{
  "schemaVersion": 1,
  "id": "texto-sayula-iii",
  "language": "en",
  "canonical": "https://paynalton.tech/en/works/sayula-iii/",
  "title": "Sayula III",
  "summary": "Galactic career and cultural motivations of different species.",
  "author": "Paynalton",
  "format": "fiction",
  "year": 2025,
  "source": "https://www.reddit.com/r/UniversoISH/comments/1nvn38o/sayula_iii/",
  "partial": false,
  "topics": [
    {
      "title": "Stories and narrative",
      "url": "https://paynalton.tech/en/topics/lectura-categoria-cuentos/"
    },
    {
      "title": "Story",
      "url": "https://paynalton.tech/en/topics/lectura-cuento/"
    },
    {
      "title": "Science Fiction",
      "url": "https://paynalton.tech/en/topics/lectura-ciencia-ficcion/"
    },
    {
      "title": "Humor",
      "url": "https://paynalton.tech/en/topics/lectura-humor/"
    },
    {
      "title": "Competition",
      "url": "https://paynalton.tech/en/topics/lectura-competencia/"
    },
    {
      "title": "Cultural clash",
      "url": "https://paynalton.tech/en/topics/lectura-choque-cultural/"
    }
  ],
  "body": "What leads a species to transcend its own nature, build civilizations, expand across the universe, and even transcend space-time?\n\nThe answer to this question is very varied, since different species have different reasons. For example, we can see the hive mind of the Irrakians, whose purpose is to infect all known forms of life with the noble goal of bringing peace and happiness to the galaxy, because if everyone obeys the great mind, there is no reason to fight and everyone is happy once they abandon their free thinking. Or we can look at the curious Benandians, whose only purpose in life is to peacefully plant a Benan flower on every existing planet because their god asked them to do so with a purpose that only the high priests know.\n\nAlthough we must accept that there are some species that have more trivial reasons, such as pride. A clear example of this is the Albion Empire, whose pride leads them to want to be the best at everything they do, whether in preparing a meal or firing a cannon, for everything they desire to be the best and, more importantly, that everyone knows they are.\n\nIt is no surprise that an Albion ship was the first to make a full loop around the galaxy, and the most impressive thing is that it was not an FTL ship, but a simple generational ship commanded (at first) by the proud Captain Drakis France, who, as happens in every generational ship, did not survive the journey.\n\nWhen the ship returned from its journey centuries after departing into the unknown, great celebrations were held, statues were built for the pioneers, noble titles were distributed, heroic paintings were made, and songs were sung in honor of the travelers. Of course, no one questioned the usefulness of a generational journey around the galaxy with the sole purpose of returning to the same place from which they departed, and if someone did, they were surely not heard.\n\nFor several years it was difficult to deal with the pride of the Albions, since any casual conversation with an Albion eventually ended up in the retelling of that journey and, occasionally, with some Albion singing the Imperial Hymn with great passion. The Inckis used the phrase \"Mana llamk’achina\" to refer to Albions with exaggerated pride, which means something similar to \"That from which you cannot milk anything.\"\n\nIn the face of constant rejection from other species toward the pride of Albion, the Albion Empire decided to organize a race using solar sailships around the entire trinary system of Albion, and invited all species in the galaxy to participate. Thus, it would be demonstrated to all that the Albionians were the best stellar navigators in the galaxy and no one would ever again cover their ears and crawl on the ground in agony upon hearing the Imperial Anthem of Albion.\n\nMany species attended the call, especially those originating from the Perseus Arm, who were among the first to discover FTL travel and had a long tradition of stellar naval prowess, not to mention their desire to shut the three mouths of the Albionians with one punch.\n\nCuriously, a single species from the Orion Arm also attended: the humans. This caused laughter and admiration, because, to be honest, it was a species that had barely discovered FTL travel, and, according to rumor, had never used solar sailships since their planet had abundant fossil fuels and they preferred to tie things to rockets and launch them at full speed.\n\nLaughter multiplied when, upon arriving on Albion, the humans began to look for a used solar sailship and enrolled in an intensive course on how to use solar sailships. Local news outlets added a section called \"What Are the Humans Doing?\" to give their audience a bit of humor before moving on to the political section.\n\nThus, the race began, with big bets on the victory of the Frankoize, the Norwandos, and, of course, the Albionians. While the humans received the attention of curious and mocking spectators, who didn't take long to invent jokes and humorous illustrations.\n\nSayula III was the name of that sailship. For the amusement of all and the surprise of none, the humans had problems as soon as they started and ended up in last place on the first day of the race. Unable to deploy their sails at the correct angle, and unable to take advantage of solar wind gusts, the sailship barely moved, and many bet on how long it would take before they requested a rescue ship.\n\nConcern grew when the ships had to pass through between the three suns. No one who is not an expert navigator should ever dare to attempt this, as the waves of plasma particles, the terrible radiation, and the sudden magnetic explosions are a death sentence. The ship Gran Albión II (Albion) was the first to cross, followed by Pequeño Luis (Frankoize Republic) and the Cóndor Caliente (Albion). Other sailships also managed to cross, but they had so much damage that they had to withdraw from the race.\n\nAs for the humans, all were expecting the news of their lamentable destruction until, suddenly, Sayula III emerged from the chaos, visibly damaged. Her captain, named Ramón Carlín, reported that they had serious damage, but they would continue the race, making repairs along the way.\n\nUpon reaching the edge of the system, the weak solar wind made the sailships travel more slowly. Tauranga II (New Landazan) had to withdraw from the race and be towed back, as it became stranded in a dark area of the system.\n\nAfter emerging from the solar storms, Sayula III left behind traces of junk that apparently the humans had been discarding from the lock, apparently lightening the weight, and the sails were reconfigured into a triangular shape that no one had ever seen, in a position that apparently did not take advantage of the solar wind at all, or so said the experts. But the truth was that the farther they traveled from the suns, the faster the sailship went. The human ship crossed the edge of the system at such a speed that it left all the ships of the Perseus Arm behind and positioned itself in third place in the race, only behind the two powerful Albion ships, Gran Albión II and Aventura, the favorites to win the race.\n\nThere was only the return to Albion and the Albion ships were far ahead, the result seemed decided. However, the humans suddenly veered toward Janeiro, the great gas giant of the Albion system. Everyone wondered if perhaps the humans had decided to commit suicide as part of some ritual. Sayula III accelerated due to the planet's strong gravitational pull, but instead of colliding, it passed by thanks to a precise movement of the sail, dodging the planet and positioning the ship in first place in the race.\n\nThe entire Albion Empire remained silent when the human ship was the first to dock at the spaceport; the millions of tourists from the Orion Arm, mostly humans, celebrated with cheers and fluids the victory, other species shared the joy completely overwhelmed.\n\nA reporter approached the human captain and asked: \"What made you want to participate in the race and win it?\" The human who held his trophy, visibly exhausted and with his skin burned by radiation, answered:\n\n\"We just wanted to know if we could do it\"\n\nAnd that, dear reader, seems to be the only reason that drives humans to travel among the stars. To prove to themselves, not to others, that they are capable of great feats.\n\nEpilogue: Although the race has continued to be held at regular intervals, no ship from the Albion Empire has ever won it.\n\nImage created with AI\n\nCC-BY License\n"
}