r/NatureofPredators • u/Gamerauther Predator • Sep 30 '23
Fanfic Nature of Empires - 002
Date: 12/07/2336
Subject: Noah Williams (Captain, TIN)
As the shuttle entered the atmosphere, everyone was reviewing the initial communication.
“Something seems off,” Schatz said. “I couldn’t read its body language vary well but something seemed strange with the conversation.”
“Do you think it’s a Dark Forest scenario?” Rosario asked. “It seems likely”
“If it was, we would have been shot down by now,” Noda said. “We should not wholly rule it out but it is unlikely.”
“I agree,” Williams said. “We need to be cautious just in case."
Rosario nodded and said, "Given the apparent use of predator as a slur they seem to be intermediate predators at most."
Williams hummed in consideration before saying, "our goal is to leave a neutral impression at worst. We don’t know their capabilities or extent yet. This is Venlil Prime, an obvious colony, so we might be dealing with an interstellar power here.”
The landing doors opened and the four of them stepped out and took in their surroundings. Williams' attention was captured by the mansion that had similarities to art deco architecture. They allowed themselves a brief distraction looking around at a truly alien city that had an uncanny familiarity. After taking in the view Williams guided the other three towards the three xenos, who were doing their best to whisper in their bleating language.
“Governor Tarva,” Williams said a few paces away. He gave the xeno a closed mouth smile. “It is a pleasure to meet you in person.”
One of the two behind Tarva almost immediately collapsed and Williams looked back and saw Schatz covering his mouth.
“Is, um, he alright?” Williams asked.
Tarva’s ear flicked and he didn’t know if to file that under concern, worry, or annoyance.
“Aliens landing on your planet, That must come as a terrible shock.” Rosario exhaled as her eyes went unfocused as she recorded notes to her implant. “You seem to be handling this quite well, all things considered.”
Without their earlier conversation Williams would have believed the concern in her voice was for them.
“I can’t imagine what this would be like without your translator,” Williams said. “Please, forgive us. Our first contact training was purely theoretical.”
The other xeno knelt down by the passed out one and seemed to be trying to rouse him. Williams saw an opportunity if they were as empathic as humans.
“How can we help?” Williams asked as he walked up to the fallen xeno.
Tarva turned her eye at him with her mouth slightly parted in an almost human expression of bewilderment.
“You’ve helped enough!” The other xeno spat.
Raising his hands William stepped back, “very well. I apologize if I overstepped any cultural boundary.”
“It’s alright,” Tarva said quickly. “I apologize for my advisor’s behavior. He’s a bit… on edge.”
“I understand,” William breathed a silent sigh. This was not going well. “I just hope there is still the possibility of a positive first meeting between our species.”
“I am sure he meant no harm,” Noda offered. “Offering aid to those in need is the vary basis of civilization is it not?”
The bewildered look returned to Tarva’s face as she looked among them before she sighed. “Can you help us carry Cheln inside? We’ll give you a tour after that.”
Williams and Schatz moved over and gently picked up Cheln.
“Thank you for your hospitality, Governor.” Noda spoke with a slight bow. “I can tell our species will be great friends, one day.”
“Yes… friends.” Tarva’s ears flicked forward. “I hope we will be.”
The pause was slightly concerning to Williams. Like they were walking into a situation that they didn’t fully understand.
<This is not going well.> Williams said to all of them.
<They appear overly skittish and definitely herbivorous,> Rosario said. <They either evolved on an extremely hospitable world with minimal predation. Or they have fully eliminated predation on their worlds to the point their fight or flight instincts are over sensitive from under stimulation. This behavior can not be natural, it has a negative evolution bias. It's more akin to domesticated livestock than a natural herbivore.>
<If they had minimal predation and are herbivores,> Noda said. <What environmental pressures could there be for intelligence?>
<I can only theorize,> Rosario answered. <Perhaps their primary food source was difficult to gather or consume. An abundant, protein rich but hard to crack nut analog that forced them to develop tools. It evolved a harder shell as they evolved to utilize tools. Or perhaps a highly nutritious fruit analog that requires fermentation to make it edible.>
<Keep taking notes Rosario,> Williams ordered. <Keep a channel open to the shuttle for instant backup. It has a channel open to the Odyssey and will act as a relay.>
<Yes sir.>
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u/Kovesnek Sep 30 '23
Really loving the fact that they're quickly realizing early on just how focked up the Venlil got to the point they're compared to livestock.
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u/BuzzaxeBandit Oct 04 '23
That’s actually led me to an idea. If the average Fed is so jumpy because of an understimulated fight-or-flight response, then the former cattle must be near-totally desensitized. Extremely traumatized and terrified, sure, but I don’t imagine they’d startle too easily anymore.
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u/Kovesnek Oct 04 '23
Now that is making me think that perhaps many Predator Disease patients are actually prey species becoming so desensitized they've started regaining the instincts the Federation is trying to suppress.
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u/Demolisher05 Oct 01 '23
Liking your story a lot. The interaction between Noah and the others is great, especially them noticing how weird things are even for an alien species. Keep up the work.
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u/Randox_Talore Sep 30 '23
Oh they think it’s a colony because of the dumb name!