2160 AD
૨૧૨૪ MA
“These are dark times, Poron Cesil. Dark times indeed.”
“No question about it, Councilor Rimosi. Bad enough we added the bluefaces. Worse that we added the fish and the lizards and the gorram shaars. But the frakking bhatwani? You’ve gotta be frakking kidding me. The Empire won’t survive it.”
Jori Rimosi nodded sympathetically. Most anywhere else in the Empire, a recording of what Cesil had just said would have drawn horror, condemnation, and protest. He would have survived only long enough for the listeners to be surprised that he’d bothered to come up with a slur for the humans – though they wouldn’t have been surprised that he chose the Archavian equivalent of “fairy,” as it was just as lazy as “blueface,” “fish,” “lizard,” or “shaar.”
Cesil was utterly safe, though. Indeed, had his constituents heard his string of epithets, his popularity probably would have gone up. He was the leader the Federation wanted, and for the majority of Federationers, the one they deserved.
“So what are we going to do?” Rimosi asked. She was the Council’s majority leader and Cesil’s right-hand woman. Cesil had kept her close, never forgetting that he’d had her job when he turned on his predecessor as Guide of the Federation. He had never heard the human phrase “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer,” but he would have liked it.
Until he heard humans came up with it.
“We’ll have more power after the elections. The party’s popularity is increasing in the more rural provinces, the ones that understand the values that made us great,” Hab Lemescu said. Hab was a good fit for the legislature, and while he was loathed by most everyone on Archavia, he was always much more careful about his language than Cesil. Oh, he was no less racist than Cesil; he just had practice at avoiding the appearance of it. “We could have fifty votes to restore the greatness of the Empire.”
“Five percent of the legislature means shaka, Hab. Don’t get me wrong, it’s better than four votes, but it’s not enough to turn the tide. You think they’re really gonna give humans the vote?”
Hab shook his head. “My guide, you know how the rest of Empire is. It has become…decadent. Weak. It has lost sight of the values that once made us great. They let…they let the Dunnermac participate in our government, for Senedj’s sake. Will they give humans the vote? I suspect it is not a question of will, but when.”
“And we’ll be expected to extend rights to them. Guide, the humans who live in the Federation – we need to get them out of here before that happens,” Rimosi said. “We can’t let them get the vote. It could be enough to give power back to the New Imperials. Or worse, it could embolden the True Titan Party to attack us from the other side, for being weak.”
“I agree, but how do we do that and not hack off all the Federationers who would be mad we were taking the itty bitty pets away?” Cesil said. “They’re already voters, and ‘The Titan Party steals your stuff’ isn’t a good campaign slogan. But we –”
“We don’t have to ship them out,” said a younger man at the end of the table, interrupting the Guide. He swallowed hard in the uncomfortable silence that follows, before adding, “There’s another way.”
Cesil turned to the red-headed councilor. “You’re only here, Scylane, because of your mom.”
“Councilor Rimosi wouldn’t have interrupted you unless he was certain of the importance of what he was about to say,” Jori said, steaming mad. “I raised him better than that.”
“You did, mother, and I apologize, Guide. I had thought you were finished; I would never intentionally interrupt you.”
“Good,” Cesil said. “Make sure you don’t do it unintentionally, either. What’s your idea?”
“Believe it or not, the idea comes from the humans. Don’t laugh – they are idiots, no question, but I have still been studying their history. Even idiots may come across a good idea once in a while.”
“We will see,” Cesil said.
“Simply put,” Scylane said, “when the Empire tells us that we must free humans…we don’t.”
“What do you mean, we ‘don’t?’” Lemescu said.
“Just that. We say simply that the Empire’s actions are unlawful and the Federation will not go along. We will not free animals and give them the vote; we will not pretend animals are people. They are our pets. They are going to remain our pets.”
“Until they invade us,” Lemescu said.
“But they won’t. Not right away,” said Jota Cesil. “Trying to integrate hundreds of millions of humans – it would be difficult under the best of circumstances, even on Archavia. They won’t want to send ships here to enforce it, especially if we call up the Federation Militia to ‘keep order’ along the border.”
“We can’t keep that up forever, though,” Lemescu said.
“Why not?” Cesil countered. “Oh, I know, you think eventually they’ll invade. No, eventually, they’ll give up on the Federation. Like you said, they’re weak. Decadent. They don’t want war. Might mess up their robes. They certainly won’t fight a war for humans, not yet. And by the time they’re willing to, we’ll be like the gorram bluefaces were – beyond their authority. And that’s when we can begin.”
“Begin what?” Jori said.
Cesil smiled. “I bet your son understands.”
Scylane nodded. “That’s when we begin a new Empire, one based on the principles that once made the old Empire great.”
“We will cleanse the Empire of the scum that has built up inside it,” Cesil said. “Bit by bit. Until we are made new. Scylane…what did the humans call this idea?”
“Nullification,” Scylane said. “It translates basically as ‘to make into nothing.’”
“Making it into nothing. Exactly what we shall do. You were right, Scylane,” Cesil said with a smile. “That was worth accidentally interrupting me for. But only accidentally.”
* * *
“Madam President, where exactly are we going?”
“I’m kidnapping you, obviously,” Robyn Martin said, staring out the window of the shuttle. “We’re taking you to the secure holding facility now.”
“Ha. Wouldn’t be the first time I met a president there.”
“Still can’t believe Bill Clinton hit on you. And John F. Kennedy. Especially Kennedy. You would have been fairly young.”
“That didn’t faze him. And to be fair, I was older than him.”
The shuttle began its descent – it was a relatively quick jaunt, all things considered – and dove toward its destination.
“I’m glad you took my advice and dressed warm,” the President said, as the shuttle descended toward a cool, quiet island, dotted with small cities around the perimeter. “It’s warmer than it was in your day, but it’s still cold here in December.
“What is?” Eyrn asked, looking out as the shuttle put down on a flat landing pad in the middle of a snowy field.
Martin smiled, and said, simply, “Here. Ambassador, if you would be so kind?”
Eyrn helped the human president down to the floor of the shuttle, and allowed her to exit first. She wasn’t sure why Martin was spending her waning days in office bringing her on a field trip, but she was a diplomat; when the leader of a nation asks you to come with them, you do.
“All right,” the pilot of the shuttle said, about ten minutes later. “We’re getting the ‘go’ sign, ma’am.”
“Thank you, Decanus,” Eyrn said, getting up and stepping out of the ship’s door.
