Memory transcription subject: Chief Hunter Isif, Arxur Dominion Sector Fleet

Date [standardized Aurigan time]: 2nd Day of First Frost, Year 1 After Auriga

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Betterment’s grip on Wriss had waned, as word of prey omnivores circled back home. Many citizens saw other meat-eaters as victims, of the same predator hatred that crippled us. They cried that the converts were genuine sapients, distorted by the enemy. Those revelations didn’t inspire faith in our diet, nor did the Dominion’s inability to reform.

My crew had already tasted the benefits of an alliance with the aurigans, and word would soon spread of their lab-grown rations. As would the way they treat their prisoners. Once more and more of the general populace became enamored with their way of life, I was certain that the tension would reach a boiling point, and a rebellion would start in full.

There were hundreds of clandestine discussion boards talking about the newcomers, many believing them to be myth, and most being baffled by their ability to co-exist with prey. But a sizable minority were convinced that the aurigans had managed to perfect predator society, working together with others was becoming more appealing in the eyes of these groups.

I gripped my aurigan holopad tightly as I scrolled through a few of the clandestine forums. While officially anonymous, the Betterment Office was more than capable of tracking down users if it desired, and most of these people would no doubt find themselves whisked away for being defective if their talk got too revolutionary. I wondered why they were even allowed to operate for so long, but wasting resources on capturing every single defective arxur was not viable, so the answer was probably 'monitor them all but only bother with the most radical'.

I was thankful for the piece of alien technology in my grasps. Ever since Seeker Klapatch gave it to me nearly a month ago, it allowed me to spend hundreds of hours on the internet, entirely unmonitored by Betterment. While it could connect to our websites and apps without issue, its security measures were so different that trying to hack it was beyond Betterment's ken.

Depositing the holopad in a desk drawer, I made my way to the comms chamber and scanned my form into the virtual interface. Prophet-Descendant Giznel's hologram materialized in front of me, and he greeted me with his usual scowl.

I bowed my head submissively for a moment, and he motioned for me to give my report.

"Your Savageness, the aurigans returned our captured hunters, as expected. They were treated with respect and well tended to, as we'd hoped. The newcomers are proving themselves to be honorable, not just fierce. They will prove to be invaluable allies if used correctly."

"We shall see, Isif. The aurigans claim Shaza's sector for themselves, after they already bested your men at the Cradle. They are already turning their allegiance over to the prey, and that makes them our enemy. I'm sure you're not so foolish as to not see that." Giznel grimaced with distain.

"The aurigans see no point in fighting the prey, when they can be used as indentured servants instead. Since day one they've been extracting resources and labor from the prey. The venlil are providing them minerals and rare gases, the gojids are working in their fleets, and the zurulians are foolishly sharing all their scientific knowledge with them. With our manpower shortages, we could benefit from employing the prey as more than just cattle, no?"

"The prey must be kept snivels and cowardly, Isif. If they don't fear us, they will be impossible to control. Do you really think that the aurigans can control their 'pets'? One misstep and they'll be targeted by flamethrowers and antimatter bombs again."

"That is why their plan is long term. The prey will become so endeared to the aurigans, that over generations they will become complacent and dependable. Future generations will be born to serve predators, with no reason to think they could ever live otherwise."

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"You are a fool, Isif. The aurigans will be the ones to grow complacent and fat. If they are tended to on hand and knee, they will become weak. They won't know how to fight or hunt if they don't need to anymore. What sort of predator is that?"

"Hmmm... a weak one." I replied after some mulling, and the Prophet-Descendant's eye showed a glimmer of approval.

"Then you understand. I want Fahl and Sillis back under our control by the end of the week, and because of that I'm giving your fleet over to Shaza. She will command both, and show the aurigans that Betterment is stronger than their mollification. Until she returns victorious, you are not to leave your post again. I don't want any more foolish ideas entering your head. Betterment keeps the Dominion strong. That makes us the superior predators."

I let out a low hiss of submission and bowed my upper body low. "Yes, Great One."

"Good." Came Giznel's one word reply, before he shut off the communications, and I was left alone in the comms chamber.

With an annoyed growl I stormed out and headed back to my office. I tried calling Coth back to my station, but he'd already been given the orders to move out while I was talking to Giznel. The old softbelly decided to route control over to Shaza while we were still talking, so that I couldn't say anything to my men before they left.

The only other hunters in the observation post were the prisoners, while everyone else around was support and technical staff.

"Hmm... What was his- Ah yes." I mumbled as I was trying to remember Kaisal's name for a moment. I then had the runt sent up to my station instead, fully intent on ribbing him about the aurigans.

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The scrawny grunt skulked into my office with his body kept low to the ground, and I let out a low huff of displeasure.

"Sit up straight, runt, you're not being audited. There's no need to snivel." I informed him, waving a hand dismissively.

"Of course, your Viciousness. What is it you require of me?" The grunt asked with a shaky voice.

"Simple. You tell me what you think of the aurigans. I tell nobody else. A good trade, no?" I spoke plainly, in a low tone.

The grunt mulled the request over for a few seconds, clearly unsure if this was a trap or not, before finally acquiescing to it.

"I can do that." Came his response, and I motioned for him to continue. "They're... strange. They don't take kindly to cruelty, and see co-operation as more important than personal survival. They kept us well fed and gave us clean quarters, and even when they moved us outside they made sure our conditions were good. Despite being predators, they treat prey like friends. And despite being our enemy, they want peace, not victory." The young runt finished with an awkward shuffle, as if expecting to be punished, and I let out a low murmur from my throat.

"Yes, but what do you think of them? You're telling me how they act, you're not giving me your opinion. Speak your mind, grunt. That's an order." I then reprimanded, my tail slapping the ground in irritation.

Kaisal gave a low gulp and backed away slightly, his posture lowering in submission again, before finally straightening up again with a fierce look in his eyes. "I think... I think they're better than us! They treated me right while all my life the other arxur have treated me like shit. I think we're fools to live the way we do, and that we should all live like them instead! I don't care if that gets me killed, I should've died on the Cradle, but the damned aurigans showed me mercy there too. I have nothing to live for but to starve another day, so go ahead and kill me!" He shouted, breaking down into tears, and I had no idea how to respond.

I watched in silence as he cried, until he finally collected himself as he realized I wasn't attacking him. He stared blankly in my direction as I sat at my desk, contemplating what to do with him now.

"Your opinion is noted, Kaisal. Wipe your face clean and return to our quarters. If I have need of you again I'll call you back up. Oh, and send Trosaf up as well." Was my only response, though inwardly I was still trying to process his outburst. I'd never seen an arxur bear their emotions open like that, he must've really meant it when he said he had nothing to live for.

The grunt gave an awkward nod and wiped away the snot from his nostrils, before making his way out, trying to pretend like nothing had happened. Despite his deeply emotional nature, I was sure he'd be an asset to any future rebellion, though his self-worth needed to be heightened. Perhaps a sense of purpose would do him good.

Once the grunt was out of the room, I made a note on the aurigan holopad, adding him to the list of defective arxur I could possibly count on.

Building an insurrection would take time, and I needed to investigate as many avenues for recruits as possible.