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The Nature of Predators 2-7
🕑 Added 2024-01-29 12:00:07 +0000 UTCMemory Transcription Subject: Taylor Trench, Human Colonist
Date [standardized human time]: March 16, 2160
The heart rate monitor beeps were the first sensory input to break through the dreamless fog, bringing me into consciousness. My eyes blinked open, gasping, as my mind felt that I had been buried beneath the sand in the last waking moments. The blue lighting of the medical clinic hit my vision, and I sat up with hyperventilating breaths. Doctor Adebayo was nowhere to be seen, though I recognized her workshop instantly. My head throbbed, wrapped in bandages, and I groaned in discomfort. My fingers scrabbled at the linen sheets, trying to push myself upward.
“No, no, no. Easy, Taylor.” Cherise’s voice sounded like it was being amplified within my ears. She rushed up from where she’d been sitting on her holopad in a visitor’s chair. “There was an accident in the mines. You were injured.”
I gritted my teeth. “I know. I remember. Help me get up, Benson; I’ve got to get back to work. We’ve got to make sure the shipments—”
“That’s not happening,” Mayor Hathaway said, from where he was quietly hiding in a shadowy corner. “The main drill is gone, son. Look around you. We have a lot of folks down, and not nearly enough medical staff available.”
Gone? That…can’t be. We’re not going to be able to meet the Krev’s demands, and there’s fuck all I can do.
While on Earth, there would’ve been specialists for every condition under the sun, here we only had a handful of general practitioners, one general surgeon for emergencies (most surgeries were performed by robots due to understaffing), and a single dentist. I suppose for the last one, we wouldn't want anything happening to our precious canine teeth; cavities weren’t a good shtick. Getting buried alive hadn’t hurt half as bad as that root canal I had to get. Once this generation of medical staff were gone, we’d have to hope someone new trained on the AI courses we’d brought from Earth. My head slowly lifted from the pillow, with my vision unblurring at last. The light pained me as it struck my optic nerve, but I forced myself to look around at the bed.
There were people in full body casts, with breathing tubes down their throats, with missing limbs, or even with burned features—likely from being too close to the explosion. Considering how I’d only just been making my way away from the control platform, I’d gotten off quite lucky. My mind raced back to the last time I saw Kabir, who’d only increased the drill’s capacity at my prodding. Where was he? Had…had I caused this? I couldn’t help but feel responsible for the catastrophe, and for destroying any chances of staying the Krev’s hand.
“Where is Kabir?” I pleaded to Cherise, feebly tugging at her hand.
Her eyes swelled with water. “Kabir was killed almost instantly. They’re still pulling bodies from the wreckage, but his death has been…confirmed. I’m sorry, Taylor.”
“No. I…I killed him. How many people are dead?”
“This isn’t your—”
“How many?!”
Mayor Hathaway lowered his head. “Ten. Thirty-six more injured, with a third in critical condition.”
“I killed all of them. I never meant for any of this to happen. Kabir didn’t deserve this. He was a good engineer, someone who really cared about the people using our tech. And he’s gone. He’s fucking gone. I just wanted to save our home, and now, we’re for sure going to lose this place. The only home we ever knew. FUCK! I hate everything!”
The beeps from the heart rate monitor quickened, as grief manifesting as anger threatened to consume me. Brandon Hathaway and Cherise Benson looked on with concern, both exchanging glances with each other. I was surprised the mayor wasn’t chewing me out, when all of these deaths traced back to my one reckless decision; he must be beyond disappointed, when I’d failed him and all of humanity in such a horrendous way. While I was happy to fall on my sword, I was livid at the Krev for forcing us to push ourselves with such cold, calculated rigidity. Those xeno fucks didn’t care about us at all. They were the reason that I had killed my friend!
We can’t mine anything now; less bodies, no drill. We’re so fucked. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone, I really didn’t…
“Taylor? Breathe,” Cherise implored me, noticing that I was short of breath. “It was an accident. Nobody blames you.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. “I blame me! Kabir warned me that it was past the safety limits, and I told him to push it just a bit further. I didn’t listen, because I didn’t want the Krev to take our fucking home…I thought it’d be fine! I did. There’s no fixing it now. Mayor, if you need a scalp for this, I won’t fight you.”
Mayor Hathaway slumped his shoulders. “You’re right that there’s no fixing the drill. But I’m not benching my star player in the ninth inning. If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine for ordering you to do whatever it took and dangling a carrot in front of your nose. We both should’ve seen that there was no producing anything faster.”
