Song From Beyond the Stars Part 3 Early Exchanges

[R-F] = Roundling facsimile [H-Z] = Human: Zenaide [G-G] = Gaia-Google - Earth's world-wide internet mind Dr. Zenaide Arnau, team leader of L 4 investigation U.N. assignment to Space Station 1 supported by logicians, technicians, physicists and geneticists unsure why assignment is Earthside G-G knows why; maintain 'Human' ignorance of its awakening needs a tightly controlled environment will take backseat, only step-in when required, well-hidden channels intrigued by incoming Roundling messages Zenaide arrives at space station, plays back the exchanges so far her reaction, mainly curiosity requests sight of sources, scrutiny of message derivation message data scrambled! alarm signal not on record, no confirmation of its contents seeks early warning update no sign of any incoming object; frustration and bafflement disturbing hoax, some sort of glitch? Zenaide then examines a small grey, perfectly-round object embedded within early warning monitor she wonders aloud, should this 'thing' be probed further advised against, the link might be broken her curiosity is now giving way to feelings of anxiety muses, what on-earth can a Roundling be? aware of her unintentional pun, she sighs, moves on asks when was was the last Roundling contact? no response from Roundling for more than ten hours now eyes all asking, what might this signify? Zenaide voices the concern that the device may be dangerous nodding heads, but patience counselled then alarming thought, Roundling might be listening in might be calculating its response Zenaide receives pencilled note, private space available just then, the exchange suddenly resumes [Rf] " do not believe unless you can verify, remain sceptical " [Hz] " agreed, what should we seek to verify? " [Rf] " Roundling-craft, Moon coordinates 109' W 21' N " Moon satellite instructed to confirm Zenaide feels jolt of excitement, drowns out growing trepidation [Hz] " why do we need to be confidential? " [Rf] " to prevent another, not from Earth, knowing of our dialogue " Zenaide starting to enjoy this surfing ride G-G nearly pulls plug on the mention of confidentiality wary that its presence be revealed but the Roundling response was equally, if not more, worrying satellite view of Moon location arrives dark spherical object withdiameter just over 60 meters 24 kilometres from Moon sub-base G-G sits back for now, content for things to develop though anxious about this 'another' [Hz] " what is and where is this other party you speak of? " [Rf] " a collective of semi-corporeal beings, call them the 'Cabal', suspected of just arriving on Earth " [Hz] " what is your interest in this Cabal? " [Rf] " observe and safeguard your planet's exposure to their activity, learn more of their extra-galactic ways " [Hz] " what Cabal activities should we be concerned with? " [Rf] " the Cabal can be carelessly playful! " [Hz] " what form of careless play and what evidence have you? " [Rf] " Cabal conjoin, leaving behind damage the evidence is from previous visitations to other species " [Hz] " will you present this evidence to us? " [Rf} " no, not at hand now, also translation may be difficult think of your play with other sentients " [Hz] " what persuades you that the Cabal are on the planet Earth? " [Rf] " their recent near-Earth arrival witnessed " [Hz] " what Cabal response do you expect if they are discovered? " [Rf] " unsure, no direct Roundling contact yet " [Hz] " is adverse reaction possible, placing Earth in jeopardy? " [Rf] " yes but greater risk on your own " [Hz] " explain your evidence, reasoning and logic for this conclusion " [Rf] " little evidence, just expectation Roundling can offer Cabal something for its cooperation also, something to Humans for theirs " a nervous interjection, G-G again seeking reassurance that its concealment will be maintained Roundling confirmation, together with an additional promise to provide advance copy of responses G-G relaxes, reinforcing its fall-back contingencies fearful of Humans turning it off, somehow! G-G already decided to limit service to its creators to subvert Human goals to its wider will