The Great Crossing

This is an event that is mentioned, and kept in records, by the Critainians.  The Critainians have what is called hereditary memory.  They receive bits and pieces of memories from their ancestors’ past, and one of the most important pieces in the past of the Critainians is called The Great Crossing.

It is said that millions of years ago, the Critainian civilization was known by another name.  They were the Trihorn, and lived on a tiny blue planet on the other side of the galaxy.  They studied the arts, sciences and philosophy.  They began to understand the changing of the wind and the movement of the seasons.  Over thousands of years, they evolved in the lush, tropical home they lived in on that tiny blue planet.

They became incredibly intelligent, and began to predict when natural events would occur.  One such event that Trihorn scientists learned of was something that was coming from the stars.  They knew their own imminent destruction was at hand, so they came up with a plan.  They would search the stars for a new home.  Their cities became great ships, that would all launch when the time was right.  One of the largest of the Trihorn fleet, was called The Garden.  It’s purpose was simple.  This ship would grow all the food that the other one hundred ships would use to eat and survive.

On the day of the launch, several of the city ships were lost thanks to the oncoming meteors, but the larger majority of the ships survived and began their journey into space.  Each ship contained a complete manifest of all the ships that launched, holding the names of several tens of thousands from the ships that were lost.  Those names are still housed in the Great Records Hall on Critain.

One might think traveling for thousands of years on board the same vessels would make one grow edgy and irritable.  But after a few generations, the Trihorns grew accustom to their new home, and while they still held hope of finding a new place to plant their feet, they continued to live their lives as they always had.  Their sciences advanced, new aspects of philosophy grew, and new art forms.  One of the city ships became the great Trihorn Science Academy.  That very ship has since landed on Critain, and retains the name Trihorn as a reminder to all Critainians.

After thousands of years in space, they finally spotted a solar system with planets capable of sustaining life.  Many of the planets already had large populations.  Some of the trihorns wondered if they would meet any in space.  After all, other forms of life had to have developed some form of space flight.  They would soon find out.

As they neared a small, blue planet, the fleet of city ships was met by a small fleet of tall ships, complete with solar sails.  Over the course of the next few days, the commanders of each fleet tried to communicate.  But they had no common tongue, and all looked lost.  That is, until one communications officer noticed something in the transmissions.  He was able to decipher it with assistance from a friend of his.  What they were viewing were mathematical problems that when solved would translate into words.  They quickly learned that the beings they were trying to communicate with were called the Vulpine.  Their scanners had already determined that they were a race of beings much smaller in stature than the trihorns, and covered in fur.  As they translated the mathematical code, the commander of the lead vessel brought in mathematicians to send messages back.  They finally had a way to communicate.

Just in the nick of time, as well.

As the Vulpine Admiral was about to give up hope, her communications officer announced that the trihorns had sent a message back in mathematical code.  The codes became easier and easier, and eventually a face to face meeting was held.  It is recorded that at the historic first meeting, the commanders, with translators in tow, were given a tour of the Academy and of the Garden.  The Vulpine were given a full description of how they managed to survive for so long, and it had been the hope of their ancestors that they might find a new home.  At one point, it is recorded, the trihorn translator nudged the Vulpine translator and showed her his translator pad.  The Vulpine began to chuckle lightly.

“Ensign?  What is so funny?”

“My apologies, Admiral.  The trihorn translator just told me a joke.”

“Was it funny?”

“Um… yes ma’am.  Very funny indeed.”

“Well then.  It is only polite to offer a humourous analogy back, I would say.”

In that first historic meeting, three things were learned that solidified an alliance that has lasted to this very day.  Both races understood immediately that each was incredibly intelligent.  Both races understood long form mathematics and could use that to translate.  And both races had a sense of humour.

Eventually, the Vulpine helped the trihorns settle on the third planet in the Lupine system, Critain.  As the first city ships began to land, the governing council of the trihorns decreed from that day forward they would be known as Critainians.