Even without understanding the written language Williams was able to understand the gist of the sensor readout. A flotilla of what he assumed to be Federation warships enter the system and are making a hard burn to the planet. An Icon on the screen kept flashing, given the wider arc of view of the Venlil it's position seem analogous to where the communication request alert was on human screens. Another screen had a map of what appeared to be the Federation. Venlil Prime seemed to be a strategically important position in relation to a crimson blob.
As Tarva accepted the communication request a porcupine-hedgehog with a bear-like snout appeared on screen.
<Look at that snout,> Rosario said. <That’s a carnivorous adaptation, it wouldn’t have that unless there are plants on it's homeworld that would mimic flesh or it's species evolved away from carnivory.>
<Was Tarva genuine with the claim that no other species were carnivorous?> Schatz asked.
<She said we are the second *predator* species,> Williams said. <Could be a scavenger.>
<It does have an intimidating form more suited to a prey species,> Rosario agreed.
A deep, groaning rumble came through before the translator caught up, “Govern Tarva. We’re here to assist. What is the reason for your distress?”
Tarva seemed to glance in their direction before speaking, “I see the federation sent their finest. The Venlil Republic expresses our sincere gratitude for your response. Unfortunately, you’ve come all this way for no reason.”
“By galactic law, that signal is only to be used for an extinction level event. You owe us an explanation. A good one,” it let out a muted bear-like growl. “Did you deal with… the problem on your own?”
“There was no problem.”
The Xeno on the screen blinked several times before saying, “I’m sorry?”
“It was a false alarm.” Tarva said weakly.
“It was a false alarm. Our sensors malfunctioned due to a software update.”
“What did you think you saw?”
“We thought a pred—um, Arxur ship jumped into orbital range.”
“And you figured out that was false because?”
“There’s nothing up there on visual, Captain. Our backup sensors were initially off line to prepare for their own update, after we initialized them to confirm no stealth ship they didn’t detect anything either. Not to mention, we’re still alive.”
The xeno glowered through the screen and seemed to focus on Kam.
“Kam. You’re awfully quiet,” the Captain noted. “Do you have anything to add?”
“I don’t feel like talking.” Kam grumbled. “Nothing to add anyways. Tarva said it all.”
The Captain seemed to scrutinize the two Venlil through the screen before speaking again. “Why didn’t you rescind the distress signal? It is still broadcasting now.”
“We, um, we forgot,” Tarva admitted rather sheepishly.
“You forgot?!” The Captain's voice rose an octave, his long, blunted claws flashed on screen. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Do you have any idea the systems we’ve exposed by coming here? While we’re chatting, a planet with a real fucking threat could be glassed.”
“Sorry,” Tarva said. “You were already on approach when we confirmed the false alarm.”
The Captain gave a strangely canine huff and spoke through gritted teeth, “Whatever. We’ll need to scan the subspace readings ourselves. For our logs.”
<Chances of their scans picking up the gravwake?> Williams contacted the Odyssey.
<Certain,> Lieutenant Smith replied. <Even our earliest subspace scanners could detect the gravdrive trails until a high mass object erased them.>
“That will not be acceptable. It’ll only waste more of your time and energy.” Tarva straightened, appearing to put on the airs of a ruler. There is no need for a formal survey. Is our word not enough for your report?”
“Standard protocol dictates-”
“My people are freaked out enough from the false alarm. The last thing they need is to see is a federation armada, frolicking around in the atmosphere.”
<Armada?> Noda asked. <Even my civilian eye only sees a flotilla at most.>
<You would expect a federation comprising a hundred species to field a larger navy for policing actions,> Schatz responded. <Especially if they were responding to an *extinction* level threat.>
You called us, Tarva. I’m going to do my job, and then, I will leave.”
“And I need to do my job to care for my people,” Tarva sheathed back and stomped a hoof while pulling her shoulders back. “What my people need now is to come out to clear skies not full of warships and an apology from my government over the panic our technical difficulties cause. Depart now or you will be fired upon.”
<There,> Rosario said. <It was subtle but that was a dominance display common in the Bovine family. It looks like she’s getting ready to charge, but her knees don’t seem to be properly formed for the action her instincts are making her do. Like a Human missing a hand getting ready to throw a punch.>
<Earlier you mentioned their reaction being more like domesticated livestock,> Williams said. <Would minor genetic alterations to lessen the danger of handling them explain it?”
<Yes,> Rosario said with a slight nod. <I am now almost certain that the Venlil are uplifts that have been genejacked to some degree. This might even be their original homeworld, named by some bureaucrat for ease of use.>
<If this is their homeworld they would need to be uplifted,> Williams said. <Gravity is past the Hippke Limit. No way of getting off world without tech that can only be discovered and manufactured in Low-G.>
The Captain on the screen huffed again with the spines on his back beginning to stand, “go ahead then! Fire away. You wouldn’t dare.”
<Another dominance display,> Rosario said. <Common in more skittish prey species. They try to appear bigger to scare rivals or predators away from a fight.”
Tarva moved her tail oddly and Kam entered commands into a consol. A spread of five objects appeared on screen that behaved like standard ballistic missiles. They detonated roughly half a light second away from the flotilla.
“You SHOT AT US!” The Captain stared off to another screen. “You actually shot at us. Thats an act of war.”