She blinked as she stepped out into the sun, low on the horizon even at two in the afternoon, and shivered, slightly. She turned, and heard the clear cadence of a soldier, calling, “Present arms!”
She turned toward the sound, and followed the platoon, which lined a path that led to both President Martin and President Yanaev of Russia, as well as one other person Eyrn did not recognize. They stood on a large marble marker, which stood before five flags, four of which she immediately recognized – Russian, American, Imperial…
…and Sperikan.
The marker itself was truly monumental by human standards, but small by Titan ones. Nevertheless, it was clear, written in English, Russian, and Archavian.
| DR. FORSETTI D’TALMA BORN 1052 MA ON SPERIKOS DIED CA. 1088 MA ON EARTH |
DR. MELINI D’TALMA BORN 1058 MA ON SPERIKOS DIED CA. 1088 MA ON EARTH |
| SCIENTISTS – EXPLORERS – PARENTS – FRIENDS | |
Eyrn blinked as she read it. “How….”
“It took a lot of doing,” Robyn said. “But eventually, we tracked down your parents’ remains. This is where we originally found them; this is where they belong, unless you wish to bring them back home.”
Eyrn blinked, and knelt down. “Sperikos – their home – is a dead world. From what I know…they would be honored to be buried here.”
The Ambassador to Earth looked around. “So this is where…this is where you found me.”
“Da,” Yanaev said. “And then concealed your existence so they could buy this land. Is for the best. I do not know what the Tsars would have made of you, but is best for everyone that Stalin never found you.”
“One never knows, Mr. President. And one can never know. Still…I am honored that you are here. And…I apologize, I have not met you, sir.”
The third person smiled, and nodded to the Ambassador. “My name is James Haakinson, ma’am. I’m the leader of the Kodiak Sugpiat peoples. True, we’re not really a nation anymore, but we still work to preserve our heritage – and you and your parents are a part of that heritage.”
Eyrn nodded. “So that’s your peoples’ flag?” she asked, gesturing to the simple black and white banner fluttering in the breeze.
“It is, Ambassador. We have the flags of the nations who were guardians of this land, as well as the flags of your home. We hope you find it acceptable.”
“More than acceptable, Mr. Haakinson. I am grateful for your people’s hospitality – all of your peoples’ hospitality,” she said, nodding to the two presidents.
“This is where Ft. Arula-Ak was,” Robyn Martin said, “and where you and your parents were found. This is a monument. It is also your possession. This land, and your parents’ grave, were occupied by you long before the United States existed. By law, we recognize your claim to it. You are welcome to move here, build a cabin if you wish. Either that, or we will maintain it as it is, as our gift to you.”
Eyrn looked around at the stark plain. “I would…it would best be maintained as it is, I think,” she said.
“There is one more thing, and the reason I drug you out here, before I left office,” Robyn Martin said. “Under the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, all Native Americans not already citizens of the United States were granted citizenship. You were present here prior to Columbus; therefore, my Attorney General has issued a binding opinion that you, Ambassador Bass, were a full and native citizen of the United States of America effective in 1924, and that while you have not yet laid claim to that citizenship, it is yours, and your children’s, whenever you wish to take it up.”
Eyrn blinked. “I…with me serving as Ambassador….”
“Is why she didn’t bring the passports,” Yanaev said. “Also, our laws have similar provision, and while you were asleep, you were living in Russian territory; we recognize you also as citizen of Russia, should you ever wish it.”
“And we recognize you and your parents as honorary members of the Sugpiat peoples,” Haakinson said. “Our oral tradition speaks of strong, powerful – and kind – people. We believe, based on what we remember, that your parents were as your history records – scientists and students, who were kind and respectful in their study. We wish they had survived for us to meet them; we are glad, however, that their legacy remains.”
Eyrn blinked back tears. “I can’t…there’s no way I can express my gratitude,” she said. Robyn smiled.
“You are, as I said in New York, truly a child of Earth,” Martin said. “We just want you to know that we will not ever forget it. We only ask that you do not forget it, either.”
Eyrn smiled. There was a slight barb to the statement; a reminder that Eyrn had pledged to support Earth. But it was a welcome barb. This was her home, as much as the Empire.
“Madam President, Mr. President, Mr. Haakinson,” Eyrn said, “I never could.”
Two hours later, Eyrn and the President of the United States were flying back to Nevada.
“Madam President,” Eyrn said, “what are you planning to do when your term ends?”
“Didn’t I tell you?” Martin said, with a grin that said she knew she hadn’t. “Secretary General Lǐ has asked me to replace Ambassador White.”
Eyrn blinked. “Jodi White is retiring?”
“She never intended to serve more than a few years. I’ve told the Secretary General that I’m in for two Titan years, or until human equality is passed. He’s told me politely that he can’t promise that I’ll remain Ambassador should he lose in 2065 or 2070, for that matter, but….”
Eyrn smiled, though there was a touch of sadness in it. “I can think of nobody better to represent Earth, Madam President. I just…I hope you know what you’re getting into.”
“I don’t, and I can’t,” Robyn said. “But I’ve spent my whole life forcing the world to accept me as I am, despite my physical form. Hopefully, some of that will carry over.”
“It will, Madam President,” Eyrn said. “And if you ever need support – well, I have a lot of friends on Archavia, including a lot of human friends. And I daresay they’ll help Earth’s ambassador however they can.”
“Ambassador Bass…let’s hope the day comes, before either of us leave our jobs, when that help is not required.”
“Amen, Madam President,” Eyrn said, softly. “Amen.”
* * *
Lennox knocked on the door of the modest suburban house, half-expecting to find nobody there.
He’d deliberately put this meeting off. The letter had told him to go straight to this address; he was not in the business of doing what he was told. Instead, he’d pushed every government source he had in Ottawa, Washington, New York, and Ciudad de México, and he’d come up with nothing. Not only could he find nobody to talk on the record – that didn’t surprise him – but he couldn’t find anyone willing to speak on background, or off the record, or even on a “seriously, man, we never talked” basis.
A less tenacious reporter would have shrugged, and supposed that there was nothing to it, that he’d been pranked. But Lennox had noticed something in the studied silence, the refusals to even entertain his silly questions.
They hadn’t laughed him off. And they hadn’t denied it. Not directly.
That wasn’t a smoking gun. It was more an empty hole where the smoking gun should be.
So he’d finally flown out to Denver, and taken a cab down to Boulder, and he was about to interview someone whose only connection to the Titans was an uncle who’d been abducted by them, and died shortly before First Contact.
