Cetaceans¶

In the modern era, human telepaths have made contact with Earth's cetaceans, discovering a long-standing and unique non-human civilization of their own.

All cetaceans are telepathic.

Cetaceans did not realize humans were sentient until humans "learned to talk" (i.e., the emergence of telepaths made meaningful communication possible).
Cetaceans have not demonstrated other Talents such as telekinesis or empathy.
After first contact, once cetaceans learned how human brains worked, they were able to use telepathy to communicate with non-telepathic humans.

See Timeline for the history of first contact (2321) and UEF membership (2338).

First Contact and Integration¶

Dr. Benedict Marlowe¶

Benedict Marlowe was a child prodigy — emancipated at 12, doctorate in marine biology at 17. Raised near the sea, he had felt a kinship with dolphins and whales as long as he could remember. When his Talent manifested at age 15, he began experiencing what he privately called "whale dreams." He did not realize these were exactly what they seemed: telepathic contact with cetaceans who had noticed an unusual human mind.

Marlowe's research focused on wild dolphin populations, and he became increasingly convinced he was experiencing genuine telepathic communication. This conviction pushed his reputation downhill. The scientific community, skeptical of Talent claims even after the 2319 confirmation, wondered if the pressures of such early adulthood were affecting his judgment. Funding dried up. Colleagues distanced themselves.

In 2321, facing professional marginalization, Marlowe staged a public demonstration — the academic equivalent of bypassing peer review to post on social media. He arranged a live Q&A session with a dolphin pod he had worked with, broadcast publicly. Audience members posed questions; Marlowe relayed them; the dolphins answered through him. The responses demonstrated understanding, reasoning, humor, and personality that could not be explained as trained behavior.

The decisive moment came when a second telepath — a skeptic with no prior cetacean contact — attempted communication independently and succeeded. It was no longer "Marlowe's delusion." It was reproducible. Scientific validation followed within weeks.

Marlowe is still alive in 2375, approximately 170 years old. He holds a special dispensation to operate a deep-sea research station, where he studies the "whale dream" phenomenon that first connected him to cetacean minds. He has largely faded from public view — a historical figure who prefers the company of whales to the demands of celebrity.

The Communication Barrier Falls¶

In the immediate aftermath of Marlowe's demonstration, only human telepaths could communicate with cetaceans. This created a bottleneck: all human-cetacean relations were mediated through a small number of Talented individuals, shaping how both sides perceived each other.

Within months, this barrier fell. Cetaceans — who had been telepathic for their entire evolutionary history — figured out how to communicate with non-telepathic humans. Any human without perfect natural mental shields could now receive cetacean communication directly if a cetacean chose to reach out.

This changed everything. Suddenly the conversation was not limited to a handful of intermediaries. Researchers, diplomats, ordinary citizens — anyone could speak with a dolphin, if a dolphin wished to speak with them. The world had to reckon with the reality of a non-human civilization that had been present all along.

Human Responses¶

Religious and Philosophical Reactions¶

The discovery that humanity shared Earth with another intelligent civilization landed differently than Talent confirmation. This was not "humans have new powers" but "humans were never alone."

Catholicism, sensing an opportunity to reclaim relevance, saw the Pope issue a declaration that cetaceans were children of God with souls equal to humans. This triggered significant internal debate over the meaning of "created in His image" and did not produce the renewed relevance the Church had hoped for.

Secular rationalism found a kind of vindication — the scientific method had revealed a truth that superstition had missed. The universe was stranger and more interesting than assumed, but it was knowable.

Buddhism and Hinduism received the news with equanimity. These traditions had long recognized the soul and intelligence of non-human creatures. Cetacean sentience was less revelation than confirmation.

Indigenous traditions saw this as rediscovery rather than discovery — the Spirits of the Deep speaking to humanity in a way humans had deafened themselves to for centuries.

Philosophers are still forming their responses. First contact occurred in the 2320s; barely fifty years later, the implications are still being processed. What does it mean for human identity, ethics, and our place in the cosmos? The conversation continues.

The Reckoning¶

Humanity had killed, captured, tortured, and eaten sentient beings for millennia. This fact sits uncomfortably in the collective human conscience.

The debate remains live in 2375, but it is moderated by the cetaceans themselves. Their response to human guilt has been consistent: "That is the past. We learn from it and move forward. We do not spin in circles and drown in it."

Some humans cannot accept this grace. Reparationist movements insist on ongoing acknowledgment and concrete action. They have won real victories: the honorary rank system for dolphin pilots, ongoing research into cetacean integration, and continued investment in accommodations for cetacean participation in human institutions. They see cetacean forgiveness as generous but maintain that humanity must continue demonstrating its commitment to change.

