EmuMusicFan
Commodore
CHAPTER 18
Waking up from sleep, Ulannajirak checks the mailbox. Yes, Cyric's new reply is there.
This time, after reading the imposing reply, Ulannajirak is instead so relieved with a smile. It seems that this aspect of human's love for waving fists and chanting slogans is not necessarily weaker than that of some imperial warriors.
What is more, Ulannajirak is somewhat relieved. This cultural course is now proved to be useful, and at least this letter might have exposed a serious shortcoming of certain human pilot's cognition in the knowledge of Kilrathi culture.
Then he allows himself to put these topics behind him for the time being, so as to seriously engage in the coming Medbay's medical work today.
Jullianna scurries out of the medbay doors, Ted is sitting in the waiting room, having a breather. Ulannajirak walks by. The Medbay has 12 beds in general, and a four private rooms. Recently he was informed that due to certain security issue, he was not allowed to enter certain wards.
Ulannajirak greets Julianna and Nurse Ted, "Hello to both of you!"
"Oh- hi Ulannajirak, I have to- go back to take care- take care of a mission spec. I'll be back soon. " Julianna replies, and leaves quickly.
"Ulannajirak, how's it going?" Ted asks. "How was class?"
"Well, I'd say it's pretty good." Ulannajirak pauses for a while, "And I've really seen some of the human students ...... behaving bad. See, I'm a little angry." Then he deliberately let his mane bristled a little.
From somewhere in medbay comes a very annoyed growl followed by the testy voice of Doctor Suzuki, who's saying, "What do you think you're doing in here you annoying, pesky furball!"
Ulannajirak is astonished by the growl. Furball... That's a rude scorn for Kilrathi. Is the chief blaming me?
"Doctor, he is acting as an orderly. You've got the mail, right?" Ted jumps up and warns Dr. Meiko.
Totally ignorning the comments from the unseen Ted, Meiko continues with, "I've told you! Stop following me, especially here, but do you listen? Consider yourself lucky that whoever's in charge of the Black Cat's now is going to get tazed instead of you." Meiko mutters as she walks into view with an annoyed look on her face... And a black housecat partly in her arms and being held by the scruff of his neck.
Ulannajirak is embarrassed. Oh, it seems that the chief was reprimanding her... pet?
Ted sighs in relief, he did not want to have to seal up another tanto cut.
Ulannajirak reports to Dr. Meiko very formally, "Chief, I think the patient Brett should be discharged today."
The house cat in Dr. Meiko's arms is still triggering Ulannajirak's attention. In fact, the cat has always been demonstrating against the HUGE alien feline, another predator in front of him.
"Evening people." Meiko remarks to the group gathered, there. The cat lets out a meow which causes her to peer at it and say, "Quiet you troublemaker." Tilting her head at Ulannajirak's comment thoughtfully she says, "Oh, I'll give his papers a quick look over, and then see about getting him out of here. Right after I dump this brat off at the Cathouse." Glancing around she adds, "Someone remind me later to shoot off a nasty email to the 13th's CO too. If the cat follows me again, I'm keeping it."
"She's just been discharged, "Ted scratches the back of his head. "A pity you couldn't reach her earlier."
"Yes, Chief!" Ulannajirak turns around to prepare Brett's documents.
"Always difficult when you gotta perform with security guards watching your back. eh eh eh. " Ted notes.
"Security guards aren't much use, if they're not where they can easily stop a problem when it comes up." Meiko remarks to Ted, giving her shoulders a slight shrug, despite the cat currently in her arms.
"I know... just feels like exam session every day." Ted looks away. "Like the one where you're in your underwear and show up to work."
"Well, Ted," Ulannajirak carefully asks, "Will Brett leave the system with the evacuated civilians in the near future?" Then he glimpses at Meiko. "Sorry, you need not to answer me if it is a secret."
Ted looks at Meiko.
