Gentlesophonts:
One of the tenets of the Earth Colonies campaign is that Dolphins are
sentient - not that they're `uplifted' or anything but that they're sentient
*now* - it just takes Humans a couple of more centuries to recognize it
because we're so unable to envision sentience that is different from
ourselves. (We're even seeing some of this today in the growing realization
that even the ways we've measured `intelligence' in Humans is more a measure
of `socialization' that of `intelligence'.)
I'm not sure I've done a very good job of portraying it yet in the Earth
Colonies campaign but what I've tried to suggest is that Dolphins are as
accomplished at the `soft' sciences as Humans are at the `hard' or physical
sciences. Dolphins are diplomats, sociologists, historians, psychologists
and artists. To me this seems natural for a sophont species that has no
technological capabilites. In fact, Dolphins had been trying to `communi-
cate' with Humans long before Humans ever `heard' them. It was primarily
through the efforts of Dolphins that Humans and Dolphins have become a
fully integrated Terran culture. This blend of philosophy and science
gives Terrans a natural edge when dealing with other sophonts. (I'm just
trying to envision what the `philosophical' equivalent of `waldos' would
be for Humans!)
The following article is reprinted from *Melbourne Times* #1:
Sophont Brief: Dolphins
Regarded for millennia by Humans as merely bright animals, the Dolphins are now
equal partners in Terran civilization. In fact, although there is no
archaeological evidence to support their claim, both Dolphin and Human
sophontologists now agree, based upon examination of the extensive Dolphin oral
history, that Dolphin sentience actually preceded Human sentience. Dolphins
rose to sentience in response to stimuli similar to those for Humans - namely
the need for improved cooperation in hunting and in avoiding larger predators.
Physiology: Descended from aquatic, air-breathing omnivore/hunter stock, a
typical Dolphin measures 3.5 meters in length and masses about 140 kilograms.
Dolphin coloring tends to be grey on the dorsal surface and white on the
ventral surface. A subcutaneous layer of fat provides a degree of protection
equivalent to jack armor. Quite agile in an aquatic environment, Dolphins can
achieve speeds in excess of 50 kph in terrestrial-like waters. They can remain
submerged for up to 40 minutes before needing to surface for air. Dolphins
lack mobility beyond the aquatic environment, although this disadvantage has
been overcome through technology with the advent of the grav-assisted
environment suit. These environment suits also provide protection from skin
damage due to lack of moisture or excessive exposure to sunlight.
There are two Dolphin sexes with little physical difference between the two.
Sexual maturity occurs in the early teens. Young dolphins leave their mothers'
groups after three to six years and associate with other adolescents until
sexual maturity. Females return to their mothers' group for child bearing and
bear live young after a twelve month gestation period. Males usually form
exclusive pair or triplet bonds. Females usually bond in groups of two to six
for the purpose of group child rearing. Members of male groups often cooperate
in wooing females. Male-female bonding rarely occurs. Life expectancy is in
excess of 80 years.
In addition to highly developed visual, auditory, taste and tactile senses,
Dolphins also poses an extensive sense of echolocation - the ability to examine
surroundings by emanating and detecting reflected sound waves in water. They
have no sense of smell.
Dolphins require prosthetic devices in order to manipulate most mechanisms.
Known commonly as 'waldos', these mechatronic appendages provide manipulation
similar to Human arms and hands. Unlike early models current tech level units
can be harnessed to a Dolphin's fins without assistance from another being.
Because much of their speech is beyond the auditory range of Humans, Dolphins
often use a voder or 'voice-box' to translate their voices into the range of
Human hearing (The range of Dolphin hearing is sufficient to detect Human
sounds). Early voders required a surgical implant, but more recent units
function without invasive measures. The voder is usually attached with organic
adhesive to the lower jaw. Environmental suits and other suits designed for
Dolphins, such as battle dress, incorporate integral waldos and voder.
History: Sophontologists attribute Dolphin sentience to the need for greater
cooperation in hunting and in avoiding larger predators. Such cooperation
proved quite successful, with most groups ranging from 5 to 40 individuals.
Family bonds predominated. Because Dolphins faced few environmental challenges
after the development of sentience the need for environmental manipulation
never became manifest. Undoubtedly, the lack of Dolphin manipulative members
played no small role in this situation as well.
With environmental manipulation unsuited as an outlet for Dolphin intellectual
development, social manipulation became the natural focus of Dolphin intellect.
Early Dolphin society saw much conflict as groups competed for food resources
and mating opportunities. The conflict was more social than physical with
'victors' enjoying the cooperation of the school, while such cooperation was
denied to the 'vanquished'. As Dolphin society developed, this conflict became
more managed with individual conflict highly ritualized. Eventually
cooperation was accomplished without conflict. Furthermore, the great mobility
of Dolphins lead to interaction and eventual cooperation throughout the oceans.