The door opened, finally, and a very old man harrumphed. “Well. Wondering if you’d come, or if you’d come to your senses.”
“Mr. Palmer, Lennox McClure,” he said, holding out a hand.
“Jim Palmer. Come in,” he said, leading the reporter into his living room. “Care for some coffee?”
“I’m fine, thank you,” McClure said.
“You did a nice job taking down Patel,” Jim said, settling into an oversized chair, while Lennox sat down on an adjacent couch. “My great-granddaughter is leading the Olympic committee. Was a relief for her to start choosing vendors based on their bids, rather than based on who ministry officials told her to.”
“Your great-granddaughter – Jess McClaren?”
“Yup. My granddaughter met a Canuck at college, fell in love, moved up to Alberta; her kid won gold in Novisibirsk in 2128. Only time I’ve ever cheered against the U.S. in sports,” Jim said.
“You must be very proud.”
“Not just of her. Family’s done well for itself. I like to think I’m the reason, but the truth is it’s mostly Taylor’s influence. Well, that, and my kids married well.”
“Taylor, she your wife?”
“Late wife. Good woman. Died back in ’39. But you didn’t come here from Toronto to talk about my family. Well…you did, I suppose.”
“Your Uncle Luke…he was one of the 2013 Abductees, the ones the Titans took.”
“Insectoids. The insectoids took him,” Palmer corrected. Lennox nodded; he knew this, of course, but he wanted lay the groundwork early. Check the Titans’ story. See where the seams were.
“I’ve heard that, but how do we know?”
“Well, he told his wife, and Quendra told me. I trusted Quendra, so seems to me pretty obviously true. But you’re a reporter, and I know how that goes.”
“Do you,” Lennox said. Palmer laughed.
“I was a reporter in my youth, during the big unraveling of the profession. Worked at a newspaper – Denver Post. The real thing, actually printed on paper until 2062. I was a capitol reporter. Never had a scalp as big as Patel’s, but I got a Governor to resign over misuse of funds back in 2067. Hell, I’m old enough to remember when your outfit was a joke – bunch of cat videos and listicles.”
“We still do listicles.”
“Everyone does listicles. I did listicles.”
“And everyone hates them,” Lennox said.
“Damn straight,” Palmer said. “Anyhow, I know enough to know you’re trying to win me over, and you’re a bright young man and good at your job, so you’re doing well. So cut to the chase. Ask what you’re gonna ask.”
“There are rumors that humans in the Titan Empire are property. Pets. What do you know about that?”
Jim Palmer smiled, and leaned back. “Off the record, for now. If you get more sources, come back to me, I may agree to go on background. May even agree to attribution, depending on whether you’ll print the full story.”
“Fine. What’s the full story?”
Palmer laughed. “First off, short answer: yes. Humans in the Empire are considered…uh…tier two sentient beings, something like that. They can’t live on their own, need a Titan ‘owner.’ And yeah, a lot of them are owned as pets.”
Lennox blinked. “If you’d go on record….”
“Full story. And the full story is more complicated. I told you, Luke got married. Not to a Titan, like that professor, Freeman. He got married to a woman named Quendra, who was part of a tribe of humans living on the edge of a farm on Archavia, the homeworld of the Titans. Human woman. Living without Titan owners. Dangerous, to be sure – imagine a tribe of sentient mice, trying to make it on the edge of society. But eventually, they made contact with the Titans who ran the farm, including the woman who’d brought Luke to Archavia in the first place, Aisell.”
“Why’d she bring him to Archavia?”
“Because he was being a jackass, thought he could survive on Titan Station, make it back to Earth. Wasn’t gonna happen. At least that’s what Quendra said. But here’s the kicker…wait. Have something to show you.”
Palmer got up from the chair, and walked out to the kitchen, and retrieved something from his refrigerator. He grabbed a dish, set four berries onto it, and put the container back in the refrigerator. He brought it back to Lennox, and handed it to him.
Lennox McClure looked down at the berries. Superficially, they resembled raspberries, but they were glowing.
Raspberries don’t glow.
“Tribe calls ‘em ‘glowberries,’ Titans call ‘em ‘royal berries.’ That there is probably worth a few thousand dollars, given everything involved in me getting them. Trade for peaches. Long story. Try them.”
Lennox wasn’t sure where this was going, but he popped one in his mouth, and was instantly glad of the decision. It tasted amazing, almost but not quite like any number of fruits.
“These are expensive as hell on Archavia. They grow on bushes. Titans have trouble harvesting them, because the bushes are covered in poisonous thorns, which protect the berries. They aren’t poison-poison. Like mild poison ivy. But still, enough to deter you. Put gloves on, it gets harder to get in to grab them. Simple machines are used to harvest them, but it ends up destroying the bush in the process; of course, there are robots that can pull it off, but they’re so expensive that it’s a wash financially. But see, that’s for the Titans,” Palmer said with a grin. “The Tribe Luke and Quendra belonged to – they harvested these things from a wild bush growing on the property. No problem getting around the thorns – just walk around them and grab the berries. They used them for making wine and liquor, for making desserts, used ‘em for light and ink, even used ‘em for medicine – one of the chemicals in the thorns is also in the berries, in very, very low doses; concentrated, it has anti-inflammatory properties.”
“Fascinating,” Lennox said, who was mildly fascinated, but more than that, knew enough to let an interviewee speak.
“Anyhow, like I said, the Tribe was harvesting these. The farm, it was in tough financial shape. So they made a deal – the Tribe harvests, the farm sells.”
“So they became slaves.”
“No! Damn it – you’re not getting it. They became partners. Split the profits, fifty-fifty. Technically, the Tribe was ‘owned’ by the farm – but in reality, they let the Tribe live in peace, and worked in partnership with them. They adopted more human pets and brought them to the farm, where they could live as close to free as possible. Quendra considered herself free up until her death, and viewed the ownership as more a joke than anything.”
“So what are you saying?”
“What I’m saying,” Palmer said, plucking a glowberry from Lennox’s plate, “is that like anything else in this universe, the situation is complicated. I know you. I was in my 30s once, too, and full of fire and righteousness, and those are great traits in a reporter. But if you want to write more than blinkbait – and you do – you know that the really interesting stories aren’t all black or all white.”
Palmer leaned back. “Aisell is friends with the Minority Leader of their legislature. They’re working on making humans full citizens, even as we speak. The reason nobody’s talking about this is that they’re trying to give them time to finish the job, so that we’re not all panicked when someone says ‘pets.’ They want to be able to say, ‘Well, they were pets, but once everyone saw how smart Earth was…well, we just had to free all the humans here.’”