"All things considered, he'll still probably be heading back to the brig when he's cleared from medbay. Security's still not going to want to take chances with a Retro, and that tends to go double in a combat zone." Meiko says with a shrug and shake of her head. "That stuff's all out of our control anyways."
"Understood, Chief." Ulannajirak replies.
Enforcer walks around the ship, and eventually finds his way into the Medical Bay. Enforcer completed his "reports" and got in a quick workout to get his mind off the people who died in the last mission.
"Oh, hello, Mr. Enforcer." Ulannajirak waves his paw.
Enforcer bows slightly at the waist, "Salutations, Professor. How are things in the medical bay?"
Ulannajirak hurriedly returns the courtesy. "Mr. Enforcer, this is not a classroom, it's good if we talk equally. " Then he glimpse at Dr. Meiko again, "especially in front of our chief." Not to mention that I'm not a Preofessor yet in human academy ranks, just a instructor now.
"Aside from a pesky feline intruder, things are fine here today." Dr. Meiko remarks before glancing between the housecat in her arms, and the Kilrathi, before clarifying, with a smirk, just in case it's needed. "This guy I mean. Not Ulannajirak."
Ulannajirak weighs his answer. In fact, now he understands that Enforcer, and even Julianna, could be the personnel on the command staff assessing himself. He is also thankful that he didn't comment too much on the Kiranka royal family in front of Julianna, since Julianna is likely to say these things to that Azran.
"Greetings, Dr. Meiko." Enfrcer gestures to the housecat, "I see you have a new friend."
"Hah, friend... He's a pest. And for somereason's taken up following me, when he's got a whole squad of bomber pilots who should be taking care of him." Meiko remarks with a roll of her eyes. "If it keeps this up, they'll be sorry he picked probably the one person on the ship with a bigger knife collection than the marine's on board."
"This little furry baby can't be that much trouble... could he?" Enforcer asks.
Shrugging Meiko says, "You wouldn't think so. But I wouldn't want him getting in the way of people doing their work. And yesterday the fuzzball ended up in my quarters, and my roommate's kinda allergic to cats, so I had to listen to -her- complaining too."
"I understand that. Did you or the bomber pilots come up with a name for him yet?" Enfprcer shows a keen interest. Ulannajirak strains his ears to listen, Wow... naming the pet.
"I've not gotten around to asking them yet. First things first is the angry email I'm sending them about keeping a better eye on him." Meiko claims with a laugh, "Along with the warning that if it happens again, I'm keeping him, and they'll have to make due with a plushie or something for a mascot."
"Well, he does have the heart of an explorer by going all over the ship." Enforcer Turns to Ullannajirak, oblivious to his reaction at naming the cat. "Do you have any explorers of note in Kilrathi history?"
"Explorers?" Ulannajirak notices that Enorcer is asking him. "Well, Ikgara Kutgaga, Kilrathi‘s sacred history of the clans, has records on them."
Then he looks at Dr. Meiko again, "Chief, is it break time now?" Ulannajirak pauses a while, "Could we have a... chat on such non-medical topics?"
Meiko glances back into the room and nods at Ulannajirak, "Yeah I think that's fine. Things aren't to busy, so the others on duty can handle it. And we'll know if there's an emergency that needs us anyways."
"From this cat's actions, I think that he may have the natural boldness of an explorer, so such a name may be appropriate."
Meiko chuckles as the housecat gives another meow, and says, "Most cats in my experience are explorers of some sort. Always getting themselves in places they're not supposed to be. At least this guy's not as hyper as the cat I had as a kid."
"Understood, Chief." Ulannajirak then knows from Enforcer's words that he is intending to name the Terran house cat after a Kilrathi sage. "Eh... Sorry, I could not remember a very suitable case on our topic now..."
"Well... Mr. Enforcer," Ulannajirak tries to change the topic, "Let's talk about the current situation on Ghorah Khar."
Enforcer nods, "Certainly. Should we head to the lounge, where we should be undisturbed?" Dr. Meiko gestures to come with her.
Three people and a house cat - or say, two primates and two felines from different planets - come into the lounge.