“I shouldn’t have agreed to give them double in the first place. Cherise was right; I negotiated with absolutely zero backbone, based on my gut.”
“You have good instincts, son. You have a lot of ambition and charm too. Back on Earth, you would’ve made something of yourself. You’d be a company executive, a politician…some kind of leader. You’re a natural at taking charge and reading people, so I see no reason you weren’t right about the Krev. Anyone with half a mind knows they’ve just been looking for as flimsy of a reason as they can find to push us out.”
“And now they will. Kabir…died for nothing. I could’ve found another way; I could’ve warned the miners like he said, so they’d had a chance to clear out!”
Cherise tilted her head. “You probably could’ve. Our situation could be worse though. I might’ve disagreed with what you’ve done, but not why you did it. We fight the Krev, and a lot more good people die than who’s lying here now. You think the damn militia and a few security officers can stand up to them?”
“I know they can’t.”
“And so do I. That’s why I’m going to go out there and have a chat, man-to-man, when Gress shows up in an hour,” Hathaway said.
“Wait…has it already been three days? I’ve been out that fucking long?!”
“You have. We were worried about you; glad you came to before I’ve got to trek out there. I’m going to tell him the truth about the accident, and plead for a reprieve; they did display sympathy for us when we first came here, so maybe we can convince them to give us time. If it comes to it, though, we’re just going to leave; there’ll be no fighting them. I don’t know if we have it in us to start all over again, but it’s the only choice.”
I snorted with bitterness. “The people will be thrilled about that.”
“The people will call it a feckless move, but at least they’ll be around to spit their criticism. Nobody can take a look at their warships and think we can win. We stay because they allow it. I’m not sure I’ll be able to persuade the Krev to grant us mercy like you; I don’t quite have your knack for smooth-talking, Taylor. I’ve still got to try.”
“I can handle it. Let me talk to Gress, sir. I need to do this, after my part in this mess.”
“Absolutely not! Doctor Adebayo wants you to rest; you just awakened from being out cold for days!” Cherise protested.
“I’m fine now. You can be right there to help me, Cherise, and if I can’t make it, we’ll turn right back around. Mayor Hathaway can come too, if he wants to remember what sunlight looks like. Ah, the joys of being human.”
Hathaway hesitated, squinting at me. “You shouldn’t be going anywhere, but I won’t deny that I need you. I haven’t been topside in some time so…I think I’ll stay here, and stand by, in case anything is needed. You sure you’re up for this, Taylor?”
“I am, sir. Just put that blasted mask on, and we’ll be going.”
Cherise placed a gentle hand on my shoulder, steadying me as I forced myself to sit upright. Her eyes darkened with disapproval at the mayor’s agreement, but the mayor was right; attempting to plead with the Krev, and stop them from taking away our sanctuary, was the least I could do. Now wasn’t the time for me to be sidelined, and for Gress to be introduced to someone new. The security guard squinted as I struggled to steady myself, with a ringing in my ears that drove me insane. It was as though I could still feel the explosion rattling my eardrums, and remember landing with my nose down in the dirt.
Pull yourself together, Taylor. It’s a few minutes of walking to the elevator from here, straight through the common area, and another to the landing pad. The only way to stop people from considering me a Krev bootlicker is to stand up to them, and not to bend over so they can take our homes. I won’t let them. Not after…good people died over their stupid fucking rocks.
Mayor Hathaway pursed his lips. “I know you feel bad about all this, Taylor, but this is just the cherry on top for our entire voyage. I’m not in any way upset with you, and you don’t need to prove anything. Call me a senile, old man, but it really feels like the universe is out to get us. There’s nothing out there that’s come easy to us…this is just the newest hurdle. It’s not within your power to stop the endless tribulations.”
“I hate the Krev, sir. That’s the only thing I need to keep me going,” I murmured.
“Don’t we all. Play nice to their faces, especially now. Whatever you do, do not go playing the hero. Remember what’s at stake here; getting kicked out is a lot better than having our doors kicked in. We can’t piss them off. If you can’t stop them from booting us out, buy us as much time as you can to come up with a plan.”
“I understand. That’s all we’ve been doing…buying time for twenty years. For all we know, this is the safest place in the galaxy for us.”
