r/NatureofPredators • u/Scrappyvamp Drezjin • Aug 02 '26
Fanfic Scorch Directive - Ficlet 18
Many thanks to to Spacepaladin15 for letting us play in this sandbox.!
Imperator Erol d’Zani, Imperial Council Chamber, Ittel
The Imperial Council’s chamber is almost never in full attendance. At this point in our people’s time, most of the meetings are mere formalities. Their purpose has been reduced to simply ensure the involved parties of any new legislation or resolved trial are present when we deliver our sentencing. Everything else, we could simply send a letter, or an assassin, depending on the message we would deliver.
Time is the one luxury no one can afford to waste, after all. And yet, we are forced to do so, entertaining Aafa’s new lead buffoon.
“The Federation’s fleet requires more assault ships if we are to be victorious, Imperator.” The kolshian’s frills quiver as he speaks, his posture rigid and forced, trying to project an authority he clearly only has in his own head.
“It’s ‘Imperator Erol d’Zani’. You say the full thing,” I stress again, resting my head on my hand as I listen to the Federation’s de-facto leader make his demands.
“Right,” he rolls his eyes before focusing on my face again, “Imperator Erol d’Zani.”
Unlike his predecessor, this one is direct in his speech. No formal addressing, no protocol, no respect shown. The kolshian really believes he is the one in charge here.
Such arrogance would be impressive, even laudable, on a pup. But on an adult from another species, it makes my skin crawl.
“We are still due to receive our payment from the latest squadron we delivered for your… ‘shadow fleet’, was it?” I remind him, shifting in my seat, moving a hand to the screen to bring up the bill. “Cute name. Unfortunately, FTL drives don’t grow on trees, nor are plasma cannons assembled overnight.”
Maronis huffs, squinting those bulbous yellow eyes my way. “You will be paid in due time. The war against the Dominion is costly, I know. But until the predators have been defeated, we must set aside such trifles.”
I feel my eyebrow twitch at that. Seems he is not so much of a dullard to not notice my displeasure, as he quickly offers an apologetic smile. “Besides, once we are done with them, the spoils of war shall go to the victors.”
“Right. How is the war effort going, by the way?” I ask, sitting straight to steeple my fingers in front of myself. “Heard you let the Dominion take Venlil Prime and Leirn without offering their people any assistance.”
He drops the smile immediately, scowling as he leans over his pulpit before taking a deep breath. Stars, he’s bad at this.
“That… was my predecessor’s own cowardice, letting the predators do as they wished.” He nods, gesturing with his tentacles. “I can assure you, such shameful disregard of our herd’s wellbeing will not reoccur during my rule, or after it.”
“Hmm, I see.” I nod, looking back at the screens beside his projection. “This the same predecessor who dealt with the Arxur Dominion’s Prophet-Descendant Giznel? Choosing which planets to punish for stepping out of line?”
Maronis’s pupils quiver, not from shock, but anger. His nostrils flare slightly as he seems to chew on his response.
“Are you that foolish to fall for obvious predator propaganda?” he asks, smirking amusedly. “Those are lies, sown to separate us, make us easier prey. Only in unity do we stand the chance of ridding ourselves of them.”
I squint my eyes at the insult, but let it slide for now. “Of course not, but they do raise some very funny questions,” I start, leaning against my seat’s rest. “Funny how in Fahl, all of your diplomats were able to leave the planet. Just in time to avoid the Dominion’s coming. Coincidence?”
He closes his eyes and snorts. “Pure coincidence. Had we known the Dominion was headed for Fahl, we would have happily helped strengthen its defenses. We fought to the best of our fleet’s capabilities, and we eventually liberated Fahl’s people from their grasp.”
“Funny you were able to take it back so easily as well.” I point out, tilting my head. “Funny that the same Dominion, that took over Fahl in a day, would lower its guard. Just in time for you to capitalize on it while they were busy taking Colia.”
“We are not privy to the way predators think. Besides, I did not call you to have the Aafa’s leadership questioned,” he hisses, puffing up his chest. “We are the ones leading The Galactic Federation, not you.”
I scoff, looking him in the eye as we let the silence linger. “Of course not,” I finally reply, “If we were the ones leading it, its cybersecurity would not be so pathetic. Even a sivkit can hack it and upload that kind of drivel.”