Dr. Meiko sitts down naturally with the cat in her arms, follows by Enforcer. Ulannajira hesitates for a second, carefully sits down in the chair on the onther side.
"I've heard that the Confederation is granting them citizenship in batches these days." Ulannajirak pauses for a while, "If a Kilrathi gets citizenship, does that give him the privilege to... choose his superior?" Ulannajirak then looks at Meiko as a invitation without word.
"Not necessarily, depending on what you mean. Can't always pick your boss. Especially in the military." Meiko remarks with a slight shrug of her shoulders. "If you mean political leaders, then you can vote for who you'd want, but that's not quite the same thing."
"Pretty much what Dr. Meiko said." Enforcer shows his acknowledgement, "That said, I think that we can admit that all forms of governance have their positives and drawbacks."
"Got it." Ulannajirak has a thoughtful expression on his face. In fact, he knows the rebellion incident of Ghoral Khar itself means that the people there made a choice. They have granted themselves this privilege, or say, right.
Meiko nods at Enforcer's comment, and adds, "Usually there's means to get transfers if someone really has a problem with one of their higher ups, but, that's always an iffy thing on whether the brass will allow it. And at least here on the front lines, it's way less likely to happen even when in a position where it could be done fairly easily."
"Mr. Enfocer, after the last class, I read the letters from the participants." Ulannajirak carefully states, "I've noticed that there seem to be quite a few humans who think Kilrathi's social makeup is centralized?"
"I may need to clarify that our social makeup is actually closer to the... feudal era in human history?" Ulannajirak looks at the two human, "Technically, a kil is responsible for his own hrai, clan, first and foremost, and then... the imperial court."
"That's probably because it's an empire with an emperor." Meiko remarks. "In most people's minds that sort of makes them think there's one supreme person in charge and everything they say is law. Cause they probably figure that's how it used to be on Earth too. Which in most cases was never very true either."
"It is similar to a statement in Terran history: 'Omnes Viae Romam Ducunt -- All roads lead to Rome.' It think it also stems from their interpretation from something they heard: 'All Roads lead to Kilrah.'" Enforcer adds. "It is similar to a statement in Terran history: 'Omnes Viae Romam Ducunt -- All roads lead to Rome.' When dealing with your society, it is more immediately post-Roman for us, as the feudal era began shortly after Rome fell."
Hearing Enforcer's words, Ulannajirak shakes his head with a bitter smile, "There is such old words, but... these words themselves means that lots of other clans doen't live on Kilrah. Since the era of interstellar travel, Kilrah has slowly become the planet of the nar Kiranka clan. Various other clans have moved out of Kilrah one after another."
"Looking for their own fiefdoms and power bases?" Enfocers pursues the question. Yes, he is getting closer to the key point.
"Yes, the emperor encouraged every other clans to do so." Ulannajirak stares at Enforcer's eyes, "ENCOURAGED."
Ulannajirak sighs, "I'm actually from a... frontier region of the empire. Before we two races... met each other, this place could be considered one of the farthest regions from the center of the empire. It takes a long way to get to Kilrah from my homeworld. Do you understand what this means?"
"I grew up quite some distance from Earth, so we had to fend for ourselves." Enforcer answers.
"That your world is like... Oh, I don't know... Germany or Britan would have been to Ancient Rome?" Meiko hazards a mostly joking guess.
Ulannajirak sighs. Definitely the two human missed the answer. But it is OK anyway, maybe I should just stop the topic here.
"Well, on to the topic at hand. In fact, I always had a feeling that the imperial dynasty seems to want to make the whole Kilrathi ...... more ...... united through the war with humans. I don't know if you understand what I mean." Ulannajirak carefully states,“In fact, when the Empire decided to go to war with the Confederation more than twenty years ago, it required the collective approval of the elders of the eight noble clans.”
"I remember how an old Terran power considered war with another power. The leaders made sure that the power launched a surprise attack in order to gain support for the war." Enforcer continues. "The government went from being heavily divided to almost unanimity."