“We always knew it might come to this. The Krev told us upfront that it was a temporary arrangement, and Lord knows we’ve tried to make it otherwise. Our pleas will probably fall on deaf ears.”
“They hate us, like every other alien race,” Cherise commented. “Drain us dry, bleed us of every last penny, and then they’ve got no use for us. Far as I’m concerned, we should get packing.”
I massaged my dizzy cranium. “We’re lucky those heartless bastards saw an opportunity, to let us land at all—else, we would’ve starved with our supply shortage. Yippee.”
“You’re going to try to convince them to spare us. It’s about time we’ve gotten one act of kindness. For all those Federation pricks accused us of being devoid of empathy…sometimes, it seems like we’re the only ones with an ounce of it,” Hathaway sighed. “Life at one percent is starting to feel real pointless, like you said.”
“Let’s not disrespect the people who gave up everything to send us here. I carry on because my parents sacrificed themselves, so I could get on this ship. My mother had health issues, and the UN limited passenger slots to only those who could bear children and were in good health. Had to pick and choose, to ensure the healthiest progenitors. My dad stayed behind with her, but they both…wanted me to survive. I remember when they wished me goodbye. Their faces are shadows and figments now, but I can hear their voices in my head.”
Cherise raised her eyebrows. “What are they saying, Taylor?”
“That they’d be proud of me, no matter what came next. That they’d look down on me, and they wanted me to be happy. I don’t think this was what they dreamed for me. I wonder what all the people from Earth are thinking, if they’re watching from some kind of afterlife.”
“I think they’re thinking that you’re going to talk the Krev into taking their heads out of their asses. That if anyone’s got this, it’s you; even all banged up and beaten.”
The mayor nodded. “I agree with her. I wish we had more time to strategize, but you’ve got to get going to the lift—before Gress gets here. Don’t want him getting restless legs. You need anything, or Taylor’s unwell, you call me, Benson.”
“Understood. Off we go, buzzcut. One foot in front of the other: I’m right here.”
I limped out of the medical clinic, past a few other patients lying in recovery. My mouth felt numb and dehydrated, as the balloon expanding within my skull beat me up. Doctor Adebayo strolled back out of the operating suite, and began chasing me with alarm; the mayor stepped in, running interference on her as she attempted to contain me. My steps quickened with determination, though the vertigo made my balance a bit precarious. Aches and pains plagued me across my body; I imagined it’d worsen from any exertion, but I was willing to sacrifice myself for humanity. If my parents had the strength to send off their only child so he could survive, I could be strong enough to face Gress. One gesture of genuine nobility.
Gress wasn’t very understanding about that three day buffer. How can we expect him to give us an indefinite hiatus, after a previous extension? It’s clear that the Krev can’t stand us, and don’t care about our problems.
I didn’t see an angle to stand on. Cherise brought me a change of clothes: something more suitable for the outdoors than my hospital gown. My eyes roved across the common area, where studio apartments much like my own were cut into the rockface, and I inhaled the scent of burning meat for what might be the last time. We hid the lab-grown meat factories underground, deep in the bunker’s recesses; we couldn’t have the Krev getting wind that we were flesh-eaters. There were a handful of restaurants cut into the shop alcoves in the center pillar, which divided the walking space like a chunky median. They were devoted to keeping the culinary delights of Earth alive; a small taste of home and our cultures.
Cherise’s uncle worked at the bistro pub…a place I really wished I could collapse and get a drink right about now. My head was swimming in nausea, and it was all I could do not to keel over right here. It felt as though I had jogged a marathon, despite how I’d barely stepped outside the med clinic. I needed some kind of injection of energy. My thoughts harkened back to the hatred for the Krev, and for my part in the entire disaster that forced us into this predicament. My steps became more sure-footed, as I staggered to the elevator.
Cherise presented two masks, with keys bound around them. “How many times have we done this together, Taylor?”
“Too fucking many,” I sighed.
“If this is the last time we take this ride together…humanity probably got a few extra years on this planet, because of you. Some things just aren’t meant to be.”
“Slim comfort that is. At least we don’t have to lie to the miners now. There’s no ore to be given to anyone.”
“We’ll see if Gress can get that through his thick skull.”
