“Only in silence the word,
Only in dark the light,
Only in dying life:
Bright the hawk’s flight
On the empty sky.”
Ursula K. Le Guin

4,000 years ago.
An alien probe examines the Earth and determines there are two ‘species of interest’ on the planet.
‘Interesting’ in the sense that both had already discovered ‘exploitation’.
Ants farming aphids and humans farming sheep.

4.0 seconds ago.
The same alien probe checks back and determines that both ants and humans continue their respective farming activities. The only difference between now and then being the scale of the respective operations.
And the consequences to the environment…

The probe is a robot. Which robot has no feelings. Doesn’t care. Does what it has been instructed to do and that’s it.
The data is being transmitted to those who had commissioned the robot.

‘The ants are practically the same. Individuals transported through time would fit perfectly in either situation.
The humans have evolved in a certain manner. They live longer – on average. They have thoroughly transformed much of their environment. But they have maintained the ability to survive in either situation. To thrive, even, if the individuals are transported through time very soon after birth – and if they are well taken care off at the receiving end of the journey’.

The received data is deemed ‘baffling’ by the agents whose job is to make sense of it. To analyze it.
To determine whether each planet checked by the probe was inhabited by a potentially autonomous species. In which case the planet was deemed ‘off limits’.
Or not, hence open for colonization.

The procedure to determine the outcome is simple.
Is there at least a species which evolves faster than the rest? Is there at least a species concerned with the well being of the environment it depends upon?
If only the first condition is met, the planet is scheduled to be checked again later.
If both conditions are met, the planet is considered off limits.
If none are met, the planet is considered ‘open for business’.

The present situation is unprecedented.
During their entire recorded history, this is the first time the analyzing agents have come across such an occurrence. An intelligent species who has achieved so much yet still remain driven by desire. By emotion.

A species perfectly capable of thinking yet still prone to judging.
A species comprised of individuals who consider perfectly acceptable to rationalize their own wishes while entertaining a low opinion on others who do the very same thing. Find excuses for indulging.

This find generates an ontological storm among the analyzing agents.
Being the first time when they no longer have a complete grasp on what’s going on, this whole thing compels them to reconsider.

To reconsider everything.

Segue