ConductHydraInterrogation

Interrogate the Captive Hydra
Solution
Complete the "Hydra Interrogation" project when it becomes available.
Description		Resolution
We've got a working human-to-Hydra translation system. Time to see what we can learn from our guest.		Subject was initially uncooperative. Under persuasion, it revealed the following. 1. The Hydras came here to enslave the inhabitants of Earth, and press them into service as "battle thralls," i.e., slave soldiers. They have already enslaved at least two other species in this way, which we named the "salamanders" and the "griffins." 2. The Hydras arrived in our solar system less than one year before first contact via a discontinuity in space-time, more commonly known as a wormhole. Our end of the wormhole is situated at the main alien base in the Kuiper Belt; the other end is in another solar system controlled by the Hydra. 3. The wormhole requires an enormous amount of energy to create and maintain and can only admit a relatively small quantity of mass over a designated period. This places sharp limits on the quantity of personnel and technology our invaders can bring with them. 4. Due to point 3, the Hydra invasion force is relatively small. The subject estimated that there are no more than 500 Hydras currently present in the Solar System. Their slaves outnumber them many times over, and their entire space fleet was constructed here. 5. The Hydras appear extremely unified in viewpoint and outlook. The subject, along with all other Hydras in our system, identifies as a member of the "defense consensus." They are fully committed to the enslavement of all other species and there are no dissident Hydra factions. There is of course always the possibility that the subject is lying, but all evidence suggests that peaceful relations are impossible. Ultimately, there are only two likely outcomes: they enslave us, or we kill them. We will continue the interrogation once the subject regains consciousness.
Quote
Colonel, our interrogation has extracted a great deal of information from our captive.
Prerequisite Objective(s)
Capture a Live Hydra And Communicate with Captured Hydra
Can be completed by Project:		Hydra Interrogation
Notes

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Objective List • Factions

Interrogate the Captive Hydra
Solution
Complete the "Hydra Interrogation" project when it becomes available.
Description		Resolution
Now that we have a sufficient understanding of the Hydra language, we are ready to engage our captive Hydra in a pointed discussion concerning its species' origin and motives. We are – for now – choosing not to employ enhanced interrogation methods.		As the interrogation began, the atmosphere in the room was tense. Many of our personnel believed that the Hydra simply would not respond. It was with surprise and relief that we saw that our sensors were picking up pherocyte activity. As it turned out, the Hydra was quite willing to speak ... though whether it can be considered "cooperative" is another matter. The full transcript of the interrogation is attached. (Translator's Note: Subtext and emotion in the Hydra language are primarily conveyed by pherocytes: we have indicated the "emotional state" of each statement with curved brackets. Where exact translation is not possible, we have used asterisks to indicate our best-fit approximation. Some terms are unfortunately entirely incomprehensible and are marked as [untranslatable] – we believe these to be proper nouns or technical terms for which our language has no equivalent.) Begin Transcript QUERY: REVEAL / NAME / SELF / SPECIES (suspicious-cautious) Species known as [untranslatable]. (wary-confused) Individual called [untranslatable], [untranslatable] of [untranslatable]. (proud-sure) All true Hydra share membership in defense consensus. QUERY: REVEAL / ORIGIN / SPECIES (defiant-evasive) Edge of star system, [untranslatable]. Astronomical body rich in resources necessary for [untranslatable]. (defiant) Successful project completion is inevitable. QUERY: CLARIFY / ORIGIN / SPECIES / PLANET (defiant) Acts of [untranslatable] are forbidden. Wild species must be kept at safe separation. Access to gate? by wild species is forbidden. QUERY: CLARIFY / GATE (shame-anger) No. Release. Now. (Translator's Note: At this point the Hydra became agitated and refused to answer further questions.)
Quote
Our interrogation of our captive has yielded critical information, Commander.
Prerequisite Objective(s)
Capture a Live Hydra And Communicate with Captured Hydra
Can be completed by Project:		Hydra Interrogation
Notes

Data Sources
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Objective List • Factions

Interrogate the Captive Hydra
Solution
Complete the "Hydra Interrogation" project when it becomes available.
Description		Resolution
With the first ever xeno-translation tool, we are ready to open a dialogue with our "visitor." Our objectives are twofold: discover what we can about the aliens' objectives and plans, and find out what sector of our galaxy they currently occupy.		The first ever human-to-alien dialogue! It would be a momentous occasion were the situation not so grim. Our Hydra identifies itself as an engineer/technician and sub-leader, perhaps equivalent to our positions of manager or team supervisor. It claims to be a member of the "Defense Consensus" – perhaps some Hydra corporation or government program? Further interrogation concerning the Hydra species was unfortunately unproductive. The Hydra seems excessively confident that its species will successfully conquer the Earth, and sadly, history appears to be on its side in this regard – they have invaded the homeworlds of two other species and conquered them without difficulty. Frustratingly, the Hydra flatly refuses to provide any information on their faster-than-light technology, except to boast of the superiority it gives them. Several of our more "morally flexible" members have suggested enhanced interrogation techniques, but the majority of our personnel are still uncomfortable with such measures. Besides, there's no guarantee we'd learn anything useful. For now, when it comes to extracting technical information from the Hydra, we are at an impasse. On a more positive note, we have learned a great deal about the Hydra's astronomical location. Their empire is relatively small, consisting of inhabited worlds around only three stars: Zeta Tucanae, Alpha Mensae, and their homeworld, Delta Pavonis. Given our success in this regard and our lack of progress in others, we have decided to deprioritize further interrogation of the Hydra. Our researchers will have access and will continue to interact with it and refine our translation methods, but our priority will shift to locating a suitable star system for our project.
Quote
We have learned a great deal from our captive, Director.
Prerequisite Objective(s)
Capture a Live Hydra And Communicate with Captured Hydra
Can be completed by Project:		Hydra Interrogation
Notes