“It was not like the emperor just went to war by one decree.” Ulannajirak looks at Enforcer. Obviously the topic is very serious, “I sometimes have some questions about whether the imperial court is hoping ...... to create a ...... more ...... efficient ...... power structure in the future. That would probably mean that the elders of the various clans would all become simple servants of the emperor.”
When Ulannajirak says these, his mane trembles, as if he is gathering the courage to spill these thoughts.
"Could be. Wouldn't be the first time someone in the universe has tried something like that, I'd imagine." Meiko says with a nod.
Enforcer also nods, "It has happened with some of the powers on Earth. It led to...well...some of our history's darkest moments."
"Oh, sorry, I am talking too far." Ulannajirak shakes his head. "I will go for lunch now. See you later, Chief and Mr. Enforcer!" He bows, and leaves the lounge.
"And you..." Meiko says to the feline in her arms, "Are going back where you belong." the cat meows and tries to nudge her and she rolls her eyes, "Stop that you. Not gonna charm your way out of this." She claims as she heads off towards the lift.
Waking up from sleep, Ulannajirak checks the mailbox. Yes, Cyric's new reply is there.
To: Dr. Ulannajirak c/o CMDR. SCHMITD
From: 2nd Lt. Cyric “Talon” Karde
RE: A MESSAGE ABOUT KILRATHI CULTURE COURSE
I shall be more than happy to answer your hypotheticals as unlikely as they are to occur in reality given the current state of the war is my race holding the line against your race’s incursions and invasions, Kal Gathica. I would ask that you understand that it has not been my race invading your race’s worlds, it has not been my race that has been capturing your kin to extinguish as slaves, it has not been my race that is guilty of unleashing bio-weapons and planetary scale destruction upon countless worlds populated by countless innocents and non-combatants.
If either one of us is going to object to the current day status of the practice of genocide and slavery, then I would respectfully suggest that it would be your race and not mine that would fall beneath the scales of Justice in that regard. We may have some vague similarities from the context of various periods of my home world’s ancient history but there are considerable differences between your race and mine in light of our present day conflict. Differences that you should be at least partially aware of given your defection to the Confederation in recent days.
I shall answer your hypothetical scenarios in the order they were asked:
1. Assuming I was well-aware of the contents of the transport ship, I would order the pilot of the transport to divert to the nearest internment camp for Kilrathi non-combatants with a recommendation that they be traded for a like number of human slaves taken by the Kilrathi in the most recent slave raids within the Gemini sector. If the transport ship refused to surrender, then I would take their ship by use of a small Marine boarding action or personally capture the vessel by killing or capturing the pilot of the transport ship myself (assuming the ship was a dorkir class) but sparing the non-combatants provided I could do so without threatening the mission. The transport ship could then be ferried and converted into a supply ship or transport ship as dictated by the needs and exigencies of the Confederation Sector or High Command.
2. Again, assuming perfect information of its contents, I would take the general’s lair mate and cubs prisoner for the purpose of trading for the several times their number of my warrior comrades captured or enslaved by your race in this war. Again, the practicality of this measure is not possible given the limited information provided of the tactical resources at my disposal within the context of this hypothetical scenario. If this were a dorkir or small transport ship, then I would dock with it and capture it myself to facilitate the honorable transfer of prisoners: a princely number of my race’s captured warriors commensurate to the value of your Imperial general’s lair mate and cubs. It would be interesting for your hypothetical scenario if your hypothetical Imperial General would value them highly enough to facilitate such an exchange in return for their safe return to your worlds.
3. Under Confederation Article 7, subsection 8 under the Military Code of Justice, it is right and proper that any order to willfully and knowingly commit war crimes, which include the deliberate and calculated slaughter of non-combatants be considered illegal and refused regardless of the status or nature of the race involved, so no. It is not illegal to disobey orders that target innocent civilians or defenseless non-combatants recklessly.
