[Short-Short] Next, it's your turn

The year 2212.

It was confirmed that one of the largest asteroids in recorded history would collide with Earth in ten years.

Avoidance probability: 0.0000003%.

For the first time, humanity was confronted with its own end in the form of a number.

Nations were unified, and the Earth Federal Government was established.

Only three plans were considered.

The first plan.

Destruction of the asteroid or changing its orbit using a fleet of fusion weapons.

The second plan.

Large-scale migration to Mars or exoplanets.

The third plan.

A plan to launch the 'seeds' of life into space.

Microorganisms, plant spores, animal embryos, genetic information, and a life library managed by artificial intelligence.

Billions of capsules, each only a few centimeters in diameter, would be released in every direction.

Even if humanity perishes, perhaps in some distant future, on some distant star, the history of life might begin again.

The project was named the "Seeding Project."

However, the world was divided.

"If it is a planet without life, it does not matter."

"What if there is primitive life?"

"Do we have the right to contaminate the universe?"

"Should humanity's final act be one of invasion?"

Ten years was far too short.

The year 2221.

The first plan was certain to fail.

With human technology, we cannot stop the asteroid.

The second plan was also abandoned.

Even if the interstellar ship under construction were completed, it is highly likely to cease functioning before reaching its destination.

All that remained was the Seeding Project.

But, a resolution could not be reached until the very end.

"We have an obligation to preserve life."

"No, we have no right to arbitrarily scatter life across the universe."

The greatest conference in history closed without reaching a conclusion.

And then, the year 2222.

An anomaly occurred.

The asteroid's orbit changed without any warning.

It was on a scale that could not be explained by human technology.

The predicted impact point shifted far away from Earth.

While the world was engulfed in joy and fear, a new report came in.

"...Massive readings in the shadow of the asteroid."

At first, there was one.

Before long, ten.

A hundred.

A thousand.

Eventually, they became too numerous to count.

A massive fleet of super-large spaceships was silently heading toward Earth.

A transmission was sent to the entire world.

Humanity gasped.

What appeared on the screen were beings that could not be identified as either human or machine.

The representative spoke slowly.

"Please, rest assured."

It was fluent Earth language.

"We have not come for conquest."

No one could raise their voice.

The representative continued.

"We observed the initiative you called the 'Seeding Project'."

"The moment that discussion began, you were registered as a target for rescue."

The venue fell silent.

And finally, the representative said with a smile.

"So, you have finally attempted to sow seeds as well."

A beat of silence.

"Be at ease."

"We, too, are life that began from seeds sown by another civilization long ago."

In that moment, humanity understood for the first time.

A galactic civilization was not a massive empire.

Life was neither a victor nor a ruler.

It was a chain of small endeavors, living, leaving behind descendants, and entrusting possibilities to the future.

In a corner of the conference hall, a young girl looked up at the starry sky outside the window and whispered.

“So... it’s our turn next, isn’t it.”

No one denied it.

* An English version generated using the built-in AI translation feature on note is also available. If you’re interested, please check it out below. 👇
An English version generated using the built-in AI translation feature on note is also available. If you’re interested, please check it out below. 👇
🌐 [Short-Short] Next, it's your turn

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🔗 Other links
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