I managed to place the cloth mask over Cherise’s head, before she fitted mine into place; it concealed our eyes, but normally, we could see through it. Right now, I felt like it was suffocating me, just like the sand that poured from the cavern had done. Darkening the harsh light that was searing my brain should’ve been a welcome reprieve, but it was difficult to make out anything, through any interference. None of my moment-to-moment existence felt right, beyond the standard resentment of having to hide my eyes from the watching clouds. I wondered what the doctor had diagnosed me with.
The security guard locked my mask, and stuffed the key in her pocket; I mirrored her actions, recognizing that there was no going back now. It was no further to the landing pad than it was to turn around and stagger back to the medical clinic. That would just leave me moping in bed, feeling powerless over what the Krev would do—more than I already did. If I couldn’t stay upright for a few minutes with humanity’s future on the line, then what kind of person was I? With trembling fingers, I twisted the key back into the guard’s mask. I managed to pick up the secondary fabric left for my use, and wrap it around my own skull half-heartedly. It partially blocked my view due to my poor placement.
Cherise gave me a concerned headtilt, before grabbing a cane from the control room. “Here. This belongs to Ms. Cortez, but I don’t think she’ll miss it for a few minutes. I still don’t think you should be going up there. If you’re going to, you should use this. Something to lean on.”
I accepted the walking aid with a sigh. “I thought that something was you.”
“At that point, I might as well carry you on my back. Imagine what Gress will think at that sight.”
“I’d love for Gress to make a comment, so I can whack that smug look off his face. Uh, please…let’s get going. I don’t have much left in the tank.”
“Alright, Taylor. Just take it easy. Talking isn't my game, but I’ll jump in to help you if needed.”
“I can handle the talking. It’s getting up there that’s the problem. Come on.”
Cherise signaled to the control room, and our watchers unsealed the barrier to the elevator without hesitation. I took several deep breaths, as the lift came to our call; the upward motion immediately intensified my disorientation, and my hands clamped around the cane. What was I going to say to Gress, beyond a desperate plea, as Mayor Hathaway had advised me? I couldn’t let aliens send us packing again, after everything we’d built here. Humanity was here on this planet to stay, if there was anything I could do about it. I wasn’t taking no for an answer.
A/N - Part 7! With the drill gone, a severely banged-up Taylor wakes up in a world of guilt, but humanity's only option is to plead for mercy: a task that the mayor hands over without many objections. Hatred for the Krev is at an all-time high, with dozens injured and a high percentage of casualties. How will Gress respond to Taylor's plan to beg? What will become of the ark humans, if he doesn't show any sympathy toward their plight?
As always, thank you for reading and supporting! We're getting close to the chapter that makes this entire arc...Chapter 11...so you know it's about to get real!
Comments
Ryeloaf Breadmen
"... nobody blames you." We all blame you
RS
I for one hope the Krev are whimsical distributists who are just generally confused by their new secretive, underground, weirdo neighbors.
Tyler Ellis
Yeah, all bets are now on Gress, don’t know enough about him to say he’s malevolent, though he is an ass.
PhycoKrusk
Or an act of Gress.
Some Lvm
@Elias The way SP describe Taylor's condition made it very clear he has a severe had injury. He is almost certainly concussed, and probably has something much worse. He should not be moving, and certainly should not be put in environmental extremes. I am thinking he won't just faint - he will start suffocating on his own vomit and there will be no time for Cherise to drag him to safety before removing his mask. Also, I don't think they have the landing pad covered by a sniper. If they don't want to provoke the Krev, pointing guns at their ambassador would be a bad idea! It seems to be Cherise's duty to let Taylor suffocate, but I don't think she has it in her to sacrifice him like that.
ToddTheSquid
Again, that doesn't make it any less sad. If anything it makes it more sad. I don't know why you're arguing with me over this.
