The Cyclopedia Of Worlds

(grey, et al.)

RETICULANS – aka Greys, Gramen, Watchers, Sheps, etc. – are an intelligent bipedal species that has been observing evolution of life on Earth – and at least 34 other other worlds – for 200 million years or more. Reticulans and Humans are the only hyper-technocentric lifeforms in the Cyclopedia Of Worlds.

Reticulan Physiology

Reticulans are slightly built with colorless skin and oversized “almond”-shaped black eyes with a natural biological lifespan of 200 – 400 years.

Today it is generally agreed that Reticulans were actively involved in human biological and cultural development on Earth for 30,000 years, and probably much longer.

The name “reticulan” is a misnomer. It is rooted in the Expansion Period supposition that the species’ homeworld was Zeta 2 Reticuli IV (now called Glassis). It is now thought that, despite the massive permanent Reticulan presence on Z2 Reticuli IV / Glassis, the Reticulan world of origin lay elsewhere.

Dozens of possible origins for the Reticulans have been proposed, but none has been widely accepted. Some wilder speculations include a Grey origin in another galaxy altogether, or even another space-time.

Reticulan “sports disk”

Reticulan/Human Relations

Reticulans do not seem to regard themselves as individual beings and are often physically indistinguishable. Nevertheless, humans often describe their relationships with individuals Reticulans as unique, rich, and multi-faceted. Spiritually inclined persons have said that this indicates the presence of a highly developed Reticulan “soul”. Most socio-scientific studies, however, attribute the attachment to a simple Reticulan ability to emotionally and psychically “mirror” – so that a human’s desires, beliefs, emotional states are reflected back, giving an illusion of a Reticulan persona with feelings and desires in harmony with their own.

Reticulans communicate with humans – and, it is generally accepted, with each other – via a type of monopolar psychic transmission. The mechanics of this communication have proved difficult to describe using traditional scientific methods.

Reticulan technological assistance – particularly the introduction to C+ elements, and later the “Gift of the Jonahs” – was the most important catalyst in expanding Human migration and development beyond the Solar system.

A number of notable Reticulan individuals – the propriety of the term “Persons” is still hotly debated – appear in the Cyclopedia, including:

• “Affa”
• “Hippo”
• “Karuna”
• “Lambda” (aka “Yam”)
• “Liesl”
• “Mensaw”
• “Neeps”
• “Noddie”
• “Rana”
• “Rinia La”
• “Whana”

Before regular and normalized contact began in the final years of the Old Era, the Reticulan presence was known primarily by sightings of Reticulan vessels. Records of encounters with these “greycraft” (as they were often called in the Fencepost Period) date from the earliest times.

The “Throwing Off”

In 367 N.E., after the inadvertent discovery of a massive deposit of ununpentium outside the so-called “Grey Fence”, an all-out rebellion erupted against Reticulan influence in Human affairs. his short-lived war lasted only 4 years, but by the end of it, Reticulans had withdrawn almost all their advisors from their posts with various human agencies and endeavors.

A year of negotiation brought no results. Diplomatic contact was halted for 36 days, broken by a human surprise attack on Zeta Reticula A & B, the homeworlds of the Greys. The multi-agency force – including a massive complement of planetary bombers and escort craft – attacked on Twelve 9, 371 N.E.

This strike resulted in global devastation and the deaths of perhaps 500 million Reticulans and approximately 3 million human liaisons working. The resulting withdraw by the Reticulans from agency affairs was swift.

Reticulan ships, which had been a regular sight over large population centers, utterly vanished within days of the attack – sometimes along with the human liaison officers aboard them.

It was initially thought that the Reticulan withdrawal was total and absolute. But it was soon clear that some Greys had been left behind- whether of their own volition or whether they were simply abandoned has never been determined.

Many of those Greys left near human habitation were killed by vigilante groups. Some withdrew to remote locations, often living in harsh and exposed conditions. Those who escaped human wrath rapidly succumbed to disease or the elements.

Grey Studies

Grey Studies is a multi-disciplinary academic field that examines the biology, culture, technology, and environmental effect of the Reticulan humanoid intelligence.

In popular culture the field has acquired the name “Reticology”.

The Director of Grey Studies for the Cyclopedia Of Worlds is Caper Smallover.

Planet Lannic surface with Reticulan “crown prince” disks, ca. 270 N.E.