other planets were yet to be formed, saber-toothed tigers roamed the Earth. When the first primitive fauna appeared on other planets, trams powered by electricity were already operating on Earth. When the wheel was being invented on other planets, Earthlings were traversing the galaxy in comfortable starships.
Recognizing their ancient superiority, the inhabitants of Earth took upon themselves the responsibility for the development of intelligent life in the galaxy. Our scientists actively intervene in the natural course of evolution, adjusting and coordinating biological processes on life-fertilized planets. One could say that Earthlings have nurtured most of the galactic peoples with their own hands.
We do not make contact with all our fellow intelligent beings, but when it occurs, the chosen civilization receives invaluable assistance for further intellectual and technological development. The amount of knowledge provided is considered separately in each case."
The text being read was illustrated with documentary footage, generously enriched with animation. In some cases, they were replaced by short staged scenes.
Here's the beginning of beginnings – a bleak, lifeless galaxy. On one of the planets, a bright dot begins to blink, marking the emergence of life. The dot approaches at terrifying speed and turns out to be a man and a woman, who are tightly holding hands. And so, the brave Earthlings are already gazing at the starry sky… The brave Earthlings are riding a tram… The brave Earthlings are stepping onto a starship… The starship with Earthlings on board soars upward but finds no signs of life in the endless cosmos. No, life is indeed discovered! Here and there, other bright dots light up, indicating the emergence of extraterrestrial life.
To observe the vital hotspots from Earth, numerous starships are dispatched. From these ships circling on planetary orbits, Earth’s scientists conduct scientific observations. If necessary, the scientists descend to the surface and nurture the protoplasm with a nutrient broth.
Life gradually evolves – in reality, painfully slow, but in the informational video, it happens in just a few seconds.
After millions of years, the long-awaited contact with intelligent brethren occurs. With tears in their eyes, the locals thank Earthlings for the nutrient broth and valuable informational support.
5.
— This is Earth. This is Earth.
— I hear you, Earth. 'Humanism' is on the line.
— I’ve found you a specialist. Yuri Chudinov. He is authorized to work with alien civilizations up to the thirty-first level. He has been sent by transport capsule. Expect him within a day.
— Understood, Earth. Thank you very much. The primary contact with civilization of the seventeenth type was successful.
— Excuse me, 'Humanism', I have a call on another line. End of transmission.
6.
They sat in chairs, occasionally touching each other’s hands, and exchanged impressions about the contact that took place.
— For a civilization of the seventeenth type, the Syrlans are quite primitive.
— They're a bit simple and not very talkative. And that girl, who constantly laughs for no reason...
— Not bad.
Varya smirked.
— Cute, is that why you made a mistake?
— What mistake?
— You used the word 'preference'. You recommended reading special literature on contacts with civilizations of the seventeenth type, so I did read it. Allowing alternative thinking is not recommended, and the term 'preference' permits alternative thinking.
Roman felt a slight chill splash into his chest. Varya was right: using the term 'preference' should not have been done.
— This term is not on the banned list, — he said, searching for justification while feeling a bit ashamed. — In any case, it’s not critical. Thank you for the hint, number two.
— You're welcome, number one.
Wanting to smooth over the blunder, Roman tried to hug the girl. But the stubborn Varya stepped back.
— No, not now!
— Why? — he asked with a purely male grievance.
— The transport capsule will attach soon.
And once again, Varya was right. She always turned out to be right in situations of ambiguous choice—that was an ingrained trait of her nature.
— Yes, exactly. They acted promptly for the bureaucrats from the Ministry of Space.
— By the way, what is our new contact person’s name?
— Yuri.
— I read that in the event of contact, operational command on the spacecraft passes to the contact person.
At least there was something she didn’t know! But she read it nonetheless.
— Correct, — Roman nodded. — The contact person knows better what is allowed and what is not during contact with unstudied civilizations. Alien psychology is a delicate matter, easily torn. However, the transfer of operational command pertains only to controlling the crew's behavior and direct contact. Management of the spacecraft remains with the pilot.
