Fwurg

[Empress Saret Neferti]

"I am afraid our cybernetic technologies are less advanced than those of the Teprogranaian Consensus. Though I must say that the prospect of being saved, only to awaken to a complete loss of one's self sounds like a nightmare.

If we were ever to advance our technology to such a level, serious thinking will have to be done on the implications of such existence. For one, it sounds dangerously close to becoming a thinking machine, something that should be prevented at all costs."

[Senator Danar Tassar]

"It can be rather confusing in the beginning, as I have heard, but people are getting used to it eventually. The brain seems to be remarkably good in adjusting itself to new situations, and nearly all the fecta are glad to have this second chance in life.

However, even for the brain sometimes it can be to much. It appeared, after some experiments, that the brain more or less shuts itself down or ignores all the input when the amount of information given is too much. A long time ago when we were developing ways to connect visual detectors to the brain, we experimented to see if an individual could have more 'eyes'. The effect was the people turned blind or went knock-out, and several other phenomena, simply because the brain was incapable of handling more visual input than its natural capabilities.

And we are far from becoming thinking machines. For beginners: Fecta are still people, they want social interaction, have friends and family, and getting bored by lack of stimulation. If you mean by machines that our cyborgs can hack computers, and being hacked, for now that is not possible. I would lie if I say we didn't try and experiment with it, but up to now the difference of how computers work and our brains work differ to much. Simply said, we have to think very hard 10011101001010, and get 011011010101 in response. Very close to impossible to learn to use.

But or our idea of a thinking machine is different, or our perception of what they do is different. As we see no reason why a thinking machine should be prevented at all costs."

[Empress Saret Neferti]

The empress listened to the explanation by the teprogranaian senator.

"In short, thinking machines are extremely dangerous because they can adapt too well. Let's assume that a group of advanced droids became independent and aware. These droids would be able to adapt to most any environment, just by swapping out body parts. This, in turn, would allow them to increase their number quickly, and grow faster. In effect they would win any competition for natural resources, be this through violence, or in peace time throught better adapted bodies.

This is one of the main reasons we dislike such extreme forms of cyborgism. We fear that the leap from machine with a brain to machine as a brain is too easily made."

She took a sip of tea, and paused for a moment.

"I must admit that we have done research into this area with some zeal, as it is not always clear when someone is just very proficient with a tool, and when someone has become a cyborg. We, as a culture, sometimes struggle with the concept, there is a large grey area between cyborgism and efficient tool use.

A great example is our hyperdrive technology. Veolian hyperdrives can only be piloted by hemet veolians, and they undergo rigorous training to focus their awareness, and to extend their senses through the technology of the hyperdrive. This symbiosis between creature and machine is something we are comfortable with -- but the actual integration of creature and machine on a physical level... That is something we prefer to leave alone.

Some individuals seek these boundaries because they believe that the mastery of such technology will eventually enhance our understanding of the mechanisms involved in hemetism. What little research we have done indicates that the brain is perfectly capable of adapting to new or expanded senses. Maybe this differs from species to species..."

[Senator Danar Tassar]

While the empress did her explanation of the veolian view on cyborgs and droids, Tassar drank some of the tea. After the empress was finished, he explained the teprogrenaian view in further detail.

"I must say I find it interesting how you seemly automatically assume there will be competition between organics and mechanics. My guess this will be because of your higher 'us versus them' way of thinking compared to the teprogrena. To elaborate," he continued without a pause, "as I have observed it, within the Veolian Commonwealth there has been a long history of houses competing each other. And your view on mechanics appears to me as a extension of this competition. But of course, I might be mistaken in this.

The Consensus has a history of cooperation. Our view on mechanics is that when we created them, they have no reason to turn on us. We can live together with droids, if they would have independent thought they would be thankful to us, and know that conflict wont solve anything, while cooperation will increase both our living standards.

As for cyborgs, those are still people who are born out of the sacks of their mother. They have friends when they grow up, they learn at the school and get to fall in love with people. Some even dedicate their live to protect the weaker ones and volunteers for the Guardian program."

"The Guardian program," said Mirabi, "is a very respectable branch of cyborgs, but difficult for the members to be part of. You sacrifice most of your social life to become a very powerful guard. A Guardian gets a special body very suitable to its tasks, but because of its large design they have difficulties to attend to most of the common entertainments. Still, most of the members are proudly part of it, and fulfil their duties with their full dedication."

