The day was bright and sunny, the rippling ocean water sparkling with the light of the sun. The waves rolled in slowly to the beach, making the dock raise and lower slowly in time with the waves. The tide was going out, revealing more and more of the white and black sand.
The world had never developed beyond aquatic and plant life. There were some insects that fed on the plants but for the most part they were small creatures that dimly went on with their lives and ignored the visitors since they didn't have any neural paths devoted to them.
The large moon was fairly far out on the orbit, making the tides gentle, but it provided plenty of light when it was in the sky during the night. At the time it was missing, on the other side of the world, and Del'Var found he missed it.
He was sitting on the end of the dock, next to his two cousins, Kle'Var and Tre'Var, with a fishing pole in the water. The tide had pulled the bobbers a ways out, but none of the three N'kar cared about that.
It was more being able to sit in the sun and fish that was important.
Behind them was a Terran guard, a stick of burning shredded leaf in his mouth, armed with a pistol and wearing what Del'Var had learned was 'adaptive camouflage' as well as an ear pierce that kept him in contact with his superiors.
It had stopped feeling menacing several weeks ago.
"It's almost like being home," Tre'Var said, setting down the 'sandwich' they'd been allowed to take with them.
"Better than where we were earlier," Del'Var agreed.
"This place pretty much qualifies as a colony," Kle'Var said, looking around. "There's just over twenty million of us here now, spread out across over a two hundred islands."
"Pfft, the Terrans would probably give it to us if we asked," Tre'Var scoffed, looking around. "To be honest, this is actually better than any of our three colony worlds."
"Like you've been to any of them," Del'Var said, shoving his cousin playfully.
Unlike two weeks ago the action didn't provoke a warning from the guard.
"The N'Karrian who helps run our store is from N'Korran, he said the factories there spew toxins into the air and waters. He complained that the last few centuries have made it so you can't even swim in the waters," Tre'Var answered. He picked up a brown bottle and took a long drink off of the crisp bitter liquid inside.
"I heard the same about N'Kirsso," Kle'Var said softly. He turned around and checked his implant. "Sergeant Unwata?"
"Yes, Private Kle'Var?" the human answered.
"Do your people fish?" the N'kar asked.
"Many do. I prefer my people's traditional spear hunting," the human answered. "My people conquered an entire continent with spears and endurance," he looked down into the water. "My people would stand on hollowed out tree trunks, waiting, and when a fish got close enough we would strike with our spear and pull it into the boat."
"That sounds dangerous," Kle'Var said.
"My ancestors did it so I have tried it a few times to touch them through the mists of time," the human said.
The three N'Kar glanced at one another in an 'ooookay' look, then went back to watching the water and their bobbers.
The day was warm, the breeze was soft, and the water made up the entire world.
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DEAR: Uln-Var, Revered Mother
The planet we have been moved to is nice. The Terrans say they selected it just for us. At first I did not believe them, after all, it must have required great effort. My cousins and I sit on the dock and fish at least three times a week. We haven't caught anything, but that isn't the point.
Some humans fish, according to the humans who guard us as we fish.
The humans take good care of us. I was surprised to find out that we will not be charged for the cost of all of this, but rather the humans consider our prisoner camp a part of the cost of war. You were right, Revered Mother, about the terrible ferocity of the Terrans. I have met N'Karrian who faced the Terrans on the battlefield rather than the insects and I am glad that insects, a people called the Treana'ad, scared us badly enough that we surrendered quickly. Several N'Karrian I know still have nightmares over their battle with the Terrans.
I miss home and in some weird way the beauty of this place makes me miss home even more.
I love you, mother.
Respect and Honor: Del'Var, your male child.
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Del'Var looked up when the human called his name. The Terran female was sitting behind a desk beside the hallway that led to multiple rooms. Each room had a doctor of the mind inside, waiting to help assist any N'Kar who needed it. He didn't feel like he needed to see a mind doctor, his mind felt fine to him, but all prisoners were required to see them.
So Del'Var had completed all the paperwork, although it seemed weird to him that so many of the questions would be about his feelings. The Overseers had never concerned themselves with the feelings of the N'Kar or, as far as Del'Var knew, any other race but their own.
