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Isabella Durand
UH 202-01
Project 3 I Am Scientist 00356
7 April 2014
Words

Solar Date 90, Solar Year 25030-

I am Scientist 00356. This journal is dedicated to the recording of the progression of
Project 0935604, colloquially known as Project Uplift within the circle of scientists performing
it, a group of which I am a part of. On Solar Date 904, Solar Year 25030-Y, Scouting Fleet 230
discovered sentient life in Planetary System 325-, a planet orbiting around a class-4 star slightly
younger than the ones of our home system. Named Planet A, it is varied in ecology and
topography, and the species has proliferated itself throughout the planet, with little
developmental differences between each group. Further investigation conducted through probe
and probe rescue protocol revealed that said life is sentient, but in its primitive stage, capable of
making tools and organizing into tribal societies, though outliers exist in several regions on the
planet. While the discovery is not inherently unique, how it is being handled by the Cluster
Development Council is Project Uplift is the first attempt at influencing and intervening in the
development of a discovered sentient species, said development to accelerate by 203.089% as
compared to species found in similar planetary systems and states of development without
intervention by a culturally and technologically superior spacefaring species, such as we are.
My colleagues are tasked with plotting the scope and timeline of our interventions, which
presently include and are not limited to: development of complex tools and means of protection

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(and, with the express rule to not intervene in any way on our side, war); development and
potential deconstruction of roles assigned in developing societies; and pushes in certain industrial
or technological directions that are not so strong so as to take the integrity of the project into
question. There has been no further investigation with regard to the species anatomy and
predicted development, and it is projected to be undertaken on Solar Date 93. From there, Project
Uplift will be underway.
Solar Date 300, Solar Year 25030-
Development of the species has gone slowly, but surely. Studies of their anatomy have
shown that they have been bipedal for at least 3 million of their solar years, but are weak to
environmental factors and have otherwise shorter lifespans, no more than 20% of ours. Their
instincts to reproduce take higher priority than other species observed in other planetary systems,
most likely due to their physical vulnerabilities initially leaving their species constantly at threat
of extinction, though at this stage in their development this is less imperative, however primitive
they are at present. They cannot yet be defined as the apex predators of the planet, as many
carnivorous non-sentient life forms are capable of felling small groups of the species, though
tools discovered in several regions have given some members of the species dominance and
greater chances of survival.
No influence or intervention has been planned for some time, with our efforts instead
focused upon deeper analyses of the species as well as the most and least ideal environments and
social structures for their development, in order to place priority points for further study and
comparison upon the planet.
In proceeding entries, the species studied for Project Uplift will be referred to as Species
A, after the planet they were discovered on.

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Solar Date 653, Solar Year 25030-
On Solar Date 648, Head Scientist 00223 ordered a team of scouts and scientists to make
contact with members of Species A for initial uplifts in agriculture and more complex tools and
systems. Despite the initial fear shown due to our great differences in physical characteristics,
intelligence, and general superiority in development, they have come to worship the group as
some form of deities, a great indicator to their present lack of intelligence and willingness to
accept anything foreign as otherworldly. The team is expected to return on our Solar Date 654,
but the first intervention plotted for Project Uplift has been determined a positive indicator for
the future development of Species A as well as that of the project.
Culturally, Species A is diversifying steadily in regional pockets a symptom of prespacefaring sentience that has no worries about uniting as a planet for the sake of their
representation in the galaxy. There are murmurs that the next stage in the project will be to uplift
cultures in specific regions, though with the projected advent of conflict between the solidifying
cultures coming soon, technological uplift in studying their self-defense and propensity for war
may come instead.
Solar Date 104, Solar Year 25030-X
Another observable extinction of a culture occurred on Solar Date 102. While it is always
an unfortunate occurrence that a member of Species A dies out due to war, the circumstances of
this event are especially unfortunate they were not at the level of technological development to
successfully preserve their culture for historical posterity, and for others in Species A to observe
and emulate in the future. A vote was taken to intervene to allow the cultures preservation
through our technology, but it was overturned, in all probability because our superiors efforts
were focused upon the warring groups of more advanced civilizations of Species A in other

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sectors, and the preservation was deemed irrelevant to the project and a waste of resources.
Which, while understandable, is nonetheless sad they had a plethora of philosophers whose
ideas will be lost to Species A forever.
Solar Date 500, Solar Year 25030-X
I am Scientist 00356. My predecessor died on Solar Date 289, due to heart failure. Their
father died under similar circumstances, indicating a weakness in genetics they will not be
missed by the Council and our superiors in Project Uplift.
In terms of the development of Species A, many sectors have reached industrial stages
and have shown great talent for war through the technologies we have granted them. Many
civilizations have shown their intelligence through their business, their military strategy, and
their great works of art. Given time, they will most likely reach spacefaring capability, as their
intelligence is now at a level where their technological advancement is more or less selfsufficient, though at present nobody would be willing to publicly admit it.
What is especially troubling is their capacity for war and self-destruction. In sectors in
lesser stages of technological development, social stratification is less clear and roles relating to
the spheres of individual relationships are significantly more flexible as compared to sectors with
rapid technological development. Said sectors thrive off of the oppression of others and political
games of corruption and greed, which is ostensibly the fair tradeoff for the development of
Species A over time. However, with the right push or intervention on our part, perhaps they may
be able to balance out this species-wide inequality and individualistic lust for power without
impugning the integrity of Project Uplift; the projects guise as an experiment has been flimsy at
best since its inception, and we could do some amazing things with the technological superiority
we have at present.

