Mana'aktoo had always viewed himself as a benevolent deity. Since he had been a child he had not only excelled at school but his intellect was high enough that several of the doctors his parents, and academic centers, had sent him too had considered lowering it through gene therapy. Strangely enough his scores regarding consideration and other emotional intelligences had been off the charts. He not only could intellectually understand another being's situation but could feel empathy and compassion for even the lowest neo-sapient drone.

By the time he was fifty he was the governor of a stellar system and many of his peers and rivals feared that he would consider a path into the Council Caste.

Mana'aktoo had sneered at such an idea. Within the Council Caste were lesser beings, petty time punchers, and the intellectually inferior who needed the weight of a hundred million year old system to force others to kneel to them.

Mana'aktoo needed no such thing. He was admired by all. Not just in his own mind, but in reality. The neo-sapients (he despised that phrase) viewed him as an all powerful paternal figure who cared about their wants and needs. The Unified Military Fleet considered him a talented military authority who could have gone far within their organization. The Unified Corporate entities all were thankful that Mana'aktoo had chosen planetary governorship rather than the Corporate battlefield even as they viewed him as a genius able to sense the way the corporate winds were blowing.

Mana'aktoo knew his ego sometimes got in his way and led him to making less than optimal decisions. He disliked it, but after consideration, realized that even the greatest beings had faults and his ego was one he had to shoulder the burden of.

When it came to breeding, he knew he had been placed on the undesirable list by the Population Control Council, his intellect considered a genetic malformation. Still, he had never wanted for partners, and knew that more than a few fillies had born and raised his children, often while married to another. The best ones were the ones that the male of the couple knew that Mana'aktoo was the genetic father of the child and considered it an honor that Mana'aktoo had impregnated their pair bond with superior genes.

Another reason he often considered himself a benevolent deity. He watched over everyone, even those of the system.

The system, Artcarik-482, was wealthy beyond most system's dreams. A planet in the "Neo-Sapient Systems" (Mana'aktoo preferred 'Outer Rim Boundary System' himself) it had long been considered a difficult posting, but under Mana'aktoo's leadership it had flourished. The xenospecies native to the planet were inquisitive, intelligent, able to learn tasks proficiently, and, if provided with suitable celebrations and allowances for energetic interactions, largely calm on a species scale.

The system was wealthy enough that very few were born into poverty or debt, and there was work and riches enough for all that even the lowliest xenospecies specimen could get themselves out of debt within only a year or two.

Mana'aktoo wanted the system to be as close to paradise as he could possibly make it.

Which meant it had to be defended. Despite the Council line of peace and prosperity Corporate entities still did hostile takeovers, system governors would still seek to expand their holdings by taking over another system, and there were always pirates out in the darkness. Xenospecies were a valuable resource, and his xenospecies, the Maktanan, were prosperous and diligent in their efforts, making them a valuable acquisition for any Corporation that preferred xenospecies labor to expensive robots.

Which was where Kulamu'u came in.

Kulamu'u had come from an extremely wealthy family, unlike Mana'aktoo, and had decided that the Unified Military Fleet was the way he would advance and outshine his siblings. His family had the wealth, power, and caste to assure he was an office in the Unified Space Navy rather than some slogging footsoldier with a laser rifle and Corporate armor beating xeno's with a stick.

He had graduated 443 out of 5,000 in his officer training class, bribes and gifts helping him gain class standing. His first few assignments were easy assignments of high prestige but low effort, which suited him just fine. Within ten years he was the captain of his own ship, which he had applies favors, bribes, and gifts to upgrade from a little system patrol vessel to an armed destroyer.

Over the next two hundred years he had risen steadily in the ranks until first he was the one receiving gifts, then others began to understand that he was important enough for bribes, then he was the one others pressed their tongue to his hindquarters in hopes of Kulamu'u's favor. At two hundred and fifty he was assigned to planetary defense leadership. Another fifty years of that, and he saw a prime assignment just waiting for him.

Artcarik-482.

The system was wealthy beyond measure. The three asteroid belts were rich and thick with elements, the multiple gas giants were filled with rare and important gasses, and the solid worlds were full of easily extractable mineral wealth. The xenospecies was a calm one, industrious and properly subservient.

