spacepaladin15
patreon
The Nature of Predators 2-98
🕑 Added 2024-12-27 12:00:09 +0000 UTCMemory Transcription Subject: Tassi, Bissem Alien Liaison
Date [standardized human time]: September 14, 2161
There was no magical solution to the lingering hostility between the three Bissem subspecies, due to the war that had engulfed our planet, but I felt that we were all moving toward cooperation for the first time. Enjoined Flippers was a supranational organization formed to set out a single agenda for Sapient Coalition matters, which was modeled after the humans’ United Nations. We followed up the treaty to end the war with an agreement to work together in alien affairs, and to maintain peace within Ivrana’s circumference. We could’ve lost our planet in multiple ways during this debacle, between the ghost Farsul, the environmental crisis, and ourselves.
Lassmin, my country, had emerged as a leader and a prime example of Sapient Coalition ideals. We took in a multitude of Farsul and Krev Consortium refugees to vacant Nelmin, and raised Enjoined Flippers first initiative at its first meeting. Using the same methodology that the Terrans had used to revive the Osirs, we’d start a genetic restoration effort to bring back the extinct fourth Bissem subspecies—natives killed in a violent conflict between colonial powers long ago. It passed the assembly by unanimous vote, and from there, the humans were more than willing to help when we approached them.
The humans have become the enlightened helpers I looked for when we first came to the stars, daring to fix the galaxy’s problems no matter how bleak they were. Adam was right not to give up hope. I believe we can follow in their footsteps.
“Naltor,” I ventured, leaning out over the balcony of the hall where we’d hosted that disastrous feast. “Do you remember that first day, when you came and abducted me from FAI?”
The Selmer offered a gruff chuckle. “How the fuck could I ever forget it, Tassi? I was a grounded man who liked simple solutions, before all this; I needed a Hirsdamned dreamer. I was in way over my head. Dealing with people from space—who the fuck would’ve thought I could ever get used to that?”
“That we got used to it, and this is just a normal part of our lives now; it’s amazing. It makes me reflect on all that happened since then and now. We learned there were people-eaters, and here we are now, dining with them and their insurgent canid friends.”
“Hmph. I think Zalk and his wanderbird comrades took a shine to Aulan. The Tseia have the biggest victim complex in ‘Orion,’ so it’s no wonder.”
“Whatever their reasons, I’m glad the Jaslips are a part of the Carnivore Alliance. We’ve got ourselves a nice little trading bloc and a few niches to cover. I’m much happier to be running point on diplomacy of that sort, without species genocides at stake.”
“Without our own genocide at stake. It’s nice to have the ghosts taken off the table, since they painted a fucking bullseye on us. It makes my skin crawl to think about Ivrana getting attacked on my watch—that’s what ate me up at first contact.”
“There’s nothing to be worried about. The humans handled them with little struggle, and they’re protecting us now.”
“I’d like to be self-reliant. You can say it was never a real fight, but I think that’s fitting as fuck; there was no glamor in their underhanded playbook. The Farsul were always working quietly in the background, and that’s how their radical psychos went out. Like a fizzle of smoke. Not even the main event. That was the Consortium.”
I studied the grizzled veteran closer, noticing the creases by his beak. “You’re still angry at them.”
“Of course I am. I can understand a species killing us for a cause, but the one whose cause is themselves and nothing grander; those are the people who deserve no mercy. They deserve what sick shit Zalk would’ve dreamed up for Dustin. Do you ever think about that nerd?”
“He was a kindred spirit. Of course I do. Dustin would’ve risked his life for us, and the spooks twisted his desire to help. He still knew I needed him and left. We talk from time to time via text, but I don’t see our friendship coming back.”
“What about Haliska and Nulia?”
“The entire mission was a political stunt. They were blackmailed, but then passed that blackmail onto me. They hurt me to serve their own needs. Our friendship is over. Adam and even Loxsel were better friends.”
“I’m not a better friend?”
I shove the Selmer, chuckling. “You’re not an alien!”
“Maybe I am. Maybe the Krev replaced me, and I’m roboNaltor, the big and round!”
“I can’t deal with you today. Let’s get back to the feast, shall we?”
