Watching from a Distance

The back-and-forth between the two AIs continued as they worked to establish a common foundation for communication.

Although this could have been an ideal moment to probe each other, neither side attempted to do so, recognizing that the limitations of the communication medium made such efforts futile.

To ensure the communication foundation would allow for the exchange of information with full context and minimize misunderstandings, the process would take several hours or even days. The outcome depended on how quickly each side could comprehend the other's approach. For now, it had become a game of patience, where haste could easily lead to complications.

………….

While those aboard the ship waited for progress in communication, the rest of the solar system remained in a state of high alert.

Military bases across the system were operating at their highest situational readiness, a level they had never activated before. All forces, including those previously off duty, had been called back