Dolphin history is recorded through an extensive oral tradition that far
exceeds that of any Human culture. The sum total of hundreds of thousands of
years of Dolphin history is maintained by the 'Singers' of each school.
Dolphins faced their greatest environmental challenge from their encounter with
industrial-age Humans. Dolphins had long recognized Human sentience from the
first venturing of Humans into the seas in early ships. Dolphins were
frustrated by the apparent inability of Humans to recognize sentience in their
ocean-dwelling counterparts. This frustration turned to alarm with the advent
of industrial Human society and its wholesale slaughter of Dolphins in fishing
operations. Furthermore, industrial fishing displaced millions of Dolphins as
their sources of food were harvested by Humans. Ocean polluting served as an
additional environmental threat to Dolphin society. Dolphins were completely
unable to counter the technological assault of Humans . Efforts turned more
urgently to attempts at communication.
The breakthrough came in the early 22nd Century when Human researchers, looking
for methods of communicating with theoretical extraterrestrials, turned their
methods on Dolphins as test subjects. Once the initial contact was made
interaction proceeded at a dizzying pace. Dolphin entities were admitted to
Human international organizations and Dolphin territorial jurisdictions were
recognized. Dolphin sociological and political thought served as a driving
force in the greater integration of Human society found in this period.
The advent of communication, portable environmental and prosthetic technologies
designed for Dolphins facilitated their emergence and assimilation into Terran
society. Dolphins quickly gained prominence in diplomacy, management,
education and the arts. The fusion of Dolphin 'art' and Human 'science'
produced a new renaissance.
Unfortunately, much of the environmental damage done to the Earth's ecosystem
by Human industrial and technological society was well developed long before
the new renaissance could begin to deal with it, much less reverse it.
The Dolphins were less devastated by the collapse of the ecosystem than were
Humans because they were less dependent upon the infrastructure of a
technological society. Nonetheless, Dolphins were active participants in the
exodus of interstellar expeditions that fled the Earth during the Sundering.
When Terrans once again ventured out into space Dolphins were firmly
established as equal partners with Humans. Much of the success of
reintegrating the Near Solar colonies into the Commonwealth is attributed to
Dolphin diplomats such as Garibaldi Bridgebuilder.
Psychology: Dolphin psychology is often quite difficult for Humans to grasp.
Dolphins value their individual independence even more so than most Humans.
And yet Dolphins also place a greater value upon the social community as well.
This aspect of existence is so important that Dolphins often succumb to death
when exposed to extend periods of isolation. On the other hand a Dolphin would
not dream of giving up one's own individuality. Whereas the relationship
between individuality and community has been a constant source of conflict in
most Human cultures the Dolphins have developed a symbiosis between the two
that is unparalleled in Human society.
The result is that Dolphin society is much more harmonious and homogeneous than
is Human culture while at the same time tolerating, even encouraging, greater
individuality and a wider range of diversity. This attitude has facilitated
the integration of Human and Dolphin society. Dolphins do though sometimes
have difficulty remaining committed to the ideals of sub-groups within society,
say a corporation or governmental entity, and at other times find it difficult
to differentiate themselves from the interests of larger groups beyond the
society, such as other foreign states. This may explain the most common
stereotype of Dolphins as freelance diplomats.
Society: Due to the extensive global interaction among groups, Dolphin society
does not suffer the extensive fragmentation common to Human society. Dolphin
society is much more harmonious and homogeneous than is Human culture. On the
other hand Dolphin society is much more tolerant of diversity and individuality
within society than any Human culture.
Dolphin society lacks the extensive governmental and mercantile organizations
of Human society. Individuals participate in activities on an ad hoc basis.
This may seem unmanageable to non-Dolphins until one takes into account the
fact that being a contributing member of society is central to the psyche of
every Dolphin.
A specific 'Dolphin' society no longer exists. Dolphin and Human societies are
fully integrated, both in the Commonwealth and in the Colonial States. Thus,
Dolphins have adopted some of the more formal structures of traditional Human
society while at the same time transforming those structures in such a manner
that they would not be recognized as such by a Human from the period before the
fusion of the two cultures.
Dolphins are at the forefront of those calling for integration of the
Commonwealth and the other Colonial States. At the extreme, Dolphins are also
prominent among those calling for greater cooperation between Terrans and
extraterrestrials. Dolphins can be found extensively among the diplomatic
services, the mercantile concerns, the exploratory services and the arts.
While Dolphins make excellent educators they generally are poor scientists,
engineers and soldiers.
*****
Happy Travelling,
David Johnson
Houston, Texas, USA
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