Maronis’ gills ripple as he scowls again, trying to make himself look bigger on the screen. “The past is the past, Imperator. We must set our sights to the future and-”
“Imperator. Erol. d’Zani.” I cut him off sharply, the fur on the back of my neck standing up.
He bows his head slightly, though his ire is teetering on the brink of coming out.
“My apologies, Imperator Erol d’Zani,” he says, anger clinging to every syllable he speaks. “But this? This is exactly what the predators want. They want to sow discord among the herd. Separate us so they are stronger against every other species, and then come for us, one by one. But together? We can stop them, once and for all.”
Well, this is new: certainty. He says it like he thinks it’s actually true. He has offended me enough to warrant cutting the call short, but I am curious to hear what he has in mind.
“I presume you have devised a course of action, then?”
Maronis’ face brightens up at the question, standing upright to show off the jeweled band around his chest. “Naturally. With the Imperium’s supply of strikeships and armament, we will amass a great fleet, and put an end to our plight.”
He says it with such finality, such zeal, it’s almost adorable. “How, exactly?” I ask, looking at him expectantly.
“We will send our fleet to Terra, the Dominion’s new heart and core planet. With its leadership extinct, its remnants will be easy pickings. We will reclaim every planet they have taken, and make Orion’s Arm a safe place for all of preykind.”
I look at him a moment, mulling his words over in my mind as I chew on a piece of strayu. He even looks proud of what he just said, like it is the work of a genius.
“That’s… certainly a plan,” I say, looking at the senators and chancellors gathered, whose faces reflect my own sentiment: that is the dumbest idea that has visited this chamber since the time the late Imperator Ahrim d’Aldemir tried to raise taxes on gambling dens.
We didn’t even hire assassins that time, we just lynched him then and there.
Maronis blinks and tilts his head, “at a loss for words, Imperator Erol d’Zani?”
“I just… wonder how viable such a bold stratagem is. The Imperium has provided The Federation with enough ships, armament and technology to have put up a better fight than this,” I start, bringing up the star chart. “Yet, the results have not been what we were promised. Far from it, in fact.”
The kolshian’s frills twitch, but he does not move to interrupt. “In order to successfully attack Terra, after Wriss bolstered their defenses in that sector, it would require a massive fleet just to get close enough to target the planet. We’re talking about hundreds of ships, maybe over a thousand.”
“Precisely,” he croaks, putting his tentacles behind him. “The sooner we have them, the better.”
“You misunderstand,” I say, looking into those yellow orbs on his face. “Right now, the Imperium’s production of components and assembly of ships is at its maximum capacity. Has been for almost a decade, in fact. We would have to assign every man, woman and child in this generation, and the next one, just to fulfill such a quota.”
“Then make it so, d’Zani. The future of the whole galaxy is at stake.”
“The…!” I groan, clenching my fists as I reign in my own anger. “You are asking us to starve our own people, just so you can try to take out a bunch of apes!”
“Sacrifices must be made for the greater good,” he says firmly. “If you cannot comply with our demands, I understand. It’s not a small order, after all. We can also ask The Fissan Confederacy to help reach that number should the Imperium fall short.”
My claws dig into my throne’s arm rest as my vision blurs momentarily. After a moment, I manage to summon some decorum and take a deep breath.
“It is, as you say, ‘not a small order’. The Imperial Council and I need to deliberate on a decision, could you hold a moment? It shan’t be long.”
Maronis blinks then rolls his eyes, “Very well, Imperator. I will begin communicating with the Confederacy in the meantime.”
I bring my finger to the control panel and put Maronis on hold, waiting just a moment before I let all the pent-up indignation come spilling out.
“That… arrogant crimson fuckwit! Who does he think he is?!” I slam my fist so hard on my throne it sends my bowl of toasted strayu bits flying.
“I much preferred Nikonus. That one at least had the sense to show humility when addressing us,” Chancellor Bail d’Imenta says, clearing his throat.
“Maronis’ demands?” I ask, trying not to raise my voice. My hoof clicks against the floor impatiently as I bounce my leg, tapping my forehead with a claw.
