symbiotic link between pilot and ship? We have experimented with fully automatic fighters in the past. They don’t work. You need the interaction between pilot and computer to have an effective system.”
By this time the humidity in the room was very high. Frank observed everyone. Several people were fidgeting. One observer in the back had started to fan himself. Frank figured the room had reached the target humidity level so he turned it off and deleted the application from his pad. He mentally hoped that Figur would stop talking.
Solear responded, “I have personally never flown a fighter, but yes, you are essentially correct. An individual Neto may not be a threat to an individual Alliance fighter, but if the Hiriculans can put enough of them into fighters, they will have a clear advantage.”
“Why is that?” said Senator Figur.
Frank looked over at him in clear contempt. Figur was the Advranki Senator from Advranki 2. The man was a career politician. He could talk for hours it seemed about nothing. He was the type of person that started talking before their brain had decided what it wanted to say. However, Figur had an amazing speaking voice and people enjoyed listening to his endless prattle. Personally, Frank detested him.
Solear responded, “Well, it is a numbers game. As terrible as it sounds, the Hiriculans may be willing to sacrifice two Neto pilots to kill one Alliance pilot.
This brought an awkward silence to the room. Even Senator Figur was mysteriously silent. The Ceremonial Master stood and broke the silence by saying, “Let’s hear from Victor Bullpeep. He is one of the foremost authorities on humans.”
Victor walked to the podium and paid his respects to the Senators. Since he didn’t have a prepared speech, he simply asked, “What would you like to know about humans?”
Frank beat Senator Figur to the first question. He asked, “Will they eat us?”
Victor answered, “That may have been a bit of a misunderstanding on our part…”
He was about to continue when he got interrupted. Senator Figur said, “What about the incident 60 years ago when the humans ate an Altian that had crash landed on human world?”
Victor continued, “Earth. The name of their planet is Earth. As I was saying, when a human dies and the reason for his death is not immediately obvious, a specially trained physician cuts him open to see if he can determine the cause of death. Humans generally don’t eat their dead and I don’t think they ate the Altian pilot. I think they were trying to determine why he died.”
Victor had to stop at this point because his comment had started many shouts and side conversations. Finally, order was restored and Frank asked, “Really, humans cut open their dead just to see what’s inside? I am not sure if this is better or worse than eating Altians.” This caused the entire gallery to chortle. He noticed one person was beginning to sweat. He hoped he hadn’t overdone the humidity. He needed this session to conclude as quickly as possible.
Senator Korno, Frank’s rival, finally joined the conversation. “Okay, so if the humans don’t immediately kill and eat us, do you think they will be civil enough to actively participate in the Alliance Navy? Do you think they will listen to us, take orders from us, and not rebel?”
Crista fingered her neck and thought of a way to control the humans. Fortunately, she kept it to herself.
Victor thought for a moment before answering, “Probably. However, we would need to take several safeguards to ensure their compliance, like limit their access on the ship and possibly arm ourselves.”
Senator Korno said, “Do you think that humans can fly Alliance fighters at least as well as the Netos?”
Victor simply answered, “Yes. Probably better.”
Senator Figur must have felt the conversation had gone on long enough without his input, for he asked, “Well, which is worse, the enemy we know or the potential ally we don’t
By this time the humidity in the room was very high. Frank observed everyone. Several people were fidgeting. One observer in the back had started to fan himself. Frank figured the room had reached the target humidity level so he turned it off and deleted the application from his pad. He mentally hoped that Figur would stop talking.
Solear responded, “I have personally never flown a fighter, but yes, you are essentially correct. An individual Neto may not be a threat to an individual Alliance fighter, but if the Hiriculans can put enough of them into fighters, they will have a clear advantage.”
“Why is that?” said Senator Figur.
Frank looked over at him in clear contempt. Figur was the Advranki Senator from Advranki 2. The man was a career politician. He could talk for hours it seemed about nothing. He was the type of person that started talking before their brain had decided what it wanted to say. However, Figur had an amazing speaking voice and people enjoyed listening to his endless prattle. Personally, Frank detested him.
Solear responded, “Well, it is a numbers game. As terrible as it sounds, the Hiriculans may be willing to sacrifice two Neto pilots to kill one Alliance pilot.
This brought an awkward silence to the room. Even Senator Figur was mysteriously silent. The Ceremonial Master stood and broke the silence by saying, “Let’s hear from Victor Bullpeep. He is one of the foremost authorities on humans.”
Victor walked to the podium and paid his respects to the Senators. Since he didn’t have a prepared speech, he simply asked, “What would you like to know about humans?”
Frank beat Senator Figur to the first question. He asked, “Will they eat us?”
Victor answered, “That may have been a bit of a misunderstanding on our part…”
He was about to continue when he got interrupted. Senator Figur said, “What about the incident 60 years ago when the humans ate an Altian that had crash landed on human world?”
Victor continued, “Earth. The name of their planet is Earth. As I was saying, when a human dies and the reason for his death is not immediately obvious, a specially trained physician cuts him open to see if he can determine the cause of death. Humans generally don’t eat their dead and I don’t think they ate the Altian pilot. I think they were trying to determine why he died.”
Victor had to stop at this point because his comment had started many shouts and side conversations. Finally, order was restored and Frank asked, “Really, humans cut open their dead just to see what’s inside? I am not sure if this is better or worse than eating Altians.” This caused the entire gallery to chortle. He noticed one person was beginning to sweat. He hoped he hadn’t overdone the humidity. He needed this session to conclude as quickly as possible.
Senator Korno, Frank’s rival, finally joined the conversation. “Okay, so if the humans don’t immediately kill and eat us, do you think they will be civil enough to actively participate in the Alliance Navy? Do you think they will listen to us, take orders from us, and not rebel?”
Crista fingered her neck and thought of a way to control the humans. Fortunately, she kept it to herself.
Victor thought for a moment before answering, “Probably. However, we would need to take several safeguards to ensure their compliance, like limit their access on the ship and possibly arm ourselves.”
Senator Korno said, “Do you think that humans can fly Alliance fighters at least as well as the Netos?”
Victor simply answered, “Yes. Probably better.”
Senator Figur must have felt the conversation had gone on long enough without his input, for he asked, “Well, which is worse, the enemy we know or the potential ally we don’t
Similar Books
