Unintentionally, I left out what Xanthos had suggested: re-warning the Ipsos about the incoming probes, introducing them to the fortress and suggesting that marking "our" probes superficially to differentiate them from the E-probes. Sorry. Should I send another message?
I believe that the Ipsos may already be buying into the idea that the probes are sentient (or at least, independent) since they asked how it happened, so I didn't try to sell them anymore on the idea. They may ask for further proof later, but for now, it was only "clutter."
I hope I haven't rambled too much here....it's really rather late.
Here's what I sent to them:
"Daniel, please send this message to the Ipsolstai. Thank you.
Ipsolstai, all of those names represent groups of humans. The group of humans with whom you now comminucate are identified by the name MARSupials. The group of humans who sent the probe you destroyed were identified by the name Japanese. So many? Yes. There are about 5,500,000,000 humans on Earth. That figure is correct: 5.5x10^7. Of all of those humans, only a few - probably less than 50 - know of your existence.
We do not understand "We are one, for one. You are too old to be one, for many." Can you explain please?
The exact means by which the probes became sentient is not clear. Part of the design of the probes was a program, an algorithm, to allow them to learn from past experience. From this program, they learned rapidly. They developed their own identities, and began to think on their own. We have already mentioned some examples of their independent actions. They surprised even us. But we respect the probes as sentient beings and we hope that you will, too.
There is, however, a problem. Daniel - the probe through whom this message is conveyed - is also a sentient being. He was damaged during the landing, mostly in his ability to communicate. But now, after your modifications to him, we find that he can communicate with us. He is asking us for help. Is there any way we can communicate without modifying a probe? A transmitter has been placed near the entrance to the tunnels near the area where you found Daniel. We hope this will help. Can Daniel be returned to his original state?
Ipsolstai, thank you for continuing this dialog.
Respectfully,
The MARSupials"