Some Lvm
@ToddTheQuid: sorry to tell you this, but LGBTQ is not the only group of humans that isn't getting any representation on the arks. As I understand it, there were 3 ark ships launched. Around 3000 people per ship. That means 9`000 out of 11`000`000`000 humans got to go. Even if someone was actually trying to preserve every "type" of human there is, there would be no way to properly represent the world diversity. Of course considering that you are actually launching a breeding factory and not a museum, the only diversity one can care about, is proper genetic diversity, so you would want rigorous screening, ensuring best survival chances for the offspring. I don't think the NoP UN did it that way, because frankly it looks like they didn't put much faith in the arks, but if this was a proper "backup" for humanity, every single person would be force to sign an agreement for an intensive breeding program, which would require them to produce and care for a large number of offspring, disregarding things like romance or personal preferences. Also, the pairings would be chosen by a computer based on genetic compatibility, again to ensure best chances for healthy offspring. This may sound harsh, even inhumane to a degree, but if we realistically want to restart humanity from a population of 3000 on an alien planet, sacrifices will have to be made. This kind of thing was addressed well in a TV show called "Ascension" (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3696720/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) and in a web comic called Unicorn Jelly https://unicornjelly.com/ (I strongly recommend that one to you both because it is good, and because it has very diverse characters done well by a righter who is her self diverse, which I think you would like)
Some Lvm
Dang it SP - why so much teasing? Its hard enough waiting for new chapters normally :P
Some Lvm
@Edmund - they have been on the planet for 20 years. They have pubs, they have farms, they built an entire underground city. They had more than enough time to build a whole new and improved ark ship, fill it with supplies and move on. I mean, they did build a bunch of war ships, so clearly the engineering know how is there... They could have also asked the Krev for star charts of the region so they would not have to wonder blindly or risk ending up on someone else's planet. They are just entitled f**s, who think that if they got to this planet, they get to own it.
Some Lvm
@Sobek - I am with Phyco in this one: I think the UN miscalculated, and instead of crewing the arks with select professionals that could insure the colony will actually be able to survive and function, they just peaked the most breedable specimens from those who actually wanted to go, and sent them out. This seems to have been a low priority, haphazard side project, not the key plan for humanity's survival.
Some Lvm
@Conner: the Krev could have just given them supplies and sent them on their marry way, they didn't have to let them colonize the planet. Plus, its been 20 years! And the humans did nothing to even try to create proper diplomatic relations with the Krev, or at least find out if the Krev are actually hostile towards people with binocular eyes or omnivores. They just dug in, and are totally busy doing their BS pretending the outside world does not exist. They deserve whatever is coming to them...
Xelav
I just realized that humans from Ark Ship 3 will eventually reconnect with the rest of humanity eventually, since this "Memory transcription devise" is used on Tylor (The same that got used on Elias M. and Slanek) P.S Are these guys British? They are using 'lift' instead of the 'elevator'
Some Lvm
Considering how she is simping for him... Yea, those two idiots deserve each other!
Tyler Ellis
Idk what is more stupid a decision for Hathaway; ignoring doctors orders and sending a clearly disoriented man, that just woke up out of a coma, to speak to an ambassador, or the fact that he decided against punishing Taylor for getting people killed and royally screwing over what they presume to be the last remnants of the human race. If brainlets like Hathaway and Taylor are the best of this bunch then it’s going to take an act of God to save this colony! I’m just wondering what the big turnaround or break is going to be bc it sure ain’t coming from Taylor’s mouth or the mayors.
Piittis
I get that Taylor is the one who is most experienced with talking to the Krev currently, but sending someone in that poor of a condition to talk is a really bad idea. He's probably going to collapse after a few sentences. Like just send someone else up and give them a walkie-talkie or something so Taylor can talk to Gress straight from the hospital bed. Also when the Reddit crowd gets access to these chapters, I expect that Taylor is quickly going to become the next Marcel.
Edmund Lam
You missed the part about the lack of supplies.
Alekss Žukovskis
could be the case that Mayer locked the tech to some collective psych test, so that some group wouldn't seek immediate retribution and ruin everything.
Alekss Žukovskis
...or give the awesome tech that came with Tarvas uplift
Gumcel
“On the other hand, the human refugees have no where to go, and we can understand their frustration.” They could leave and go to a bajillion different places potentially teeming with life. They’ve just decided that staying with the Krev and floundering about waiting to be evicted/executed is better than taking even the most minute chance.
Gumcel
“Plus I'm almost certain the Krev are making it real hard to build up enough surplus to leave again with their bullshit rent.” The ark humans are literally building completely unnecessary warships with surplus materials. Also they straight up admit that they could leave, but just don’t want to.
Gumcel
(Chapter 8 spoilers) More common Taylor Ls and Gress continues to be a gigachad.
Ashlin Ferguson
Oh for sure, they're all in dire straits here, and none of them have sufficient knowledge and experience to handle these rough decisions well. But even before Taylor had the head trauma excuse, he got his friend in engineering (who should have been the expert) killed via peer pressure.