If the transport ships involved in your hypothetical scenario refuse to stand down and be boarded or divert course for processing or the Imperial General or Imperial official who received such requests to return my race’s warriors or civilians in such a prisoner exchange for the safe return of his lair mate and cubs, then any subsequent action taken at that point will fall under the exigencies of this total war and outside the boundaries of this hypothetical scenario.
The deaths of non-combatants is not honorable in my culture but this war has claimed many lives and if I may speak freely, my race lacks the willingness to strip-mine worlds through the profligate use of slaves to construct the Kilrathi War Machine to conquer and enslave more worlds and races. It also lacks the industrial output of your race and the numbers required to fill the ranks of those additional ships. In the time it takes to train one Terran warrior, your race can produce a half dozen or more. If this hypothetical should become reality then the consequences of refusing a prisoner exchange for the safe return the lives of my race for the safe return of the lives of your race is on your race not mine. I would also respectfully spit upon the cowardice of your race sending non-combatant civilians into a hostile war-zone within hostile Confederation space to setup up your hypothetical scenario outlined above.
As for fighting for Firekkan survival and future, the Confederation is happy to do so as this weakens and distracts and humiliates your race and allows our two races to combine our strength to fight your race together. Further, my race’s governing body recognizes their sapience and their right to exist as they will without suffering enslavement or death at our hands. I will defend my race to the death and if my superiors believe that can be done better with the Firekkan than without then I will uphold the honor of my race by defending theirs with equal tenacity.
As for the Ghorah Khar’s rebellions, I welcome more like them as these are the means by which your Empire shall loosen its grip just enough that it will be far less likely or able to destroy or enslave my entire race. Do I believe it possible that peace could be achieved by virtue of such rebellions alone? No, I do not. Do I believe that such rebellions if successful can be used to distract your race’s military strength away from my race long enough for the Confederation to better restore, entrench, and reinforce our fractured front lines effectively? Yes, yes, I do.
For what greater strength is there than to turn an enemy to your cause? To turn their own knowledge and skills against them. Yes, I welcome more rebellions but I would like to suggest that it would be better if instead of defecting in small groups or clans like this if larger more well-organized clans could be turned against the Kilrathi Empire in the hunt for more power, glory, prestige, or a different sort of honor for themselves. That alone would allow my race to fortify its borders to keep your race out of Confederation space.
Once we have the warships and soldiers necessary to hold the line indefinitely, then we can seriously contemplate launching our own offensives into Kilrathi space to destroy your shipyards and military bases in a bid to force further division among your warring clans to the point that the bonds that bind your Empire together would weaken and crack just enough for the slaves you have taken to rise up against your race’s overlordship and bring the Kilrathi Empire to its knees!
To put that ultimate end to this decades long total war, we will fight to the death without withering, without waning, without breaking.
As for my homework, it was indeed attached to my previous e-mail, the access code to said attached document is as follows: Sigma-Charlie-Alpha 39-745D.
Until the next class, I remain...
Respectfully,
2nd Lt. Cyric Karde,
1087th Fighter Squadron
TCS Majestic (edited)
This time, after reading the imposing reply, Ulannajirak is instead so relieved with a smile. It seems that this aspect of human's love for waving fists and chanting slogans is not necessarily weaker than that of some imperial warriors.
What is more, Ulannajirak is somewhat relieved. This cultural course is now proved to be useful, and at least this letter might have exposed a serious shortcoming of certain human pilot's cognition in the knowledge of Kilrathi culture.
Then he allows himself to put these topics behind him for the time being, so as to seriously engage in the coming Medbay's medical work today.
Jullianna scurries out of the medbay doors, Ted is sitting in the waiting room, having a breather. Ulannajirak walks by. The Medbay has 12 beds in general, and a four private rooms. Recently he was informed that due to certain security issue, he was not allowed to enter certain wards.
Ulannajirak greets Julianna and Nurse Ted, "Hello to both of you!"
"Oh- hi Ulannajirak, I have to- go back to take care- take care of a mission spec. I'll be back soon. " Julianna replies, and leaves quickly.
