E.A.R.T.H. truly was an ambitious project. An entire galaxy in a black hole; a black hole they had created. It was astounding what was capable of existing in so infinitesimally small a space. Truly, he barely understood it. He doubted that even those who had created it truly grasped what they had made, or how they had done it.

It was like a compression algorithm; something of a massive size reduced to a fraction of what it once was, or is. The scientists could safely study all the planets and lifeforms in it, but none dared actually try enter the black hole. It was not certain death, no - it was uncertain death, and the more they theorized what might occur if they tried to enter, the more they were convinced that it was simply not possible.

That did have its benefits , however - it was a window into the world they had created, yet with no entrance or exit. Whatever became of E.A.R.T.H., it would be confined to its own galaxy.

47-S-3 was certainly a curious development though. A peaceful war-race... how oxymoronic. It was certainly the first time they had encountered such a thing, not just in E.A.R.T.H. but the galaxy as a whole. It was always one or the other, yet neither was without its negatives.

The war-races do very well to conquer their own planet, but few manage to colonize other systems. They usually exterminate each other before that ever becomes a possibility. Nasty, short and brutish lives are the hallmark of war-races, and that is certainly a blessing for us. For we are peaceful.

Peaceful races such as ours fare much better, as mutual cooperation is a sure indicator of eventual interplanetary travel.

But of course... any war race that does make it out of their planet tend to quickly dominate all peaceful planets around them. The galaxy had learned this time and time again, and countless billions, if not trillions, of lives have been lost at the hand of the few space-faring warrior races. It was only with the cooperation of all peaceful civilizations together that the warrior races were finally defeated, although no doubt their own in-fighting did at least as much damage as we did.

The aftermath of that had led to the galactic treaty, in which any emerging species or planets that waged war were swiftly dealt with. We simply nipped them in the bud, so to speak.

With no notable war-races left, the treaty subsisted, and the galaxy had grown into a peaceful, harmonious place as a result. Species freely intermix, and science flourishes. Truly there has never been such long-lasting peace and prosperity in all our history.

A peaceful war-race... that would certainly be nipped in the bud, if it were not enclosed in our black hole. In the right circumstances, a species like that could unite to wage war on all other planets, and far more effectively than a war-race. Looking at what the species had already done to each other - if they were unleashed on the galaxy with sufficient technology, the results could be catastrophic.

However, with them safely contained in their own little pocket galaxy - they would watch 47-S-3 very closely indeed. E.A.R.T.H. was in for a rough time.

Fortunately for us, there was simply no way the species could exit the black hole.

Theoretically, of course.

All 12 intelligent lifeforms were improving their space-faring capabilities dramatically. The nine peaceful races had already sent members of their species to most of the planets in their solar systems, and a few were preparing to send convoys to the surrounding stars. Almost all of them were inclusionary in nature, meaning that when they eventually encountered each other they would likely band together - as we have done.

Predictably, the two war-races were using the technological improvements they had gained to massacre their own kind. Following the natural trends, 89-S-2 would likely kill each other off before any notable interplanetary colonization would occur, but 20-S-4 had shown alarming potential to leave their solar system before self-eradication occurs which is quite formidable. Already their spacecraft were poised for inter-system exploration, and they had capable weaponry, even for our standards. Perhaps we were focused on the wrong species all along.

47-S-3 remained a curious case. Their development lagged behind the other life forms, their bizarre mix of peacefulness and warring barring the way to progress. It should have been obvious to us, when you considered the data.

War-races were notorious for rapidly improving technology as a means for destruction, as the ruthless nature of their existence meant that technological improvement must be swift and merciless in order to survive. Peaceful races improve at rates relatively slower than war-races, as the competitive drive is entirely unnecessary - but once the planet successfully subdues all hostile fauna and flora and unites, they are free to flourish in interplanetary travel. Peaceful races may start slow, but they rapidly build momentum.

47-S-3's strange intermix of peace and war has led to the species dragging behind the others. They are strangely content to genocide their own kind with both startling regularity and irregularity. The species are unpredictable and fickle, and their massive conflicts seem to find their roots in the various races, religions and cultures within their species. Perhaps the incredibly diverse climate of the planet, which has led to relatively extreme variation in belief structures and values, is the root of their curious mix of peace and war? We can only surmise, as they are the first of their kind. They live in a constant state of conflict, that either bubbles below the surface or boils over dramatically in world-war-like fashion.

Perhaps all they need is something to unite them. A common goal for the species as a whole.

Unfortunately for them, and for us, it would seem they will never get their chance. Fortune has placed them a single solar system away from 20-S-4, who have military convoys in hyperspace travel as we speak. No doubt their paths will cross soon enough.

47-S-3 will be nipped in the bud, and perhaps the E.A.R.T.H. project as a whole will suffer a fate we only narrowly avoided.

Such is the nature of the progress.

20-S-4 attacked 47-S-3's home planet in a brutal, all-out assault. They took them completely unawares, and gave them no time to react. Their capital cities have been decimated, their military overrun. 20-S-4's attack was ferocious and merciless - exactly what was to be expected from a war-race. At least a fifth of 47-S-3's population have already been killed, and it seems that 20-S-4 do not intend to enslave the populace, but rather exterminate them.

What was possibly the most valuable species for us to observe will soon be extinct. Truthfully, if we could intervene we would... but E.A.R.T.H. will have to run its course. Science is not without its tragedies.

However, eight of the nine peaceful races have opened communications with one another, and many have already had physical contact. The final peaceful race, staunchly exclusionary, have decided to remain in their own solar system. They have begun the process of solar cloaking - diverting their sun's rays inwards to mask their presence. Our galaxy contains many races with such a disposition, so it was not irregular to assume that at least one race would go down that path.

Additionally, 89-S-2 lies in ruins. What is left of their species are fighting for the scraps of their fractured civilization. Barring intervention, they will be wiped out soon enough.

Interestingly enough, the peaceful races are not without their realpolitik. Further investigation has revealed that they knew of 20-S-4's existence, as well as their plans to attack 47-S-3. They did not deign to warn them however, nor send out aid of any kind. Instead they are making preparations to deal with 20-S-4 while the majority of their fleet lay siege on 47-S-3; to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. It would seem that we could learn some things from our 'peaceful' brethren - had we maneuvered this way before the war-races gained a foothold on our galaxy, who knows how many lives could have been saved.

While eight races against one has a definite outcome, there is no doubt that 20-S-4 will put up a fierce fight. Perhaps that will force the peaceful races to improve their technology at an even faster rate, which would of course only benefit us. With any luck, they'll... wait.

Wait.

47-S-3 have launched a resistance.

The species of 47-S-3, or 'humans' as we have come to know them, will not go down without a fight. While the 20-S-4 mercilessly slaughtered them, the humans launched a level of coordinated resistance that none of our algorithms could have possibly predicted. While their technology was hopelessly outmatched, it seems they are able to use what they have in a superior manner. They use advanced warfare stratagem almost spontaneously, and cooperate with each other as if they have the same mind.