Wednesday 10 February 2021

Ymirite Indifference

We Claim These Stars, CHAPTER IV.

Governor Thua of Jupiter asks Flandry why Ymirites should help one oxygen-breathing species against another:

maybe a few Ymirites did advise the attackers of Vixen;

"'The Dispersal has been nonstimulate as regards individuals for many cycles.'" (p. 28);

but there is no motive for such an action, neither insight nor material gain;

Flandry says that a man might poke an anthill but Thua states that Ymirites do not aberrate like that;

they will exterminate any oxygen-breathing species that attacks them;

they try to assure the Merseians and Terrans of their neutrality because extermination would be a nuisance;

Thua does not notice differences between oxygen-breathing species;

Flandry and Chives may cruise around Jupiter if they want;

Ymirites rescue the two Imperials but are unconcerned that their guide tried to kill them.

What crime could he have committed that enabled Aycharaych the universal telepath to blackmail him?

3 comments:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

I've wondered too what depraved vice or crime Horx might have been guilty of for him to be blackmailed by Aycharaych!

And would it be that easy for the Dispersal to exterminate other races?

Ad astra! Sean

paulshackley2017@gmail.com said...

Sean,

Flandry is unsure whether the Ymirite threat of extermination is a mere boast.

Paul.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

I remember that! And of how, when Flandry argued with Admiral Fenross against putting more effort into a hopeless investigation of Jupiter, Fenross asked what Terra could if Ymir struck
Flandry's reply was that the Empire would have to either roll with the punch or die.

Ad astra! Sean