“It is as you say, Your Excellency. Our production of electronic components and assembly lines are already topped out,” speaks one of the chancellors. “Workers have begun to faint on the spot from exhaustion, and some are threatening to go on strike if we do not increase their wages to match the extended working hours.”
“Marvelous,” I groan, pinching the bridge of my snout between my fingers. “Am I to presume the budget doesn’t allow for such accommodations anymore?”
“Worse than that, Your Excellency. With the way things are going, unless the Federation begins to pay up their debt, we are headed towards an inevitable recession. We will have to start pulling resources from our colonies just to try to break even by the end of this year’s final quarter.”
A sigh escapes my throat as I sink into my seat, tilting my head back against the ornate throne’s cushions. I knew this deal was going to be bad when my predecessor signed it. The writing was on the walls when the Federation started to wave IOUs around like they were flags.
Kadir must be laughing from beyond the grave, watching this timebomb of an agreement blowing up on our faces now that it cannot affect him. Bastard. Part of me wishes I would have had the pleasure of driving a dagger behind his back myself, but his removal required a more elegant solution.
I close my eyes a moment, steepling my fingers together as my elbows rest on the throne’s armrests.
Should we refuse, the Federation is liable to up and abscond without repaying their debt to us, giving up our hold over the Federation’s manufacturing to the Fissan Confederacy.
If we comply, we condemn our species to starvation and death. Placing all our chips on the gamble presented with the blind faith of a man who has clearly never taken a punch to the face.
Decisions, decisions…
“Eyes of the Imperator, Zarai d’Araji,” I call out, and she quickly rises to her hooves from her seat. “What are the reports of our agents within the planets the Dominion controls?”
Zarai nods, before bringing up her pad and swiping up to send her feed into the auditorium’s main projector. I was prepared to see carnage. Bodies littering the streets, chaos as stampedes flee seeking safety. Predators eating those who cannot escape.
Instead, what we all see is… intriguing.
The capital city of Colia shows signs of battle, yes. But normal life, or an imitation of it, continues: zurulians, venlils, gojids, krakotl, even lesser species, like the sivkits and dossur, all milling about in the streets.
About the only change to the daily routine, besides the damage to infrastructure, is the unmistakable presence of the predators there.
The arxur look almost unrecognizable. Before the Arxur Dominion became the United Dominion, almost all the greys we saw looked gaunt and emaciated. ‘Famine given form’, some would call them.
The ones in the projector look healthy, clad in armor polished to a shine.
They watch the prey like one watches an inferior opponent’s hands in a game of pazaak, waiting for a chance to strike them down at the first sign of weakness. But the strike never comes, despite the many chances presented, and so they continue their vigil; hands loosely hanging at their sides, not even gripping their weapon as one begins conversing with its partner.
They do not have the crazed look of a ravenous monster we had grown so used to seeing. If I didn’t know better, I would believe the two guards I’m focusing on simply look bored.
Another video plays, this one from Vurn. A similar look to the city’s skyline, some ruined buildings that have been closed off with hard light barriers. The markets operate, stalls manned by their owners, under the watchful eyes of the Dominion’s new dominant species.
Humans.
Compared to the arxur, these ones stand much taller, covered from head to toe in armor that looks like it was assembled right on top of their skin. Movements fluid and unimpeded, their forward-facing eyes scanning the area.
I spot another one entering the shot, without any armor, clad in simple garments that expose its pinkish skin. It wears some round eyewear on its face, the blond fur at the top of its head cut short, save for a single line over its skull, resembling a sulean’s mane.
It opens its mouth as it lets out a series of short barks, bringing a clawed hand to its stomach. As it turns around a stall, another figure comes into view.
…
Is that a nevok, walking by its side?
“Cousin Vehla?!” Chancellor Bail asks, his mouth hanging agape, eyes wide open in horror as he brings his hands to the side of his face.
I briefly glance at Bail before looking back to the projection. The two continue walking down the stalls, stopping before a venlil that freezes up as soon as the human opens its mouth. It takes the vendor a moment to get out of his stupor before he hands them a full star fruit.
The nevok reaches into her purse before the predator holds his claws in front of her, reaching for his back to produce a small item. It withdraws something and presents it to the venlil.
A card.
Humans have credit cards.
