“Search Group 739 confirming orbit perimeters. This one is a big one, iron core with a bit of nickel mixed in. You are going to love it when it gets there.”
“Running orbit for planetary strike.” Merit pushed the numbers through the computer. “Sending adjustments now.” After clicking a few keys, they leaned back against their shell, pulling in three of their limbs. It had been a long shift. “And thanks for the find. We might make this cycle’s mineral goals.”
“First time this phase.” Highergoal responded via the graviton-wave communication unit, a noticeable four-second lag impacting the com-traffic even when by-passing the speed of light using gravity waves. The distance from inner system to the Oort cloud was no joke, leaving the three-tortoise Search Group teams alone for multi-year intervals. Which made them very chatty when they had an official reason to call in using the expensive graviton-wave. Part of Merit’s job was to provide the chat but keep it limited. “Is Sector sure we can’t import from a neighbor? This system sucks eggs for heavy elements.”
“It will be too obvious when the Potentials hit stellar-flight. We wouldn’t want to unwrap their gifts too early.”
“Wouldn’t want that.” They responded sarcastically. “Aw, crack. Three orbits before it strikes the planet? That’s nearly two hundred and fifty years.”
“The gas giant is a problem, though it should make the Potentials feel at home in the system. Don’t worry, your gift will have plenty of time to mix in with the molten core.” Merit tapped the computer with their fourth manipulative limb. “The Planners think the planet won’t start cooling from the hits for about four thousand years.”
“Four thousand years. That is a long time to be alone.” HG sighed.
“Someone had to emerge first.” Two Search Groups within her arc of the cloud sent in shift change by clicks. Merit stored the information for the Planners to use for optimizing later.
“At least seventy thousand more years, best guess, for the next emergent Potential and nearly half a million for the Potential we are trying to help and just how much help will a planet over ten light years from their own going to give?”
“The council said six per Potential, an extra handful of chances to get them started on their interstellar settlements. It just so happens our Potential is toward the end of a galaxy arm, and believe it or not, this is the closest solitary star close to theirs without flares with a planet we can adjust to their gravity and chemistry.”
“Ten light years is the closest? Crack, there is no way they are going to make the jump.”
“All we can do is harden a Shell for them, we cannot make them crawl in when they grow too big for their home planet.”
“If we are still around.”
Merit pushed out all six of their limbs as their relief arrived, favorite morning stimulant in a claw-paw and today’s flimsy notices in a hoof-paw. “If we are still around,” they agreed with Highergoal while transferring systems to Courage’s favorite station. “We’ve made it nearly fifty thousand years among the stars. We have been in space nearly as long as we long as we had civilization on Soil. We will make it. We are never alone so long as there is a future.”
“There will a future so long as we prepare it.” Highergoal finished the mantra and prayer of their species.
(words 577; first published 3/10/2026)
Laying Easter Eggs Series