# Aspirational Contact

An aspirational future requires civic institutions, ethical exploration, translation, treaty, and plural membership.

- Type: curated historical and symbolic lineage
- Inquiry Domain: contact-communication

## Path

1. **Aspirational Future** — `edge--develops-into--sfoc-myths-aspirational-future--sfoc-factions-starfleet`
2. **Starfleet** — `edge--develops-into--sfoc-factions-starfleet--sfoc-factions-united-federation-of-planets`
3. **United Federation of Planets** — `edge--develops-into--sfoc-factions-united-federation-of-planets--sfoc-programs-first-contact-mission`
4. **First Contact Mission** — `edge--develops-into--sfoc-programs-first-contact-mission--sfoc-events-first-contact`
5. **First Contact** — `edge--develops-into--sfoc-events-first-contact--sfoc-technologies-universal-translator`
6. **Universal Translator** — `edge--develops-into--sfoc-technologies-universal-translator--sfoc-events-cosmic-treaty`
7. **Cosmic Treaty** — `edge--develops-into--sfoc-events-cosmic-treaty--sfoc-factions-galactic-federation`
8. **Galactic Federation**

## Reading

- Forward: Read as an unfolding sequence in which each threshold creates the problem addressed by the next.
- Reverse: Read as an integration path that traces a present condition back toward its enabling assumptions.
- Diagnostic: Stop where the sequence first feels implausible; that seam names the contested transition.