— Are you upset?
— Upset about what? — Roman was surprised.
— That you'll lose your dictatorial powers?
— This is temporary, and I will only partially lose my powers.
They remained silent, touching each other with their fingers.
— Shall we go out to meet them?
— To hell with it, — Roman suddenly got angry for some reason. — I hope they don’t get lost. All the 'Humanisms' are built according to a standard design.
— What shall we do while we wait? Finish our game?
The pilot allowed himself a condescending smile.
— Do you hope to corner me in the endgame?
— I play just as well as you do.
— Then make your move.
Roman focused, and an unfinished position emerged in his memory. He and Varya often played three-dimensional chess. He felt confident here, teasing his friend lightly. She pretended to be angry in response; in the end, everything would end with the usual caresses.
Now, recalling the remaining position from memory, Varya closed her eyes and tilted her chin upwards.
— Rook h9-a9-yota-12, — she made her next move after a moment.
— Pawn a8-a9-epsilon-4.
— Bishop b5-c6-sigma-1.
It was not easy to corner Roman in the endgame; after all, he was the pilot of the spacecraft.
7.
The contact person turned out to be an energetic and pleasant-looking man: tall and youthful for his age. He entered the 'Humanism' conference room with a confident step, carrying a travel bag.
— Hello, Roman. Hello, Varvara. I see you’re enjoying some three-dimensional chess?! That's commendable.
He probably heard it on entry. Why didn’t they meet him, didn’t ask — it means formalities weren't a priority for him.
— Nice to meet you.
Varya nodded. Roman shook hands and reported:
— Hello, Yuri. I’m handing over operational command of the starship "Humanism" to you.
— I accept operational command.
— How was your trip?
— Thank you, Roman, I arrived safely. Unexpected appointment. They informed me at the crack of dawn – had to pack in a hurry.
— The contact’s graduate got sent to the hospital three hours before launch. We left with a shortage…
— And, as luck would have it, we discovered a seventeenth-type civilization.
— No one expected it, — Roman muttered, as if he were to blame. — Finding an unknown civilization in this star sector is quite incredible.
Yuri settled into the chair, testing the wheels. The wheels were in order.
— I sincerely congratulate you. I was informed about an unforeseen discovery, and I couldn’t turn it down. Nevertheless, I’m glad to meet you. You can call it a premonition, but we will get along. A splendid place, your "Humanism". And the seventeenth-type civilization is splendid – I haven’t worked with such before.
Roman and Varya exchanged glances.
— You’ve never worked with seventeenth-type civilizations?
— You ask if I have worked with seventeenth-type civilizations, Roman. The very phrasing of your question implies doubt that a person without experience working with such civilizations can manage to work with them. However, I have clearance to work with all extraterrestrial civilizations up to and including the thirty-first level. Do you, Roman, have clearance to work with thirty-first level civilizations?
— No.
— At the same time, — the newcomer continued assertively, — I worked with civilizations of the tenth and twenty-eighth types. Do you think that's much easier than working with a seventeenth-type civilization?
— I don’t think so.
— I hope I answered your question. Now let's move on to our joint official duties. What time is the contact scheduled for?
— I apologize, but the contact has already occurred.
Yuri’s face slightly elongated and darkened.
— In what sense did the contact take place? – he said firmly and decisively. — I gathered myself and launched in the transport capsule just a few minutes after the message. And the contact happened?
Roman confirmed.
— When?
— Ten hours ago.
— Who ordered the contact to be made?
— I, as the commander of the spaceship.
— Why didn't you wait for a specialist with clearance?
It was beginning to feel like an interrogation in the boss's office – though, it seems, that’s exactly what it was.
— Yuri, I suspect you were searched for too long, — Varja interjected.