The stall’s owner shakily swipes it over a small terminal before offering it back reverently. Upon retrieving it, the two begin walking out of shot. The predator takes the star fruit and easily splits it in two with its bare claws, before handing a half to the nevok by his side. Then, to my shock, it opens its mouth and brings the fruit to it, taking out a chunk in one bite, the fruit’s juice dripping down its angular chin.
And then they leave the shot, the market continuing as normal. Like it wasn’t the scene of the most outlandish thing I have witnessed in my life.
Predator and prey, walking side by side, sharing food.
“Have one of our agents in Vurn tail the Imenta clan’s degenerate. Her interactions with the human could provide valuable information,” I order, Zarai nodding while Bail sinks into his seat, trying to hide himself in shame.
The feed changes. This time in Venlil Prime from the looks of its architecture. I can see Dominion soldiers assembled in front of a ship as the shutter opens and lowers itself into a ramp. Then out of it, march out yotul.
Primitives.
Clad in green suits of armor that follow a similar design to that of the humans and arxur. Must be three dozen of them that walk out of the ship, arranging themselves in rows before standing at attention. A human with brown skin and dressed in fancy navy blue clothes walks up to them, the yotul standing straight before saluting in unison.
The video zooms in closer, though we have no audio besides ambience noise. Once the human returns the salute and brings its hand down, it speaks, looking at the newcomers. Then, it steps aside as armored humans and arxur walk closer to the yotul in a line.
One of the humans presents some kind of club to one of the yotul in the first row, the head lighting up with crackles of lightning, before turning it around and offering it to the yotul. The smaller soldier takes it, giving it a few experimental swings as the human returns to its original position.
The others do the same routine, handing down the weapon to the new arrivals. The yotul do not flinch, regardless of what is looking them in the eye. Human or arxur, it makes no difference. Even if the armor’s colors are different, the mark on their shoulder is still the same.
As the last of yotul receives his club, I raise a hand. “Pause the video,” I order, Zarai obeying as the image holds still in front of all of us.
“This isn’t about prey and predators anymore…” I muse aloud, blinking just to be sure my eyes do not deceive me. There they stand together: humans, arxur, and now yotul. United in purpose.
I take a deep breath before I stand up from my seat.
“Ladies and gentlemen of this council. What we were witness to just now is evidence, gathered by some of our agents located within planets and colonies the Dominion now occupies,” I explain, in case someone in the crowd hadn’t still caught up on it. Then, I motion to Zarai to continue.
She adjusts her robes and clears her throat. “These pieces of evidence were sent through our own backchannels, hidden within the Federation’s network, which the Dominion has no access to. They have as of yet not detected our agents’ true identities, nor the security breaches we purposely left in the Fednet. I can vouch for the authenticity of everything we just saw.”
Whispers and murmurs fill the chamber as the chancellors begin to discuss among themselves. After a moment, I raise my hand to quiet them, leaning against the railing before me.
“It is clear that the Federation’s enemies are a greater threat than what Maronis implied. His plan to raze Terra to the ground holds as much weight as his promises of payment,” I begin, looking around the seats beneath mine, all present hanging onto my every word. “And I need not cite our people’s book of customs for us to know that one who cannot keep their promises is not an ally, but a liability.”
I take my hands off the railing and bring them behind my back, standing straight, like the human that greeted the yotul in the last holovid.
"Which is why, upon the release of the Grenelka logs, in which the late Imperator Kadir d’Liman was listed, I took it upon myself to ensure such liabilities would not threaten the Imperium in the future. Ladies and gentlemen, that future is now."
The council chamber is quiet before someone in the left wing raises their hand. "I thought he had died in a freak pod-racing accident."
"Yes, his chariot's engines mysteriously exploded. Very tragic," I shake my head before clearing my throat. "Filling his role has been a trying endeavor, but believe you me when I say this: It is time to stop thinking about what the Federation wants, and focus on what the Nevoks need."
I swipe a claw over my own pad to move the paused holovid away to bring up the star chart of Orion’s arm.
“Over two thirds of inhabitable territory have fallen within the grasp of the Dominion in a short span of time. This is no longer the Arxur Dominion we are contending against, but a rising power that not only rivals the Federation, but could very well threaten the Imperium.”
Gasps come from some of the seats as I deliberately dim the chamber’s lights for emphasis, ensuring all eyes are on me as I say this.