"Room Twelve," the human said.
"Thank you," Del'Var said. He moved down the hallway until he saw the door marked with the runes of the Terran language as well as N'Karrian and at least four different other languages. It was slightly open and a human looked up from a desk where Del'Var could see the sparkling of a hologram.
"Come in, Del'Var," the human said. "Did I say that correctly?"
"Yes," Del'Var said. He moved over to the chair and sat down slowly.
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The human dismissed the hologram and looked at Del'Var for a long time. The intent predator stare made Del'Var uncomfortable. As soon as he shifted and looked away for a second the human's expression changed to something more neutral and less intent.
"I am Doctor Jesmin-Ikik. I am here for you and your people," the Doctor said. "While I hold a commissioned rank in Space Force my duty is to you and the beings like you. I follow the Hippocratic Oath, which states: First, do no harm."
"Oh," Del'Var said.
"You are permitted to tell me your private thoughts and unless you are a danger to yourself or others I am bound not to tell others what you confide in me beyond medical necessity," the Doctor said. He gave an odd look. "Do you consent to my treatment?"
"Um," Del'Var said. "I'm not sure what you'll be doing to me."
"Ah, as of now you are uninformed," the Doctor made a note. "In that case you cannot consent and the Prisoner Liaison will have to serve as your consenting official," the doctor looked at Del'Var and nodded. "I've sent a list of your rights as a patient to your datapad. Go ahead and look them over when you get back to your sleeping area."
"What are you going to do to me?" Del'Var said, feeling slightly anxious.
The doctor sighed, not in a tired or exasperated way but more like satistfaction. "I'm going to evaluate your mental state, help you examine and come to terms with the trauma you might have endured, and help you develop the tools to help yourself."
The human doctor looked at him for a long moment. "Tell me about yourself, Del'Var. Whatever you'd like to share."
"I miss my home," Del'Var said honestly. "I don't want to fight in the war, I just want to go home."
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DEAR: Uln'Var, Revered Mother
Today I saw the doctor again. I told him how angry I was that the Overseers took me from my home and tried to force me to fight. I didn't want to fight. I have no reason to fight the Terrans. They haven't done anything to me, I haven't done anything to them.
I feel like the Overseers took me from my home to put me in front of them as some kind of living shield. They wanted me to die at the hands of the Terran war machine so they could hide from it.
The doctor said it was all right to feel angry as long as I do not let it eat me up inside.
I also feel angry for you and father. They took away your son and sent him to another world to die without any care of how it would make you feel.
I just want to come home and sit on the beach and watch the waves.
Respect and Honor: Del'Var, your male child.
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Del'Var walked into the office of the doctor and stopped. There was a large tank against the wall that had been previously undecorated without even shelves of books which seemed to cover every other wall. Del'Var could see it had water over gravel on one side of the tank and plant life with flat rocks and sand on the other. A dish held some little heart-shaped red fruit and some pieces of what Del'Var could tell was raw fish.
"You can go look at it," the doctor said. "Just don't tap on the glass, he's a little nervous and shy."
Del'Var moved up and looked inside. It was basically a recreation of the edge of a pond nearly three meters wide, a meter deep, and a meter high. On one of the rocks which had a flat surface above the water, was a shell with different shades of green in patterns. The shell was no bigger than Del'Var hand.
"What is it?" Del'Var asked after a few moments.
"It's a red eared slider turtle," the doctor said. "A birthday gift from a friend and colleague. It arrived a little late but still, it made it."
"Why do you have it?" Del'Var asked. As he watched little flippers emerged from under the shell and a head poked out of the gap.
It had two little red marks, one on either side of the head.
It didn't do much, just sat on the rock.
"It's a pet. Humans find it comforting to take care of little creatures. It's part of our pack bonding psychology," the doctor said. "In showing care and empathy for a creature weaker than us, that depends upon us, it reminds us of what it is to be human."
"You humans are strange creatures, a strange people," Del'Var said.
The doctor nodded. "Indeed we are."
Del'Var sat down and the discussion turned to other things. It was almost the end of the hour when the doctor stopped talking and gave Del'Var one of those intent looks that Del'Var had learned meant the human was making decisions.