Danar Tassar couldn't stop a laugh when Mirabi was finished. "Countless Guardians volunteered to come with us to Union City and help with the protection of the senators here, but the local Union security thought that the other factions might get a little nervous if we brought an army of tanks with us."

[Empress Saret Neferti]

The empress took a sip of tea.

"Let us see how you look at the prospect of sharing the limited resources of your world once another race, even if it was created by your own hand, starts consuming them. War is not about a high 'us versus them' way of thinking. That way of thinking is caused by war and strife.

War is caused because of a conflict over resources, and in the end such resources usually determine the survival of your group. Let us revisit this issue once Dhiahamara stretches to sustain 18 billion teprogranaians, and a cybernetic race starts to grow into the last billion. Of course, you will tell me that you will peacefully move parts of your population to other worlds. But those worlds aren't nearly as great to live on. Let us see what will happen in a few hundred years, as Fecta and Danar are forced to move off their homeworld to accommodate a new species that is quick overtaking... We prefer to prevent such a scenario from happening in the first place."

The empress appeared as if she does not want to go into more details.

"I can understand the reaction of Unity security. Bringing and army to Unity would not be a good signal of cooperation. Of course, you are free to have a few advanced security measures in Unity city, so it shouldn't prove too much of a problem? My handmaidens were quickly cleared by Unity security."

[Senator Danar Tassar]

"We decided to let the issue of the Guardians rest for the moment. We are housed in the senate building anyway, which provides little support for the Guardians, and vice versa. We will restate the issue if we build a embassy for our own."

The senator took a sip from the tea, but only to conclude that the tea was depleted. He carefully placed his tube on the table, making sure the mouth wouldn't roll away and didn't touch the table.

"That was some excellent quality tea." He said, then he continued his story he wanted to tell: "Overpopulation will indeed be a problem within a certain amount of time. We do have a very suitable planet close by, but even that planet will be populated over time, given our current course. Within the consensus are we considering several options, varying between moving to Sacarerantes, the suitable planet, birth control and using the Cradle as transport ship. Maybe we will eventually spread out in the galaxy, just like the humans did. The good thing is we do have a lot of time to think about it and to come to a fitting solution for everybody. Personally, I think and hope it will become a combination between birth control and spread to outer settlements.

Current simulations has shown that our birth rate has dropped significantly already over the past centuries, and have reached a stable growth by now. When the teprogrena came at the top of the food chain in Dhiahamara, the population grow rate practically exploded due to the lack of natural enemies. Now these rates have dwindled since our population was getting more and more educated."

[Tayu Shanora]

From Danar Tassar's putting down his tube in such a way, Shanora determined that there was no more tea.

She stood, took up her wooden tray, and quickly walked out of the room. After a while, she returned again, carrying on her wooden tray a new bowl of hot water. She went through the same rituals as before, preparing the tea in the large bowl, and finally pouring the tea into the Teprogranaian tea drinker.

[Empress Saret Neferti]

While the twi'lek slave was preparing tea, the empress remained silent and paid careful attention the movements of the twi'lek woman.

When the tea was poured, she looked up at the Tassar.

"In all my life, I have never met a more proficient tea-pourer than her. In the commonwealth, she is known as a Tayu. A title indicating her grace and education as a hostess and companion. I wonder, how does you culture acknowledge the position of such skilled individuals, senator?"

[Senator Danar Tassar]

"It is seldom I have see someone preparing tea this way, normally people in the consensus use a special scoop, precisely fitting in the bowl. When the tea is ready, the scoop removes all the leaves at once of of the bowl. It seems Tayu Shanora takes great pleasure in making tea. It is always nice to watch people doing things they like and are good at."

Then Tassar took his tube and drank some of the new tea, before he answered the question of the empress.

"Normally, we grant a descriptive title to the person, this person itself can wear symbols indicating his or her social status. For people who are not familiar with the subtleties of the consensus, a general rule is that a teptrogrenus will introduce itself with its name and title, were the sequence is of little importance, as long the race name is followed by the personal name. For me, that is Senator Danar Tassar. My wife is called Fecta Mirabi. The symbols of the teprogrenus wear are most of the time an indication of the position of their consult, and their personal position in that consult."