"Ulannajirak, how's it going?" Ted asks. "How was class?"
"Well, I'd say it's pretty good." Ulannajirak pauses for a while, "And I've really seen some of the human students ...... behaving bad. See, I'm a little angry." Then he deliberately let his mane bristled a little.
From somewhere in medbay comes a very annoyed growl followed by the testy voice of Doctor Suzuki, who's saying, "What do you think you're doing in here you annoying, pesky furball!"
Ulannajirak is astonished by the growl. Furball... That's a rude scorn for Kilrathi. Is the chief blaming me?
"Doctor, he is acting as an orderly. You've got the mail, right?" Ted jumps up and warns Dr. Meiko.
Totally ignorning the comments from the unseen Ted, Meiko continues with, "I've told you! Stop following me, especially here, but do you listen? Consider yourself lucky that whoever's in charge of the Black Cat's now is going to get tazed instead of you." Meiko mutters as she walks into view with an annoyed look on her face... And a black housecat partly in her arms and being held by the scruff of his neck.
Ulannajirak is embarrassed. Oh, it seems that the chief was reprimanding her... pet?
Ted sighs in relief, he did not want to have to seal up another tanto cut.
Ulannajirak reports to Dr. Meiko very formally, "Chief, I think the patient Brett should be discharged today."
The house cat in Dr. Meiko's arms is still triggering Ulannajirak's attention. In fact, the cat has always been demonstrating against the HUGE alien feline, another predator in front of him.
"Evening people." Meiko remarks to the group gathered, there. The cat lets out a meow which causes her to peer at it and say, "Quiet you troublemaker." Tilting her head at Ulannajirak's comment thoughtfully she says, "Oh, I'll give his papers a quick look over, and then see about getting him out of here. Right after I dump this brat off at the Cathouse." Glancing around she adds, "Someone remind me later to shoot off a nasty email to the 13th's CO too. If the cat follows me again, I'm keeping it."
"She's just been discharged, "Ted scratches the back of his head. "A pity you couldn't reach her earlier."
"Yes, Chief!" Ulannajirak turns around to prepare Brett's documents.
"Always difficult when you gotta perform with security guards watching your back. eh eh eh. " Ted notes.
"Security guards aren't much use, if they're not where they can easily stop a problem when it comes up." Meiko remarks to Ted, giving her shoulders a slight shrug, despite the cat currently in her arms.
"I know... just feels like exam session every day." Ted looks away. "Like the one where you're in your underwear and show up to work."
"Well, Ted," Ulannajirak carefully asks, "Will Brett leave the system with the evacuated civilians in the near future?" Then he glimpses at Meiko. "Sorry, you need not to answer me if it is a secret."
Ted looks at Meiko.
"All things considered, he'll still probably be heading back to the brig when he's cleared from medbay. Security's still not going to want to take chances with a Retro, and that tends to go double in a combat zone." Meiko says with a shrug and shake of her head. "That stuff's all out of our control anyways."
"Understood, Chief." Ulannajirak replies.
Enforcer walks around the ship, and eventually finds his way into the Medical Bay. Enforcer completed his "reports" and got in a quick workout to get his mind off the people who died in the last mission.
"Oh, hello, Mr. Enforcer." Ulannajirak waves his paw.
Enforcer bows slightly at the waist, "Salutations, Professor. How are things in the medical bay?"
Ulannajirak hurriedly returns the courtesy. "Mr. Enforcer, this is not a classroom, it's good if we talk equally. " Then he glimpse at Dr. Meiko again, "especially in front of our chief." Not to mention that I'm not a Preofessor yet in human academy ranks, just a instructor now.
"Aside from a pesky feline intruder, things are fine here today." Dr. Meiko remarks before glancing between the housecat in her arms, and the Kilrathi, before clarifying, with a smirk, just in case it's needed. "This guy I mean. Not Ulannajirak."