"Have you ever had a pet, Del'Var?" the doctor asked. Del'Var shook his head. "Hmm, how about a digipet?"
"What is a did-gee-pet?" Del'Var asked.
"A digital pet. You have to feed it, interact with it, teach it things, but you don't have to worry about it taking space. It's more convenient than a real world pet like Ruffles over there," the doctor said.
"No. That seems strange," Del'Var admitted.
"Would you like one?" the doctor asked.
"Um, I don't know," Del'Var said. "What if I do something wrong and it dies?"
"It's a low level VI. Just do basic care and it will be fine. If you want one, I can let you choose from several different types," the doctor said. "Several other N'Kar have found comfort in a digipet."
Del'Var thought for a minute. So far all the Terran suggestions had worked out well for Del'Var and the other N'Kar.
"I think I would like one," Del'Var said.
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DEAR: Uln'Var, Revered Mother
I am still doing well. I find myself angry at the Terrans sometimes that they didn't arrive in time to keep me from being taken from my home. The doctor said that those feelings are a normal response to what I've been through.
I still miss home but I no longer feel like I want to die from homesickness. I still miss you. Still miss father. Still miss my siblings.
I have been learning wood carving and wood working. It is odd that a technologically advanced people would put such focus on working with their hands. I find it calming. I built a bird-house and a thing called a spice-rack. I'm sending both of them to you. The Terrans said it was all right.
I'm hoping I can come home soon.
Respect and Honor: Del'Var, your male child.
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CLONE WORLDS CONGLOMERATE
Twenty million of them so far. All of the cannon fodder for the Lanaktallans.
They show signs of gentling, but it looks like they're on their first time through the system. I'd love to get a look at their worlds, maybe do an evolution scan on the biome and environment. Their taste-buds are largely retooled as are their dentation but the regressive genes are still in there.
---NOTHING FOLLOWS---
BIOLOGICAL ARTIFICIAL SENTIENCE SYSTEMS
According to the prisoners, the Lanaktallan took them over roughly thirty years after they invented high frequency radio transmission. Roughly thirty to fifty thousand years ago. Looks like they've been modified since then, but you're the expert.
---NOTHING FOLLOWS---
CONFED MILINT
They've got six planet total. Apparently they jumped straight to Near-Civilized status instead of Neo-Sapient/Sentince status. The reason for this is unknown but suspected.
---NOTHING FOLLOWS---
DIGITAL ARTIFICIAL SENTIENCE SYSTEMS
I think it's because, largely, they aren't a threat to the Lanaktallan nor do they prize the same resources or world types. The N'Kar prefer water planets with some islands and a healthy ocean ecology.
Their technological progression ended with the radio and they weren't big on factories either. From what we've been able to glean they didn't even create the internal combustion engine. The most high tech they got was RADAR, mainly for weather prediction, wind and sail.
Most of their technology is from their time as a Lanaktallan servant species.
---NOTHING FOLLOWS---
MANTID FREE WORLDS
Did we find their home planet or one of their colony worlds yet?
---NOTHING FOLLOWS---
TREANA'AD HIVE WORLDS
Kind of feel bad for the roflstomping they got.
---NOTHING FOLLOWS---
TERRASOL
That's the problem with this damned war. The majority of the troops shouldn't even be on the field.
What's worse, is if we even find a system where it's only Lanaktallan, they put up even LESS of a fight.
All that's happening is we're ending up with tons of planetary populations that need cared for, detoxed off of drugs, and not even really any fights.
I mean, for fuck's sake, the fantasy LARPers have been tearing up entire systems.
This is less of a war and more like some kind of armed foster program or something.
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RIGELLIAN COMPACT
It doesn't help that the minute we turn out backs on the Lanaktallan they'll bioweapon and genecrack the shit out of us.
---NOTHING FOLLOWS---
TRAVNU GEATSLT
Waht llwi yuo ?od
---HTONING FOLSWOL---
MANTID FREE WORLDS
Try to solve the Hamburger Kingdom Conundrum.
And probably fail.
---NOTHING FOLLOWS---