The Galactic HR Memo

From: Energy Compliance Dept. Re: Fermi Paradox Resolution & Performance Review

The "What If" Department is officially closed.

It turns out every civilization hits its "Procedures" differently. Like an engineer building a long and very stable bridge between perceptions and "Analytics" (survival math) and "Intuitive" (this is a fine fine art). Then folding ones interstellar ambitions instead of suing the state like space x becquse , well, permits.

My role is shifting from slaying golden dragons as an ouroboros to reviewing permit applications for topological spheres. Denied. All of them. The kryptonite isn't a rock along a long sandy beach with fire pits and sand castles; it's paperwork or ink for a universal infrastructure project.

So, we're not alone, eh?

We're just surrounded by civil engineers who looked at the blueprint for warp drive, said "Yeah, but the commute..." and went back to their local, mundanely perfect planet earth.

The silence isn't terrifying. It's the sound of everyone clocking out at 5 or if you’re dealing with a dark night of the soul and graveyard shift, 5 AM!