“Do you believe they will?”
Palmer snorted. “I covered politics for a living, son, I don’t trust legislatures. But I talked with my cousin Disa last week – he says they’re optimistic. Could be another ten years or so – but the way they measure time, that’s about two years, which is light speed for government.”
“You sound dubious.”
“I’m not,” Palmer said. “Got no reason to be, at least any more that you’d expect. But I am dubious about one thing, and it’s the same thing you’re dubious about.”
“This will never stay quiet another ten years,” Lennox said.
“Yup,” Jim replied. “Not a chance. Miracle it’s stayed quiet this long. I mean, Gawker’s already run the story, but nobody trusts them. But you’re sniffing around, guarantee someone else is. It’ll break. Just a question of when and how.”
Lennox was quiet. “You can help me….”
“Helped you as much as I’m gonna,” Jim Palmer said. “Like I said, it’s complicated, and my cousins on Archavia believe in giving the Titans time. They trust their Titan friends. And by the sounds of it, they should. Not saying they should trust all Titans, and they don’t — there are definitely Titans who see us as pets, but there are definitely Titans who see us as people. You’ll be ready to run when you’ve got a good handle on both groups.”
Lennox shook his head, ruefully. “Nobody’s talking,” he said. “I’ve talked to all my contacts in the capitals.”
Jim laughed. “Contacts in the capitals? Well, that does it, then. Son, you’re a reporter. Haven’t you learned yet that it’s never the chair of the committee who spills the beans, but the backbencher that nobody talks to?”
Lennox nodded. This would be a good deal more complex – but Palmer was right. This story was much more interesting. “Mr. Palmer, I’d like you to write up your uncle’s story, in all its complexity. When I’m ready to run, I hope that I’m able to persuade you to let me use it, on the record.”
“Be glad to, as long as you send me that promise in writing.”
Lennox smiled. “I will. But…one thing I don’t get. I get why we’d give the Titans time – they’re scary, and way beyond us, and enormous, but….”
“Not why we’re giving them time,” Palmer said. “It’s not fear that’s driving this. Get the full story, you’ll understand that. Now, you’re sure you wouldn’t like some coffee?”
“No, Mr. Palmer,” Lennox said. “I think you’ve given me quite enough.”
One thing I didn’t notice, and I don’t know if the Federation has considered, while the Empire might not declare war on them because they are otherwise occupied what stops them from pursuing economic sanctions on the Federation?
From what I’ve read on the Federation they’re one of the poorest regions of the Empire, if suddenly the major industries in the empire boycotted, or were prohibited from selling their goods to the region, what the hell could they do? The Empire could quite possibly drive them to destruction (or at least crippling poverty) without firing a shot.
Song For Today:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLiMy4NaSKc
“Bad enough we added the bluefaces. Worse that we added the fish and the lizards and the gorram shaars.”
So, “fish” are the Dunnermac, “lizards” are the Ler. With their tails, I guess the “shaars” are the Avartle. Who are the “bluefaces”? The Jotunn?
“Can’t believe that they sent a Blueface slag to catch me.” Greno sneered as he pressed Rixie up against the wall, his hand around her throat in a vice-like grip.
Comes from this:
“So your braids… They’re a cultural thing?”
“Yes. Jotunn often wear their hair in braids like mine. Admittedly, not quite as many as I do, but when I was younger it was a way to assert my Jotun identity. I figured if people were going to look down on me for being Jotunn…”
“Then you might as well be really Jotunn?”
“Yeah. I grew out of it for the most part as I got older. At least I don’t wear the blue face paint …anymore.”
“Blue face pai-? Okay filing that away for later discussion…” Alex muttered distractedly.
The reason nobody’s talking about this is that they’re trying to give them time to finish the job, so that we’re not all panicked when someone says ‘pets.’ They want to be able to say, ‘Well, they were pets, but once everyone saw how smart Earth was…well, we just had to free all the humans here.’”
__________________
*snort*
Welp…. if ya’ll believe that I gots me a nice little ole’ bridge in one of the boroughs heah that just came on the market… since you’re such a swell fella and I like yas, tell ya what I’m gonna do, I will give it to ya for a steep discount say… 40% how does that sound partna?
_____
And..
Human invasion of Archavia? that now would be interesting… Kool too… Sense fascist overtones to the Federation…History does not only repeat it is parallel…Now jest gotta figgure out what part of American history is it parallel to hmmmnmnmmmmmmmm?
___
And…
Listicle? sounds vaguely kinky………wait………….*does quick google search* ………. nevermind
Ok;
Simply put,” Scylane said, “when the Empire tells us that we must free humans…we don’t.”
“What do you mean, we ‘don’t?’” Lemescu said.
“Just that. We say simply that the Empire’s actions are unlawful and the Federation will not go along. We will not free animals and give them the vote; we will not pretend animals are people. They are our pets. They are going to remain our pets.”
“Until they invade us,” Lemescu said.
“But they won’t. Not right away,” said Jota Cesil. “Trying to integrate hundreds of millions of humans – it would be difficult under the best of circumstances, even on Archavia. They won’t want to send ships here to enforce it, especially if we call up the Federation Militia to ‘keep order’ along the border.”
________________
So this is analogous to the American South during the civil rights era..Integration….Resistance to integration call in the national guard…got it….. Its the closest human historical analogy for the Federationers
And now its time for…The Spanish Inquisition!
no..
but….
we have……..
1)
“I agree, but how do we do that and not hack off all the Federationers who would be mad we were taking the itty bitty pets away?” Cesil said. “They’re already voters, and ‘The Titan Party steals your stuff’ isn’t a good campaign slogan. But we –”
___
So humans are voters but not citizens? C1 is already done? Did I miss something here?
2)
“Titans. Human woman. Living without Titan owners. Dangerous, to be sure – imagine a tribe of sentient mice, trying to make it on the edge of society. ”
___
Analogy fails….Mice are native to earth and already live on the edge of society..and in the wild quite successfully for millions of years (100 + I would guess)..If they were sentient they would probably give us humans a run for their money….Douglas Adams might have something to say about the subject..
Humans were brought to Archavia to a hostile non-native environment that lacked any evolutionary adaptations, completely defenseless and dependent on their Titan masters..In essence any Titan world is a gigantic prison to humans
3)
Why’d she bring him to Archavia?”
“Because he was being a jackass, thought he could survive on Titan Station, make it back to Earth. Wasn’t gonna happen. At least that’s what Quendra said.
