Memory transcription subject: Recel, Kolshian Liaison
Date [standardized aurigan time]: Fall 24, 1 AA
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The encounter with the shadowy mezari left me rattled throughout the ride, and I ended up keeping to myself the entire time, paranoid all throughout. I was sure they were still watching me somehow, despite no evidence of their presence.
The harchen reporters spent the entire trip pouring through digital documents on their holopads, busy trying to unearth any information on the arxur uplift. Much to everyone's growing suspicions, it was as if the records were lost to time, not even a trace in local database copies.
"This is frustrating, we have nothing, it's like someone scrubbed the historical records!" Cilany screamed in frustration, grabbing her head.
"There's some painkillers in the first aid kit if your head hurts. Sorry you couldn't find anything, but do you see now why the Aurigans are suspicious of the Federation? It's all too much to be a coincidence."
"Yes, I know, something doesn't add up. But I was hoping to have more to work with, something incriminating. But all I have is the arxur's words."
"And the attempt on my life." I added.
"That too. I still can't believe they'd do that!"
"I'm starting to believe it. Someone saw me as a liability, for being prey who believed in predator empathy. Other kolshians even harassed and assaulted me before my 'pardon'. Getting rid of me and blaming it on the aurigans would have been very convenient."
"It's definitely a possibility, but that doesn't prove that the arxur was telling the truth. It just gives us reasonable suspicion that the Kolshians are lying."
"Then if it turns out they weren't lying, then you can go home vindicated that the aurigans were wrong to trust them."
Our conversation was cut short by two gunships approaching us, demanding we slow down our approach.
"Vessel approaching the governing center, identify yourself." Was demanded after we reduced our speed, and I had half the mind to say we were the vessel they tried to blow up.
"This is Recel, Military Liaison of the Kolshian Commonwealth to the Aurigan Federacy. I need to speak with Chief Nikonus. Immediately."
There was a minute of silence before Nikonus's face appeared on our comms, visibly shocked.
"Recel, we thought you died." The chief began, and I was trying really hard not to throw accusations too early.
"News of my death has been greatly exaggerated. Though the Takkan ambassador went missing before we left Aafa." I watched the elder's reaction, hoping to see something, a twitch, anything. He stayed relatively stoic, so I couldn't tell if he felt anything about the subject.
"But the rest of us are very much alive, and well. The Aurigans were gracious hosts."
"Gracious? They sent the Arxur to attack federation worlds!" The chief replied, incensed.
"An unfortunate truth. That is why we're here. We want to discuss what happens next."
"We? Oh, I see a Harchen back there- Is that Cilany? The famed journalist?"
"Yes, hello. I'm here to write about the Federation's reaction to the aurigans' underhanded tactics, and what you plan to do going forwards. More specifically what will happen with the refugees from the attacked worlds. Such as us. We are survivors from the Blissful Modernity. Recel's bravery saved all of us."
Good one, Cilany. I thought to myself.
"Frankly put, the people deserve to know. My people included. Our colonies were amongst those destroyed by the arxur, we deserve to know your response to this unexpected collusion between the predators."
Nikonus breathed a heavy sigh. "You're interrupting important proceedings here! Can't it wait?"
"Every moment that passes is a moment the Harchen, Krakotl, and countless other refugees go without answers. Millions of people are displaced, billions more dead or cattle. This is far more important." Cilany was proving to be quite shrewd, she should pursue a career in diplomacy.
The old chief owed the galaxy the truth, even if we're here under false pretense. These ship frequencies were often monitored by various media outlets, so hopefully denying our request would cause media backlash, and he knew it.
"Bah, very well. You are cleared for landing. You may dock at this hangar. Security will take you from there."
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Kolshian soldiers blasted our exit hatch open before we could even gather our things, and forced us to submit to searches, inspecting every nook and cranny of the ship, as if we could hide predators in the toilet bowls or footlockers. Their search turned up empty, no predators on board, though I suspected that my two 'shadows' were here the whole time, hidden from our senses. If they weren't already gone, slipping out past the soldiers as they entered.