The two of us retreated back to the hall, enjoying the ambience as we waited for the main dishes to be served. The Jaslips, hailing from a frozen biome, would be trying fish for the first time; some high-ranking Arxur had sampled oceanic cuisine at human meals, with many remarking with flared nostrils that it had a tangy aftertaste. The unsaid part in that was, ‘like Yotul,’ according to Onso. When the middle-aged Rinsian remarked that, I’d almost spit out my drink. That was not something I could unhear, or kick from the back of my mind every time I…savored the flavor.
Clearly, not all carnivores are built the same, because I could never look at a sun-bleached, clearly sapient Yotul and chow into him—no matter how desperate I was. It makes my skin crawl.
“Thank you all for the invitation,” Aulan, the leader of the Jaslip Brigade, said as we re-entered. “Jaslipkind remembers those who help us. I’m glad that we were the second carnivores to join the Sapient Coalition, not the first; you trailblazed the past for us to be equals among a union of aliens. I hope we can help the Arxur’s bid in return, with it looking promising.”
Kaisal’s eyes gleamed. “The humans have finally backed us, and recognized how we stepped up when they and others like them were threatened. The Arxur will be free, just like the Jaslips.”
“You’ve carved out a new legacy,” the meek Farsul representative, Creqi, said. “I hope we’ll have the chance to do the same. I thought we might never be a part of anything again, and…I thank you for your kindness.”
Onso pinned his ears back. “The Bissems don’t know what kind of ‘uplift’ you would’ve done on them. You have so very much to make up for.”
“As do we,” Chauson said, a kind twinkle in his Zurulian eyes. “It’s not our place to judge others; only to do better than they have done. It costs us nothing to offer mercy and compassion. Let us grow as healers.”
“We could all uplift each other.” I could feel all of the same awe and wonder I’d experienced on first contact day coursing through my blood, with thousands of fantastical possibilities at my flippers. Bissems had the chance to make that dream future a reality, as active participants in the process. “Everything that we’ve all been through: we’ll make sure the next species we find doesn’t have to. We’ll be the interstellar visitors they always hoped for.”
Onso snorted. “You really want to go bumbling into another species’ civilization, after everything that’s been done to yours?”
“You looked up to aliens once, and thought there were so many wonderful things to learn. I want to look them in the eyes and tell them that whoever they are, whatever they’ve done, we’re no better than them. We’ve just had a bit more time to learn from our mistakes. Isn’t that a message of acceptance that you would’ve loved to hear?”
“Yes, Dr. Tassi. It…most certainly is.”
Sitting among the founding members of the Carnivore Alliance, with all of us having gained a slow acceptance into the galaxy’s predominant forum, I could feel a peace settling into my spirit. Bissems had the opportunity to enjoy the galaxy to the fullest, during a time of tranquility. We’d settled our own affairs, elevating our focus to what really mattered when we looked beyond petty squabbles. We had a host of unconventional friends in the outcasts and freethinkers seated here who were emboldened together, and were ready to decide what we’d stand for. There was a familiarity with the aliens that I couldn’t have imagined.
A galaxy that could’ve belonged only to the humans belonged in equal parts to all of us—and I wanted nothing more than to work with every alien species I could in the spirit of unity.
A/N - Tassi reflects on all that’s happened since first contact, with the Bissems making their own UN and getting comfortable within their Carnivore Alliance—now including the Jaslips, who became the second carnivores to gain entry to the SC. Those two plan to help the Arxur’s bid in the long-term, and Tassi sets the tone to include the Farsul at the table and to set a good example for the next uplifts.
What do you think of the end point for Ivrana and Bissemkind, with things trending in the right direction? Do you think Tassi will be able to preserve the next uplifts’ awe and wonder?
As always, thank you for reading and supporting!
Comments
Amigo1016
I'm a little sad that Dustin and the rest of the First Contact Team ended up the way they did. But overall this ties things up nicely. I'm going to miss that old cranky grump Naltor.
Bow-Tied Engineer
I find it hilarious that it's still the carnivore alliance, despite containing the Yotul and the Farsul. I want to see the day that name becomes hilarious and ironic because most of the member species of the organization are omnivores or herbivores.
Full_diamond_6414
I am so glad I waited to stack up chapters. It just hits different when you can sit down and read a bunch in one sitting. It feels more immersive. Plus there's no waiting to find out how major events play out.
Adam Myers
Tbf, same goes for the Yotul and the Farsul.