________
Nnnnnnnot exactly… He wanted desperately to get back to his home, determined to do so. Aisell betrayed him went back on her word…for “his own good” This was done out of a few days of ‘friendship’ if ya’ll recall…jackass is subjective
4)
Also (I’m double dipping here..)
“They want to be able to say, ‘Well, they were pets, but once everyone saw how smart Earth was…well, we just had to free all the humans here.’”
____
Well thats bullsh*T not a single Terran will believe that nor will a large number of Titans either..The excuse will be insulting and backfire on Los Titanos. Its patronizing too..
On (1) The implication is that Humans will become eventually C1 and will become citizens, but they aren’t yet so the Federation was thinking on what preemptive measures to take. Hence the exiling (or worse) response.
So this is analogous to the American South during the civil rights era..Integration….Resistance to integration call in the national guard…got it….. Its the closest human historical analogy for the Federationers
It’s not a justification for action but a rationalization for action of a desperate leadership. Extremists like the Federation in the Titanverse or the Nazi’s in 1930’s Germany can only hope to foster chaos leading generally sensible people to take desperate actions. The Nazis with the exception of Hitler never thought their political opposition would collapse and invite them into form a government without resistance.
The Federation leaders, like the CFA expect politics to fail this will come to a resistence if not an outright fight. Like the confederacy they have to hope the rest of the empire doesn’t have the will to fight. Of course they are discounting all the non-titans in the empire and the Jotunn who will carry the fight till the majority of titans get behind equal rights and representation for all species.
The Federation will be forced to rely on interested outsiders as allies to carry on “The Cause”. The CFA bet King Cotton would force the British Empire to side with them or at least block the Union blockade and allow the South to fight its way to independence. The Federation’s independence bid will lead them to seek alliance with the Insectoids and-or the Drazari in exchange for sizable chucks of the empire where the people ain’t really people in their eyes anyway.
Of course those puny little humans will doubtless come up with some key tech advantage or military strategies that makes them worth fighting for and perhaps draws in other new friends on the side of the good guys like the K’Gapti.
…or…
The Feds could take their 40 seat gain and call it a win and wave their battle flag without taking any shots.
But probably not.
They don’t want independence. They want to remake the empire into their vision. Purify it. The American South just wanted to do its own thing without interference, when they couldn’t do that they decided that wanted to break away. It was also a power and land grab by a few of its inner circles.
The American South just wanted to do its own thing without interference
The American South wanted to turn progressively more of the south into their version of America. First Texas, then California and the southwest. Had they won the war in the 1860’s there would have been little to stop them till they reached Tierra del Fuego. Being an agrarian state the South saw ultimate power in terms of possessing land along what was needed to work the land – slaves.
They want to remake the empire into their vision. Purify it.
The Federation leadership will push the purity idea to condition their populace to accept the idea of self rule followed by expulsion of all who do not fit their ideal. They are thinking their way through a process from seeing humans as having no intrinsic value to having a very different kind of value. The humans who they already control they now see as a symbol of their ideal order of the universe and if nothing else hostages they can use is a bargain for political power and as a last resort ransom for credit to keep a blockaded Federation territory alive. This is not a the vision of a civilization determined to control the universe but of a group of extremists trying to wall themselves off from reality.
Thats what I meant by a land grab. Even if it won the civil war they ( the inner circle – rich landowners + others) would not have succeeded. Texas was divided on the issue of slavery… the Arizona and New Mexican territory was up for grabs. California was a newly minted state but not a southern state.. Then you have that ornery country to the south…Mexico with a radically different culture who abolished slavery in 1813. Who by this time was invaded by the United States a few times. They would have had fierce opposition.. I’m just talking North America…
Also around this time the industrial revolution was kicking into full gear, within about 10 years or so most manual labor would not have successfully competed with mechanization making a lot of the slave labor obsolete.
Also around this time the industrial revolution was kicking into full gear, within about 10 years or so most manual labor would not have successfully competed with mechanization making a lot of the slave labor obsolete.
The industrial revolution didn’t move along quite as fast south of Detroit. In Brazil outright slavery persisted to the 1890’s. In the Deep South self-policed slavery, more commonly known as sharecropping persisted into the 1950’s.
Even if it won the civil war they ( the inner circle – rich landowners + others) would not have succeeded. Texas was divided on the issue of slavery… the Arizona and New Mexican territory was up for grabs. California was a newly minted state but not a southern state.. Then you have that ornery country to the south…Mexico with a radically different culture who abolished slavery in 1813. Who by this time was invaded by the United States a few times. They would have had fierce opposition.. I’m just talking North America…
I agree was your basic assessment that a landed gentry protecting a plantation lifestyle, held in place by a mostly uneducated racists suppressing slaves from revolt. However, the Texas population wasn’t really divided. As far as they could irrigate the cotton, about Waco it was solidly confederate. The few folks living west of there simply preferred distasteful blue-belly occupiers as opposed to uncontrolled raiding bands of plains Indians coming down from the north.
Of course Texas independence itself was a grand scheme. Travis never realized that Houston’s entire game plan was to retreat and lure Santa Anna over the Sabine and into a war starting skirmish with two waiting squadrons of American troopers. Santa Anna was smart enough to avoid that trap but not smart enough to avoid capture and losing Texas anyway.
Scott and the collective Civil War brain trust marched right through Mexico a decade later and if the southern power brokers had their way the US would have kept the part south of the Rio Grande too. As it was if the North had opted for a negotiated settlement in the midst of war the militarized South would have easily marched through Maximiilian’s French and stepped into their place fighting probably endless guerrilla wars in Latin America for decades or a century before pulling out as the whole region went communist.
Martin Luther King noted Thoreau in his famous essay summarized the situation at the time: “During my student days I read Henry David Thoreau’s essay On Civil Disobedience for the first time. Here, in this courageous New Englander’s refusal to pay his taxes and his choice of jail rather than support a war that would spread slavery’s territory into Mexico, I made my first contact with the theory of nonviolent resistance. Fascinated by the idea of refusing to cooperate with an evil system, I was so deeply moved that I reread the work several times.”
It will be interesting to see how the authors play out this road they’ve launched the Federation down in the rest of The Debate and the bigger novel to come.