Kulamu'u took the assignment and met the governor, a young Lanaktallan by the name of Mana'aktoo from a lower family (although it galled Kulamu'u to admit that Mana'aktoo's parents lived in a finer manor than Kulamu'u could ever afford to bribe his way into) and had advanced in leaps and bounds. The previous System Defense Most High had left nothing but glowing notes about Mana'aktoo. How the System Most High understood the needs of the Fleet, how the Fleet was a vital part of the system economy, how the Fleet's position as superior to the Corporate Fleets was understood by Mana'aktoo.

It was only once Kulamu'u had reached the system and gotten involved with the government that he realized something absolutely horrible.

Mana'aktoo expected beings to work at their jobs. Even parties were work. The Fleet was expected to practice, to train, and to come to the aid of nearby systems as well as constantly update their astrogation files and system maps.

For ten years Kulamu'u had been worked like a slave. Expected to put in as many as five hours a day three times a week. Expected to know the names of his subordinates. Expected to take responsibility for the actions of his subordinates and fleet ships.

The absolute tyranny.

Which is why Kulamu'u had been in a poor mood when he had arrived at the System Defense building early in the morning. He was in his dress uniform, sash, vest, and flank-covering. It was early morning and Kulamu'u had pulled a long six hour shift the day before. He felt that he should be enjoying recreation and relaxation.

The sight of the Terrans on the holoviewer made Kulamu'u's blood run cold.

"Ah, there you are System Defense Most High Kulamu'u," Mana'aktoo said jovially, as if a murderous primate wasn't watching from the holoviewer. "How good of you to join us on your day of relaxation. May I introduce Admiral Keith Iktakiki Schmidt, Terran Space Force Navy, Commander of Task Force 43 (Anvil), currently aboard the TSFNV Saint Petersberg currently at the resonance zone of our very own system."

The human nodded slowly less than ten seconds later when Kulamu'u knew he was nearly 15 light minutes away. The human was in that black armor that Terrans seemed to prefer, his visor clear to allow the two Lanaktallans to see his face. Around him were many different beings, all in armor, their visors black and opaque. They were all at work stations, the screens and holodisplays blurred.

"We're currently speaking over what the Terrans call a 'hypercom buoy' which allows us to speak at faster than light speeds to avoid any communications lag which might lead to unfortunate developments," Mana'aktoo said, looking completely relaxed. "I thought you would like to be here for my victory over the Terran forces."

"Why are they here?" Kulamu'u demanded.

"Why, to destroy all military forces and conquer the system, of course," Mana'aktoo said, displaying amusement. "They have arrived with overwhelming force, with superior weaponry able to strike at us from a distance that we would be unable to reply from, with enough ground troops to occupy the three habitable planets. Isn't that right, Admiral?"

"Yes, it is, System Most High," The Terran replied.

Kulamu'u just gaped.

"Which would be most unfortunate for many thousands of beings, cause undue stress to the population, and give the good Admiral the opinion that the Lanaktallan people are too intellectually and emotionally stunted to realize when they are beaten," Mana'aktoo continued, still showing amusement.

He turned to Kulamu'u and expressed even more pleasure.

"I was just telling the Admiral that even if he was to defeat us, there are contingencies in place to ensure that the entire system would be rendered uninhabitable within two years time, wasn't I, Admiral?" Mana'aktoo said.

The Terran nodded.

"Well, why you wait for your detachment to understand just what waits in store should you take the system, how billions of beings will be consigned to death due to your actions, may I invite you to have lunch with me?" Mana'aktoo asked mildly. "Say, ten hours from now?"

The Terran looked doubtful.

"Admiral, Admiral, Admiral, what good would it do me to have nefarious designs upon you? You undoubtedly have a highly skilled staff who knows their jobs and your military has a chain of command, which means any harm or injury done to you merely results in your subordinates, chosen for skill and experience, carrying out your orders anyway," Mana'aktoo said, clicking his tongue in an odd way at the beginning. "I will make allowances for, say, a security detail for your shuttle, two ships to guard your shuttle on the way in, a security detail for yourself, and my personal guarantee of safety while we meet for lunch and discuss how you have been outmaneuvered before you even arrived."

Mana'aktoo had what appeared to Kulamu'u to be the smuggest expression ever worn by a being.

The Terran looked thoughtful for a moment then nodded.

"Admiral Schmidt, out," was all he said.