If the shadowy mezari have been on our ship this entire time, then that would explain my paranoia, and would explain how they were able to protect me on the Modernity. But for now I had a mission to finish, and dwelling on the mezari's whereabouts was the last of my worries. Plus, a pair of invisible guardian angels wasn't a bad deal.
After the search, we were ushered out the door onto the octagonal landing pad. As we made our way out of the landing terminal, media persons swarmed us, expecting the commotion to be about something grand. Most were disappointed to see it was just a kolshian and a few harchen, though some did recognize myself or Cilany, starting to ask questions and filming our military escort.
I glanced at Cilany and she gave me a gesture of negativity with her tail, indicating I shouldn't engage with the journalists hawking us for answers.
"Cilany, Harchen Ambassador Raila has been informed of your arrival. She expects to be briefed on what you know of Fahl and the Harchen colonies. However, she is currently in talks with undecided species' representatives, so you will have to wait." A kolshian guard informed us, or more specifically Cilany. He didn't seem to even want to look at me.
"Of course. Would you show us to where we can meet her once she's done, please?" Cilany asked.
The guard led us down a series of winding corridors, away from the auditorium where state business was conducted. Eventually we were taken down an escalator to a basement, where a subway train waited for us, taking us to the ambassadorial offices. I was hoping we wouldn't 'disappear' in transit, and that my 'shadows' were still tailing me.
Thankfully, we arrived safely at the station, where more soldiers steered us into a lobby, then up an elevator ride to the 12th floor. This was the krakotl portion of the offices, so I was getting a little suspicious. But then again, the krakotl were hit the hardest by the arxur attacks, so their situation was one worth discussing. Though the guard said Raila was talking to undecided representatives, so why would she be in the krakotl offices?
We were slowly approaching a closed off conference room, and I signaled to Cilany to look at the door, hoping she got the hint. She gave me a quick confirmation with her tail, and as soon as we were next to the door, I leapt into it, knocking it open, with the harchen reporters rushing in after me. The guards were dumbfounded and raised their guns to shoot us, but I activated my shield as the harchen rushed behind me for cover.
While the guards were distracted by the sudden appearance of the plasma barrier, Cilany and another reporter slammed the door shut behind us.
"What is the meaning of this!?" The krakotl ambassador squawked behind me, and I turned around to see that this was, as I'd suspected, where all the diplomats were meeting to discuss with the undecided species. Even Nikonus was here.
"Sorry for the interruption, but this has gone on long enough." I pulled out the aurigan holoprojector I had in one of my belt pockets, holding it up. "I'm here to deliver a message."
"Deliver a message? You said you were here to talk about the arxur attacks." Nikonus responded, an annoyed glare twisting his brows.
"I am, that is the message. The arxur attack is a consequence of your action. You attacked the venlil homeworld, and were gunning to attack all of the aurigans' other allies too. Now your forces are defeated and captured, and your worlds are being glassed as a consequence. You chose to provoke them, and they retaliated. I'm here to show you what could have been."
Pressing the play button, the holoprojector played a personal message from Gojid Prime Minister Piri, detailing what happened during the Cradle battle, with video examples of their kindness and protective instincts. Then it showed Venlin Governor Tarva, talking about how the aurigans minimized the casualties of a stampede, protecting, rescuing, and tending to the vulnerable and wounded, showing the footage as before. And finally it showed Zurulian Prime Minister Braylen, talking about the irrefutable science of the empathy tests, and how even the carnivores amongst the aurigans passed them.
"My message is this. Stand with the aurigans, and they will be your friends. Stand against the aurigans, and they will be your undoing."
"This is ridiculous, they are clearly playing the long game. You will regret siding with them, Recel!" Jerulim squawked once more, which caused the mazic ambassador to flare her trunk. "The mezari and their allies are predators, there is no denying that."
"I thought you were supposed to be their ally." I addressed the mazic. "Speaking of their allies, why are you the only one of their allied species here?"
"It's because Jerulim attacked every representative from those species last time. The mazics are the only ones who he didn't dare attack." The Farsul ambassador spoke up.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
"I apologized for that already! That was then, this is now. I'm more than willing to hear them out now." Jerulim responded.
