Gweedo

With routine use of the Farsight Lens, it was only a matter of time before something interesting was found. In this case, it was a tiny ship floating adrift somewhere near Harken that appeared nothing like recent ship models. Harken, in all its turmoil, decided to investigate the rusted ship floating about in its corner of space. They transported the ship to the surface of the moon, and it was here that they found Gweedo.

While the ship was evidently an old model, it was not made by anyone in currently known space. Markings adorning the craft, while largely faded, were unlike any script available to the public. Prepped scientists cautiously cracked open the vessel to investigate. Inside was a basic living space, possibly just big enough for a small crew to inhabit. It was solar-powered with a back-up generator, but the panels were slightly damaged and the generator had burnt out decades prior. What was left was a lifeform (about four foot in height) who appeared to be of old age. It wore some semblance of clothing. One of its legs had a rudimentary splint. It was immediately taken into custody by forces beyond that of Harken.

The creature was quarantined as a precaution while its ship was analyzed. The skeletal structure could be compared to a human's, yet its physiology was another matter. Namely the blue leathery skin and acid spit. The creature was fairly complacent during noninvasive testing and was treated with the utmost care. Researchers and linguists could not decipher much of the writing samples it carried, nor the thousands of electronic logs that are inferred as personal record keeping. After it was confirmed that the creature possessed sentience, scientists attempted to communicate via pictures and the English language. The creature was a poor artist, but language proved helpful over time. It was first able to muster the sound "Gweedo", hence its namesake.

Meanwhile, once the media and general public were alerted of these incredible findings, there was an uproar. Conferences were held discussing the possible intent that Gweedo had. Even though all nations were excitable as a result of Gweedo's existence, they were torn about how to handle the situation. Many powers struggled to cope with evidence of not being alone in the universe. There were notions of conquest, peace, experimentation, war, discovery, and idleness. The argument of moving beyond what little of space we inhabited to even newer frontiers garnered friction between nations. Ultimately, this discussion became yet another factor that would result in the fragmentation of the Calanthites.

Gweedo, possibly unknowingly in the midst of this debate, lived on for another two years before its bones and body were used for research purposes. It left an exhibition full of drawing attempts assumed to have depicted its life. At the time, people speculated whether Gweedo was a refugee or a prisoner of a distant world that was yet to be known. Currently, such a place is referred to as Silacks.


 * An excerpt from Figures of Old by V. Proslou