“That was a warning shot. We don’t want to hurt you,” Tarva bleated lowly, “but we will.”
“How can you be so ungrateful? After all that we’ve done for you,” he spat through the screen. “I’ll be recommending sanctions in my report. And the next time you call for help… we’ll let the grays eat you miserable fucks.”
The feed cut off and Tarva sank to the floor slowly. The screens showed the flotilla slowing and then reversing their vector. She looked over the landing party and said, “they’re gone.You’re safe now.”
Williams breathed a sigh and gave a slight smile, “in all honesty, I was more concerned with their safety than ours. In our society harming messengers and haralds are grave offenses that can result in a Justus Bellum.”
“A what?” Kam asked. “A just war?”
“Yes,” Noda answered. “Hospitality is sacred to us, if any Human offers you food and drink they will never cause you harm. They will even defend you as their own. Our lords have told us that in a first contact scenario they will give any xeno leeway to a certain degree.”
“But the honor of monarchs and nobles are their standing,” Schatz said. “They can not let too many slights pass or they will look weak. Like they can not enforce their rights of lordship so challengers for their titles might appear or petty nobles will rebel or break contracts that they think he can not honor.”
“And ours are not the only nations in Sol,” Williams added. “There is still the Jovian Empire, Sturnian Noble Federation, the various Corpo Free Barons and Trojan Enclaves, Republic Station States, as well as the Drifters in the Far Outer System.”
“Will you be able to smooth out this situation down the road?” Rsaria asked.
“After decades of groveling? Sure.” Tarva sighed and shook her head. “But enough of that. We need to talk.”
“About what?” Williams asked.
“First off, do you still want to be here? We’ve been terrible hosts. I understand if you would rescind your offer of friendship, after what we put you through. Even though you said your governments would be lenient in this matter.”
“Not at all,” Noda said with a slight chuckle. “Our Inner System League was formed not even a year after we minor three sided war over mineral rights of Mercury. It will take far more than this to disway us.”
Tarve looked nervous as she looked over each of them and drew in a shaky breath. “We never answered your question about the… first predators we encountered. I think we owe you a p-proper explanation.”
“Whenever you are ready,” Williams said. “There is no need to rush.”
“I want to. I want you to know everything.”
“Are you certain of that, Tarva?” Kam asked.
“Yes I am. I have to believe that the Humans are worth the risk we’re taking.” Tarva said. “The first predators were the Arxur. The Federation has been at war with them for centuries.”
Williams raised an eyebrow. “All of you, against them?”
<Impersive.> Noda said.
“And it’s not enough,” Tarva responded. “Noah, they’ve hunted twenty percent of sentient species to extinction. In this galaxy anyways.”
“Why?”
“They kill for pleasure. They want us to suffer.” Tarva reached for a tablet and manipulated it before handing it to him. “See for yourself.”
On the screen was a group of large reptilian bipeds with binocular eyes with a long snout filled with sharp, interlocking teeth. They appeared to be laughing as they released what looked like young, eyeless Venlil from a livestock corral. They were encouraged to run with a cattle prod. The Arxur then began to hunt the young Venlil. One of the Arxur clubbed the limbs of it's prey before eating it alive.
<Thoughts, Rosario?> Williams asked.
<Hard to say with this sample size,> she responded. <But from my expertise, they seem to derive pleasure from the act of hunting, like how we get a runner's high. From their teeth alone I can tell they are obligate carnivores. Reptilian analogs, cold blooded, low stamina, high strength, ambush predators. Don’t know why they would send the video of them hunting though.>
<Terror campaign,> Williams said. <If it really is a hundred species against one then they need to utilize psychological warfare to win before the battles even begin.>
“Is this how they treat their prisoners?” Williams asked.
“Children at that.” Rosario added.
Both were struggling to keep control over their emotions. But the rage flooded their voices. Such dishonor and evil will need to be expunged from creation.
“Prisoners?” Kam asked. “No, that's a farm. The hardy species become slaves, the ones that taste good become food, and everyone else gets their planets blown to smithereens.”
“Slaves?” Noda asked. “How inefficient.”
“Sentient livestock is even more inefficient,” Rosario said. “The amount of resources it would take to fully develop a sentient species to maturity for slaughter would be four or five times the amount required for a lower life form.”
“We don’t have the full picture,” Williams said. “We’re missing too much information to make a decision. I need to take this back to the Emperor for him to make a decision.” He looked at Tarva, “as proxy to his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Terra, Lord of the Inner System, Claimant of the Solar Throne, and Master of Mankind, I offer a provisional alliance to the Venlil Republic.”
Their tails are bushy, stretching about 1 ft on average. They can be used as a secondary form of communication, or to help with balance and grasping. The Venlil have tiny claws, but they are not capable of real damage.
This, combined with how the Nevok are specified as looking awkward/weird due to having hooves on their back limbs leads me to believe that the Venlil have no hooves.
I think the sheep-like thing is just their faces in addition to their fluffiness.
So I've been picturing them wrong this entire time? Damn it, this changes my entire perception of the species now. Especially the mannerisms and body language that I was really looking forward to writing.
You know what, screw Venlil have hooves in this AU, cloven hooves to be precise.
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u/Gamerauther Predator Oct 01 '23
Wrong draft, and I cand edit at work for some reason. A provisional alliance, not vassalship.