"Is that because you no longer have your fleet to throw around and threaten them with? What were your words? 'Anyone who sides with the predators is dead to me'?"
"How else could I have responded to such heresy!?"
"How is empirical evidence heresy? Do you not see with your eyes? Do your minds not process information? To the undecided here, make your choices. You have seen what I had to say. Cilany can handle the rest."
Raila, the harchen ambassador, turned to Cilany. "Finally, I was getting tired of the predator apologetics. Is Fahl still holding?"
Cilany, having gotten wrapped up in the holoprojection, took a moment to register Raila's question. "I- Yes, but the arxur are raiding outer colonies to get Fahl to soften its defenses. If captain Zuris hadn't been allowed to retreat by the aurigans, he wouldn't have been able to protect the refugee ships escaping Blissful Modernity."
"Are the arxur working for the aurigans? They attacked the Coalition's worlds right as they became vulnerable, that can't be a coincidence." Raila then asked, and Cilany gave a sorrowful nod.
"I knew it! The predators can't be trusted!" Jerulim practically shrieked, the noise bothering my ears.
"The arxur were manipulated by the aurigans into drawing the Coalition fleets back to their worlds. If your captain Kalsim hadn't insisted on believing it was a bluff, Nishtal wouldn't have fallen. Again, everything the aurigans have ever done has been in response to being attacked. They never raised their weapons against anyone who didn't threaten them" I retorted.
"No, they just sic the arxur on them." Jerulim scoffed.
Nikonus then tapped against his podium to get everyone's attention. "This is why I wanted to work with the aurigans, not against them. We needed the predators to fight each other, not team up against us. But the Krakotls' hot-bloodedness ruined any chances of that. Now the aurigans have been pushed into siding with the arxur because of you, Jerulim!"
"The aurigans are more fierce and intelligent than the arxur ever were. They have proven their ability to defeat the grays in open combat, and even defeat federation ships when facing overwhelming numbers, all by using their superior tactics and their strange powers. I say again, pick your sides carefully in this war, because nobody that has openly opposed them has survived, only surrender can save you."
"I don't regret our decision to join the attack on Venlil Prime. I have chosen my side." Raila preened, a smug look in her eye.
Cilany glared at the Harchen Abmassador. "Then you should apologize, surrender, and beg for forgiveness. Before it's too late. The arxur only attacked us because you provoked the aurigans. We can't hold against them forever, sooner or later Fahl will fall just like Nishtal. You better pray that the aurigans can call the arxur off, before we lose any more people."
"Fifteen species attacked Venlil Prime. Those fifteen species failed. Those that surrendered were allowed to go back to their homes and defend them from the arxur. Those that didn't, don't have homes anymore. If you want to survive, don't be like them. We either make peace with the newcomers, or we end up like the Krakotl. It's your choice." I punctuated Cilany's argument.
The aurigans proved time and time again that they only attack those that threatened their lives, and I was hoping that the undecided Federation representatives here could see that. My words had silenced the entire room, and the meeting was adjourned shortly afterwards by Nikonus, who declared that everyone should think carefully about their decision, and where they stood in relation to the newcomers.
With the meeting adjourned, kolshian soldiers crowded around us again, no doubt wishing to lock us up in a cell, or at the very least in sealed off quarters. This didn't seem to bother Cilany though, as she immediately rushed towards Nikonus as the old chief stood up from his chair.
"I still want to talk to you about the impending refugee crisis!" She was shouting. "The people who survived the arxur raids need security and reassurance! They need to know the Federation is still looking out for them!"
The old chief was already trying to make a quick exit. "I don't have time to worry about the average citizen, I have interspecies diplomacy to worry about!"
"If you don't talk to me my people will reveal damning information about the Kolshians! You don't want your interspecies relations to be ruined, do you?"
Nikonus paused and glowered at the reporter, and she simply stood there defiantly. He didn't know what we knew, but the fact he was worried showed that there might be some truth to the arxur's claims, and that was a very frightening thought.
"In my office. Now." Nikonus waved Cilany after him, and she insisted I follow.