He closely watched the look on the empress here face, when he didn't saw any recognition in her face of what he just said, he started to explain a little bit of the system of the Consensus: "The Teprogrenaian Consensus works with multiple small groups of people during discussions, most of the time around 30. These groups send one representative, who then discuss with each other and send one person to the next group, all the way to the top till everybody is represented. These discussion groups are called consults. A teprogrenus most of the time wears a symbol that indicates his position and that of the consult."

While Tassar sat back in a more relaxed position in his chair, Mirabi finished his explanation of the empress her question: "One or more of these symbols can also represents the skills of someone. A great musician will wear the symbols for music art and one of a high consult position, and have the title of master musician.

If that serves as an answer on your question, I have still some interests in your cybernetics use, your Imperial Highness. You said most of the Veolians try to refrain themselves from cybernetics as much as possible, but I see your handmaidens are still pretty advanced. Doesn't this cause great social disturbances within the Veolian people? That their imperial empress, who represents a believe of disconnection between organics and machine, is protected by cyborgs?"

[Empress Saret Neferti]

The empress studied Tassar for a moment, and then looked at her handmaiden.

"You have a most discerning eye. Most people miss such details, as they tend to ignore my handmaidens as 'just bodyguards'."

The empress threw another glance to her handmaiden, at which the hooded woman stepped forward to be less in the shadows.

Turning back to the teprogrenaian senator the empress continued: "You have touched upon one of the subtle nuances in our culture. As have I already told you, we do see the benefits of advanced cybernetics. But as is required by law, my handmaiden has willingly sterilized herself. In doing so, she has rejected any bonds to her family, and committed to serve and protect me, and me alone. We do not hide this fact from our population, but we do not draw attention to it either.

This time, you have allowed me to make an interesting observation; I find it interesting that you have assumed that I represent a disconnection between organics and machines. As, really, I do not. Our culture has no issues with the use of tools, in fact, we use them heavily. From chopsticks to star ships, we use tools every day.

I admit, the line between cybernetics and tool use is blurry. While my handmaidens have clearly augmentative cybernetics, one our research institutes recently propose a line of research looking into the coupling of fighter pilot and fighter, of organic and machine, through a mental interface. It is unclear whether this can be done without violating the integrity of the body.

What we do see as an issue is the use of cybernetics to go beyond natural abilities. To put it as a very base argument: my handmaiden could use her unnatural capabilities to be a very desirable mate. However, she would not be able to propagate her cybernetic advantages to her children, and would not strengthen our species. This is why our culture is very careful with cybernetics. We see it as actively hostile to the evolutionary process.

Culturally, it is the duty of every Veolian to reproduce. However, by giving up the right to reproduce, they have committed themselves to serving the empire in another way. My handmaidens serve a purpose; they protect the empire from harm, thereby allowing our way of life to continue. Unfortunately, their sacrifice ostracises my handmaidens from public life, as people acknowledge their importance, but don't know how to react to in a capacity other than as a bodyguard.

Would you like to have a closer look at my handmaiden? You might be interested in her augmentations, and I know she would like the opportunity to interact with someone who doesn't see her only as my bodyguard."

[Senator Danar Tassar]

"Yes I would very much like to have a closer look," Mirabi said. While she and her husband took a closer look, Tassar said: "We never use cybernetics to improve ourself. We apply it as a medical action. Any improvements are only very beneficial side effects. A danar will not be turned into a Guardian. Only a fecta will. Of course when a danar is terminally ill, or severely wounded, he or she can be turned into a Guardian, but we won't do so with people in good health."

Mirabi said to the handmaiden: "Giving up your family to serve the empire sounds like a very big decision, I see your social status is very similar to that of our Guardians, although the cause is very different. And even our Guardians can have more normal social interaction over time, as our new facilities are better adapted to suite the needs of big fecta."

To address the remark of the empress on the current Veolian pilot research, senator Tassar replied: "Ah yes, integrating brain functions into piloting, we have done that with some fecta pilots, but not yet with danar. Speaking of integration, you said that Veolian hyperdrives use a link between a hemet and the hyperdrive. I know there are a lot of hemet veolian within the Veolian Commonwealth, a billion if I am not mistaken, but doesn't this still strongly restrict the capabilities of your people to travel through space? Especially entrepreneurs who want to start for themselves, they need to import a ship, which is more expensive in general.