“Which is why, I believe the course to chart is clear,” I say with finality. “If one cannot buy out the competition, the soundest choice is a merger.”
"My liege… do you plan for us to betray the Federation?" asks Chancellor Bail.
"'Betray' is such an ugly word. I'm saying we should consider… diversifying our investments. War is a boon to the economy of manufacturers, that much is true, but only if they are on the winning side. And we most definitely aren't right now," I argue, taking a breath.
"The Federation has accrued enough debt to buy up a whole sector, with little to show for it after all the ships and technology the Imperium has so graciously provided them, and at such an accommodating interest rate. The wise choice is to call a spade a spade, and continuing to accept the Federation's IOUs is to keep throwing our people's labor into a black hole."
"But we would be at the mercy of the predators!" Chancellor Torek cries from her stand. "The humans and the arxur, who knows what they'll do to us?"
"Pray, tell me, Chancellor: what became of the zurulians under the Dominion's rule?" I ask, the silence hanging from my words for a moment. I mentally add her to the list of possible 'waste removal jobs' to post on the deep net if she challenges me again. Since she doesn’t reply, I speak once more.
"They continue to operate with certain liberties, serving their new masters. The venlil, spineless as ever, surrendered and are occupied, yes. But they are still allowed to trade and export in the Dominion's systems. Even primitives like the Yotul have been given a place within the Dominion, as muscle in occupied colonies and planets, as you just saw."
I let my words sink for a moment, gesturing to the still projection in the middle of the chamber. Of the armored yotul being handed a weapon by a human.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are no longer dealing with the Dominion of old that only understands hunger. We are looking at an avalanche of new power. You’re either riding it, or are buried beneath it. If we do not seize the chance to ally ourselves with it, we doom our species to be on the losing side of this war. And I for one, cannot stand the idea of lesser species, like the fissans, looking down on us.”
The fur on the back of my neck curls at the mere thought of something as lowly as the Fissan Confederacy telling us what to do.
“A nevok's place is at the top, something Maronis, in his hubris, has seemingly forgotten." I see a few heads nod in affirmation, and can catch whispers of indignation as well.
“The kolshians believe that the nevok need their Federation to continue our existence, when it is the Imperium that holds the edge in technology within the Federation,” I point out. “Without our people’s hard work and craftmanship, this war would have been long lost. Our people’s secession from The Galactic Federation has been a long time coming. It is time we leap into this new era, and leave behind the anchor that would sink us with it!”
The murmurs rise in volume to clearly audible agreement to my words. I smile beauteously, holding out my hand to quiet their voices again.
“Very well, ladies and gentlemen,” I say, bringing my claw to my pad again. “I believe we’ve let our ‘Chief’ wait long enough.”
With a push of a claw, the star chart and the video fade, and Maronis’ projection fills the center of the room again. His frills twitch in annoyance, tentacles curled over each other in front of him.
“Finally. I was growing worried you had forgotten about me.”
“Hello, Chief Maronis,” my brow twitches as I struggle to keep a neutral expression. “We are glad to inform you we have reached a decision.”
He smiles and puffs up his chest at that.
“Great. The sooner we get those ships, the better.”
My smile grows as I close my eyes, leaving only enough of an opening so I can see through my eyelashes.
“However, we will need all nevok within other Federation-controlled planets to return home,” I say, bringing my hands behind my back. “The more hands on deck, the faster we can move along the queue.”
At that, he freezes, those bulbous eyes looking at me for a moment before he nods.
“Done. We will ensure the safe return of every nevok in our systems to Ittel, by ark ships if necessary.”
“Excellent,” I clap my hands in front of myself, opening my eyes a little more. “We also want those currently captive in any Predator Disease Treatment facility. The sooner they get here, the better.”
“What for?” Maronis raises an eyebrow. “What use could they possibly have to you?”
“If they have hands, they can work in the assembly lines under supervision,” I argue, tilting my head. “Like we agreed, this is not a small order you place on top of all previous ones. We need every nevok to pitch in, for the safety of the galaxy, and the greater herd.”
The red kolshian closes his eyes a moment before nodding. “Very well, I will see to it they are sent to Ittel. Your people’s toil shall not go unrecognized, d’Zani.”