Obliging the reporter, we were escorted by armed guards to the lowest floor of the building, which housed the kolshian suite. It was a beautiful area, decorated with massive seawater tanks showing off a variety of colorful seaweed, extending all along the walls like living wallpaper.
Once we were at his office, Nikonus motioned for the guards to stay outside, and Cilany and I followed him in.
"I'll be frank. You two are clearly here to turn votes in favor of the aurigans, and I have little time for mind games. Tell me what you really want, Cilany." The old chief demanded, and Cilany scrolled through the notes on her datapad.
"When the diplomatic envoy of aurigan-friendly species left Aafa, both of their subspace engines started overheating. Both had had their coolant lines cut, just enough to slowly leak coolant over a few days, until critical. DNA evidence shows that it was Kolshians who cut the coolant lines."
"What are you implying?"
"It would be awfully convenient if the first diplomatic mission to the new predators suddenly vanished without a trace, and it'd be even more convenient if Recel, a disgraced officer who decide to save a predator's life, was on the ship when it vanished. Which reminds me, where is the Takkan ambassador? We have a witness that saw him get shot by kolshian soldiers when he tried to stop their tampering."
"Bold, yet foolish, accusations. A person who did such things could make you disappear too, my dear."
"If I disappear, it will be a headline of the century: 'Harchen journalists vanishes after meeting Chief Nikonus'. Not to mention that my incriminating information will still be published."
The chief's mouth twisted as if he was trying to rein in his emotions, unsure of what to say or do next.
"How much do you know?" He asked.
Cilany clicked her tongue. "I know everything. You deleted first contacted files from the records, you attempted to turn the arxur into herbivores, and your actions caused them to starve, forcing them to seek us out as food instead. Oh, and you tried to kill Serz Kersho, Recel, and all the diplomats, of course. Why not just deny the aurigans a say and kill their ambassador directly?"
The chief took a deep breath, and I expected him to say something to deny, or deflect the accusations. But instead he glanced at the door, before squinting down at Cilany.
"Because of my actions, my people see me as a reasonable leader, who gave the newcomers a chance to prove themselves. Gunning down their ambassador in front of cameras would've made people question my morality, or my sanity. Isn't that why you rescued 'poor Serz', Recel? Because you questioned Sovlin's morality and sanity? If people thought I was being worse than the literal predator, they might develop empathy for predators too!"
"That only answers half my question. Why blow up the diplomats with a shuttle malfunction?"
"Simple, it was out of range, and everyone would just assume the newcomers had killed the diplomats. No witnesses, no proof, of anything else."
"Why though? You said you wanted to use the aurigans to fight the arxur. Why sabotage their efforts at diplomacy?"
"Simple. If predators start being accepted as thinking, feeling beings, our people would start asking questions about predators, questions which we don't want them to know the answers to."
Damn it, the arxur was telling the truth, wasn't he? The kolshians were lying all along! I wanted to shove my tentacles up the old bastard's spiracles for that. What else did the chiefs keep from us?
Cilany was far more calm than I was, and simply stroked her chin. "So you're saying that citizens would start questioning why the arxur are different? Start questioning their first contact? Maybe find out they were starved to death by the Federation?"
"Exactly! It would do irreparable damage to the general morale of the Federation... Plus, there's more to it than that. You have some of the facts, but not all of them."
Thinking back to the footage of the Chief Hunter's story, I couldn't help but feel growing anger in my stomach. The Federation created our own greatest enemy. Why? Why the fuck would we do that!?
I couldn't help my anger anymore, and I shouted at the chief, my voice strained from the emotions running through me. "What did we do, Nikonus!? The arxur said we made them allergic to meat. That we tricked them. Killed millions of them through starvation. How much of that is true? Do they eat our people because of something we did to them!? What did we do to them, Nikonus!?" I demanded even louder, Cilany flinching as I started shouting.
"You talked to a gray!? You're insane, Recel! A disgrace! I should've just had you carted away like the Tak-"
"Like the Takkan diplomat?" I demanded.
"Yes, like that Takkan fool! He saw what was happening and tried to stop us, so we had to get rid of him. Don't worry, he's still alive, we patched him up."