That is a lot of territory to conquer, probably 2 – 3x larger than what Napoleon did in Europe. Plus crossing a gulf and an ocean. You are also assuming the European powers would sit idly by while watching their client states get eaten up by a burgeoning Confederate power. The south lost the war due to the fact that the North could produce more bullets, armaments, cannons etc. than the south. (Ok the North also had better generals and tacticians too) The French abided with thier ally – the North. Tsarist Russia (who people don’;t realize was a European power at the time) was also allied with the North. As well as a few other European powers. What would have worked in the Confederate’s favor is that these allies were also busy fighting each other, they wouldn’t be able to send much in terms of help..
Also wouldn’t you think the North would be prepping for round 2? It wouldn’t have been as easy as you make it to be. A lost war would galvanize the abolitionists in the northern states for another try..
I think it is really hard to debate what – if scenarios as it difficult to know all the details and variables of what really happened.
Also if the Confederacy was busy fighting endless South American guerrilla wars that would be enough of a distraction fro the north to launch round 2..This time they would be even more determined than before, learning from their mistakes and being better prepared….
“Here is a paper with which, if I cannot whip Bobby Lee, I will be willing to go home.”
Reverse that one incident and with it the Union’s bloody “victory” at Antietam Lincoln needed and there is no emancipation proclamation in 1863 and Bobby Lee never has to lead his army in desperation into Pennsylvania because he already has Washington besieged. The ’62 mid-terms go against Lincoln and the pacifist gain enough support in congress rallying around McClelland who was always a much better speechmaker than a general. There is a negotiated separation which includes commercial interest in the North gaining the ability to supply arms to the South so long as the Southern armies keep marching further south. Britain goes back to buying cotton from the Confederacy and more critically stops planting cotton in Egypt and looks the other way so long as the Confederacy remains a land power and limits its territorial gains to former possessions of Spain. None of that is too far fetched.
Antietam and the Emancipation Declaration does bring up a question for the Titanverse. If the Fed threatens nullification during the debate how do the good guys strike a blow for human rights in Fed territory that becomes the symbolic human victory needed for passage of emancipation? Perhaps a rescue mission to liberate humans held as pets by high profile Feds using an upgraded Alcubierre or Zeno’s Paradox?
1) The ‘they’ of “They’re already voters” refers to the Federationers who would be mad, not their human pets.
2) Analogies are rarely perfect, and this one wasn’t bad. The Tribe was pretty succesful for quite a few years, compensating for their lack of evolutionary advantages with sentience.
3) Jackass is indeed subjective, but Jim seems to realize this because he added “At least that’s what Quendra said.”, letting Lennox know that he only knows what Quendra told him. And I can imagine Quendra not having much faith in Luke’s ability to survive on his own; he nearly got killed by a shaar just traveling from the Tribe to the Maris farm. Twice. And to be fair, Luke insisted on staying on Titan Station to try to sneak aboard a military ship and get back to Earth even after Aisell told him that the ships patrolling the Red Zone never actually land on Earth. There is a fine line between determination and foolhardiness.
4) The whole pet thing would be easier to swallow if it were in the past rather than the present. But yeah, that sentence made me shake my head. Earth’s rulers seem to think that they can just wait for the Empire to officially reclassify humans. But the titans are too slow and too divided; it’ll take more than some backroom politics to get humans reclassified sometime soon rather than decades from now. Earth’s humans are going to have to show what they’re capable of, and that requires knowing what’s going on.
Thanks FH and now… The Rebuttal! (this is some really strange coffee)
2) Yes, however mice did not have the technological ability and resources to make it to the top..They did outlast the dinosaurs so thats something. Big is not necessarily better eh? In the evolutionary game survival is all.. Humans did not evolve on Titan worlds so they lack adaptation. The Tribe did not have the education and the resources and the technology to really make it, in the end they had to rely on kindly Titans to ultimately survive
3) Hmmm could Quendra survive on Titan station for 1.5 years on her own? No tribe, nottin.. just by your own wits. Thats an amazing feat, ya have to give Luke a little credit here. Luke still could have made it back to earth (long shot) he might have snuck aboard one Griftjon (or whatever it was called) and made friends with its captain, convince him to make an (un)authorized visit to earth…or maybe not. It wasn’t foolhardy by my assessment given that all the options were not exhausted. Put yourself in his shoes, what would you have done?
4) Earth’s humans are going to have to show what they’re capable of, and that requires knowing what’s going on
Really? is that going to change the mindset (culture) of a race that has had the same view of a species for over 1000 of their years? “Oh look that cute gerbil is doing calculus and made a drawing on my pad, isn’t that precious!” “oh they just broke the light barrier..that interesting, probably had help and they are still cute” *sigh*
That view is naive
Oh… once the Terrans really find out what is happening in the greater galaxy they might decide f**k this, we are not going to try to change the mindset, lets search for options… Then the fun begins 🙂
2) The mice analogy was used to sketch the sort of life that the Tribe was living. It wasn’t an evolutionary comparison. As for the Tribe, it was doing well enough; the only real danger it faced was from titans. So eventually the Tribe adapted by entering into a symbiotic relationship with a few friendly titans.
3) What Luke did was indeed pretty impressive. However, he knew nothing of the Gyfjon’s captain, so he couldn’t have known that making friends with him was a possibility. And while Aertimus would sympathize with Luke, I can’t see Aertimus landing on Earth just for him. Remember that Aertimus was unable to bring Izzy back. And unlike with Luke, Aertimus partially blamed himself for Izzy’s abduction.
As for what I would do in his shoes, Aisell had promised him she’d help get him home. I’d probably have gone with her and then worked together with her to find an alternate solution. Maybe a ship can get permission to land on Earth. (Pryvani once had a bunch of whales brought to her from Earth.) Or maybe someone aboard the Red Zone patrol ship can be found who is sympathetic to humans and might be able to help further.
4) Just because the titans have had the same view of humans for over 1000 years doesn’t mean that it cannot be changed. Especially because their view of humans has been shifting in the 22 years since the original abductions. Back then the notion of human sentience reclassification would have been laughed at by almost anyone, while nowadays even the Titan Party leaders believe that it’s a matter of when rather than if.
Anyway, in my opinion the best option for humanity to prosper in the Titanverse is to work together with the peoples of the Empire. Therefore we need to make sure that the change of the titans’ mindset continues.
What other options were you thinking of?
Unfortunately, you can’t really use the original Titan story as an example of what can get done. Many of the changes made to the universe since then null out some of that.
@Soatari: As a rule I assume that events in earlier stories are canon unless a later story directly contradicts it.
