Interlude Fifty-One: Looks Gently Upon Blossoming Flowers (Patreon)

Among the Xeranai, a Doctor Second Class was an enviable position to hold. Any Xeranai Doctorate had incredible freedom to pursue their individual research, but only those of the Fifth Class or higher were able to do so from the comfort of their own starship. A Third Class could hope to command a subject world’s defenses, perhaps even conduct research on ‘volunteers’ from a Bone or Spine species without oversight.

To conduct the most complex experiments, however, a species with a wide range of powers was preferable. Sadly, such species - the ones in the Forming or Storming stage, but yet to be a viable candidate for Hierarchy invasion - were limited in number. So when a new race was discovered that was a suitable candidate for Inclusion, there was fierce competition amongst the Xeranai to take command of the siege fleet. The more varied the powers, the more hotly contested the prize.

Looks Gently Upon Blossoming Flowers had been ‘exiled’ to the human siege fleet back when it was considered a species with minor powers and very little potential. Over the years, he’d been quietly delighted as the tenacious primates had trampled over some of the Xeranai’s most cherished assumptions about sociology and power development, leading to major embarrassments for many, many uppity Third Classes and even a few obstinate Second Classes.

Doctor Second Class Looks Gently Upon Blossoming Flowers had thoroughly enjoyed his research experiments on the human world.

At least, until six cycles ago, when the stupid Puppetmasters had decided to try their hand at pacification.

Officially, the three species of the Mind were co-equals. In practice, when the Archons spoke, the Xeranai and Puppetmasters listened, and when the Xeranai spoke, the Puppetmasters listened - some of the time.

Puppetmasters disliked following anyone else’s orders vehemently. A throwback, probably, to their upbringing, where Puppetmaster young were mind-controlled by their parents until they could break free - usually causing some damage to said parent in the process.

At least Xeranai offspring had a less violent coming-of-age ceremony.

The Puppetmasters were less than pleased with their species being third-ranked in the Hierarchy, however, and sought continuously to move up in the estimation of the others - most notably the Archons. The best way to do that was to help the Archons in their goal, which was to conquer every known world and weld them into a fighting force against the Accelerators.

Of course, the Puppetmasters were a long way from establishing themselves as the premier conquistadores of the Hierarchy. The Xeranai had conquered over thirty races, the Archons another eighteen, and the Puppetmasters had enslaved six.

Earth, they hoped, would be their seventh conquest.

So when the Puppetmaster Bloodsword invited Blossoming to a meeting with Whisper of a Springtime Dream, the Doctor Second Class was in two minds about whether to participate.

Eventually, he gave in. Better to listen to what the Puppetmaster had to say in person than risk the Doctor First Class getting annoyed. That might affect his plans for collaborative offspring number six.

Blossoming had planned to join the hypercom call early, make a good impression.

Apparently Bloodsword and Whisper had both thought of the same idea.

<Bloodsword>: Greetings, friend Looks Gently Upon Blossoming Flowers.

Blossoming reflected that if a Puppetmaster was being polite, it usually meant the fecal matter was about to make contact with the rotary impeller…

<Blossoming>: Greetings, friend Bloodsword. Greetings, Dr. Whisper of a Springtime Dream.

<Whisper>: Greetings, gentlebeings. Friend Bloodsword, you asked for this meeting. Shall we get to it?

<Bloodsword>: Certainly. We have tracked the behaviour of the humans for the last several cycles, and I have some concerns.

<Whisper>: Such concerns are rightly brought to the commander of the Siege Fleet, Dr. Looks Gently Upon Blossoming Flowers. I am curious as to why you have asked the participation of a First Class Doctorate in this matter.

<Bloodsword>: I have also consulted with the Archon Secundus Proximus. He had certain insights to share, and suggested I might best be suited discussing this with the Xeranai directly. In the event that the issues are not resolved, he will of course be willing to join a review meeting - although I daresay he may not be happy about it.

A veiled threat, and unfortunately not one Blossoming wanted to call the bluff of. The Puppetmaster had clearly managed to persuade the Archon to weigh in, though not with direct intervention.

Of course, if the Xeranai ignored the Puppetmaster’s ‘suggestions’ entirely, that might change.

Evidently Whisper of a Springtime Dream had reached the same conclusions as Blossoming.

<Whisper>: Bloodsword, we are always open to discussion on issues. However, as time is pressing, perhaps you could express your concerns?

