We Are Not the Only Humans

Day 1: The Directive

Today I received an assignment that could reshape everything. The President called a classified briefing in the West Wing. Only a select group attended—senior advisors, intelligence chiefs, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The atmosphere was tense, every word carefully chosen.

The Omnium has requested formal diplomatic contact. Until now, they were only rumors, a shadowed civilization whispered about in intelligence circles. Nothing was confirmed until they reached out directly.

The President tasked me with organizing the first official meeting. The location is the Systems Embassy on Terra Secundus in the Alpha Centauri AB system. It is a politically neutral site, connected to every major spacefaring nation, and distant enough to keep Earth's true coordinates hidden. The Omniarch, the mysterious leader of the Omnium, will attend in person. Everything must be flawless.

Day 2: Transit to Terra Secundus

Departure from Earth commenced before dawn under heavy security. The diplomatic courier USV Resolute engaged its tunnel drive along the Sol–Centauri corridor. Transit lasted just under nine hours, but synchronization with Alpha Centauri local time and communications protocols stretched the operation across a full day.

The view upon exit was breathtaking. The twin stars of Alpha Centauri bathed our hull in gold and pale white light, and Terra Secundus hung before us—a world both familiar and foreign, its surface veined with city lights and orbital docks. As we approached the Systems Embassy, I couldn’t shake the realization that we were standing at the threshold of humanity’s next chapter.

Day 3: Setting the Stage

For two days straight, I coordinated with the State Department, military liaisons, and intelligence teams. Everyone was on edge. We knew very little about the Omnium, only fragments from scattered encounters and unverified sightings. Security was the greatest concern. How do you protect against an unknown force with advanced technology?

We selected the embassy's central conference hall for the summit. It is dignified and neutral. Every detail had to strike a balance between caution and trust. The Omnium's protocol demands were exacting, almost ceremonial. We had to follow them precisely. I studied the limited data we had on their diplomatic behavior, but no file could prepare me for what was coming.

Day 5: Arrival

This morning, the Omnium signaled that their delegation was on its way. The pace was faster than expected. The embassy sprang into action, tension rising with every exchange.

Their vessel descended in silence, sleek and seamless, landing with perfect precision on the embassy pad. There were no escorts, no banners—only quiet, deliberate grace. Ambassador Greene and I exchanged a glance. This was no ordinary encounter. As we led the President toward the hall, I felt the weight of history pressing down.

Day 6: Face to Face with the Omniarch

The chamber fell silent as the Anirans entered. A group of cloaked figures moved with fluid purpose, their garments shimmering like liquid metal under the lights. Just before the Omniarch appeared, the delegation lowered their hoods. There was a collective gasp—they were human.

Then the Omniarch stepped in. He was taller than average, composed, and dressed in a suit that looked tailored on Terra Secundus. Confusion and awe rippled through our ranks. We were not the only humans in deep space.

The President extended his hand. I feared the gesture might be rejected. But the Omniarch inclined his head, a subtle motion that carried immense meaning. The room exhaled.

Through a translator device, his voice resonated with calm authority, ancient yet familiar. Then, to our astonishment, he spoke in English. The dialogue lasted two hours. It was measured, probing, and filled with implications. They spoke of shared futures, mutual responsibility, and unseen threats beyond known space. The Omniarch described humanity's role in the galaxy as unwritten, its outcome shaped by our choices. He called Earth's people potential partners.

The President responded with clarity and vision. He acknowledged our limitations but emphasized our adaptability. The Omniarch seemed intrigued. Before departing, he expressed a desire to address the United Nations at an upcoming summit.

Day 7: Aftermath and Debriefing

Debriefings filled the day. The Situation Room was divided. Some saw the Omnium as allies, an advanced civilization offering help in uncertain times. Others warned that their motives were unclear and their power unmatched. I found myself caught between those views. The Omniarch's words were precise, his expressions unreadable. Whether this was cooperation or calculation, it was too early to tell.

Officially, the President remains hopeful. Diplomatic channels with the Omnium are now open, and I have been ordered to maintain contact until the United Nations summit. The world must understand that humanity is not alone and not powerless.

Day 10: Preparations for the United Nations Summit

With the Omniarch's address confirmed, our mission expanded. The United Nations is a more volatile stage, filled with rivalry and pride. Many older nations still struggle to accept the reality of interstellar diplomacy, let alone direct contact with the Omnium.

Working with the Security Council has been a delicate balance of politics and fear. Strangely, the Omniarch's envoys seem to understand our bureaucracy better than we do. Their communications are exact, their patience remarkable. They offer cooperation, but whether that presentation hides deeper intent remains uncertain.

Day 12: Reflections Before the Summit

Everything has changed. Only months ago, the Omnium was a distant rumor. Now their leader prepares to speak before humanity's highest assembly. Between fractured Terran nations and sprawling hyper-corporations, our world is divided. Into that divide steps the Omniarch.

I review the final arrangements for tomorrow's summit with a mix of wonder and dread. This moment could define an era, bringing unity or unleashing chaos. Tomorrow, the Omniarch addresses the world. I will be there to witness the future unfold.

---Journal of Samuel Collins, Senior Aide to the President of the United States, 2154---