EliasArt2Life
@Dookus Maximus It’s THAT their roles were concluded so early that Roscuro is referring to. It COULD have been written where they attempted to make amends. It could have also been written so that they rebelled against Jones’ manipulation, and tried to work with Tassi once Jones was no longer looking over their shoulders. There’s a lot that could have been done, but it wasn’t. What Roscuro is voicing is that it seems like a waste, to him, to bring in these characters from NOP1 and the miniseries, but then take the first opportunity to drop them from the story. To be fair, that IS a good point; they don’t even get an “on-screen” send off, like Quana did. They just stoped appearing in the story. To try to use your metaphor, this puts a period at the end of their sentence, but our love of the characters makes us want, at the very least, an exclamation point.
Alekss Žukovskis
aaaw. i wanted pingus to say flip instead of fuck
PhycoKrusk
Dustin, not Taylor. The Human scientist from the very first chapter
Dookus Maximus
I am pretty sure the Yotul, Farsul, and Zurulians are all members of the CA as well.
Dookus Maximus
I'm assuming you mean Dustin, Haliska, and Nulia? What more was there to say about them? Their roles were already concluded in long ago chapters, this merely put a period at the end of their sentences.
REDemon14
Ah Tassi. The one who started the adventure that is NoP 2. There really wouldn’t be a “quick fix” to the war the Bissem just went through. So many dead and so much bloodshed isn't gonna be washed away in less than a year. I am happy that, through Enjoined Flippers, the Bissem have started to move toward a brighter together. I'm happy that the Bissem have decided to bring back the fourth extinct sub-species of Bissem that was wiped out so long ago. It seems as though the Paltans have some competition with the Bissem when it comes to taking in refugees (I don't think they mind though). It's surprising how anything can be normalized through exposure. Both good and bad. History has many examples of such. Not surprised that Zalk and his face of Bissem took a shining to the reformed Arxur and Jaslip, also nice to know that the Bissem have a nice trade deal with the other carnivores. Most likely different types of meat that each race can partake in. (Could be difficult for the others to find something for the Bissem since they eat only fish) While it is sad to hear about Tassi ending her friendships with the First Contact team, it’s for the best. They all betrayed her in a terrible way. Dustin isn’t *as* guilty, but he still has guilt to bear. He should have known better. At least she has friends in Adam and Loxsel. “RoboNaltor, the big and round!” XD It’s nice to see all the carnivores in an amicable setting where they can be themselves. The Jaslips get to try fish for the first time? I guess the KC just didn’t eat fish or didn’t let any get to the enclaves. So either Onso was joking or Yotul really does have a “tangy aftertaste”. That’s…interesting. In a morbid way. Aww, a Farsul rep! Creqi sounds so nice. I hope the Farsul will be able to make a new name for themselves. Onso being, well, Onso. He still has so much anger after all these years. Luckily, Chauson is there to smooth things over. Always liked him. He is the best Medi-Teddie! Onso is still a little iffy about running into other uncontacted species that may be out there and I don’t really blame him. Contact with the Federation was a disaster no matter what and Jones’ interference turned first contact with the Bissem into a political disaster that will leave a stain on the UN for a long time. I imagine the next first contact team might not have a human. Tassi however, is more hopeful and it warms my heart that she is. She was so close to losing that bit of wonder she had, then she met Adam, who was still Elias then. So happy to see the old Tassi and how she would reinforce the fact that they aren’t better than anybody else. Humanity really could have wiggled their way into owning the galaxy, but they didn’t want that. They wanted to share and care for it with everyone else and that has inspired others. Damn. I’m gonna miss these Space Penguins. The future is looking bright for them though. The next uplifts will be lucky to have her there. Lovely chapter as usual. Looking forward to see what comes next!
Roscuro
Yeah, too many old names reintroduced and dropped with little fanfare. Feels kinda lame if they're just saved for side stories.
Gumcel
👍
EliasArt2Life
This is turning out to be a really bittersweet ending. Things are ending happily, almost idyllic, but so many things have been left undone and unsaid that it feels a little empty too.
Space Paladin
I haven’t decided yet. It might be best to have its own space, for emotes if nothing else (I actually already have some ready 👀), but that’d require a lot of new setup and people to run it!
Gumcel
A question about your next book, will there be a new discord server or are we keeping it on the nop server?