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Solar Date 689, Solar Year 25030-
Species A has a greater talent for war than I initially hypothesized. While no civilization
has reached a nuclear age as of yet, the political and military games they play can produce results
nothing short of catastrophic. The last intervention was on Solar Date 540, and rather than
support members of Species A suffering from sector-wide poverty, slavery, or harsh oppression,
more indirect advancements (in medicine and in weapons of war) were granted towards
civilizations at the forefront of development, and rather than use those advancements to help
their people, they instead seek to gain supremacy over their fellow men, something seen as
disturbing both by many of Species A as well as some of my colleagues. While they are still not
at our level, Species A is at a level of intelligence most probably not predicted at Project Uplifts
inception, and they are not creatures to be underestimated despite our superiors continuing
justifications for doing so. Species A has shown its capabilities throughout its development and
it has been predicted that the initial hypothesis will be reached, and then some, within the next
solar century and while I am unable to profess my opinion as a scientist at the 003 tier with the
necessary credibility to be heard, it does not mean that it is not valid. For now, the scope of my
work as permitted by my title has been limited to recording the reports of my colleagues
observations as well as what observations I am allowed to make on my own. But I have my
doubts as to the supposed inferiority of Species A at present.
Solar Date 900, Solar Year 25031-A
I saw someone die today.
I was supposed to be observing their agricultural development from the laboratory, but
my view of their civilization followed the unstoppable wave of soldiers that marched upon the
crops. A female of their species, barely a third through her lifespan, attempted to protect their

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mother from a soldier in their doorway, raiding their home as his army invaded their community.
Their invasion was meant to be their declaration of war against a weaker nation, a nation that
would not stand a chance. And neither did the females, who were both shot with the weapons we
developed for the species, by a man who acted with his own self-interest and the justification that
his actions would lead to his nations greater success and glory.
Solar Date 901, Solar Year 25031-A
If we can take responsibility for the successes of this species, in their technology and
their empathy and their art, how can we not take responsibility for the great corruption we have
allowed to fester in their hearts, and not intervene when the cost is the lives of so many living,
thinking beings just like us? They are as capable and adaptable as we are, as intelligent, even if
that was difficult to observe in their early stages. For us to ignore their plight for the sake of
scientific integrity and to preserve the belief that we will always be superior to Species A from
every angle is as ignorant and cruel as we posit the individuals of Species A to be we are no
different from them.
I will be punished after this entry. I was not the first to give into emotional impulses that
potentially impact the integrity of Project Uplift, and I will most likely not be the last. What a
great sacrifice for the sake of our technological superiority.
Solar Date 902, Solar Year 25031-A
I am Scientist 00356. After my superiors discovery of the previous Scientist 00356s
transgression, as well as their damage to this journal documenting the progress due to their
emotional outburst, they were interrogated and swiftly terminated thereafter. The entries they
submitted will remain until the Records Subcommittee of the Cluster Development Council
reviews the journal in its entirety and performs their own redactions for historical integrity.

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At present, the development of Species A has accelerated in growth by 207%,
significantly more than first hypothesized at the outset of Project 0935604. There are presently 9
billion members of Species A living, with 19 of 168 Significant Civilizations at the brink of their
nuclear stage, the majority of which are concentrated in specific sectors. 67 Significant
Civilizations are 1 stage behind in development, 30 are 2 stages behind, and the remaining 52 are
3 or more stages behind, and are not predicted to reach the nuclear stage for another five of their
solar decades, if they can prevent their extinction in that time. There have been no explicit
interventions with the development of Species A under Project 0935604 since Solar Date 800,
and with the observed success of the project overall, it is improbable that any will happen again
in our next solar year.
Solar Date 015, Solar Year 25031-B
Some of my superiors have been calling for a vote for intervention in the case of nuclear
war between the Significant Civilizations, as it would bring end the project earlier than projected.
However, with our hypothesis supported even at this stage, and the predicted inevitability of
nuclear warfare breaking out within Species As next solar century, it is unlikely a vote in favor
of intervention will occur.
If they had any integrity, any intelligence as strong as ours or other spacefaring species,
they would not try to meet their own ends through the self-destruction of their species. It is
Species As steadfast adherence to their primitive instincts that will lead them to their ruin.