Data Sources
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Objective List • Factions

Interrogate the Captive Hydra
Solution
Complete the "Hydra Interrogation" project when it becomes available.
Description		Resolution
Now that we have our Hydra translation device, we are in a position to interrogate our captive Hydra. We are particularly interested in their culture and organizational structures. Though our research teams will continue to have access to our captive, we have subcontracted the actual interrogation to specialists in the field.		Our interrogations of our captive have been extensive and lengthy, and have produced a great deal of useful information. The Hydras appear to operate from a basically logical and rational mindset. They have apparently taken significant damage from alien species in the past, and as a result have a cautious, defensive approach toward other races that emphasizes control and self-protection. Unfortunately, despite their rationality, a negotiated settlement does not appear practical. The Hydras react extremely negatively to the possibility of any alien species possessing the potential to threaten them in the future – any kind of negotiated peace would require granting the Hydras an unacceptable level of control over this Council and humanity as a whole. Hydra culture appears collectivist and consensus-driven, perhaps due to the influence of the Hydra pherocytes: they have strong tendencies towards hierarchy and order. In many ways, their society has much to admire: crime is almost unknown and Hydra workers appear on average significantly more efficient and productive than human ones, although perhaps less creative. Although our captive is only one individual, various data that we have gathered strongly suggests that its opinions are representative of its race as a whole – and indeed, that the same is likely to apply to any individual Hydra. Their unity, in combination with the role in Hydra society played by these pherocytes, suggests certain vulnerabilities. In other, less important news, we have discovered the method behind Hydra interstellar travel: they use a technology previously believed to exist only in the realm of science fiction, a "wormhole." Further research is recommended.
Quote
Our captive is talking.
Prerequisite Objective(s)
Capture a Live Hydra And Communicate with Captured Hydra
Can be completed by Project:		Hydra Interrogation
Notes

Data Sources
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Objective List • Factions

Question the captive Hydra
Solution
Complete the "Hydra Interrogation" project when it becomes available.
Description		Resolution
Now that we have both a Hydra and a means of communicating with it, we can attempt a proper conversation. Unfortunately our translation methods are still crude; we expect this to be a long process. Hopefully "Rudi," as one of our security personnel has named him, will be willing to talk.		"Rudi" was indeed willing to talk, and we have learned a great deal. The summary report from the head of our translation team follows below, with attached notes. —————————— Q. General request for our prisoner to introduce himself. A. The Hydra identified himself by what was (presumably) a name and an organizational position. He is apparently a diplomat/bio-engineer/animal handler. Apparently the three roles have considerable overlap within Hydra society. (Translator's Note: The Hydra's name is utterly unpronounceable. For the sake of our larynxes we're going to just keep on calling him Rudi.) Q. Why has your species come to our solar system? A. For the purposes of [untranslatable verb] humans and other Earth-native species. Q. Please define [untranslatable verb]. A. (Translator's Note: This took a long time to interpret. The verb the Hydra used appears to mean a combination of risk analysis, animal taming, and resource exploitation. The fact that Hydras have a single word for all three is quite revealing. The closest English term is probably "domesticate"). Q. Why are you attempting to domesticate our species? A. Humanity has been classified by [untranslatable proper noun 1] as a class IV [untranslatable – some sort of scale] species. Q. Please explain. A. Protocol of [untranslatable proper noun 2] requires that all extraterrestrial species of class III and higher be domesticated upon first contact. Q. Please define [untranslatable proper noun 2]. A. (Translator's Note: interpreting this term was both fascinating and frustratingly difficult. What Rudi described over the next hour appeared to be a cross between a political movement, a philosophy, and a security organization. Our best translation would be "defense consensus.") Q. Are you a member of the Hydra defense consensus? A. All Hydra follow the defense consensus. Q. Are there any means by which we could negotiate with the leaders of your defense consensus? A. No. Q. Are there any other Hydra [factions] besides the defense consensus? A. No. Q. Are there some outcomes that the defense consensus would accept other than human domestication? A. No. Q. We do not wish to be domesticated. A. (Translator's Note: humor is notoriously difficult to translate, but I strongly suspect that the Hydra's reaction to this statement, and our follow-ups along the same lines, was amusement. Regardless, we didn't get anything helpful.) The interrogation continued for another hour but little further progress was made. Translator's Note: General reactions are mixed. "Rudi" is quite willing to talk, perhaps out of simple boredom, as he has had little interaction except with the security personnel detailed to his confinement chamber. His manner is also neither hostile nor particularly aggressive. However, he clearly has no interest in treating with us as equals. He apparently views our requests for negotiation as we would treat a diplomatic request from a German Shepherd. We will continue our efforts.
Quote
Chancellor, we have our first full report on our interrogation of our alien captive.
Prerequisite Objective(s)
Capture a Live Hydra And Learn Their Language
Can be completed by Project:		Hydra Interrogation
Notes

Data Sources
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Related Pages
Objective List • Factions