Roman reported loudly, as in training:
— According to the Extraterrestrial Contact Instructions, clause 238, upon detection of a civilization of the seventeenth type, euthanasia must be initiated as quickly as possible. If euthanasia is not initiated within twenty-four hours from the moment of detection, one must immediately leave the contact site and not return. Twenty-four hours have now passed. I couldn't allow the recently surveyed star sector to become unvisitable.
— Commendable. However, you don’t have clearance!
— Clause 238 prevails over clause 411, which establishes the rules for actions in outer space. No problems were recorded during the contact; everything went smoothly. As a result of my actions, the star sector is open for visits.
Yuri couldn't find a response. A slight darkness crossed his face, but his jaw moved back into his skull.
— Varvara, the success of contact does not negate work discipline… Fine, Roman. Just not 'open for visits', but 'will soon be open for visits'. And in other respects – to the point… However, I ask you to act strictly according to my directives from now on.
— Of course.
Well, no one will violate subordination; there’s no need for that.
— When is the next meeting scheduled?
— Tomorrow at eleven.
Here, Yuri noticed a portrait turned to its back.
— What is that?
— Varja's portrait, — Roman explained. – But the Sirlians asked us to remove it. They are annoyed by the celestial background.
— Good. The portrait of the crew member is commendable. The main thing is to remember the responsibility placed upon us. The opening of a new civilization is a powerful factor influencing galactic politics. I hope you understand this. If you don't, refresh your memory about the history of Irakli Abazadze...
Yuri pointed to the portrait of Abazadze – the only surviving photograph of him. The famous young man was photographed against the backdrop of a log wall and was holding a shovel.
— The merits of Irakli Abazadze are well-known.
— It doesn’t matter. Rewatch the video from the 'Videopedia.' It’s useful to remember what happens during improper interactions with type seventeen civilizations.
Varya intervened:
— Yuri, but repeating that situation is impossible.
But before her stood the wise, patient, and all-knowing commander.
— Understand this, Roman. Understand this, Varvara. From the moment I took operational command of 'Humanism,' you have no right to make mistakes. Competence, iron discipline, and a common goal – after all, we are dealing with alien intelligence. So, tomorrow at eleven. Right now, I need to go to my cabin to rest; the flight was not easy. Roman and Varvara, we are one team with a common goal – euthanasia.
Grabbing his travel bag, the newcomer set out to find an available cabin.
8.
— Please, have a seat. This is Yuri; he will participate in the discussion instead of Varya, — introduced the contactee Roman.
At the last moment, Yuri freed Varya from participating in the interview, so there were two Earthlings.
— Yes, — agreed the Sirlyan.
Rila immediately placed her palm on his head.
— This is Gril, and this is his female, Rila.
— Yes.
Rila placed her second palm on her partner's head.
— Now we will watch a new video – about how life on your planet began. Then, if there are questions, Yuri will answer them.
Roman pressed the projector's button, but to his surprise, he heard:
— No need. I will personally tell our Sirlyan friends how life began on Sirle.
A familiar chill crept into his chest.
— What?
— The screen won't be necessary.
— Alright, Yuri… If you think it's necessary… — muttered Roman, not understanding why the contactee felt the need to change the standard scenario.
— Siral came into being long ago, from gravitational clumps, — Yuri began. — The gravitational clumps attracted each other and formed your planet.
— Did you see that? – Grill asked quickly.
— No, the Earthlings came to Siral later.
— How do you know this?
Roman mechanically noted: during the first interview, the Siralian didn't allow himself to ask twice. A negative trend.
— We drew conclusions by analogy. We are the oldest civilization, visiting the most remote corners of the universe. We can observe similar metamorphoses based on many planets, so the origin of Siral is beyond doubt.
By the way, the term 'doubt' was on the list of prohibited terms when contacting type seventeen civilizations. The pilot involuntarily scrutinized Grill's features, but noticed no visible changes. The Siralian, with his back straight as a stick, remained in his seat. His facial features remained unchanged.
— Are doubts even possible? — Grill asked evenly.