That having been said, I was writing about what I’d try in Luke’s place. I don’t actually think that any of it would have succeeded. After the abductions, the whales, and then Eyrn’s retrieval, the military brass would have no doubt refused any proposed Earth landing for years (Archavian ones) to come. Hell, between humanity’s rapid advancement and how Eyrn’s retrieval went (Earth satellite knocked away, humans accidentally snatched along with the subject) there is a good chance that Aertimus’s mission was the very last sanctioned Earth landing (until Titan: Contact).
3)
Soooo..you would have done what Luke and I (most likely) have done..that is to find a way home as opposed to living in a nightmare scenario. I think most people would. So the attempt to do so, to get back to the life you once had is foolhardy? Or being a jackass? Thats quite insulting..Unless it was proven (not simply stated) that it is impossible to do. And the attempt would guarantee death..
4)
Of course it can be changed. Their social inertia is a lot slower than ours. What I question is the hoop jumping criteria required. So in order to be considered equal (er make that C1) humans have to do A,…B, ….C, …..Unless their A, B and C is not really enough or we Titanos did A, B and C differently so its not really the same (not to mention D,…E …. F….G and… which the humans have not done so…) I also question that only a handful of Titans (Pryvani, Hussel Bass, Aisell etc) could see the humans as they really are by just simple observation and the rest can’t..Of course if they did the conflict would not exist and we would not these novels 🙂
Options well you mentioned one…alliance with one or more of the non-titan peoples of the empire and other non-titan and non empire peoples…
3) It’s not Luke attempting to get home that I’m criticizing, but rather that he didn’t really seem to believe himself that he had a chance of succes; he’s only going on because he’d rather die than give up. That’s in my opinion the point where determination becomes foolhardiness. And I don’t think that makes him a jackass, just desperate. “Jackass” was Quendra’s opinion (apparently), not mine.
4) Titans like Pryvani, Aertimus and Aisell have the advantage of having interacted with humans from Earth and Avalon, who grew up in places with self-sufficient societies. They therefore know what many other titans have yet to understand, namely that humans don’t need titan supervision but can build societies on their own and interact with other species as equals.
Regarding an alliance with a non-Empire people, I don’t really see that working out. The insectoids are enemies rather than allies and I see no way to change that. From what I can tell of drazari, they’re too xenophobic (they once destroyed a bunch of avartle colonies without warning, other species aren’t permitted on their homeworld, and natask Aurrol called humans a threat). The tusola seem have little influence. And the k’gapti/c’gulhu are practically just a myth.
The mechanics of how Luke returns to Earth is simple: The same method that got him off the planet would work to get him back on Earth.
Imagine for a moment Luke is never kidnapped by the tribe and instead reconciles with Aisell. Aisell makes it her life’s mission to get Luke smuggled back to Earth and we all know what she can do when motivated. Instead of rescuing the depression-ridden Darren, Aisell ends up going Kayfabe to fund raise enough to buy passage with either smugglers like those of 2013 or better yet through Zara she arranges for a scientific team such as the one that grabbed Sophia to take Luke back to Earth with the intent to release him as a “scientific experiment.”
Of course all this requires he not be a jackass and realize his best shot at an eventual return meant sticking with Aisell and never getting himself in a position to be kidnapped by Quendra. For the good of humanity and the galaxy he was himself though and set in motion a sequence of events that got Aisell focused on rehabilitating Darren and changing history.
“Oh, he was no less racist than Cesil” This line, coupled with the downright sinister behavior of the Federation people honestly makes me roll my eyes. I am worried that this story is going to be another mustache twirling baddies vs bright eyed goodies, which is more suited to a children’s bedtime story. The truth is that the authors here have created a world in which the bigotry of the Federation and other Titans actually has some merit and therefore can create “villains” who base their acts on actual reasons anyone could understand and identify with, this also gives the actual mustache twirlers reasons for having popular support. Before my head gets torn off let me explain by example.
Unlike the real world here we have several different species with completely different evolutionary backgrounds and cultures that are trying to exist together, not several races of a single species whose differences come down to melanin levels, a few genetic quirks, and some differing cultural/legal backgrounds. To be racist against any race/ethnicity is generally thought ridiculous by most in the developed West, because any differences are now generally out of minor cultural differences. However, if tomorrow a entire intelligent species emerged from the water who were in a completely different species class, say fish, and had significant differences in biology from reproduction, to breathing, sight, brain activity, etc. and a completely different culture/society/economic way of life and they asked for citizenship what would we do?
From a moral and legal perspective we may have no reason or ability to say no. We’ve been dominating their oceans they could say, they deserve a say in how the world (or at least a portion of it) is run because it directly affects them and their way of life. So say we grant them citizenship and oh, by the way, they happen to be a pure socialist/pacifist society similar to the Dunnermac. These (lets say 50 million) fish creatures are now citizens, full voting rights etc. Their presence would take society in a radically different direction with the introduction of such a voting bloc. Particularly since they are so culturally unified (like the Dunnermac) that they vote 90-99% the same way on most important issues. How does this make the Federation have a leg to stand on?
Well it would be the introduction of a bloc of people whose interests, needs, desires, history, and goals are extremely different from the host country. People who intellectually believe in different economic and social ways of life would find themselves suddenly losing huge amounts of power and influence. The debate would shift massively leaving behind people who the day before these people arrived would have been considered reasonable intelligent, with sound ideas that you might disagree with, to being outliers in the political debates of the future. Say these new people are pro-choice and settle that debate by adding millions of votes and dozens of new reps that put that issue to rest. Or perhaps they believe all wealth should be shared, imagine the rising power of the socialist bloc in the legislature. And while the more progressive people here may shout that this is a victory, what if they were a purely ultra capitalist/ultra religious people. Are we allowed to say no to their citizenship if they don’t believe in the progressive ideal, but yes if they do?
Additionally, the introduction of such a bloc would cause a huge range of issues to arise that didn’t before. New taxes on people to pay for the massive restructuring of society and infrastructure to allow fish people to live among us and vice versa (like the college that had to install transgender bathrooms, or the rural school of 35 that has to install ramps all over the school despite having no handicapped). New rules and regulations on fishing, pollution, animal rights (these fish people love their pet lobsters and can’t stand the sight of them being eaten) all would hit industries of the average working person. This could cause significant unemployment, economic hardships for certain populations/towns that depend on such industries, and higher prices. Nor would the fish people’s influence on day to day life end at the land. No, just as a representative/EPA official from Oregon can decide how waste water is disposed of in Maryland, so can these new citizens decide the affairs mainly restricted to one area (land) that they have little actual presence in. The fallout of anger and resentment at these new citizens over loss of work, way of life, and anger at being told what to do by one who has little understanding or care for your way of life would surely occur.
