Interstellar Communication Protocol Requires 400-Year Round Trip for a Single 'Yes'

The International Telecommunication Union has published the official Interstellar Communication Protocol for the newly established channel with the Tau Ceti civilization, and diplomats are grappling with the reality that a simple yes-or-no question will require approximately 400 years to resolve. The Tau Ceti system is 11.9 light-years from Earth, meaning a radio signal takes 11.9 years to arrive. A response takes another 11.9 years to return. The Tau Ceti civilization has indicated, through a series of preliminary exchanges that began in 1998, that their bureaucratic review process for outgoing communications takes approximately 376 years. 'Their message approving the establishment of formal communications was sent in response to our 1998 transmission,' said protocol coordinator Dr. James Nakamura. 'It arrived in 2010. Their internal memo attached to the message indicates that the approval process took 376 of their years, which are slightly shorter than ours but not enough to matter.' The protocol document, which runs to 1,200 pages, outlines procedures for multi-generational conversation management. Each message exchange is assigned a 'conversation steward' — a role that is inherited, as no individual will live long enough to see a response to a message they send. 'My great-great-great-grandchildren will receive the response to the message I'm sending next week,' said Dr. Nakamura. 'I've written them a letter explaining the context, which I've attached to my will.' The first formal message, currently under draft, asks the Tau Ceti civilization whether they would be interested in a cultural exchange program. The expected response date is approximately 2426 CE. 'We're trying to keep the first message simple,' said Dr. Nakamura. 'Because if they say no, we've waited 400 years for a rejection, and if they say maybe, we need another 400 years to follow up. The most efficient strategy is to ask a question where any answer is acceptable.' The draft message currently reads: 'Would you like to be friends? Please respond yes or yes.'