Others resent what they perceive as cetacean moral superiority. The resentful lost livelihoods to the environmental restrictions that followed integration. They see cetacean sovereignty as an imposition and cetacean "forgiveness" as condescension.

A fringe believes cetacean benevolence masks darker purposes. These suspicious groups see the smoothness of integration itself as evidence of manipulation. They would feel vindicated if they ever learned the truth about cetacean "gentle guidance" — though they would likely interpret it as more sinister than it actually is.

Economic Consequences¶

Cetacean sovereignty over the deep oceans had real economic impact. The cetaceans handled the transition with remarkable pragmatism — tough but reasonable timelines, practical recommendations for managing disruption — but "reasonable" still meant pain.

Deep-sea fishing: Restricted to sustainable practices, with significant areas declared off-limits. Some fishing communities adapted; others collapsed.
Seabed mining and fracking: Ended entirely. Industries that had invested heavily in deep-sea extraction lost those investments.
Deep-sea oil extraction: Phased out. This was already declining due to fusion power, but cetacean sovereignty accelerated the timeline.
Pollution controls: The hardest-fought issue. Cetaceans were unyielding on this point. Industrial and agricultural runoff regulations tightened dramatically. Coastal communities and industries bore significant costs.
Shipping lanes: Adjusted to avoid sensitive areas, adding transit time and cost to some routes.
Exclusion zones: Certain ocean regions are now completely off-limits to humans without cetacean permission.

The resentment this generated has not fully faded. In some coastal communities, anti-cetacean sentiment blends with anti-Talent sentiment — cetaceans are, after all, universally telepathic.

The Treaty and UEF Membership¶

In 2336, a cetacean delegation formally proposed membership in the United Earth Federation. The proposal was presented to President Animikii Deschamps by three Dolphin Ambassadors in a globally televised meeting:

Flitter Flap — energetic, quick, playful; the most "traditionally dolphin" of the three
Orange Dream — contemplative, philosophical; the thoughtful voice of the delegation
Patches — an albino dolphin, visually striking; their simple name contrasting with their memorable presence

The meeting was carefully choreographed by both sides, but the dolphins' genuine personalities came through. Flitter Flap's humor, Orange Dream's patient explanations, and Patches' quiet dignity made an impression on a global audience.

The treaty established cetaceans as a member nation with sovereignty over the deep oceans. Humans still do not fully understand how the proposal was negotiated or ratified within cetacean civilization. The process by which cetaceans reach collective decisions remains opaque — they explain it in terms that humans find difficult to map onto familiar political structures.

Formal ratification came in 2338. The Cetacean nation joined the UEF as equals — or at least, that is how humans understood it.

Ongoing Tensions¶

The intersection between anti-cetacean and anti-Talent sentiment is real. Every cetacean is telepathic. Every one. And since 2322, they can communicate with any non-shielded human. For those already uncomfortable with human Talents, cetaceans represent something even more unsettling: an entire species of telepaths.

This is mitigated by simple geography. Despite integration into Fleet operations and formal political participation, most cetaceans prefer the ocean or space to navigating human environments. Dolphins would rather ride ocean currents or soar through the void than pilot a mobile tank through crowded streets. "Out of sight, out of mind" applies — most humans rarely encounter cetaceans directly.

But when they do, some humans find the experience deeply uncomfortable. The knowledge that the dolphin in front of you can read your thoughts — or at least sense your emotional state — creates a wariness that never fully resolves. For most, this fades with familiarity. For some, it never does.

Political Status: Member Nation of the UEF¶

Cetaceans are treated as full persons under the law.

In UEF terms, the Cetaceans are now a member nation of the UEF with sovereignty over the deep oceans.

Cetacean integration began with an initial treaty after first contact.
Later, a cetacean delegation brought the proposal for UEF membership.
Humans still don't fully understand how this was negotiated or ratified within cetacean civilization.

Citizenship and the Franchise¶

Cetaceans follow the same rules as humans.

Basic citizenship is universal and provides constitutional protections.
The franchise requires service; cetaceans can vote if they serve, like anyone else.
This has influenced politics, though less profoundly than some expected, largely due to population distribution and practical constraints.

Talent Research¶

Cetacean telepathy is highly compatible with human telepathy. Their existence significantly advanced Talent research, particularly in validating and refining the "five disciplines" framework for understanding psionic abilities.

To cetaceans, telepathy has always been an inherent fact of life; it never occurred to them to research it until they encountered humans. Now, a few high-profile Talent researchers and trainers are cetaceans — their intuitive understanding of telepathy, combined with fresh curiosity about why it works, has proven valuable.