The holotank went blank.

Kulamu'u went to speak and Mana'aktoo held up a hand. "Silence. I have limited time. They forwarded me their lexicon as well as an encyclopedia of information. I have only hours to read through it and digest it. I advise you to familiarized yourself with Terran formal etiquette and keep your baser instincts to yourself, we are engaged in a high stakes difficult endeavor here."

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When Kulamu'u went to speak again Mana'aktoo turned and fixed him with a four eyed gaze. "If you cannot follow my lead in this, System Defense Most High, in defending our system and the people who depend upon us, then I shall replace you with one who can."

"You speak as if you have already decided to surrender!" Kulamu'u protested.

"We are already beaten. They attack thirty systems less than a week ago, now they are here. They have known defeat in this endeavor exactly zero times. The only discomfort they would feel conquering this system would be the effort it took to reload their weapons," Mana'aktoo snapped.

"But you have told them about The Devourers," Kulamu'u stated again.

"Yes. I have. Is that a problem?" Mana'aktoo asked, stepping into the grav-lift. He waited for Kulamu'u to join him.

"No, System Most High, but why tell them about it?" Kulamu'u asked.

"Part of how I will save this system and everyone in it," Mana'aktoo said. "Now, be silent and review the Terran etiquette protocols."

Kulamu'u went silent, watching as the telltale lights on Mana'aktoo's datalink went red to show he was fully engaged.

Mana'aktoo let the information flow through his mind, stopping now and then to reference previous data, as he swept through it all. Dictionary, lexicon, encyclopedia, etiquette protocols, military etiquette, recipes, dietary requirements, protein acceptance, everything else. He ground his chewing teeth at the slow speed of his implant as the grav-lift slowly took him to the surface.

He set a schedule for his servants to ensure that a proper formal luncheon was set out as well that his personal guard, males and females, both and neither, would act properly as they escorted the Admiral and his party to his personal mansion. He left messages to inform his parents to look over certain sections he sent to them and to have them dress in appropriate finery.

The whole time he absorbed the information on a xenospecies.

There were words that had eight or more concepts attached to the same spelling of the word, depending on the placement and context of the word. They had vulgar sayings and profanity that also had multiple meanings. Tonal shift and body language was an important part of their communication. Facial expressions could matter. Even pupil dilatation and micro-movements of facial muscles could matter to the observant viewer.

Mana'aktoo knew that at least one of the Admiral's party would be an expert in Lanaktallan language and concepts, which was important.

Once upstairs, he sent his servants, beings who had served him and his family for generations, to bring him proper attire. He would leave it Kulamu'u to sport the finery, the male was a, to use a Terran term, clothes horse and a peacock.

He moved to his private terminal and loaded everything up on it, sighing as he was able to engage his monitors, two holodisplays, and his datalink all in parallel, devouring the information the Admiral had graced him with out of 'politeness' when requested.

The inform he was absorbing and understanding more and more painted a stark difference than the briefings he had received as a System Most High.

It didn't take him long to realize a few truths he had suspected.

10% wouldn't deter the Terrans. They had a word for that: Decimation.

Some of their military forces had used to 'encourage' the survivors to fight harder.

50% wouldn't stop them. He looked up battles in the encyclopedia where the Terrans had suffered more than that and then climbed over their dead to impale the enemy on blades attached to the end of empty rifles. Being outnumbered didn't stop them. If anything, they fought harder. The harder they fought, the tougher they got.

Their most rapid technological advancement periods were during outright warfare.

Mana'aktoo put together a profile, as best he could, on Terrans, the Confederate Space Force, human military society, and, from what he could, the Admiral.

The Admiral would be a man of intelligence and drive, experienced and careful.

All of that would work to Mana'aktoo's advantage, would work toward Mana'aktoo's plans and goals, if he handled the Admiral in the right way.

He closed his eyes and visualized what would happen if he was victorious.

The tarmac would be both rough and greasy feeling beneath his knees as he was forced to kneel down in front of the System Council building, in the parking lot. The day would be warm, light breezes, carrying the delicate scents of the local flowers and trees. There would be Carikans lined up to watch. Terran forces would be in the back with weapons to ensure attention. He would have other government and corporate leaders on either side of them.

He would request no blindfold, let others take that.

