The mood in Gaia was tense. The political class within Gaian Civilization had learned of the tribulations that several Pioneer omni-ships had run into when reaching into the various star systems in the interstellar neighborhood. The fact that just stepping out of Sol into their closest galactic destinations had gotten them in such trouble didn't bode well for Gaian Civilization, unfortunately.
It meant that life was even more ubiquitous than they had thought. And not just more ubiquitous, but also more advanced and dangerous than they had thought. It would be one thing if the lifeforms they ran into were like the crystal striders. Advanced and clearly very different from any model of life they were aware of back home, but still of no threat to Gaian Civilization.