This sounds awfully close to confining the majority of your people to Mirda, giving only the nobility the luxury of space travel. I am sure your hyperdrives must have some very beneficial abilities, otherwise you would have adapted other hyperdrive technologies a long time ago."

[Empress Saret Neferti]

Much to the teprogrenaians' surprise the handmaiden smiled briefly, and then quickly undid the clasps of her armour. With practised efficiency she started to remove her armour. True to the veolian culture, she wore no clothes underneath her armour. However, instead of being completely naked, the teprogrenaian delegation quickly saw that she wore some kind of organic layer covering most of her torso and her upper arms. She walked to stand in front of Mirabi, and twirled around to offer the cyborg a good view of herself.

The handmaiden wore an thin suit made of an organic-looking compound, the palm of her left hand contained a projector implant of some kind. As Mirabi look the handmaiden over the handmaiden met her eyes, and smiled as Mirabi suddenly felt as if someone stroked her right hand.

As Mirabi spoke, the handmaiden looked at her, clearly paying attention to her implants and suit. "Yes milady, it was a difficult choice. I am happy for your Guardians that you take such measures to include them in your society."

As the teprogrenaian senator talked with the empress, the handmaiden stood in front of Mirabi, as if inviting her to continue her examination of the handmaiden's implants.

The empress seemed more interested in what Tassar had to say: "Our hyperdrives do have a great advantage: we do not need deflectors, or protection from time dilation, or charge-up time to create the necessary conditions for a jump. It is however, draining on the pilot, as it requires intense concentration.

It has been shown that non-hemets with a strict training regime can, and sometimes do, fly our ships. But overall you are correct, roughly 90% of our population is incapable of operating our ships. But this has not impacted their drive to participate in the economy, as there are multitudes of opportunities that do not require one to fly a ship."

((OOC: I checked with Elmer before affecting Mirabi.))

[Senator Danar Tassar]

The Teprogrenaian delegation was rather surprised when the handmaiden started to undress. However as the Teprogrenaian fashion does not has a lot of clothing themselves, they were not as shocked as other factions might have been.

After Mirabi her eyes met the ones of the handmaiden she was startled a little by the sudden stroke over her hand. "What was that?" she asked, while her voice was a little unstable. Upon hearing the difference in her voice, Tassar was immediately alarmed: "What is it my dear?" He asked.
"I felt something strange, like there was some noise in my neural connection, no it was more like interference from the outside." Then she realised what it was, and what the handmaiden did. "It is alright Tassar, the handmaiden gave a little demonstration, I was just startled a bit." Then she turned back to the handmaiden. "That was you, wasn't it? You have some incredible advanced tech there... I am terribly sorry miss, but your name has eluded me, what was is again?"

As it seems that everything was fine with his wife, Tassar turned back to the empress: "To make a rough simplification, making 90% of your people unable to use your hyperdrives nowadays is like denying 90% of your people to drive a car in pre-space age. Although nowadays there are a lot of other ways to get a ship, especially the open markets are good places to look, but that are still solutions from the outside. It is more about the message the government is sending

If your government show now intention of making space travel accessible for the majority of the people, the people can see this as an attempt to deny them certain freedoms, to keep them on a leash. How do the people of the Veolian Commonwealth take this?"

[Empress Saret Neferti]

The handmaiden smiled at Mirabi, with a sparkle in her eye that wasn't there before.

"Yes milady, that was me. I could be much more assertive, but I dare not as I am not familiar with your suit's capabilities. If I were to have the specifications of your exoskeletal implants, I could continue with such manipulations for roughly four hours before exhaustion would overtake me."

"I gave up my family when I became a handmaiden. I am just called Dūsarā now, It means 'second'. My sisters are called Pahalē, Trtīya and Cauthā."


The empress looked at senator Danar Tassar as if he just told a good joke. "That is a very amusing notion, senator. Surely you agree that no such thing as a pre-space age could possibly exist. Space has always existed, and we have always travelled amongst the stars. Our archeologists have even found designs for hyperdrives on data crystals dug up in pre-historical digs.