The bindings would be tight, pinning all four arms behind him. There would be bindings on his four hooves as he knelt.

A Terran officer would walk down the line, a magnetic accelerator pistol in his hand, a handheld mix of a railgun with coilgun boosters. One shot after another to the back of each head.

The barrel would not touch his skin but he would still be able to feel its coldness. He wouldn't hear the shot, he would hear his skull shattering in the microsecond before his brains were blown out in a bloody fan in front of him.

Mana'aktoo opened his eyes, having faced the worst that could happen to him personally. He took three deep breaths and closed his eyes again.

The gas giants were on fire, burning like extra suns in the system. The planetary bodies were obscured by ravening clouds full of radioactivity. Planets would be ringed by debris that had been infrastructure to support a modern civilization. On the ground the death would be everywhere, or thick ash upon the ground. Terran military forces would move through the ruin and ash, their black metal frames covered in ash and gobbets of blood, their weapons seeking out any life to eliminate.

In orbit around each world there would be 13,000,00 of the Carikans in cryo-sleep to be taken to another world where they would be reduced to pre-Industrial Age, by Terran standards, civilization and life.

Mana'aktoo would not be part of that 1%. No non-Carikan would be.

The worlds would end up barren, even the oceans poisonous. The Great Devourer would arrive and find nothing but poison and death and ash.

He forced himself to live the life of a Carikan, to death, to cryo-sleep and a hell planet existence, to enslavement under the Terran boot.

Mana'aktoo opened his eyes, shuddering, and went back to studying. He had little time to do it, to absorb, quantify, and understand every scrap of information the Terrans had given them. When the Admiral reached the orbit of the planet he dressed himself carefully, wearing as modest regalia as courtesy and etiquette would allow.

All to soon he was alerted that the Admiral had made planetfall and was enroute. He hurried to the dining room. His mother looked concerned, as did his father and siblings, but he calmed them by telling them that he had ensured victory for the System and all beneath his benevolent rulership.

He took his place, ensuring that the seats were correctly handed out.

System Defense Most High Kulamu'u did indeed show up in all of his regalia. Mana'aktoo's mother was resplendent in jewels, his father was an impressive elder.

The Admiral was exactly as Mana'aktoo pictured him. Lean by the standards of the Terran race, but dense and bulky by the standards of most other races. No gentling hand of genetic engineering had altered his genome to be more civilized, no outsider had changed his form without his permission. His eyes, cybernetic ones, were a soft blue that Mana'aktoo knew meant that all of his offensive systems were disengaged, including a reflex lockout.

With him were two other Terrans, a saurian from Rigel-6, a Treana'ad, two green mantids, and six black Terran 'warborgs' who's eyes were blue. The mantids stayed back with the warborgs while the others sat down.

Mana'aktoo had prepared for the two other races and there was only a slight bit of fuss as his servants changed the furniture.

Introductions went smoothly. Mana'aktoo was pleased to see that the Admiral and his people had studied the information on etiquette and politeness that Mana'aktoo's staff had sent to him. He was appreciative of his siblings, complimented his mother on her youth, beauty, and jewelry, and stated his appreciation of his father's obvious wisdom and virility.

That made Mana'aktoo relax slightly, but he was extremely careful not to show any of it, keeping his expressions and body language that of someone who was sure that the world was exactly as they said it was.

When the luncheon was over, during which Mana'aktoo kept it down to small talk, no matter what the three representatives from the dominant corporations wished, despite Kulamu'u's attempts at steering it to more martial topics, Mana'aktoo inquired if the Terran would wish to accompany Mana'aktoo on a walk about the estate, as was his (quite recent, as in, hours old) custom.

The Admiral agreed and together the Lanaktallan and the fierce pack primate walked around the grounds of Mana'aktoo's estate. Mana'aktoo pointed out bushes, statues, fountains, small insects.

The whole time two of the heavy warborgs followed, but custom and etiquette dictated that Mana'aktoo ignore them despite how fascinating even the concept of full conversion was to his intellect.

The Admiral suddenly stopped, moving over to the fountain, and waiting for Mana'aktoo. His expression was a mixture of hardness and triumph that Mana'aktoo had seen in pictures in the encyclopedia.

At last, Mana'aktoo thought to himself as he trotted up to join the Admiral.