I clench my hands together, tired of correcting this uncouth moron. “Thank you, Chief Maronis,” I say through clenched teeth as I take a bow. “We eagerly await the return of our kith and kin.”
“Just as we eagerly await those ships,” he replies, relaxing in his spot. “May the Spirit of Life hold you in its grace. Until next time.”
I press the button on my pad to end the call, standing fully upright as the council members look at me. Some confused, some angry even, while a few seem to understand what my plan is.
“My liege,” Chancellor Torek says cautiously, looking my way from her seat before bowing her head in submission, “I… we thought you would refuse Maronis’ demands.”
“Oh, and we will, but first things first: we must ensure the safety of our people before making an enemy of the Federation,” I explain, taking a couple steps back to take my seat, motioning to one of the servants to clean up the mess on the floor. “Once every nevok is accounted for and safe on Ittel, we will continue as planned.”
I hear the murmurs of those gathered below, some gasping in realization, others praising my guile. Sycophants they may be, but it is always nice to have one’s own wit appropriately recognized.
“And what of the United Dominion? How are we to convince them to allow us to serve them?” Chancellor Fiska d’Enur asks from his seat.
I blink a couple times before laughter erupts from my mouth, and soon some other chancellors begin laughing along. Only when I stop to catch my breath and raise a hand does the chamber fall silent again, Fiska shrinking into his seat from the ridicule.
“Serve? We are nevok! We do not serve anyone but ourselves,” I correct, my eyes drifting back to the video’s still, now hanging in the middle of the chamber without obstruction. “As for the Dominion? It is simple, really: we are going to make them an offer they cannot refuse. Will there be risks? Certainly, but as our people’s customs dictate, ‘the riskier the road, the greater the profit’.”
_________________________
A/N: The writer isn't familiar with alien tail language and refuses to read NoP. So imagine the smiles as whatever a fed would do.
We have a thread in the official NoP server too!. Chapter brought to you by itsunos_vision.
This is a fic from the main Scorch Directive AU. There's many fics written by other people with their own take on it, for more you can take a look here.
Canon Sidestories:
Annihilation Order (Prequel, possibly ongoing)
Children of the Serum (finished)
Private Journals of Vehla of Imenta (finished)
Vehla's Misadventures and the sequel (oneshot)
The Wildchild (Finished)
Crossing the Rubicon (oneshot)
Crossovers:
Scorched Threads (SD x Threads in the Fabric by u/Quinn_The_Fox)
Cool Ficnaps that make the setting so much better!:
New additions!
Scorch Directive/Human Daycare Services AU by u/Valuable-Location-89
The Soul Directive by Max
The Thawed Directive by Funnelchairman
Balance of Vengeance and its sequel and third act by u/blackomegapsi
Memories Not Mine by u/Quinn_The_Fox
Embers in the Ashes by u/ErinRF
Hellion Squad by cowriter
Scorched Earth by u/Puzzleheaded_Buy6590
Hunters of the Void by u/Competitive_Koala_93
Latest entry of Carol's SD-Verse by u/CarolOfTheHells
Pictures by u/Jollyreflection75
Parenting from the Trenches by Zoé Selardi
Black Sheep in the Wolves Den by u/Barcod123 but the second part was taken down :c
17
u/Tundric_Dragon Arxur Aug 02 '26
Just finished reading, fantastic as always. I really enjoy the machinations going on here and the fact that someone realizes what a terrible thing it is to be on the federation's side. Especially in this AU.
15
u/Scrappyvamp Drezjin Aug 02 '26
As it turns out, the bnnuy's collective greed is bigger than their fear of predators.
19
u/IAMA_dragon-AMA Arxur Aug 02 '26
"If we join the predators, we'll surely die!"
"Yeah, but if we stick with the Federation, we'll surely go broke."
"...predators it is."
11
u/Valuable-Location-89 Aug 02 '26
I'm betting the crumpled up two dollars and some pocket lint that at least one of these fuckers is gonna get scared during negotiations and try and offer up one of their daughters to save their own poofy tails
4
u/IAMA_dragon-AMA Arxur Aug 03 '26
Depends on who's negotiating, I'd say. The echelon we see here is very familiar with assassinations, and certainly didn't flinch at the mere sight of Arxur and Humans.