"Oh, you didn't kill him, you just shot him, and probably locked him up somewhere for the rest of time. Much better. Now talk! What did we do to the arxur!?" I pushed myself closer to the chief, prodding him with a tentacle.
"Bah! Fine! When we founded the Federation, it was just us and the farsul. We were the first in this sector to develop FTL. Then we found the Krakotl, the third race to ever develop FTL. We welcomed them in the federation, but there was something wrong with them, they were aggressive, disagreeable. They were so ill-suited to being civilized people. When we learned they were scavengers, and ate fish, not just plants, we realized that it was their desire for flesh that made them violent.
So we gave them a choice. Take a cure for their condition, and become civilized. Or die from a bioweapon tailored to their genes. The ones who accepted, we brought into re-education camps, and created a religion for them based on algae and fruit eating. We instilled in them a fear and hatred of flesh-eaters, and made them useful members of society."
Cilany gasped in horror. "You invented Inatala and Maltos?"
"Beliefs, religious or not, are the best way to control people. We planted fake archaeological texts, rewrote their history, and destroyed evidence of the truth. They're harder to control now, but the cultural changes stuck. They're now loyal to the morals we instilled in them."
"And the krakotl have no idea this was done to them?"
"Of course not, that would be cruel. It is a closely guarded secret, only the highest ranking Kolshians and Farsul know. It's a process we've perfected over the last millennium, much more subtle these days. It's how we keep the grotesque races normal, and maintain our peaceful ways?"
"Races? Plural? We did this to others?" I asked in shock, but Nikonus ignored the question for now
"Over time, we learned that hunters and scavengers were very different. Hunters, being an actual predator, were violent by their very nature, and consumed by war. When the grays asked us for help with their food problem, they refused to try herbivory. Their arrogance is why they starved."
It was clear that the chief had no concept of carnivory, just like I didn't before a few weeks ago. It was sad to see him be so arrogant about his own knowledge, and not considering he is missing vital information.
Cilany then spoke up again. "You also killed their cattle, did you not?"
"They keep accusing us of that, but it's simply not true. We never killed prey animals, don't be absurd!"
Cilany nodded, though she seemed unsure. "And you said there were other races that you had to civilize?"
"Yes, the Gojids, the Iftalis, the Tilfish, and many others, around 10% of the Federation. Every species with a religion based around demonizing predators was once a scavenger."
I felt the need to sit down at that, my limbs feeling weak. Almost ten percent of the Federation used to be like the Mezari? My people created the arxur threat? We altered culture and history?
"I don't know what to say... this is a lot to take in." Cilany spoke up, before adding. "Actually, I do know what to say. What you did was wrong. Conducting genetic engineering, falsifying religious and cultural history, and unleashing the arxur upon the galaxy. You're a monster if you think any of that is just, Nikonus."
"You can believe what you want. Nobody else will. If you publish anything said here today, it will read like wild science-fiction."
"Publish? This is a live stream, idiot." Cilany lifted up her datapad, pointing at the small camera on the back, causing Nikonus to gasp in horror.
The chief bared his teeth at us, and I could feel my anger boiling over as he spoke. "What!? You short-sighted bitch! You have no idea what you've just done! I should have you shot!"
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" I screamed as I couldn't handle any more of the old man's words. Pulling out my mezari baton and activating the hidden axe blade. I was inches from Nikonus's throat within seconds, tears streaming down my cheeks. "We destroyed billions of lives! We created the arxur! We made everyone scared and weak! Millions die in stampedes alone because of that fear! We're responsible for everything wrong with this sector!"
"R-Recel, calm down!" Cilany grabbed at my hip, pulling me off of Nikonus. I fell back onto my knees, dropping the axe, my tentacles feeling weak. Why couldn't I have been born as something else? Why were my people the ones responsible for so much vile depravity?
While I curled up in a ball with Cilany hugging my shoulders, Nikonus slipped out of the office. I wanted to make him pay for everything, but that wouldn't undo any of the hurt we'd caused. Nothing could. My only solace was that I could do better, be better, than my ancestors.