Returning to Arms

[in_the_cracks]

The Nexus has caught Telrim off-guard for the first time in a while. Rolling with the interruption, she’s seated in front of a table with a small scanner in hand, checking her Dracon beam’s workings with methodical precision. She doesn’t look up as she speaks. “I’m coming to… let’s call it the end of an interlude. It’s likely I’ll be returning to

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[mind_your_elder]

((Sorry I missed your last post. I'd thought Sages more-or-less dead back in June, and only checked back today on a whim.))

I have often found that it is often well to begin by preparing the simple things--seeing that one's tools are all in good repair and arranged for convenience, allowing useful old habits of the task to reawaken--and to conclude with the difficult: the questions.

*The old bird's eyes narrow, skin crinkling around the edges, in a smile.*

I hope you have been well?

[mind_your_elder]

"We." A glimmer remains, then.

*Another spiral is added to the design, originating from the same point as the first and never quite crossing it.*

Will they heed you, do you think?

[in_the_cracks]

Ah. Telrim thinks she understands that part. She gives the spirals a suspicious look before turning her gaze back to Kian'shar.

"I don't intend to rush up and beg Visser Three to spare the museums. But we might encourage more humans to surrender quietly, clear a few things out of the cannons' way... maybe even talk some of the trigger-happy grubs out of burning everything. I don't pretend we'll save much: there's far more than one Controller can protect. But it will be better than last time."

[mind_your_elder]

Last time?

*A final pebble is placed, cradled between the ends of the spirals.*

[in_the_cracks]

Kian'shar doesn't really want to hear about that, surely.

"We have taken planets before, you remember. Though we've been too heavy-handed with them, especially at first. It would be foolish to lose another species' worth of knowledge." A frown. "Especially when we're about to take six billion of them into our ranks."

To be honest, she doesn't think their superiors have realised the impact of this. But then the upper ranks probably won't have to deal with it.

[mind_your_elder]

Forgive me, my thoughts were elsewhen for a moment. You have taken other worlds, of course.

*The bird sits in thought for a moment before speaking again.*

Before now, there has been an insufficiency of hosts for your people. To hold one has been a mark of status, yes?

[in_the_cracks]

She nods. "Of course, off the homeworld it's more a question of how good your host is. But humans are one of the better species." Telrim smiles slightly. "We may finally have enough hosts for everyone after this. That would be wonderful."

[mind_your_elder]

The end of one problem, certainly. One wonders what it shall mean, when more than merely those most worthy, those most loyal, are rewarded with hosts.

[in_the_cracks]

"I'm flattered, but truthfully there's never been a way to tell who's worthy without giving them a host. It is a lot of untried recruits to handle, true..."

[mind_your_elder]

Apologies, I was unclear. The question is one of social dynamic, and control.

*The old bird clucks softly to itself, then chuckles.*

And that is my reward for time spent overhearing the debates of the political caste.

[in_the_cracks]

"You'd certainly deserve one, for that." Not that political debates can't be interesting, but sooner or later you start to feel like you've been smacked in the head with a tail-blade. "But I suspect our politics are very different from yours. You're suggesting there's a limit to the number of... ah, active people our leaders can command?"

[mind_your_elder]

It is... incentive. What is rare, holds value. When one group holds the power to grant or deny a thing, they hold power. It is the nature of politics to grant these things of value to those who have shown worthiness of trust. Thus are their wishes carried out by those who desire the thing of value, and thus are those who disagree denied the same--depriving them of status and agency. If the reason presented has been one of scarcity, and the scarcity suddenly ends... then so, too, does the group's hold on power.

*Kian'shar delivers the litany in a slightly distracted tone, gaze focused on a tiny granite pebble which it holds between the tips of two talons, carefully turning it with a third. Setting it aside, the deep black eyes return to Natasha and her passenger.*

At least, that is the argument as I recall.

[in_the_cracks]

"They can always take away hosts... rank, privileges. The right to feed."

[mind_your_elder]

*The bird's shoulders rise and fall in a shrug.*

No politician am I. Your pardon, did you say the right to feed?

[in_the_cracks]

"Starvation is the usual penalty for treason. We're dependent on a single, easily-controlled food source: if someone proves disloyal..."

[mind_your_elder]

...enlightenment dawns. If I might ask, what is this food source, that may be controlled independent of your hosts?