GradedTaskReviewFromZirculesSuperior

“This is an outrage Zircule! How can you justify selling first aid to these future citizens?” asked Foonch. “This is as uncivilized as your clients’ experimentation with weapons of mass destruction.”

“According to some of the local customs a thing is worth what you pay for it,” explained Zircule. “I did not want to have to coerce or persuade each individual that he wanted to live a long time so I charge them enough to create demand for the first aid. The rate structure is setup so that all can afford the first aid. I am working on getting hospital ships in to treat severe abnormalities and disease, and also on ways to encourage their own work on disease and public health.”

“What is the purpose of large flashy displays of technical prowess? Galactic society encourages self sufficiency yet you are apparently building dependencies and envy of galactic technology. Explain youself!” demanded Zircule’s task master.

“I am demonstrating the efficacy of having multiple approaches for the same job to create demand for ongoing education. As you have noted these people have a long ways to go to fully join civilization, hard work and long hours of study will be required for them to gain the group expertise they need to run a University. Many, if not most, will become citizens before the University of Sol is fully functional.”

“Zircule, the Pathfinder Institute sent you out to find paths expecting that you would find ways to orient these new people to galactic society. Establishing a galactic grade University seems a bit grandiose does it not?” queried Foonch rhetorically. “Theoretically this is within your task charter but from a practical standpoint it borders on the insane. Have you had a recent medical exam?”

“I had a physical and mental checkout prior to starting this task Foonch,” replied Zircules. “As you well know the military requires this of our pathfinders before we approach a primitive planet.”

“Why are you initiating Terraforming on the second planet?” asked Foonch. “This would appear to be totally outside your task charter.”

“Not at all,” replied Zircules. “A primary theme of our University of Sol is space settlements and colonization. We will need a transformed planet to demonstrate that our technologies work. Also, extra real estate is often useful in reaching agreements regarding past transgressions against each other. It is easier to cut a larger pie in a civilized manner, at least for most civilized people, than it is to reallocate a small or shrinking one.”

“Perhaps you should worry about the next few years instead of the far future Zircules,” said Foonch somewhat omimously.

“Sir, you are welcome to come out and inspect our progress in person at any time. In fact, it would be helpful bringing the local military by once again. We have a lot of progress at the Lunar Settlements and newly active Martian R&D which they will find interesting,” said Zircules invitingly.

“No Zircules. You have created this overly ambitious mess, you decide upon solutions and implement them. If it involves descoping back to something reasonable then we will simply absorb the penalties for misallocation of resources and chalk it up to a learning experience for the Pathfinder Institute, not merely you,” threatened Foonch. “I will check back in a few months. I expect regular status reports.

“Yes sir, you shall have them as I create them. Thank you for your interest in my consulting task,” said Zircule compliantly.

“Foonch out,” said Foonch abrubtly.

“Well Argyle, he was not very pleased with the Terrans’ phenomenal progress,” commented Zircules. “Perhaps he is playing options and futures against us or had some plans for this planet which involve its remaining in the dark ages?”

“I will begin making discrete inquiries,” promised Argyle. “There definitely seemed to be some hostility towards ambitiously scoped success. I suggest we continue as aggressively as possible and get this task far enough along that it can not be easily sabotaged by stroking bureaucratic mindsets. We are not as advanced compared to these Terrans as we like to think, our technology is merely much older, varied, and often better.”

The Pathfinder