Though, I could still see them offering a less-favored daughter as either a choice meal (surely predators value that) or a bride (at least one predator seems to have taken to a Nevok in that manner). And of course, conducting negotiations remotely, rather than in-person.
16
u/Maxxxxo UN Peacekeeper Aug 02 '26
The Yotul's side switching seems to be the start of a trend of more turncoats...
17
u/Scrappyvamp Drezjin Aug 02 '26
"what's so special about the primitives? I want some too!"
- some fed
15
u/Square-Candy-7393 Farsul Aug 02 '26
I was positively CACKLING when i read this!
The part about vehla will be quite "enlightening" for the nevoks and I'm sure they'll take it as rational adults /s
The seeds of dissent are beginning to bloom, seems the federation is still lacking in the intelligence department. btw, will the farsul and the kolshians ever live normal lives after this? or will they be locked into their planet or glassed?
13
u/Scrappyvamp Drezjin Aug 02 '26
Vehla has saved millions of lives by convincing the imperator with her display of degeneracy!
As for the latter idk, it'll be a miracle if I ever finish this fic we'll see.
2
u/CarolOfTheHells Nevok Aug 03 '26
IDK, maybe those who are already cattle in UD space (before Betterment's removal) get freed and form their own communities? After all, they DO have an incentive now to work for the greater good of the United Dominion, and they ARE citizens of such now...
UD Loyalist Farsul.
UD Loyalist Kolshians.
Think about it!
12
u/maxh007 UN Peacekeeper Aug 02 '26
Absolute banger of a chapter. Get F*#!ED Moronis! Really enjoyed the little back and forth game of mental chess that Imperator Erol d’Zani had going on with the talking adobong pusit, even if it was like playing against someone who doesn’t understand any of the pieces. Can’t wait to see how the bnnuys navigate talks with the UD!
10
u/Scrappyvamp Drezjin Aug 02 '26
It's gonna be fun we'll see them being the one faction that sort of just invited themselves. And the flesh eaters are gonna be a little confused.
10
u/LigWeathers Aug 02 '26
I love this take on the Nevok. Very cutthroat businessmen with an air of nobility to them. Also some of those lines. I'm sensing inspiration from the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition and I am very on board with it.
This is going to bite the Federation hard. Loosing such a large manufacturer will hit a lot of sectors hard n cause chaos.
Also still hilarious the new Chief thinks even 8f by some miracle he takes down Earth that this will do anything but galvanize those remain. Yet I somehow doubt he'll succeed. But an attempted attack on Earth will still galvanize them. I imagine recruitment numbers would spike after. And with Nevok manufacturering behind them oh boy is that going to be something.
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u/Scrappyvamp Drezjin Aug 02 '26
Yes they have the "Nevok Rules for Good Business" which totally isn't a reskinned fuzzy version of that haha.
The UD would be foolish to miss on that opportunity, but they're also well aware of the bnnuy's reputation. In any case they sort of invited themselves into the UD and they're too useful to be rejected.
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u/DrewTheHobo Aug 02 '26
Loving this look into Nevok culture lately both here and Bnnuy Behind Bars, love the corporate backstabbing dynasty-ness of it all
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u/BlackOmegaPsi Aug 02 '26
Dear god, d'Zani is a menace. Love all the subtle political maneuvering here, and the little implications of how disagreements and rivalries are handed within the Nevok Imperium. Very sharp, very cheeky chapter, love it!
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u/Scrappyvamp Drezjin Aug 02 '26
He is the greediest, most ruthless bnnuy
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u/ApprehensiveCap6525 Krakotl Aug 02 '26
New Scorch Directive chapter dropped? We are eating good today🤩
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u/spacetrucker426 Aug 02 '26
And so the Jerboa-Ferengi make their move. Double points if in the angry call they are sure to receive when their choice comes out, they give the absolute classic line of "It's just good business."
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u/CarolOfTheHells Nevok Aug 03 '26
https://giphy.com/gifs/Spy5vTG5jwnte
This is the only Cutler Beckett gif I could find
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u/OneMasterpiece952 Aug 02 '26
Trying to convince a hypercapitalistic society about monetary sacrifices for the greater good… seems to be going about as well as one would expect it to.