Ulannajirak weighs his answer. In fact, now he understands that Enforcer, and even Julianna, could be the personnel on the command staff assessing himself. He is also thankful that he didn't comment too much on the Kiranka royal family in front of Julianna, since Julianna is likely to say these things to that Azran.
"Greetings, Dr. Meiko." Enfrcer gestures to the housecat, "I see you have a new friend."
"Hah, friend... He's a pest. And for somereason's taken up following me, when he's got a whole squad of bomber pilots who should be taking care of him." Meiko remarks with a roll of her eyes. "If it keeps this up, they'll be sorry he picked probably the one person on the ship with a bigger knife collection than the marine's on board."
"This little furry baby can't be that much trouble... could he?" Enforcer asks.
Shrugging Meiko says, "You wouldn't think so. But I wouldn't want him getting in the way of people doing their work. And yesterday the fuzzball ended up in my quarters, and my roommate's kinda allergic to cats, so I had to listen to -her- complaining too."
"I understand that. Did you or the bomber pilots come up with a name for him yet?" Enfprcer shows a keen interest. Ulannajirak strains his ears to listen, Wow... naming the pet.
"I've not gotten around to asking them yet. First things first is the angry email I'm sending them about keeping a better eye on him." Meiko claims with a laugh, "Along with the warning that if it happens again, I'm keeping him, and they'll have to make due with a plushie or something for a mascot."
"Well, he does have the heart of an explorer by going all over the ship." Enforcer Turns to Ullannajirak, oblivious to his reaction at naming the cat. "Do you have any explorers of note in Kilrathi history?"
"Explorers?" Ulannajirak notices that Enorcer is asking him. "Well, Ikgara Kutgaga, Kilrathi‘s sacred history of the clans, has records on them."
Then he looks at Dr. Meiko again, "Chief, is it break time now?" Ulannajirak pauses a while, "Could we have a... chat on such non-medical topics?"
Meiko glances back into the room and nods at Ulannajirak, "Yeah I think that's fine. Things aren't to busy, so the others on duty can handle it. And we'll know if there's an emergency that needs us anyways."
"From this cat's actions, I think that he may have the natural boldness of an explorer, so such a name may be appropriate."
Meiko chuckles as the housecat gives another meow, and says, "Most cats in my experience are explorers of some sort. Always getting themselves in places they're not supposed to be. At least this guy's not as hyper as the cat I had as a kid."
"Understood, Chief." Ulannajirak then knows from Enforcer's words that he is intending to name the Terran house cat after a Kilrathi sage. "Eh... Sorry, I could not remember a very suitable case on our topic now..."
"Well... Mr. Enforcer," Ulannajirak tries to change the topic, "Let's talk about the current situation on Ghorah Khar."
Enforcer nods, "Certainly. Should we head to the lounge, where we should be undisturbed?" Dr. Meiko gestures to come with her.
Three people and a house cat - or say, two primates and two felines from different planets - come into the lounge.
Dr. Meiko sitts down naturally with the cat in her arms, follows by Enforcer. Ulannajira hesitates for a second, carefully sits down in the chair on the onther side.
"I've heard that the Confederation is granting them citizenship in batches these days." Ulannajirak pauses for a while, "If a Kilrathi gets citizenship, does that give him the privilege to... choose his superior?" Ulannajirak then looks at Meiko as a invitation without word.
"Not necessarily, depending on what you mean. Can't always pick your boss. Especially in the military." Meiko remarks with a slight shrug of her shoulders. "If you mean political leaders, then you can vote for who you'd want, but that's not quite the same thing."
"Pretty much what Dr. Meiko said." Enforcer shows his acknowledgement, "That said, I think that we can admit that all forms of governance have their positives and drawbacks."
"Got it." Ulannajirak has a thoughtful expression on his face. In fact, he knows the rebellion incident of Ghoral Khar itself means that the people there made a choice. They have granted themselves this privilege, or say, right.