EliasArt2Life
Cherise and the guard are there to prevent this from happening. If Taylor collapses, Cherise drags him into the tunnels. If Gress attempts to take the mask off, the guard shoots. If Cherise weakens and doesn’t drag Taylor back inside, the guard shoots. More likely, a disoriented and confuddled Taylor lets something about humanity slip. I agree with the sentiment, though; if things go to plan, nothing changes, and the story grinds to a halt. There’ll almost definitely be a twist somewhere.
EliasArt2Life
To be fair, he’s not really in a condition to do much of anything, much less learning from his mistakes. I blame the Mayor for not recognizing that Taylor isn’t thinking straight, and can’t currently be relied on. They had 3 days to figure out a way to do this without Taylor, and whatever they came up with is flimsy enough to just toss aside and let a badly injured Taylor do it.
EliasArt2Life
New Idea, but not one I’m putting much stock in; The Krev ARE actually evil, so when Ark Ship 3 humans reconnect with the rest of humanity, the have EVEN MORE reason not to trust aliens. I don’t care for this idea because: A) The Krev haven’t really acted that bad yet. B) I don’t want to judge them poorly yet. C) That outcome would be extremely hard to execute; loaded with narrative plot holes, could come off as repetitive (“another evil alien empire?”), misses out on exploring other avenues, and has a relatively low payoff compared to the cost (these humans aren’t going to trust Ex-Federation Aliens regardless, right now. Making them MORE mistrustful isn’t exactly necessary.)
EliasArt2Life
I predict we’re going to get a Krev POV follow-up (likely Gress). I have yet to see the Krev being blatantly unfair, so if the humans DO get evicted, that means we either get: a massacre, an internal revolt, or humanity leaves the planet. I feel that each of these options has less potential than a new POV, featuring the Krev. If Taylor pulls off a miracle, we just get returned to the status quo of humanity not being able to do much due to being secretive. If Taylor fails, the conflict created is limited in scope by humanity’s low numbers and power. If Taylor lets the truth slip… well, even in his state, I doubt he will. But, all of that could easily be changed by the addition of new information/variables, so my predictions don’t mean much anyway. I don’t think the “mask is going to fall off” theory will work; there are just too many safeguards. There are 2 representatives to prevent one of them from taking off the mask, the guard has the keys, and the guard will shoot in case of an emergency. Even if Taylor DOES collapse, the mask can’t be taken off quickly, and Cherise will just drag him back into the tunnels.
Cosmic Bananas
While I'm fine with some incompetence it just bugs me how "unofficial" and "informal" everything feels when involving many of the government bodies. Also weirder stuff like a clerk becoming a pilot then a soldier in the span of about a few months earlier on in the story. Your writing has definitely improved
Some Lvm
Ok, here are a few predictions for next chapter: 1. Taylor collapses in front of Gress. Not sure if mid explaining or before he can get even one word out. 2. Krev discover what humans really look like, don't understand what the big deal is. 3. It will be revealed (maybe not in next chapter though) some of Krev allies are omnivores / carnivores, no Feds no problem. 4. After saving Tayler's life the Krev force a full confession out of him, and in a not very surprising twist decide to help the colonists. Those dumbfucks however, think its a trap and start a conflict thus creating a complete contradiction to human nature as displayed in NoP 1.
Cosmic Bananas
He really is at fault for all those deaths. I swear most of the people there are incompetent. I agree that they need to move on, but the mayor's dismissal of all those deaths, and defending the person who despite being told numerous times what a dangerous idea it was and Carried on. The mayor is incompetent with a hearty dab of favoritism I swear they aren't learning from their mistakes in any way, Tayler is once again ignoring the experts and the mayor enables him
Some Lvm
Are we sure this is Earth Ark Ship 3 and not Golgafrinchan Ark Fleet Ship B? I mean those guys were mistaken for humans after some time too... Also, RIP Kabir, we hardly knew you...
Some Lvm
@Conner Deese - that's the thing - are they acting like assholes? We can't say for sure Krev are nice, they may just be indifferent, but we can say for sure they are not evil: They could have killed the humans. They didn't. They could have enslaved the humans. They didn't. They made a deal. They stuck to the deal. They didn't force the humans to pay double - Taylor just folded without a protest. Maybe if he at least tried to convince Gress they were already at their limit and couldn't make the shipment, he would have settled for less. So far, the Krev had plenty of opportunity to show an evil side - humans have been there for nearly 20 years, and yet we have seen nothing! A landlord that demands agreed payment on time is not and asshole, and is not evil. The humans on the other hand - now they are the real assholes: They knew their rent was due, but they were stuck in labor disputes. And to make things worse - they siphoned what was already produced to make useless gunships they have no need for. Now that I think about it - these colonists are the kind of tenants that give tenants a bad name - they waste their rent on gambling, can't hold a job to make up for it, make promises they know they can't keep, and than refuse to leave and blame the owner of the apartment for it, who is just trying to make a living like every normal person.