<Bloodsword>: Certainly. It is our view that the humans are advancing too fast, and in the wrong direction. Instead of battlelords, they cling to the vestiges of their failed communal decision-making mechanism. Instead of rallying behind the most powerful, they form mixed groups. Instead of testing themselves against each other, they continue their futile efforts to resist the Hierarchy….

<Blossoming>: Are we certain it is the direction that irks you and not the fact that your Gellatoid experts still control only a few of their factions?

<Bloodsword>: I respectfully remind you, Siege Commander, that the infiltration is a key strategic pillar of our effort. Or else why would we have devoted so much time to inserting agents?

<Whisper>: Enough, gentlebeings. We are on the same side here.

<Bloodsword>: Apologies, Doctor, I overstepped.

<Whisper>: That being said, surely you have more than simply speculation about existing facts to bring to this meeting. Otherwise, we all have responsibilities to attend to….

<Bloodsword>: The Archon Secundus Proximus has provided us a prophecy.

<Blossoming>: You mean a precognitive forecast, of course.

<Bloodsword>: The Xeranai may choose to dress up the gifts of the Archons with different words, but we understand the truth of these gifts.

<Blossoming>: Precognitive forecasts have only a 25% probability of materialising. This is extensively documented, even by the Archons themselves….

<Whisper>: May I suggest we not re-tread old ground? The disagreements between our species on terminology are well known and not something we can solve today. For the moment, let us accept that the Archons can gaze into the future, although unreliably, and focus on this specific future foreseen by Secundus Proximus.

<Bloodsword>: As you say, Doctor. Secundus Proximus prophesies that the Humans shall soon be in a position to expose the Gellatoid presence in their midst.

<Blossoming>: Impossible. They do not suspect a thing.

<Bloodsword>: The Archons believe otherwise.

<Blossoming>: The mindlink with the fake Guthnar scion is still active and undetected. As expected they are seeking ways to revive him. Including asking questions when he appears unconscious.

<Blossoming>: The tenor of these questions is focused on the Hierarchy species, but none about shapeshifters. The primary questions are about the Rakturai and the Archons.

<Bloodsword>: Perhaps your double agent is not as effective as we hoped.

<Whisper>: This is concerning. The Gellatoid presence on Earth is essential to make sure they forge clans that can be united behind a battlelord.

<Bloodsword>: Without the guiding influence of the Gellatoid agents, they may forge a universal government, or something equally problematic.

<Blossoming>: There is little chance of that. The humans prize their clan identity even more than the Raptors.

<Whisper>: Nevertheless, we must remember the Gellatoids’ own views on the matter. They have made it clear, on multiple occasions, that those who expose their agents must be publicly chastised.

<Blossoming>: We have dealt with such before. When the Chinese faction discovered evidence of the Gellatoids, we silenced them. The Gellatoid Primary Adjunct was satisfied with our action.

<Whisper>: I was there. The Adjunct also warned that we should not allow such exposures lightly. If I recall, there are several of its recent-bud offspring involved in the campaign as well.

<Blossoming>: Yes, we inserted one of them a year ago. Replaced the mayor of one of the American faction’s towns.

<Bloodsword>: While the familial interactions of the Spine species are below the dignity of the Mind to intervene in - the Gellatoids have served well. Should their senior agents be exposed, possibly harmed, it would cause grave dissent back on the Gellatoid homeworld.

<Whisper>: We should reassure them that there is no risk.

<Bloodsword>: We should, of course. Which is why the Gellatoid Primary Adjunct’s Senior Secretary is waiting to join our call.

That made the Xeranai sit up.

The Senior Secretary to the Gellatoid Primary Adjunct was - to put it mildly - Important with a very big I. It ran the entire inter-species diplomatic apparatus of the Gellatoid race, and normally spoke only to fleet commanders, heads of other Spine species, or Archons.

Technically, three members of a Mind species qualified as important enough to rate a call from the Senior Secretary.

Practically, having the second highest ranking official of a multiplanetary civilization in their meeting was not an everyday occurrence.

The Gellatoid who appeared on the viewscreen was a green, gelatinous blob, the natural form of his species.

<Bloodsword>: Allow me to introduce Senior Secretary Walis-ul-sadaqam, who serves the Primary Adjunct of the Gellatoid.

<Walis>: It is a distinct honour to be allowed in these august councils.