Meiko nods at Enforcer's comment, and adds, "Usually there's means to get transfers if someone really has a problem with one of their higher ups, but, that's always an iffy thing on whether the brass will allow it. And at least here on the front lines, it's way less likely to happen even when in a position where it could be done fairly easily."
"Mr. Enfocer, after the last class, I read the letters from the participants." Ulannajirak carefully states, "I've noticed that there seem to be quite a few humans who think Kilrathi's social makeup is centralized?"
"I may need to clarify that our social makeup is actually closer to the... feudal era in human history?" Ulannajirak looks at the two human, "Technically, a kil is responsible for his own hrai, clan, first and foremost, and then... the imperial court."
"That's probably because it's an empire with an emperor." Meiko remarks. "In most people's minds that sort of makes them think there's one supreme person in charge and everything they say is law. Cause they probably figure that's how it used to be on Earth too. Which in most cases was never very true either."
"It is similar to a statement in Terran history: 'Omnes Viae Romam Ducunt -- All roads lead to Rome.' It think it also stems from their interpretation from something they heard: 'All Roads lead to Kilrah.'" Enforcer adds. "It is similar to a statement in Terran history: 'Omnes Viae Romam Ducunt -- All roads lead to Rome.' When dealing with your society, it is more immediately post-Roman for us, as the feudal era began shortly after Rome fell."
Hearing Enforcer's words, Ulannajirak shakes his head with a bitter smile, "There is such old words, but... these words themselves means that lots of other clans doen't live on Kilrah. Since the era of interstellar travel, Kilrah has slowly become the planet of the nar Kiranka clan. Various other clans have moved out of Kilrah one after another."
"Looking for their own fiefdoms and power bases?" Enfocers pursues the question. Yes, he is getting closer to the key point.
"Yes, the emperor encouraged every other clans to do so." Ulannajirak stares at Enforcer's eyes, "ENCOURAGED."
Ulannajirak sighs, "I'm actually from a... frontier region of the empire. Before we two races... met each other, this place could be considered one of the farthest regions from the center of the empire. It takes a long way to get to Kilrah from my homeworld. Do you understand what this means?"
"I grew up quite some distance from Earth, so we had to fend for ourselves." Enforcer answers.
"That your world is like... Oh, I don't know... Germany or Britan would have been to Ancient Rome?" Meiko hazards a mostly joking guess.
Ulannajirak sighs. Definitely the two human missed the answer. But it is OK anyway, maybe I should just stop the topic here.
"Well, on to the topic at hand. In fact, I always had a feeling that the imperial dynasty seems to want to make the whole Kilrathi ...... more ...... united through the war with humans. I don't know if you understand what I mean." Ulannajirak carefully states,“In fact, when the Empire decided to go to war with the Confederation more than twenty years ago, it required the collective approval of the elders of the eight noble clans.”
"I remember how an old Terran power considered war with another power. The leaders made sure that the power launched a surprise attack in order to gain support for the war." Enforcer continues. "The government went from being heavily divided to almost unanimity."
“It was not like the emperor just went to war by one decree.” Ulannajirak looks at Enforcer. Obviously the topic is very serious, “I sometimes have some questions about whether the imperial court is hoping ...... to create a ...... more ...... efficient ...... power structure in the future. That would probably mean that the elders of the various clans would all become simple servants of the emperor.”
When Ulannajirak says these, his mane trembles, as if he is gathering the courage to spill these thoughts.
"Could be. Wouldn't be the first time someone in the universe has tried something like that, I'd imagine." Meiko says with a nod.
Enforcer also nods, "It has happened with some of the powers on Earth. It led to...well...some of our history's darkest moments."
"Oh, sorry, I am talking too far." Ulannajirak shakes his head. "I will go for lunch now. See you later, Chief and Mr. Enforcer!" He bows, and leaves the lounge.
"And you..." Meiko says to the feline in her arms, "Are going back where you belong." the cat meows and tries to nudge her and she rolls her eyes, "Stop that you. Not gonna charm your way out of this." She claims as she heads off towards the lift.
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