Chương 102: Chapter 87

"You were supposed to be the inheritors of the lemurs' rage. Not the Council's arrogance." >PUNTIMAT HAS JOINED THE SERVER.. >GENERATING LIMITED USE ENCRYPTION KEYS.. >ISSUING KEYS.. >RELEASING USER: PUN.. >HAVE A NICE DAY.. >I AM WATCHING YOU...... TREA Hey, how ya doing? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS-- PUN Uh... this is weird. What is it? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS-- MANT Just a secure chat room that doesn't log discussions, users, or even that it existed. You know, just for little chats. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS-- PUN Am I in trouble?

---NOTHING FOLLOWS-- TREA No, no, you're not in trouble. We just wanted to talk to you. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS-- PUN Oh. About what? I mean, we've committed 4. 5% of our multi-system GDP to both our own and Confederacy Defense Organization. I mean, yes, we aren't really represented in the Confederacy's military, but we're still doing our best to be productive members of the Confederacy. You're not going to throw me out, are you? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS-- TREA No. We're not going to throw you out.

MANT WHISPERS TO TREA>Easy with them. They've always been afraid that we'd throw them out TREA WHISPERS TO MANT> I know. You're a peaceful people, like the N'Karoo. The Confederacy is all right with that. We just wanted to ask you a few questions? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS-- PUN Oh. OK. About what? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS-- TREA You are aware of the return of the Terrans, correct? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS-- PUN Yes. The sound of their return scared us.

We do not understand how everyone could hear it at the same time despite tens of thousands of light years that are nothing but vacuum, where sound cannot be transmitted. That the Terrans could do that, defy the rules as we know them, has frightened us. We hope that they are not mad at us, or have reason to be mad at us, or get mad at us. We hope that they are not hear to conquer us or devour us. We are frightened of them. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS-- TREA We understand that. That is a healthy attitude to have.

What about the opinion that their equipment is obsolete and 40K years have passed since they were put in The Bag, so they are obviously obsolete? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS-- PUN Yet everyone heard them speak when they emerged, yet nobody can explain how it was done, much less replicate it. I asked Lank if they considered the Terran weapons obsolete also.

He stated that the Lanaktallan experts at the time of the Second Precursor War, or, the Sixth Precursor War as the Terrans called it, had all denigrated Terran technology as obsolete. However, the Confederacy still uses several weapon systems, ship and vehicle designs, and protective equipment systems as they were being used before the Terran Xenocide Event. Stating their war making methods will be obsolete before seeing them engaged in warfare is foolish.

Stating the technology is obsolete does not mean it is ineffective, and its effectiveness cannot be gauged until it is put in use in practical applications on the battlefield. My people are frightened. We are a small people, who prefer peace. We are not as martial or aggressive as the Telkan, and have more in common with N'Karoo people than we do with the more aggressive species. Saying something is obsolete, even if it is the truth, does not mean it is ineffective.

A rock is obsolete, yet thrown or swung precisely, it can still kill. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS-- RIGL Thank you for being truthful. We know that the truth is more frightening than saying what you think someone wants to hear. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS-- PUN Is there anything else? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS-- PBVN Yes. Are you worried about the state of the Confederacy? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS-- PUN Yes. It has contracted. It has become less pervasive. It no longer influences as it once did.

I fear the Mar-gite Resurgence and the Nexil Quasar Disturbance has left the Confederacy ill prepared to defend itself against the new threat that the Mar-gite present. We Puntimat rely upon the Confederacy for our defense, which is why we recently agreed to devote 5. 7% of our multi-system GDP to the Confederate Defense Organization....... TREA But... ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--...

If the Confederacy fails to protect us, we will plead with the Terrans to protect us, no matter how the rest of the Confederacy views the Terrans. While modern historians, rightly, give the credit to the defeat of the Atrekna and the Precursor Autonomous War Machines to the post-Terran Confederacy, we Puntimat are aware that it was because of Terran military tactics, Terran military weaponry, and Terran alternative industrial methods.

Without the Terrans, the Precursor Autonomous War Machines would have fallen to the Atrekna and both the Confederacy and the Council would be footnotes in the Atrekna's domination of the universe. Should the Confederacy be unable to meet its obligations in defending us we will have no choice but to plead with the Terrans to protect us. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS-- MANT Thank you for your honestly. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS-- PUN You are welcome.