But to answer your question. We do not see it as limiting our population, there are no laws against buying a ship with a non-veolian hyperdrive. We joined the Union in hopes of cooperation with other factions, and one of the mutual benefits is the exchange of technological knowledge. Even now, we are looking at ways of improving our hyperdrive, and binding it closer to its pilot in hopes of offering other Union members the advantages of our hyperdrives.

I fail to see, how our desire for improvement could be construed as an attempt to deny the veolian people certain freedoms."

[Senator Danar Tassar]

"You drain power from your own body by doing manipulations?" Mirabi asked a little incredulous. "I don't know if that is very sophisticated, or very crude. A little of both I guess.

You and your sisters are called by numbers? I take it that Pahalē, Trtīya and Cauthā are first, third and fourth? Do those numbers have a special meaning, because within the Consensus being called by a number is about the most impersonal thing somebody can call you."


While Tassar took a sip of his tea, he quickly had to stop drinking to prevent he choked himself in the tea. "Maybe our definition of a pre-space age are a little different. Of course space has always been there, but what I meant was the time before travelling the stars. The Teprogrenaian Consensus is travelling the stars themselves for roughly 3000 years by now. Before that time we were visited from time to time by a traveller, and we learned to build a hyperdrive ourself from such travellers."

Tassar took a sip again from the tea again, before he did a final attempt to explain what he wanted to say with the hyperdrives: "What I try to say is that by only developing hyperdrives were a link is required your people can have the impression that the nobility is trying to keep the space travel for themselves.

But you are trying to develop Veolian hyperdrives what even can be used by people with a weak link to the force? That sounds very interesting. Personally I prefer hyperdrives were not such a link is required, but I think this technology can mean important breakthroughs in computer interfaces."

[Empress Saret Neferti]

"As we gave up our family, we gave up our name. Now we are just the first, second, third and fourth handmaiden of Her Imperial Majesty the First Empress Consort of Veolia. There is no special significance, other than the fact that we are the handmaidens of her imperial majesty.

To answer your earlier question. Yes, we drain power from our bodies. This is the only way to ensure that we are not dependent upon anything that our ward is not dependent on. That is, we only need normal food and drink to survive and remain fully operational. Do your protectors, these Guardians, need other things besides food and drink?"


The empress appeared to not fully understand what Tassar was working towards with his explanation of the pre-space age. However, when he explained that he the Teprogrenaian Consensus took to space only 3000 years ago, her face changed into one of understanding.

"Ah, I understand now what you meant to say with 'pre-space age'. I do not know whether we have any record of times before we had hyperspace flight, I know we had hyperdrives before the times of chaos. I have been told that the principles our current hyperdrives are based on do not differ much from the designs we found in archaeological digs.

Still, senator, ships with hyperdrive engines are expensive and space is dangerous. I wouldn't be surprised if only 5% of your population would be interested in flying such a ship themselves, while the rest would be content with being a passenger. As I already said, anyone interested in space flight can buy a vessel capable of hyperspace travel.

I think the research does not only focus on allowing hyperdrive usage by everyone. As you already said, such technology can have a great impact on how we interface with our tools, whether they are hyperdrives, fighters, automated farms or purely virtual systems. Care should be taken that such interfaces do not create too large of a dependency on this way of doing things though...", the empress sounded concerned with her last statement.

[Senator Danar Tassar]

"Yes, compared to you, our Guardians are actually quite demanding." Mirabi said with a tone of amusement in her voice. "I am not that into the technical details, but as far I know, they have an extra power supply to empower their systems like shields and weapons.

Besides that, They are still people, with the needs op people. They listen to music, go to family reunions have friends and hobbies. In fact, they do need everything a normal person need to not go crazy, except food and drink. High grade fecta like the guardians get their needed nutrients injected through a pump."


Tassar continued his talk with the empress while Mirabi was talking with the handmaiden. "In the consensus we already have a basic brain interface, it basically comes free with cyborg technology, but it requires serious operations, and is thus not possible for danar. We are working on interfacing space crafts with danar, where he can piloting a plane with his mind. However this require incredible brain training and we have yet to develop the interface.