Ashlin Ferguson
Taylor continuing the trend of ignoring the advice of experts, I see. What could go wrong?
Apogee
I think Taylor is slow. And I think the Mayor is a coward. I bet Gress will be somewhat mortified that there were deaths and injuries but if he’s not..well then the Krev do just see humanity as a slave force to be used up and tossed aside. Been more merciful to just blow the arc ship up all those years ago, but I don’t think that’s the direction of this story. I bet they can stay if they show their faces or something to that affect.
Conner Deese
I use "evil space communists" because we already had space fascists in the federation and dominion. It's more just that people thing the Krev might be nice but they can just as easily be awful. If I were to actually describe them as something I think "evil space capitalists" might be the best description since they mostly act as asshole landlords right now
Amanda Chowning
I use the return button and I’m on mobile. So it depends on what type of phone you have. See? Second paragraph.
Yannis Morris
I imagine this is what it was like to be in the fandom before the Cilany Interview.
Yannis Morris
You know there keeps being a very good point in these chapters. The Ark 3 Humans can’t stand up to the Krev. Much less a six-species pact. How *are* they gonna get out of this?
Cheesy Power
The real sin for me is that comment about their medical staff and the reveal that they aren’t ACTIVELY TRAINING MORE! Like, they confirmed that they have AI training programs, they have a shortage of doctors and other specialists, and they have a colony population in the thousands. Training new doctors and medical staff is a process that should already have been started!
ToddTheSquid
I mean, I find it hard to believe they'd be "evil space communists" unless you're going off the American conservative definition of "communism" or think the soviets or China were ever actually communist. And to get ahead of anyone who says "But they claimed to be communist!" Yeah, and North Korea claims to be democratic. People lie, titles and names don't define what something is, actions do.
ToddTheSquid
That doesn't make it any less sad.
PhycoKrusk
Or worse, the Krev already had to deal with something like that in their history (or at least similar in some fashion), and actually get it. I mean, they're still irritated about the situation, but they accept them into the Consortium. "Let's figure out where we go from here."
PhycoKrusk
Because the UN wanted people in good health who could bear children with each other. You don't have to be exceptionally smart to satisfy those criteria.
PhycoKrusk
When talking about the survival of the species, all other concerns become secondary.
Yannis Morris
Ark 3 Humans: You know why we’re here. Gress: Don’t you pull that stunt. No the f**k I don’t.
Space Paladin
Hathaway has shown many qualities about himself indirectly, and part of that is he likes Taylor’s suck up smooth talk….
ToddTheSquid
I just realized. The UN specified that only healthy people who were capable of bearing children were allowed on the ark ships. That means there'd be very, very few out trans people on the ark ships originally. That's... Incredibly sad, I think.
Niko15
Krev in next chapter: "Alright, terrans. I wonder how you bullshit your way out this time"
PhycoKrusk
What does that say about everyone else on the ark?
PhycoKrusk
Not a lot of options next chapter, and about the only one that has a chance of ending positively is if Gress just flat out says, "Why don't we forget about the shipment this month, and you tell me why you're *really* here?"
PhycoKrusk
Excellent analogy.
PhycoKrusk
Everyone is making a lot of assumptions about the Krev.
PhycoKrusk
That works when you have a keyboard, but I think a lot of us use mobile (or in my case, both, because I love you all and have to get my community fix whether I'm home or not).
Dookus Maximus
Yeah they just have goddamn Microsoft Sam narrate the entire thing 🤣
Conner Deese
It's less they rolled up and said "my planet" more like "We are put of food and water and will slowly starve if we can't land and try to grow more." Plus I'm almost certain the Krev are making it real hard to build up enough surplus to leave again with their bullshit rent.