<Whisper>: It is our honour to have you here, Senior Secretary. How may we help?

<Walis>: It is foreseen by the Most Honoured Archons that the Human species may take immoral action soon.

<Whisper>: We understand. We are taking every precaution to safeguard our assets on the ground.

<Walis>: Four thousand of our best and brightest serve on the Human homeworld, working tirelessly towards the Great Cause. Their only safety lies in the absence of human knowledge of their existence.

<Blossoming>: You can be certain we have ensured that. We have even placed a false Raptor prisoner in their hands to ensure that they are looking in the wrong direction.

<Walis>: It is not merely a matter of safety, but of honour. It is one thing for an agent to be detected. An honourable foe may see through a flaw in the shift, then await a chance to kill or turn an agent.

<Blossoming>: We shall do our utmost to prevent any detection.

<Walis>: The Most Honoured Archons have spoken. It is foretold that our agents will be exposed. What follows will be unpleasant. Honoured Xeranai - have you studied our traditions?

<Blossoming>: Not as well as I would like, one fears.

<Walis>: To divine an agent’s identity is not, in itself, immoral. The immorality lies in sharing this information with others, especially those of other clans.

<Bloodsword>: In ancient times, the Gellatoids codified the rules of how secrets should be protected. To share the secret of another’s identity with a different clan is a message.

<Whisper>: What kind of message?

<Bloodsword>: That the agent’s clan is weak. That the secrets they died for are not worth keeping.

<Walis>: The actual explanation is more complicated, but that is a succinct summary. The exposure of a Gellatoid agent on the human world would be seen as an insult to all Gellatoids. If actual records were made and shared with other clans…

<Whisper>: That would be foolish of them. The Humans have not left behind their clannishness.

<Bloodsword>: Should it happen, we would exact a penalty. One that would make them think twice before trying again.

<Whisper>:  We shall see to it. Thank you, Senior Secretary.

The Gellatoid bowed, his video vanishing from the conference feed.

The Puppetmaster picked up the thread.

<Bloodsword>: Then we are agreed, immoral behaviour of the humans must be discouraged. Now and in the future. In perhaps the same manner as we discouraged the taking of prisoners.

<Whisper>: I hope you're not recommending a rerun of that disastrous experience at London.

<Bloodsword>: I am not. The response on this occasion cannot be simply left to Spine races. We of the Mind should take part.

Blossoming stiffened.

<Blossoming>: Are you suggesting we take to the field personally?

<Bloodsword>: Yes. We did not drive the lesson home hard enough at London due to inadequate leadership.

<Blossoming>: Perhaps you should say that to a Greater Carnotaur face to face, mmm?

<Whisper>: Enough. Blossoming - would the humans keep the nature of a Gellatoid secret?

<Blossoming>: I believe so. They have very strong laws to protect clan secrets.

<Bloodsword>: And if an individual decides to bypass these laws and distributes clan secrets widely?

<Blossoming>: Let us be specific. If the nature of the Gellatoids is revealed publicly, then your contention is that this must be deterred.

<Bloodsword>: Absolutely. The humans must understand that such counterproductive efforts come with consequences. Consequences like blood and fire.

<Blossoming>: That does not explain why you seek personal intervention from Mind races. Surely that is better left for a later stage.

<Bloodsword>: Do you feel hesitant, Doctor?

<Blossoming>: I'll thank you, Puppetmaster, not to question my courage again.

<Whisper>: Enough, the both of you. Bloodsword. If the humans act with dishonour, then a disciplinary strike would make sense. Would you take part in such a strike personally?

<Bloodsword>: Absolutely. We stand ready in service to the goals of the Hierarchy.

<Whisper>: Then it is settled. If the humans do violate logic and common sense by disclosing to multiple factions the existence of the Gellatoids, then the Hierarchy Siege Fleet shall carry out a retaliatory strike upon a major population center. All inhabitants to be purged.

<Bloodsword>: Agreed.

<Whisper>: Looks Gently Upon Blossoming Flowers shall command the overall assault, and you, Bloodsword, shall command the ground assault element and serve as second-in-command to the the Siege Fleet Commander.

<Bloodsword>: Wait, that's not what I meant….

<Whisper>: Do you disagree with the need for the strike?

<Bloodsword>: Of course not.

<Whisper>: Then I am sure you will do your part…. in service to the Hierarchy.