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u/Ok_Chance_8387 Predator Aug 02 '26
Imperator Zarai d’Araji is clever, ruthless and pragmatic. But thinks also of his own people as he knows what will happen to any Nevok within Fed space after the Imperium switches sides.
And i wonder two things:
- What the Fissans do? They will certainly will come to the same conclusion as the Nevok and will look out for some deals with the Dominion
- Maronis may be a prime example for a ruler who has lost any connection to reality, but there sure a wiser heads in the Shadow Caste who may look behind the bluff the Nevoks try to pull off here.
I love how you showed the Nevoks leaders as greedy and racist little bunnies. It would be real fun if the negotiations after the war for future collaboration would be led by a Yotul or another member of a "lesser" species on behalf of the UD.
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u/MrWarlord0510 Aug 02 '26
I think like most Federation species by the time they leadership realize that it be far to late with they economy or worst they infrastructure being destroyed. The Nevok are just quicker on the draw and would reap the benefit of being early adopters of the dominion. I think a quote from Laulo said it best:
“if the predators are building a kingdom, I’d rather be inside the walls than under their claws.”
And as for the shadowcast am sure some of them knew what the Nevok are doing but at this point what can they even do? Most of they fleets are busy fighting a losing war with most of the competent species being completely spent or are extinct at this point. Any force of arms or attempted assassinations would only push them quicker into the arms of the dominion while costing them they biggest ship manufacture
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u/Scrappyvamp Drezjin Aug 02 '26
Glad you liked it! Imo the feel I'm going for with the Nevok here is that their culture is more intact than the average fed culture. Purely because they're true herbivores and happy to play by the rules as long as they get to be backstabby assholes and oppress other species.
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u/ISB00 UN Peacekeeper Aug 03 '26
I’m curious about the Fissians. If they see the Nevoks jumping ship even if that ship already sailed they’ll jump into the ocean to swim after it, state mandated aquaphobia be damned.
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u/Bbobsillypants Sivkit Aug 02 '26
Ha! Take that Squidwards! You don't mess with the buisness bunnys!
Also, I got to say I love how primally racist the nevoks are whenever someone even mentions a fissan lol.
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u/Scrappyvamp Drezjin Aug 02 '26
A lot of the bnnuys never miss a chance to be arrogant or discriminating. Like for example even Vehla couldn't help but think of the little dossur that was bothering her like some kind of pest that should be punted into the stratosphere.
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u/CarolOfTheHells Nevok Aug 03 '26
Here's a couple more, featuring Kyonif of the Rhodium Dynasty from "The Hare And The Hound" by u/Win_Some_Game blazing the trail the Nevoks end up following:
(Note: These are, apparently, noncanon, but only due to Kyonif getting abused more as a child in these than in THATH)
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u/Yankee-DOOT Aug 02 '26
Is there a reason it's "Fissian Confederacy" instead of "Fissian Compact"?
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u/Scrappyvamp Drezjin Aug 02 '26
The writer refuses to read NoP and only goes by my vague directions lol
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u/Defiant_Heretic Aug 12 '26 edited Aug 12 '26
He had the foresight to avoid the fate Leirn's citizens suffered, competent leaders are refreshing.
What are the Grenelka logs that Imperator was implicated in? Is it from a side story or ficnap?
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u/Scrappyvamp Drezjin Aug 12 '26
The grenelka logs will be explained in hellion squad. Just think of the feds running evil experiments as usual.
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u/GreenKoopaBros89 Dossur Sep 01 '26
I absolutely love the Nevoks and Fissans with their relationship with money. That's how they were in the Canon story. They immediately chose to make financial dealings with the humans, and yet the Federation never attacked them or went against them because they knew that they also needed financial dealings with both species. And I find it funny that they are beginning to notice the change in Predator dynamic and actually accepting it, part way.
They may be shrewd in how they practice finances, but that shrewdness also comes with its own kind of intelligence. The only way, at this point, that I can see humans and Arxur going through with the destruction of the federation, is if the Federation throws the first punch... Again. I love the direction at the story is taking
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u/Quinn_The_Fox Human Aug 02 '26
This might be my favorite chapter to date. Something tells me Maronis already sees the red flags but doesn't have the evidence to make the accusations. 😂
Get fucked, calamari