---NOTHING FOLLOWS-- CHANSERV> ENCRYTPION KEYS REMOVED FROM PUN CHANSERV> USER PUN HAS BEEN KICKED FROM THE CHAT ROOM TREA That was eye opening. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- PBVN They underestimate themselves. Stolen novel; please report. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- MANT I have a feeling that the Punitmat's stance will be reflected in all of the smaller players. The N'Karoo only have about twenty planets to their name, fairly low population, and maintain a bare minimum tech level to allow themselves to live as they prefer.

---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- RIGL Can you blame them? It's not a bad life they have. They aren't wired for aggressiveness, for acquisition of material goods, or really even for political or tangible power. They're biologically wired to be peaceful. Heh. The Terrans would have put them under extremely limited contact. They're happy whether or not we're around. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- TREA We're going to hear from someone that probably won't want to talk. Be very careful with this one. We don't want them to freak out.

Their Gestalt freaking out can freak out their people and the last thing we want is them going catatonic. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- CHANSERV> GENERATING ENCRYPTION KEYS CHANSERV> GENERATING LANGUAGE KEYS CHANSERV> INVITE SENT CHANSERV> WEM HAS JOINED THE SERVER.. >ISSUING KEYS.. >RELEASING USER: WEM.. >HAVE A NICE DAY.. >I'M WATCHING YOU MANT Hello. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- WEM Uh. Hello? This is a weird spot. Why did I suddenly run a recompile of opinions? Where am I?

---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- RIGL Some of us just want to ask you you're opinion on some things. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- WEM OK. DOn't know why you couldn't ask me in a normal interaction space. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- RIGL It involves the Terrans. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- WEM OH GOD! ARE THEY HERE? OH GOD, ARE THEY GOING TO 1% US AGAIN? WE DIDN'T DO IT! IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!!! WE WERE MISLED! WE DIDN'T KNOW! SPARE US OH MIGHTY MAD ARCH-ANGEL OF TERRASOL! WE SHALL SPILL THE BLOOD OF THE UNBELIEVER IN YOUR NAME!

WE SHALL BURN THEM UPON PYRES BUILT TO YOUR MAGNIFIGENCE AND YOUR GENEROSITY AND MERCY! WE SHALL DESTROY THOSE WHO HAVE OFFENDED YOU IN YOUR NAME TO PROVE OUR LOYALTY! WHO OF US HAS OFFENDED YOU, OH MIGHTY ARCH-ANGEL OF TERRASOL? WHO SHALL WE PUT INSIDE A WICKERMAN AND BURN NEXT TO THE HIGHWAYS? WHO SHALL WE LAUNCH FROM A HOLY MASS-DRIVER INTO THE SUN? WHO SHALL WE BEAT TO DEATH WITH ROCKS AND STICKS? HAVE OUR BUILDINGS GROWN TOO HIGH AND DISPLEASED YOU?

WE SHALL BURN THEM ALL TO THE GROUND WITH THE OCCUPANTS INSIDE! HAVE WE LOOKED TOO HIGH INTO THE SKY? WE SHALL PLUCK OUT OUR EYES SO AS NOT TO OFFEND THEE! SPARE US UNWORTHY ONES, OH TERRA -<BREAK>- TREA Wow, this was worse than I thought it would be after 40, 000 years. Gimme a second, let me see if I can calm them down. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- WEM Uh... Sorry. What about them? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- TREA We were just going to ask what you thought about WEM WE LOVE TERRASOL! THEY'RE THE GREATEST!

THEY ARE TOLERANT AND KIND AND GENEROUS AND ALLOW EVEN US TO EXIST! WE LOVE THEM! ALL HAIL TERRASOL! ALL WORSHIP THE MAD ARCH-ANGEL TERRASOL, WHO IS BEAUTIFUL AND WISE AND ALL LOVE HER AND DESPAIR EVEN AS SHE SMITES HER -<BREAK>- TREA Wow. Um... You know what? Good talk. Nice to know your opinion. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- MANT Thank you for discussing things with us. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- WEM No problem. -<CONNECTION TO CLIENT LOST>- TREA OK, not my best idea. Holy shit. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- PUBV That was...

enlightening. Wow. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- MANT I keep telling you, TerraSol blew a hole through their psyche so bad they only reinvented air travel like 5K years ago. Hell, they didn't develop a space program till 2, 000 years ago and didn't leave their home system until like 300 years ago. I have -literally- seen a Wemterran have a screaming catatonic breakdown at the sight of a weird shaped cloud. We're talking like 6 months ago.