Cetaceans have notably remained silent on the topic of bioengineering, offering only "no comment" when pressed. See that document for details and speculation.

Dolphins¶

Dolphins in particular are culturally whimsical and often adopt human names (e.g., "Splishy Splashy", "Tuna Flash"). Dolphins tend to come off as whimsical and unserious; this is often an illusion. They can be very serious, but they value wonder and fun as important aspects of life.

Dolphins in the Fleet¶

Dolphins are widely acknowledged as the best pilots in the Fleet.

Some experts suspect dolphins pursued UEF membership specifically for access to space.

Rank, Command, and Integration¶

Rank is a concept that does not translate well to dolphins. They understand how to follow orders, but among dolphins leadership is fluid and situation-dependent.

This has created integration challenges for the armed forces. A pragmatic compromise that has ended up functioning is that dolphin pilots are all given the rank of Captain, but are treated as outside the normal chain of command.

Dolphin pilots take orders from the mission CO.
Dolphin pilots do not have command authority over others by virtue of rank.

Ship Integration¶

Not all Fleet ships are equipped for cetaceans.

Ships that are equipped typically include:

Dedicated tanks.
A purpose-built pilot cabin for dolphin pilots.
A mobile tank used to move through dry areas of the ship.

The mobile tank is uncomfortable, so dolphin crew tend to minimize time outside their tank/pilot spaces. Dolphin pilots typically spend most of their time in the pilot cabin.

Acceleration Tolerance¶

Because they are submerged, dolphins have significantly higher acceleration tolerance than humans.

When high-gee maneuvers are required, dolphin pilots can maintain consciousness even if human crew may be temporarily rendered unconscious. Dolphins have proven remarkably consistent about knowing exactly how much acceleration their human comrades can safely endure.

Orcas¶

Orcas are the other cetacean species that has joined human society beyond the oceans.

Orcas tend to be thoughtful and methodical. They are aware that they are physically very imposing (not only are they large, but the equipment required for them to be present in human society is by necessity even larger). This awareness shapes their interactions — they tend to be deliberate about not looming, not interrupting, and not escalating tensions.

Some humans sense a reserve in orcas that goes beyond mere caution about their size, though few can articulate what it is.

Whales¶

Whales have limited direct presence in human society due to their size, but they are central to cetacean civilization. Within cetacean culture, whales generally serve as the "elders" — the keepers of the longest memories and the voices of deep historical perspective.

One aspect of whale telepathy is a form of ancestral memory, allowing them to draw on experiences and knowledge passed down across generations. This gives whales a uniquely long view, even by cetacean standards.

When humans have asked whales about the deep past — the solar system's history, whether cetaceans have legends about events millions of years ago — the responses have been cryptic at best. Whales offer answers that humans find unsatisfying or incomprehensible, and seem unwilling to elaborate. Whether this reflects genuine limits to ancestral memory, cultural reticence, or something else entirely, cetacean representatives have not clarified.

Other Cetaceans¶

Most other cetacean species are content to remain in the oceans. They participate in cetacean civilization and are represented in UEF membership through the broader Cetacean nation, but have limited direct interaction with human society.

At the Table¶

Use these as default portrayal cues and scene tools.

Dolphins¶

Tone: they often present as whimsical and unserious, but that's usually a choice. They value wonder, play, and delight as important rather than frivolous. When stakes rise, they can snap into crisp, competent seriousness without changing their underlying warmth.
Senses as imagery: dolphins may "think" in motion, flow, and spatial texture (echo-shapes); translating to human language can come out poetic, playful, or oddly specific about geometry.
In mixed crews: dolphins often act like morale engines and situational-awareness monsters.

Orcas¶

Tone: thoughtful and methodical. They are keenly aware they're physically imposing, and that their support equipment (tanks, cranes, access corridors) can dominate a space. They tend to be deliberate about not looming, not interrupting, and not escalating.
In mixed crews: orcas often act like quiet safety officers and long-horizon planners.

All Cetaceans¶

Social reality: think in terms of pods and long-lived relationships. Status often comes from contribution and competence rather than formal hierarchy; social bonds matter.
Culture has "dialects": pods can have distinctive ways of speaking (in-world this can show up as different telepathic "accents" or preferred metaphors). Two dolphins might both speak English but feel culturally foreign to each other.
Memory and grief: cetaceans can be emotionally deep; they remember individuals and events. That can make them surprisingly conservative about betrayals and surprisingly loyal to allies.
Problem-solving and tools: they're smart in non-human ways. Expect lateral playfulness from dolphins and strategic planning from orcas; both may treat "research" as exploring patterns rather than writing papers.