"Ah, by your expression, I can tell you did indeed perform reconnaissance upon the coordinates I provided," Mana'aktoo stated.

"Yes, System Most High, we did. As you said, there was significant military presence there," The Admiral stated.

"And it's status?" Mana'aktoo asked, still putting forth the appearance of an idle nobleman who knew the world was exactly as he said it was. Mana'aktoo had chosen the affectations of Terran nobles from the Regency Era combined with Corporate affectation from Terra's Corporate Wars.

The Admiral was quiet for a long moment. "Our mission was to liberate this system," he said softly.

"Indeed it was. By wresting it away from the tyranny that held it tightly in its grasp," Mana'aktoo answered, bending forward to pick up a lily from the fountain. As he straightened up he looked the Terran in the eye. "Liberate, occupy, and eventually turn it over to the native xenospecies, according to Terran Confederacy standing orders. As of now your orders are, according to the unclassified mission data you transmitted to me, are simply to liberate this system."

"My ships engaged your ace in the hole," The Terran said.

Mana'aktoo kept himself looking bored and confident while inside he tensed. He understood the reference, although he doubted many others could.

"It was no contest. It was still in hibernation. The larger ones were destroyed and my ships are clearing away the smaller ones as we speak. Two point three six eight two seven light years from the star, just as you said," The Admiral said.

"Now it merely comes down to the military forces within the system itself, it appears. My valiant troops against your battle hardened and experienced military forces," Mana'aktoo stated. "Shall I summon Kulamu'u?"

"Perhaps you should, sir," the Admiral said.

It took Kulamu'u nearly five minutes to arrive, the other Lanaktallan looking concern.

When Kulamu'u trotted up he looked at Mana'aktoo, who nodded slowly.

"It appears, System Defense Most High, that we have been defeated. You know as well as I do that our weapons cannot reach the Terran ships, our shields cannot stop their weaponry, and we are at their mercy," Mana'aktoo said.

Now was the moment. To see if Kulamu'u had read what Mana'aktoo had sent him or if he had spent the time screeching at the walls and galloping in frustrated circles.

Kulamu'u nodded slowly. He didn't like it. He hated admitting it.

But he hated the idea of sending his men to their deaths for no good reason even more.

"It appears, we must surrender to the might of the Terran Space Force," Mana'aktoo said. "Sadly, they have removed our ability to strike back in a year or two. It appears we have been totally defeated."

Mana'aktoo turned to the Terran. "Our military forces will stand down. You will, of course, ensure they are properly housed and cared for, under the terms of both the Geneva Convention Rewrite of 2208 as well as the Orion Compact and the Rigellian Rules of Warfare, correct, Admiral?"

The Admiral nodded slowly, narrowing his eyes in suspicion.

"Of course, as System Most High, I will be placed under house arrest, according to your laws, and be required to act as the voice of the people of this system. As System Defense Most High, Kulamu'u shall be required to be the ranking officer and liaison between the Terran military and our defeated POW's and be accorded all respect due his rank and position," Mana'aktoo continued.

"Yes," The Admiral drew out the word, still watching suspiciously.

"Excellent. We will have an official surrender signing on live Tri-Vid, so that the people understand that you intend to administer to this system in the least disruptive way possible," Mana'aktoo said, showing pleasure. "It should be somewhat ceremonial when the ankle bracelet, a visible symbol of my exile to my people, is attached at the end of the signing."

There was silence for a long time.

"Say, in four local hours?" The Admiral asked.

"That should suffice. I already have the surrender document drawn up," Mana'aktoo stated. He sniffed the lily and hummed in pleasure.

"I must confer with my fellow officers as well as the Judge Advocate General," the Admiral stated. "If you will excuse me."

"Of course, Admiral," Mana'aktoo said. The Admiral began to walk away and Mana'aktoo called his name. The Admiral stiffened and slowly turned, the warborg's eyes turning to amber. "I am pleased this took place with as minimum bloodshed as possible."

The Admiral just nodded, and continued away.

There was silence for a long moment, until the Admiral entered the mansion.

Both Mana'aktoo and Kulamu'u let out held breaths, then stood there for a long moment trembling. Finally they both had themselves under control.

"Congratulations on your victory, System Most High," Kulamu'u said finally.

"And you on yours, System Defense Most High," Mana'aktoo answered.