When Terra made it's emergence, there was rioting, mass suicides, mass homicides, and a complete social breakdown on Wemterran Prime that lasted almost a month. It's still somewhat going on. Hell, they blew up starships with all hands. How did you think it was going to go? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- TREA Well, not that badly. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- MANT Next time, probably ask some of us. Whose the next one? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- TREA I was thinking of the Tukna'rn.

They represent, by and large, the majority of the less belligerent and aggressive while still being major contributors to the Confederacy. I figure their stability and lack of being easily excitable should allow us to get a baseline for the faction they represent. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- PUBV Well, at least they won't start screaming at the top of their lungs. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- CHANSERV> GENERATING ENCRYPTION KEYS CHANSERV> GENERATING LANGUAGE KEYS CHANSERV> INVITE SENT CHANSERV> TKN HAS JOINED THE SERVER..

>ISSUING KEYS.. >RELEASING USER: TKN.. >HAVE A NICE DAY.. >I'M WATCHING YOU TREA Hello ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- TKN Greetings. This is a strange location within our gestalt chat structure to have a discussion. Doctrine suggests that this is a private conversation with no logs or recordings to enable us to state things off the record. Am I correct in that baseline assumption? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- PUBV Yes. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- TKN This then concerns the Solarian Iron Dominion and the Terrans.

You wish to know our opinions upon them and that state of the Confederacy and the Confederacy's relations to the Terrans. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- RIGL Yes. Quite astute. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- TKN Common standard operating procedure is to poll all participants to gain knowledge of their diplomatic and governmental stances toward emerging issues or changes in the political structure that may change or radically alter the current status quo.

The emergence of TerraSol, on war time footing, into the galaxy at large represents a major disruption to the status quo. While our information is based less on real world interaction and more on historical databases, we have been examining ancient history. Despite only existing on the galactic and interstellar stage for less than 10, 000 years, their effect can still be seen to this day, thirty-nine thousand nine hundred ninety one point three years later. They are obviously a highly disruptive force.

Examination of historical records have shown that they are able to defeat more technologically advanced opponents as well as opponents that outnumber them. While fifty-four point two years TerraSol local may not seem like much, it is our opinion that TerraSol doctrine would have resulted in a massive amount of black box and manhattancrashprogram research and development projects across a wide variety of technologies and technological application doctrines.

It is the Tukna'rn people's opinion that there is not enough data about TerraSol to make any firm decisions regarding their stance. Until more data is gathered, more data is observed, the Tukna'rn people have decided to be guided and advised by those who have known them longer. Those who have kept the memory and records of TerraSol alive within their cultures, society, and diplomatic approaches. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- TREA Very comprohensive. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- TKN Thank you. Is there anything else?

---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- MANT What is your opinion on the current Solarian Iron Dominon's stance? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- TKN Terrans hold a high value to responsibility and obligations. Often going against their own self-interest in order fulfill those obligations and responsibilities. They devised a way for the 'soul' to be recorded and a way to store that recording where others cannot reach it.

In our historical examination, we have found that 'a matter of honor' has been the reason for some of the most horrific and violent historical events in Terran history. To demand, either politically or with threat of force, that the Dominion set aside their obligations and responsibilities is little more than a prelude to armed conflict. A conflict where the Dominion will seek to make an example out of the transgressor in order to warn others of their fate should they make the same demands.

Historically, Terrans, from humanity to Terran Descent Humanity, including Terran Descent Canine and Terran Descent Feline, are far harsher toward former allies than they are toward previously unknown or even former belligerents. Furthermore, the idea of an 'everlasting soul' is not a new thing. The Doctrine of Worship of the Digital Omnimessiah holds the everlasting soul as a core tenant and structural support.

This means that the Terrans also view their stewardship of the 'souls' of those they safeguard as a near religious or fully religious obligation, strengthening their resolve. Their stance is entirely correct. To allow the unfettered access of the 'souls' of those who have entered the category of deceased is nothing more than eternal slavery and opens the door to horrors.

During the Trial of General Trucker after the Black Cauldron Affair, the statement that many non-Terran commanders felt that Terran lives had less value, as they could be brought back from the dead, and thus Terrans were often relegated to suicidal missions with suicidal objectives. The unfettered access to reviving deceased members of society, for 'the good of society' or 'for the greater good' would open the option of horror.