It seemed Yuri realized he had misspoken, as he delivered a rather clumsy but effective phrase:
— Our civilization is powerful, so our logical conclusions are indisputable and always confirmed by practice.
— Yes.
Rila's two hands rested on the top of Grill's head: there was nothing more to place there.
‘Will she let go?’ — a thought flashed.
No, she did not let go. The girl switched her hands, satisfied with that.
— Where was I? So, when the gravitational clumps attracted each other…
— Why?
— What do you mean by why?
— Why did they attract each other?
— Why are you asking about this?
Roman realized with horror that the interview was heading in a different direction than planned by Lebedinsky's methodology. The dangerous chill in his chest had not disappeared, but seemed to have settled there forever.
— I want to know the answer, — the Siralian insisted.
— In that case, I will answer. The gravitational clumps attracted each other due to a powerful flare on your star. The prominence melted the edges of the gravitational clumps, causing them to merge.
A ringing girl's laugh rang out.
— Why are you laughing? – Yuri blurted. — Am I saying something funny?
— Rila is playful; she often laughs, — Roman explained.
— She will stop now, — Grill said sternly.
The laughter ceased as if it had been cut off.
The blush had not faded from Yuri's cheeks when he continued:
— During that historical period, Sirle was a coalesced gravitational blob, floating in space. It would have remained that way if chemical compounds had not begun to condense on its surface. The chemical compounds bonded and broke apart, forming organisms that were initially elemental.
— Why elemental?
Curiosity finally awakened in the sirleans. As long as it didn't get out of control, as long as it didn't!
— Great question, Gril, right on target! These organisms were considered elemental because they each had one distinguishing property. However, they could exist in symbiosis with other elemental organisms, which was mutually beneficial. For instance, there was an elemental organism that had the function of reducing size: conditionally, it was a muscular organism. On the other hand, there was an organism with protective properties: an epithelial organism. The first organism was muscles. The second organism was skin. After some unsuccessful attempts, the skin enveloped the muscles, and this structure turned out to be viable. The skin protected the muscles from the external environment, and the muscles allowed the skin to contract, making it possible to move through space.
Rila laughed – even louder than last time.
— Females, — Gril explained in justification. — Unstable biological entities.
The laughter stopped.
— It's nothing serious, I continue. So, complex biological organisms emerged. And this is no joke.
Hearing the word 'joke,' Roman flinched, opened his mouth, but with an effort of will forced himself to close it.
— A joke? – Gril said, as if perplexed.
— Maybe we should wrap it up for today, Yuri? I think the guests are tired.
Roman said this in the most even and friendly tone he could manage. But Yuri didn't understand, remaining active and verbose.
— Gril, are you tired? – he addressed the sirlean.
— No.
Finally, the sirlyanin said 'no.' Despite the danger of the situation, Roman watched curiously as Rila removed one of her palms from Grila's head. So, these are the customs of Sirlya. If it's 'yes,' a palm is placed; if 'no,' it's taken away.
— And you, Rila?
— No.
She laughed but quickly fell silent.
— You see, Roman, your assumption is incorrect, — the contactor summarized, — Let me finish the overview I started, especially since we are so close to concluding. Thus, the evolution of biological beings on Sirlya has reached a new level. Many elementary organisms responsible for sight, touch, smell, digestion, and excretion merged into unified complex organisms, becoming parts of them.
— We are born whole! — Gril protested.
— Of course! Shortly after, chemical compounds appeared on Sirlya containing the complete composition of complex organisms. Organisms began to reproduce by gradually increasing biological mass according to patterns they had. Just believe me.
— Is it possible not to believe someone?
Roman sat, turning his face to the porthole. He was shaking with outrage and helplessness.
9.
He watched through the porthole as the lifeboat with the sirlyans detached from the 'Humanism' and gained speed. Soon, the lifeboat shrank and completely vanished in the yellowish sirlyan atmosphere.
