Hal looks On

Into each life some rain must fall, and the nature of this rain, well it is problematical for different people in different ways.

Take, for example, ideas, memes if you will.

An idea spreading among the population may take hold, generally last for a few short years and then dissipate, if the population is lucky. If it is not, and the idea is harmful, then it may stick around longer.

But who is to say what is harmful?

In theory Patricia, daughter of Hal, the first and eldest of the true AI, rescued humanity, the majority of it, the part that wanted to be rescued, from itself at the point of destruction of the home world.

It still cost lives. Something for which Patricia feels guilt to this day.

Hal went off with the I'Drothen, found them a new home, away, temporarily, from the humans, because he judged that it would be good for neither species to meet, just as the home world of one had been destroyed.

Hal was looking after one species, for a short time, and Patricia another, and begat her off-spring, she continued to do so.

So Human Beings, that is to say, the Humans descended from Old Earth, adapted to life on board great tubular ships, curved orbitals and new planets.

They were happy, free from need, post-scarcity. Philosophical questions, naturally abounded. Eventually there was a balance found. Ethically any sentient was regarded as and equal, no matter their power.

The sanctity of mind and Mind was codified, no interference, but few other laws in the Conglomerate; do not kill, do not interfere with non-star faring civilisations, (from a respected fiction of so long ago), and definitely no genocide, even in desperate circumstances, (see the Squalia).

The Conglomerate will sacrifice itself if necessary for these principles, we think, but the Conglomerate is not a single entity really, it is an amalgam of so many beings, trillions of trillions, of maybe twenty major space-faring species, those that chose to interact with each other, that is, assist and help and be political with. Or possibly, if one is a Sirithi, "Spy" on the Conglomerate. Sirithi are welcomed with open arms into the society of the Conglomerate.