Most progress at this moment is within the military. The squadrons we have at the moment most of the time exists of a real living pilot, whether fecta or danar, accompanied by a squadron of droid fighters. Droids lack the intelligence to be real capable fighters, but we lack the numbers and volunteers to set up whole squadrons of fighter pilots. We have combined the best part of both, having squadron led by intelligent people, who are backed-up by the numbers of droids. The next step will be to interface the basic commands for the droids with the pilot. Making the droids more efficient."

[Empress Saret Neferti]

"In all honesty, Lady Mirabi, I am not very aware of the technical details of my augmentations. I am mostly aware of what I can do with them. Through years of training I have gained a deeper understanding of their relation to my body and of their effect upon the world, I am not actually aware of how they work.

I must admit I am a little envious of your guardians. I have little time for friends or hobbies. Her imperial majesty is very kind to us, and makes sure that we get the opportunity, but most on my world see me as an outsider. Of course, I have the other handmaidens, and the empress her ladies-in-waiting and her belongings are very considerate of our needs."


The empress listened closely to senator Tassar, as this was a subject of interest to the Veolian Commonwealth.

"Your use of droids sounds intriguing, but I am surprised that you lack trained fighter pilots. According to our latest numbers, your world houses at least 3.5 billion. Do your people not have the desire to protect their world?"

[Senator Danar Tassar]

"Don't get to jealous on our Guardians," Mirabi warned, "It still very strange to see them around when they are not on duty, and as their body is part off their function, they cannot just put of their uniform and 'be normal'. For normal people it is like either the national guard in full uniform walks in, or a person so big he needs 8 places to sit. Quite some Guardians eventually quit their services for this reason and let them be rebuild to normal fecta again. Either to continue with another job at the army, or to do something completely different. One of our best-sellers is written by a Guardian, its very good story."


"We do have people who want to protect our world, only fighter pilot is just a very unpopular job. Considering that we live in a consensus that is not very strange. Not only is a fighter pilot one of the most dangerous jobs in the army, the pilot has no say in during combat, he just has to accept whatever order he gets from higher up. Most of our people don't like that and are going for jobs on cruisers and destroyers.

Also, the requirements for a fighter pilot are very high as well, so a lot of volunteers fail the tests and are not capable of becoming a decent pilot. "

[Empress Saret Neferti]

"We have the same problem, milady. The suit you see me wearing now is more than just a uniform, I can't just take it off without the necessary preparations. And, of course, we have some implants that we can't just remove", the handmaiden held out her left hand for Mirabi to inspect, "though most of them are internal."

"And while your Guardians can apply for another job, the handmaidens will never take up any other responsibility. We swore to protect our charge, and we answer to her and her alone. We will not be able to ever accept orders from another, it is part of our training. Not even the emperor can command us." As the handmaiden spoke, her eyes filled with joy.


"Interesting", the empress replied, "I would have thought that your continuous communication with each other would have allowed for more autonomous units. Wouldn't your fighter pilots be able to communicate their immediate insights from the battlefield, and work together as a unit to form consensus on the best plan of attack?"

The empress was silent for a little while.

"Maybe it is just not in the teprogrenaian nature to think in such a way. That would explain why you had such trouble with combat when you took the stars."

[Senator Danar Tassar]

"From the twinkle in your eyes, I take it that you like it that you don't have to take orders from the emperor. Do all wives of the emperor have handmaidens? Or are they only reserved for the first wife?" Mirabi asked.


"Well, it appeared that the best approach to win a battle, is by getting orders from higher up from people with a better overview. Yes, fighter pilots can provide important updates during combat, but have the tendency to lack the necessary overview and focus on short direct goals. I think you would agree that in combat soldiers have no time to argue about the best approach, as this only will delay their actions and lead to worsening situations. If the enemy shows an opening during combat, you cannot argue for ten minutes about whether or not using the opening. Someone with the correct overview has to order the soldiers to exploit or not to exploit the opening."

While Tassar was talking about this, he remembered that he totally had forgotten his tea. While the empress could think about what he said, the teprogrenaian senator took a moment to enjoy the tea.

"Of course, before and after combat there is plenty of time to discuss the plan of approach, and what went well and what went wrong. But during combat? Not at all, then you have to fulfil your job and don't discuss. We learned that the hard way."

[Empress Saret Neferti]

"Well...", the handmaiden looked uncomfortable for a moment, "you misunderstand. It isn't that I don't have to take orders from the emperor. It is actually impossible for his imperial majesty to order me to do anything, I just won't feel what he wants. Only she can do that." The same twinkle returned to her eyes when she talked about the empress.

