Pretaria and Keome

JJE01 You Have Been Judged/12

Two planets and two cultures in a trade dispute. Magistrates to mediate.

“It’s a trade dispute that could escalate into a war between neighboring systems. That is a big deal. We would usually send a more experienced Magistrate, but that’s not what this one needs. Pretarians and the Keome are aliens who have a common ancestor, but they’ve both developed on their own worlds. Both are hotter climates than humans are used to. Part of your last upgrade in the Pod-doc will help you deal with that. Pretaria is an arid planet, desert-like, while Keome is rocky. You’d think they’d get along famously, but they don’t. This accord is their first attempt, and it has gone off the rails in a big way. “Magistrates to the rescue as part of the Federation arbitration commitment. We do it, not the usual toadies and lawyers, in case there is any subterfuge. As Federation signatories they are both obligated to comply, and should we find one of the governments conducting illegal activities to controvert the agreement, we can mete out immediate punishment. We are in a unique position to stop governments from playing that game. They all try it, but we make sure they don’t get away with it. Punish the individual and let the government save face before they return to the negotiating table. On a personal note, I’m curious how your gift will work with aliens other than Yollins. These folks are both very tall and very alien.

They are in an identical orbit, but separated one-hundred and eighty degrees. They are both hot and dry, being equidistant from the same sun. The people are descended from a common ancestor, but those on each planet have evolved some unique traits. They are all seven to nine feet tall. The Pretarians have leathery orange skin with kidney-shaped yellow eyes. The Keome are tall with chameleon-like skin, but they developed multiple long arms and have eyes on both sides of their heads.” “They have a penchant for wearing a lot of clacking beads.” Each group is allowed to bring five people into the arbitration. Our translation chips have their languages uploaded, so our interaction with them should be seamless.” Keome and Pretarian foods are toxic to humans. Your nanos will help if you ingest it, but it’ll put you into a world of hurt. I insist you don’t eat or drink anything they offer.” Pretarians shuffle their feet to show dismay. Rivka found that the Pretarians had not allowed the Keomes to greet them, but had made them wait inside a cold (to them) building. He was nearly as tall as Maseer, but the four arms made him appear more imposing. As he turned, the eyes on the back of his head came into focus. Rivka found the four eyes far more disconcerting than the extra limbs. For reasons only evolution knew, the Keome had developed differently from the ancestor they shared in common with the Pretarians.

The Corvette touched down on the planet, and as Rivka, red and Jay exited the ship, they found that it was very hot, very bright, and that the Pretarians were very tall. They were met by a group of five,

JJE01 You Have Been Judged/12

Two planets and two cultures in a trade dispute. Magistrates to mediate.

“It’s a trade dispute that could escalate into a war between neighboring systems. That is a big deal. We would usually send a more experienced Magistrate, but that’s not what this one needs. Pretarians and the Keome are aliens who have a common ancestor, but they’ve both developed on their own worlds. Both are hotter climates than humans are used to. Part of your last upgrade in the Pod-doc will help you deal with that. Pretaria is an arid planet, desert-like, while Keome is rocky. You’d think they’d get along famously, but they don’t. This accord is their first attempt, and it has gone off the rails in a big way. “Magistrates to the rescue as part of the Federation arbitration commitment. We do it, not the usual toadies and lawyers, in case there is any subterfuge. As Federation signatories they are both obligated to comply, and should we find one of the governments conducting illegal activities to controvert the agreement, we can mete out immediate punishment. We are in a unique position to stop governments from playing that game. They all try it, but we make sure they don’t get away with it. Punish the individual and let the government save face before they return to the negotiating table. On a personal note, I’m curious how your gift will work with aliens other than Yollins. These folks are both very tall and very alien.

They are in an identical orbit, but separated one-hundred and eighty degrees. They are both hot and dry, being equidistant from the same sun. The people are descended from a common ancestor, but those on each planet have evolved some unique traits. They are all seven to nine feet tall. The Pretarians have leathery orange skin with kidney-shaped yellow eyes. The Keome are tall with chameleon-like skin, but they developed multiple long arms and have eyes on both sides of their heads.” “They have a penchant for wearing a lot of clacking beads.” Each group is allowed to bring five people into the arbitration. Our translation chips have their languages uploaded, so our interaction with them should be seamless.” Keome and Pretarian foods are toxic to humans. Your nanos will help if you ingest it, but it’ll put you into a world of hurt. I insist you don’t eat or drink anything they offer.”

The Corvette touched down on the planet, and Rivka found that it was very hot, very bright, and that all of the non-humans were over nine feet tall. Delegate Maseer, Pretarian leader of group, introduced Rhonali, Tinashi, Ngobo, and Sinraloo. Rivka tipped her head slightly in the way of a Pretarian greeting. Each in turn did the same, nodding their heads by swinging their necks, their beads clicking and clacking. The sounds were unique to each individual. No hand-shakes were offered. (Not their custom.) The last one, Sinraloo, held out his hand. Rivka hurriedly took it, smiling at the Pretarian as she did, despite the alien thoughts that washed over her. Just like the planet, Sinraloo’s mind was awash in browns and despair. His abject hatred of the Keome blazed vividly at the front of all his thoughts. The heat caused Jay to faint, and the others to be extremely discomforted, so they asked for water. It was given only grudgingly, whereupon Rivks moved the ship closer to the building so that water would be more easily accessible to them. Maseer had water brought in, a sacred liquid on the planet. Rivka had Jay go to ship to gey water, offered some to Pretarians. Maseer wanted to speak privately about bringing water to their planet. They went to the room to meet with the Keome, and as Red walked and Jay walked close to Rivka, the Pretarians shuffled their feet. Pretarians shuffle their feet to show dismay.

Rivka opened the door to meet the Keome, and was immediately attacked by their leader. After pulling back, they introduced themselves. “I am Yus, Primary for Keome. My second is Miento. Suarpok provides spiritual counsel, and Ome and Yutta are the Commoner representatives.” Rivka found that the Pretarians had not allowed the Keomes to greet them, but had made them wait inside a cold (to them) building. Yus was nearly as tall as Maseer, but the four arms made him appear more imposing. As he turned, the eyes on the back of his head came into focus. Rivka found the four eyes far more disconcerting than the extra limbs. For reasons only evolution knew, the Keome had developed differently from the ancestor they shared in common with the Pretarians. They all sat, and the meeting began.