— Yuri, why did you deviate from the typical scenario?
— Why do you ask?
This person had a silly manner of answering a question with a question, redirecting it back to the interlocutor.
— Why don't you just answer the question?! — Roman couldn't hold back. — Because this topic concerns me, damn it!
— Do you want to talk informally?
Yuri looked confident—perhaps overly so.
— As you wish.
— Excellent, let's talk informally. To start, I did not deviate from what you call the typical scenario. There is no typical scenario; there is Lebedinsky's methodology. I suspect that's what you mistakenly consider typical. However, I used the latest methodology—Shvartsman's—which also complies with the Instruction on extraterrestrial contacts. I hope my answer satisfies you?
— Not completely, — Roman stammered.
— What exactly did not satisfy you?
— I am not familiar with the Schwartman method...
— I thought as much.
I just needed you to pat me on the shoulder.
— ...At the same time, I am acquainted with Type Seventeen civilizations, — Roman continued. — This is my third contact with such civilizations, so I know a bit about how to communicate with them. Well, I understand the general principles. From what I can tell, you made several mistakes during the conversation. These are serious mistakes that cannot be justified by referring to any methods, whether Lebedinsky's, Schwartman's, or anyone else's.
— Right, right... – Yuri nodded throughout the monologue, just like a metronome.
— You hinted to the Sirlyans about alternative thinking several times. It is absolutely not recommended to do this when talking to Type Seventeen civilizations. Even hints are unacceptable.
— You are mistaken, Roman. During the conversation, I did not hint at alternative thinking.
— You used terms like 'faith', 'joke', 'doubt'.
— These phrases do not hint at alternative thinking.
— They hint quite a bit. If there is 'you can believe us', then there exists 'you don't have to believe us'. That is alternative thinking – an assumption of deliberate deceit. Many of these terms are prohibited in communication with Type Seventeen civilizations.
— Why should Sirlyans accept the second option and not the first? — Yuri unexpectedly asked.
— Because they have a choice.
— Do you notice any signs that our friends, the Sirlyans, accepted the second option?
Roman was aware that Yuri was using sophistic techniques, but he could not shift the course of the conversation.
— You talk about it so easily... Well... No, I don’t notice anything like that, — he was forced to admit.
— I don't notice it either. Therefore, the Sirlyans have settled on the first option. I acted correctly.
— But you repeated such phrases, in various formulations, several times! We should have filmed a training video!
— Are you saying that I know nothing about my profession? — Yuri squinted.
— No, but…
— But you think so. Based on your meager amateur experience.
— I don’t think so, — Roman blurted out instinctively, though such thoughts had crossed his mind.
Let's figure out why you initiated this conversation. Is it not because you lost your command authority with my arrival?
You only have operational authority, Yuri. You can't pilot the starship and you will never learn. Your temporary command status is a formality required by the space charter.
You've just answered the question about the reason for the conversation, the contact person summarized. Your excess emotionality gave you away. You're worried that during the euthanasia procedure, operational control has transferred to me. You would have preferred to handle it yourself, even though you don't possess the required clearance.
But you've never worked with civilizations of the seventeenth type!
Yet I've worked with many others. It's fine, Roman — you have no reason to worry at all. I am in control of the situation; soon all the procedures will be completed, after which I will leave the 'Humanism' and go home to Venus.
He calmed Roman down like a small child.
Yuri, you don't joke around with civilizations of the seventeenth type! Roman said as detached as possible. You mentioned Abazadze yourself. It also started small.
By the way, have you reviewed the video about Abazadze's feat?
— No.
Take another look. And familiarize yourself with Schwartzman's methodology; we need to work according to this methodology. And this, unlike the previous one, is an official requirement. Now excuse me, I need to prepare a report on the second interview.
Yuri left. Roman leaned against the cold glass of the porthole in solitude. Before him hung the yellow Sirle — a planet inhabited by a civilization of the seventeenth type.
Source: habr.com