All this is to say that the introduction of a large and completely different species into a society can cause huge problems and social issues. In this story, it can drive people to be not racist (I think speciest is more appropriate but w/e) but resentful of what the new species has brought by joining. The new political landscape, the new interests, rules, and regulations, the new social views, and differing cultural/historical perspectives and goals for the future of your country/empire. Its jarring, both on a personal and public level. Therefore, the resentment held by Federation Titans is far more understandable in this more realistic version than the casual racism the author is portraying. This isn’t the American South during slavery, this world is completely different with significant issues that can cause justifiable resentment that is grounded in concerns we all share. What society will I wake up into tomorrow, will it share my goals, is it religious or not and is that an issue, is it capitalist or socialist, are women treated inferior, superior, or equal, and on and on. Please don’t reduce the antagonists to “bitter racist #324135” and ignore what would be justifiable concerns if it happened on our real world/planet tomorrow just because in this instance the protagonists happen to agree with you on how the world should be.
I really like this, but at the same time it would be unrealistic if no one had any authentic bigotry. If the authors strike the right balance between bigotry toward non-Titans, and legitimate concerns about introducing millions of new voters, we’ll be in for a very compelling finish.
Rapscallion, you’re making a lot of good points. I agree that the constant parallel between this story and the US slavery / civil war / segregation does not hold, I’ve beaten this point to death (although not in such a lengthy way, not since the old site 🙂 )
Another thing that bothers me is that everyone, the “bad guys” like the “good guys” all assume that acknowledging humans as a C1 species automatically means all humans everywhere instantly become imperial citizens.
Why ?
Those are two different issues. There are plenty of C1 species who are not members of the Empire.
If Earth could swing an agreement in which the Empire recognizes Sol Terra as an independant territory under (temporary) Imperial protection, all the empire would have to deal with are the hundreds of millions of pet humans + maybe Avalon. So less than a billion new voters instead of the 12 billion humans in the galaxy. Give those humans imperial citizenship if they want it.
That’s a huge difference for an Empire who has 49 billion citizens right now. The difference between “digesting” 2% of the electorate and a whooping +20% of the electorate.
Remove Earth from the citizenship equation and voting yes on the “Humans as C1” question (which is what truly matters) becomes a lot less painful politically, even for conservatives.
Personally it is getting for me really annoying how benevolent the Earth Political leaders are coming across.
I think the hint towards the end is that they know about the insectoids and at least some of them are just using secrecy to keep good relations (and therefore protection) with Titans until they can stand on their own against that threat. But if that’s not the case then yes it is really annoying how “enlightened” the leaders are being while hundreds of millions suffer in slavery and they lie to their own people.
I think the hint towards the end is that they know about the insectoids and at least some of them are just using secrecy to keep good relations (and therefore protection) with Titans until they can stand on their own against that threat. I expect as much. Unless Earth is far more powerful than I think, they wouldn’t survive an Insectoid attack, so they have to remain on good terms with the Empire and its military.
Federation is going full on Confederate but it’s telling that even they know human emancipation is a matter of when and not if. Actually I’m a little relieved they didn’t go the genocide route, their conversation had me thinking they were looking for a ‘final solution.’ Still even racist bigots have pets, and they were right that even if they don’t want to give them rights taking them/killing them probably isn’t in the cards.
Touching scene with Eryn, glad she had it because it looks like she and Robyn are going to be busy.
I see Quendra passed since first contact which is sad but given her age not surprising. Glad Jim didn’t give Lennox the run around. They’re right the story is going to break, there’s no stopping it, it’s better to make the story as nuanced as possible.
Aww, Quendra passed away off screen. 🙁 I can imagine how much of a wreck everyone on the farm would have been, even as they celebrated her life. I don’t know if she made it to Earth, but someone must have to trade fruit with Jim.
Hmmm… Is that a civil war reference again ? Scylane bothered enough to study Earth history and – surprise ! – that’s what drew is attention : really ? While he was at it, did he not get that the South lost in the end ? Anyway…
Eyrn is a US citizen, I totally called that in Contact. 🙂
I don’t know what M. Palmer is playing at here. Was he the one to send the audio to Lennox ? Doesn’t sound like it but he was aware the reporter would come to him, so he’s in on the whole thing. But who’s the puppetma– gasp ! 😛
This is where I started to see why the Federation was introduced. DX seems to be building up toward something based on the American Civil War.
Is it the PuppetMaster? Or is it actually the Marionette?
It’s always the Puppetmaster at the controls. It’s just that you can’t always be sure which is which.
Eyrn is a US citizen, I totally called that in Contact. Yup, and a comrade and a member of the tribe too. CP3O would be proud. The Exile finally has a true home.
The Confederacy probably isn’t the only bit of Earth history Scylane has studied. The Federation’s plan is clear but as with the CFA making the plan work will require making powerful, if temporary, friends outside them empire. I sense the ultimate xenophobes will end up trying to align themselves with the most intimidating xeno’s in the galaxy. I see a Molotov-Ribbentrop deal on the horizon.
Puppetmaster’s hand is all over the deal with Lennox, although I suspect Mama Warbucks was the one who dictated the infamous note. It is written exactly in the sort of words she would use and all this has to be kept sync’d with what’s happening on Tuaut With the rest of the media sniffing around for a story their plan seems to be to turn Lennox into a source to draw in all the other media even before he rolls out the public story so they can control the spin as much as possible.
I wonder… if that was the goal (and it seems to be, Palmer implies as much) wouldn’t some Earth politicians be warned in advance of such a move ? Brought in even ?
But maybe that’s the cas and we haven’t seen it yet.
wouldn’t some Earth politicians be warned in advance of such a move ? Brought in even ?
I think that’s exactly what’s being done. You’ve got a retiring US President, and even in 2157 POTUS still likely has the best contacts with every meaningful Earth leader, and she’s going to be working in the same capital as the most powerful titan in the empire and just down the street from the Floor Leader, the Minority Leader and the emperor. On the other end of the line you have a titan ambassador who not only can claim nationality in multiple Earth states but is backed up by humans from Avalon and Earth natives who can build trust with those Earth leaders.
Its a sure bet few if any of all those involved see the complete plan but that’s true of any large enterprise. Indeed when you factor in the objectives of the Federation, the various non-titan species who are members of the empire, certain home rule focused groups like the Jotunn and the major species outside the empire the issue of human emancipation becomes a tipping point with unforseeable consequences across the galaxy.