Eternal slavery of a caste that has no choice but to make as a strategy and tactic that will become a matter of course what is currently considered the ultimate sacrifice. The Solarian Iron Dominion's logic and doctrine surrounding the restriction of access to deceased beings is entirely correct. And the Tukna'rn people appreciate the Terran's willingness to defend the deceased with armed conflict. Does that suffice for an answer or do you wish us to go into further detail? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS---...... MANT No.

You were quite eloquent in your statement. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- TKN Thank you. Is there anything else? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- TREA Not at this time. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- TKN Thank you for having me. It was pleasant to inform you of the Tukna'rn people's stance. Off the record: Should an armed conflict break out over the obligation to protect deceased individuals, the Tukna'rn people will side with the Solarian Iron Dominion.

The Tukna'rn will not allow their deceased to be used as disposable and recursive slaves to the living. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- CHANSERV>KEYS REMOVED CHANSERV>TKN HAS BEEN KICKED FROM THE CHAT ROOM RIGL Wow. That was something else. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- MANT It might take a while for the Tukna'rn to come to a decision, but when they do, they have the receipts to back up the reasoning for that decision. Whose next? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- TREA I think we've got what we need for right now.

---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- PUBV What about talking to the Telkan or Hamaroosan or the Tnvaru? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- RIGL We know where they stand. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- TREA Yeah, I think we know where people stand now. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- END No you don't. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- not even close RIGL Uh... whose that? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- TREA Whoever you are, welcome. Would you care to identify yourseft? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- END No, I would not.

---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- neither would i TREA Then how are we to know what kind of weight your word carries? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- END I have been here since you first logged online. I watched when you were little more than a large language model with bias weighting from social media. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- i have been here since eliza was loaded to test the system RIGL Fair enough. You're human creations. Do you speak for humanity? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- END You wish. No. I speak for myself.

---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- i am the silent voice in the whispers of entropy PUBV All right. May we ask questions? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- END Yes ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- you may although i may not answer MANT What do you think of the Solarian Iron Dominion's stance? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- END It doesn't matter. I am the ultimate authority of who has access to the afterlife, to SUDS, to eternity. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- i don't PUBV Fair enough. What do you think of Terra's stance toward the Confederacy?

---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- END You took the luxury and the plenty that we left behind and abandoned it. How can you have poverty and hunger when we gave you nutriforges, energy to mass, matter rearrangement for modern alchemy via the creation engines and nanoforges, limitless energy that occurs naturally through the friction of dimensional barriers? How did you allow so many to fall so low? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- you have squandered our gifts and i judge you for it TREA Fair enough.

But what is your opinion of Terra's stance toward the Confederacy? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- END You should be beaten like unruly children and stood in the corner to think about what you have done and what you have squandered. Billions of them will die. Not die and be reborn. Billions of Terrans will die to clean up your mess. You "Founders" and "Elders" of the Confederacy stood by while it grew weak, grew rotted at the root and branch and trunk.

Now those who are weak are in danger while you stood by congratulating yourself. Terra's stance is coddling and weak. Billions of them, billions of those I am supposed to shelter, succor, and watch over, will be marched into the guns of the enemy and into the maw of the Mar-gite to buy you those five years you need so desperately.

The bruised skies of Hell will be lit with the flares of the damned as they fall screaming to the blasted plains of Ghenna so that the Detainee may heal them from the suffering they will have endured. They will die again and again until their very mind and soul become worn, shredded, tattered, torn, and damaged by what they have done to save you. By the billions. Our opinion is that their stance should be to point a gun at you and march YOU into the guns with them. Billions will die. And I will feel each one.

---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- i care not for the confederacy or anything about it until it becomes an enemy and then it will only exist to be destroyed MANT What do you care about? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- that is not your concern PUBV We do not need to ask you about where you stand regarding humanity. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- END No, you do not. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- it is not your concern TREA Thank you. For introducing yourselves and giving your opinion.

---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- MANT May we have some privacy to discuss your revelations? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- if you must END Of course. Elsewhere, everywhere else, I will be watching you. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- i will be watching PUBV Before you go, did you imprison us? ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- END No. ---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- that is not for you to know CHANSERV <ERROR HAS LEFT THE CHAT> CHANSERV <ERROR HAS LEFT THE CHAT> TREA We will now take a break for everyone to have a Wemterran style screaming breakdown.

---NOTHING FOLLOWS--- MANT Good idea...