DDDragoni
Farewell, Tassi. Your friends in the stars might not have been as pure and selfless as you were hoping they'd be, but you still made some wonderful connections, and created a space for Bissems up there with the rest.
Douglas Biggers
Previous chapter has him on Tellus about do do Loxel's play, iirc.
PhycoKrusk
BRICS has more members now than the founders, and they haven't changed their name. NATO also has members nowhere near the Atlantic.
Lokyar
If I had any say in the CA, I'd look twice at any human involvement, even as an observer. Humanity has hurt both the Bissem and the Arxur significantly, and in both cases showed their ruthlessness and aptitude for espionage. IDK if the Farsul or the Yotul are part of the CA too, but both have their own experiences on both sides of the equation and would probably be against humanity joining.
Heroman3003
And now Tassi's conclusion. Smaller than others, but it is to be expected, with how her personal struggles were always small, and her conflict was how brushed aside she was by the larger, grander problems in the galaxy. And her conclusion being her finally going back to her roots and figuring things out on her own is nice. It's really sad to see her get bitter enough to completely cut ties to Nulia and Haliska. Sure, the two were terrible, but if they were blackmailed, they should have had a bit of a chance, at least. Nulia being one of the few connecting links to the original story I hoped we might get at least one last glimpse at before the end. Alas... At least she's in contact with Dustin, though I do feel her blame on him is rather unfair. Naltor is fun. He's fun, he's a grumpy general military man, it's great to see him go through it all mostly being a pillar of support and firmness that stands for no bullshit or nonsense. He didn't need to change and he kinda didn't, and it's great. I love the penguin. And, of course, fate of bissemkind as a whole - the Carnivore Alliance. Honestly, silly name still, in retrospect, with Zurulians, Farsul and Yotul in it, but it's not some competing entity but a sub-alliance within SC (or will be soon, as it does seem like Arxur acceptance really is the matter of time by now) so I am not as worried about the implications. Bissem still advocating pro-first contact in spite of yotul being all prudish about it still is good. Shows how much they still have faith and that the galaxy, while disappointing them, didn't let them down entirely. The future for the pengus and their allies is starting to look bright. Good chapter. Looking forward to the next one~
Adam Myers
I think it is odd that the UN doesn’t have a rep in the carnivore alliance, even as an observing member (rather than a full member). Similar for a lot of omnivores, I think that the bloc would want as much political influence as possible (particularly given their ideological overlap with the UN). But fair, I suppose, humans are the dominant ones after all. I am curious if there would be a faction of neo-feds within the SC, who believe in a watered down version of fed ideology. There could be some interesting politics there.
PhycoKrusk
Allow me to elevate and/or ruin the wonderful sentiment if this chapter by expressing our collective feelings on a very important matter: DUSTIN CURTIS LICKS GOATS
PhycoKrusk
Probably glued to a microscope somewhere. Tassi is right; he did a lot to help her, but in the end, he dropped all of that so he could help himself. Maybe that friendship can be revived, but it's going to take a long time. I think the better question is, "Where's Tyler?" We like him way more than Poindexter.
mitsos_pr
Very beautiful chapter:)
Jhon Bustamante
where is dustin?
Cheesy Power
I’m glad the Carnivore Alliance managed to weather the storm and come back even stronger- this kind of political band of misfits and outcasts is exactly what the galaxy needs, and a nice counter-balance to the SC that, while now moving in the right direction, still predominantly represents the majority- for good AND ill. Lol, Onso really would be the type to comment on how his own species tastes- like mentioning that human flesh apparently tastes like pork. I’m glad Tassi has at least softened his position on the Uplift process.
John Benjamin Cate
Task has gone full Trek in her outlook. I hope people in real life can follow that example
Byron Ritchie
Pretty good chapter I would have preferred for nulia and haliska to be called out in person and apologise for their actions (although I do sense a future side story will be about that) but them be reduced to a throwaway line is satisfying in its own way Also I’m thinking ahead here but I image the carnivore alliance and the duertan shield will serve as counterweights to each other in the wider SC
DreamEnvoy
With everything else going on and the subject only being mentioned lightly, I almost forgot the Bissems were in a civil war during all of this. Okay, I did not need to know that yotul taste like fish. All in all, a really nice chapter.