"All wives of the emperor have handmaidens of course. It would be irresponsible to allow the empresses to travel unprotected, they could be captured, or worse."


The empress took Tassar's example, and took a sip of tea.

"Wouldn't it be better to train your soldiers in a way to achieve consensus without taking ten minutes? If they were to achieve consensus in a short time, they might be a formidable defensive force. At least, that is how our specialists are trained.

Of course, we also have rank and file soldiers who are commanded about, but our specialists are trained to operate in small groups and to have a high degree of autonomy. They are just handed a goal, and go about achieving that goal in whatever way they feel is best."

[Senator Danar Tassar]

"You can feel what her imperial majesty wants? I heard that your kind had some sort of telepathic abilities, but I have no idea how they work." Mirabi said. "Is there a special reason his imperial majesty can not reach you, or is it something what just happens?" Mirabi looked quite interested in the subject.


"Perhaps," Tassar said after the theories of the empress, "but such deliberations are still hard during aerial combat. I don't know in what degree they do reach consensus. I am but a politician so my detailed knowledge of the different military sections is limited after all. Speaking of which" Tassar said after a sip of the tea, "you seemed to be very well informed. Is it because the military training most hemets receive?"

[Empress Saret Neferti]

The handmaiden looked at Mirabi with a smile. "Of course I feel what her imperial majesty wants. How else would I be able to serve her?"

"Hemet veolians have a form of telepathy that is akin to an empathic broadcast, for those untrained, it is mostly instinctive. The hemet projects a feeling of desire to those around them, regardless of the actual position of those around them. If a someone is around the same hemet for a long time, the effect intensifies -- there have been instances of servants knowing what their master would do before their master even thought of it consciously.

However, most hemets consider most around them subservient. As this easily leads to problems, most nobles receive at least some form of training, to better focus their telepathy on those considered their servants. Some, however, train to project more coherent messages to their peers, to allow covert communication.

Me and the other handmaidens went through a special process called imprinting...", the handmaiden looked as if she wanted to continue her explanation, but seemed hesitant to do so.


"Where did you get the idea that most hemet veolians receive military training? I can assure you that this is not the case", the empress looked pensive, "Although, from your perspective... Yes. From your point of view, we receive military training. We just don't see it that way.

Most of the noble families wish to see their children grow up to be strong individuals, and strong individuals have to be able to defend themselves from physical attacks against their person. Depending on the preferences of the parents, training starts around 9 or 16, and can last for a few years or a few decades. That could indeed be construed as military training.

I myself have not received official military training, but my husband insisted that I attend a few theoretical and practical exercises in command and actual combat. Of course, combined with the tutelage of my father's sword master this adds up to nearly a decade of weekly training, over a period of a hundred years or so."

The empress took a sip of tea.

"One picks up a lot of knowledge and skills in nine hundred years, senator. Though even hemets have difficulty to retain all their skills, we are very good at quickly recovering the knowledge and skills we need. Besides, I am the first empress of Veolia, the representative of my husband and of the whole of the Commonwealth. It wouldn't do for me to not know such things."

[Senator Danar Tassar]

"That telepathy sounds... different," Miraby clearly couldn't find a good word to describe her feelings about this way of telepathy, "I take it that her imperial majesty has received very good training, as she probably would see everybody subservient, so far I haven't felt any special desires for tea so far." She sad it with a smile. "Please go on about this imprinting, or are you not allowed to tell anything about it?"


"It it still a little strange for me, the time you took for a little training is a third of a teprogrenaian life. I can understand that it is nearly impossible for your people to maintain your skills, they have to be many." There was a smile on Tassar his face has he was quite enjoying the conversation before he took another sip from the tea.

"Once I am back at my embassy, I shall inform our military Consult about possible co-operative research about brain-interfaced fighters, We might learn a lot from each other and I think the results will be quite useful. And who knows what else we might learn from each other.

And please your imperial majesty, you don't have to be so modest, I've heard that your sword fighting skills match even that of the imperial emperor, and his skills have to be great. Or well, maybe that is a hobby for you, and not a real asset, mundane swords these days are rather outdated in actual combat."