CHAPTERs SIX and ELEVEN and the concluding passage of TWENTY-TWO are entirely about Merseians. The first and third of these are set on Merseia, like "Day of Burning" and several chapters of Ensign Flandry.
Tachwyr the Dark had been a mei when Dominic Flandry was an ensign, then a lieutenant. We are pleased (?) to learn that, when Flandry has become an Admiral of the Fleet, Tachwyr has become the Hand of his Vach and the Guardian of the Roidhun's Grand Council.
CHAPTER ELEVEN brings out most clearly that the Technic History is a future history not only of Terrans but also of Merseians when it tells us that:
Qanryf Bryadan Arrowswift of the Vach Hallen comes from an arctic shore of the Wilwidh Ocean;
Afal Uroch the Lucky of the Vach Rueth has partial Lafdiguan ancestry.
See also here.
The demoralization of the Merseians that will lead to their failure to conquer the galaxy surely sets in at the end of CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO when Tachwyr realizes that he will not live to see the subjugation of humanity.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
A bit of caution seems necessary. Yes, we see discouragement, even demoralization as the Protector Tachwyr conferred with the Grand Council. But the chapter ends with Tachwyr exhorting the councilors that defeats/setback strengthens the steel of the Race as they strive to persevere in their ungodly quest.
Ad astra! Sean
Also, the Meresians tend to be focused on humans -- probably because of the supernova episode. They measure themselves against humanity.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
Ha! Meaning these Merseians suffered from an unadmitted inferiority complex vis a vis those miserable, decadent Terrans? (Sardonic chuckle)
I was reminded of this bit from Chapter Six of THE GAME OF EMPIRE: "...its politicians wondered aloud why their realm and the Roidhunate kept failing to reach agreement. Was there not an entire galaxy to share?" Tachwyr's riposte would have been: "As if any responsible Merseian leader could turn his attention elsewhere, when such a power lurked at his back! Once upon a time humankind had borne the same universe-spanning ambitions that the Race did now. It might well come to cherish them again--if not on Terra, then the daughter worlds. Or a different but allied species might, the Cynthians, or the Scothani for example. Even in its decadence, the Empire had the means to pose a mortal threat. It must be nullified before the Race could be fully free to seek that destiny the God had set."
Iow, centuries of Merseian hostility, probing attacks, and limited wars made it impossible for the Roidhunate to discard its hostility to the Empire.
Ad astra! Sean
Post a Comment