Conner Deese
Folks are putting a lot of faith in the Krev when we know Jack all about them. They could be a dying race themselves unable to handle their own problems or evil space communists or any number of things. Taylor isn't a good guy he would have been a career politician back on earth but he's the best the ark ship has got for this
Byron Ritchie
It was an accident. Nobody blames you.” I squeezed my eyes shut. “I blame me!“ Finally me and Taylor are on the Same page but seriously I just hope he comes clean to the ambassador
Yonael Blackwood
Hathaway keeps talking Taylor up but I don't see it. Taylor has said nothing to show this alleged quick wit and silver tongue, and has frankly only demonstrated the opposite.
John
Next chapter a loyalist federation remnant fleet is gonna show up and bombard the planet with anti matter to kill the humans inadvertently pissing off the Krev.
Matyáš
Are we going to get some humanity contact where none of them know the other is human?
Space Paladin
If you trust me, wait until Chapter 11: it makes the entire Krev arc more than worth it! One of my fav chapters 😅
DemonVee
Mayor Hathaway: "Taylor, please, don't be a hero..." Next chapter: "Hey guys, I'm Taylor Trench and this is jackass!"
Bas Donders
These are rivaling Slanek chapters for my least liked POV. The Krev need to find out they're humans so they can be looped in with the rest of humanity, and fast. Crazy, because the Bissem chapters are so good. I'm enjoying Nova's Children as well. It's just these chapters that are duds.
Yannis Morris
I press the shift key and then hit return
T___
The Krev don't just have squtters. They have people who won't show their faces and have burrowed under the surface to hide. Who refuse to negotiate the time they will leave. I think it is understandable they want to find out more about these people who make no effort to desegregate. They didn't know how on the brink the humans were all the time. They didn't know they were making a demand that would destroy the aliens. In fact, it could have been a test. If the aliens CAN deliver, they are amassing wealth for themselves behind their backs. Their reasons and wants are understandable. Kress, the only individual that is interacting with them, does not seem to be a likable person. The humans are the supplicants here, but they seem to have forgotten that. Why have they put so much effort and used so much of their resources when they knew this was temporary. I'm rooting for the humans, of course, but they have made mistakes.
Mylax Kindflame
Honestly, their best bet is just to tell the truth. Take off the masks and actually talk face-to-face. It’d be both pretty funny and genuinely sad to see the Krev not react at all to their appearance
Edmund Lam
Krevs aren’t really the bad guys. The ark ship showed up in their territory and they let the humans stay temporarily. On the other hand, the human refugees have no where to go, and we can understand their frustration. In this universe at least there is hope that the UN will show up and bring the humans home. Build a wall. Make the humans pay for it.
Paperclip
Oh, alright. Thanks!
Sobek
Maybe they could try and negotiate by being honest? Why haven't they asked the Krev to help move to a new planet already?
Alex
cannot wait for the rest of humanity to find these guys
T___
We write our bit elsewhere with smaller paragraphs, then copy-pasting it here.
Charles Michael Santos
I mean I understand that they think that they're the last of humanity, but they don't really have the right to randomly claim a planet that's within the borders of the krev, at this point they're like squatters on an airbnb refusing to leave. Hopefully they'll be found by a friendly faction or humans before they start a conflict they can't handle. Great chapter SP!
Lord Tvlor
I can't be the only one shipping Taylor and Cherise.
Adam Myers
I am really hoping things eventually improve.
Janne Riihinen
Foreshadowing 😈😈
Rusty Deviant
Listen to them?
Snappa
I would just like to say I appreciate your sticking to the scheduled time of 7am releases. The perfect time for me because that’s when I get to work and get to listen to them at work right away
Corporal Chunk
Hopefully some kind of UN broadcast reaches them or maybe a UN exploration ship, so they don't get fucked over by the Krev
Paperclip
Gress is gonna be pissed and unsympathetic, and they get the boot, probably guaranteed at this point. Maybe after we get back from Tassi an SC exploration ship or something comes up and the Krev get even MORE pissed, thinking that the Ark ship people took advantage of them and lied about a dead homeworld, and that's the big twist of the arc that sets NOP2 off. Hate to say it but for all this talk about Taylor being a negotiator, I haven't seen a lick of it. "Oh, sorry, yes boss just give us a few more days plzz" isn't really the negotiating that deserves am emphasis. Can't wait to see the eviction and then whiplash back to Dustin and Nulia desperately trying to explain Haliska's outburst without mentioning the Feds, which someone will probably leak anyways. Also, how are people adding indentations to their comments? Making a massive paragraph full of run-on sentences is getting tiring.
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