FA+
Shop
517
Views
Views
6
Favorites
Favorites
Category
Story / General Furry Art
Species Alien (Other)
Size 120 x 92
File Size 35.3 kB
Report this content
More from Walt46
Listed in Folders
Games
A Thursday Prompt story
© 2018 by Walter Reimer
prompt: treaty
Alhamid Fraz-Iosif tried to keep the distaste out of his expression as the holographic projector began to display the image of the Ichoniik official. The corsac fox tried, it had to be admitted.
Tried, and failed.
The creature probably thought the same about him, the Foreign Minister of the Terran Confederation reminded himself. It really made no difference, although one of the members of his staff had been caught looking at images of Ichoniik while displaying some perverse sort of sexual attraction to it. He had been reassigned and ordered to undergo a psychological assessment.
The mollusk blinked at him as its mouth and tentacles moved about. Hyperspatial communications weren’t instantaneous given the distances involved, but there was an advantage in the time lag. It made translations more accurate.
The Ichoniik, identified by a caption as a Mistress of Swarms, said I GREET YOU, TERRAN. Presumably, she (It? Ichoniik were hermaphrodites) was his opposite number in their government.
“I greet you.” He managed to keep from grimacing. Speaking slowly for the benefit of the translator he asked, “What is the purpose of your communication?”
YOUR SHIPS TOOK OUR SHIP WHY INTERROGATIVE.
Alhamid raised an eyebrow. “Your ship encroached on our space.”
ACCIDENT.
“My government doubts that.” The corsac felt his hackles push against his clothes. Did these people think him a fool?
SWARM REQUIRES ASSISTANCE. SHIP SENT.
“Which? Accident, or assistance?” The herm couldn’t keep its stories straight. “What kind of assistance?”
The Mistress’ tentacles writhed in apparent agitation, and one of its three eyes looked elsewhere for a moment. KASHLANI ATTACK US.
Alhamid smiled. “We are aware of your invasion into their space, and their response. So,” and he leaned forward, “what do you want, Mistress of Swarms?”
HELP. UNDERSTANDING. COMMUNICATE TO KASHLANI. PEACE DESIRED.
Well, that appeared fairly straightforward.
“You want us to act as intermediaries?” He waited as it was translated.
YES.
“After you send a warship into our space?”
Another, longer pause.
YES. PLEASE.
The vulpine sat back, his ears swiveling as he scratched his chin. Now that cards were figuratively on the table, he felt a bit more confident. Having the whip paw, as it were, increased his confidence. “Under our treaty with the Ichoniik, I believe, we can act as a mediator. I will speak, er, communicate with the Imperial Ambassador.”
GRATITUDE. Alhamid chuckled as the image vanished. He waited until the lights came back on in the room, and gave a little start when he caught sight of a figure in a corner. “Oh, it’s you. Well, you heard, I take it?”
“Yes, I heard.” The feline’s fur was a uniform gray, his features completely unremarkable. He smirked at the now-empty focus. “You’ll tell the President?”
“Of course. Have you gotten anything from the prisoners?”
A ghost of a smile. “What prisoners?”
end
A Thursday Prompt story
© 2018 by Walter Reimer
prompt: treaty
Alhamid Fraz-Iosif tried to keep the distaste out of his expression as the holographic projector began to display the image of the Ichoniik official. The corsac fox tried, it had to be admitted.
Tried, and failed.
The creature probably thought the same about him, the Foreign Minister of the Terran Confederation reminded himself. It really made no difference, although one of the members of his staff had been caught looking at images of Ichoniik while displaying some perverse sort of sexual attraction to it. He had been reassigned and ordered to undergo a psychological assessment.
The mollusk blinked at him as its mouth and tentacles moved about. Hyperspatial communications weren’t instantaneous given the distances involved, but there was an advantage in the time lag. It made translations more accurate.
The Ichoniik, identified by a caption as a Mistress of Swarms, said I GREET YOU, TERRAN. Presumably, she (It? Ichoniik were hermaphrodites) was his opposite number in their government.
“I greet you.” He managed to keep from grimacing. Speaking slowly for the benefit of the translator he asked, “What is the purpose of your communication?”
YOUR SHIPS TOOK OUR SHIP WHY INTERROGATIVE.
Alhamid raised an eyebrow. “Your ship encroached on our space.”
ACCIDENT.
“My government doubts that.” The corsac felt his hackles push against his clothes. Did these people think him a fool?
SWARM REQUIRES ASSISTANCE. SHIP SENT.
“Which? Accident, or assistance?” The herm couldn’t keep its stories straight. “What kind of assistance?”
The Mistress’ tentacles writhed in apparent agitation, and one of its three eyes looked elsewhere for a moment. KASHLANI ATTACK US.
Alhamid smiled. “We are aware of your invasion into their space, and their response. So,” and he leaned forward, “what do you want, Mistress of Swarms?”
HELP. UNDERSTANDING. COMMUNICATE TO KASHLANI. PEACE DESIRED.
Well, that appeared fairly straightforward.
“You want us to act as intermediaries?” He waited as it was translated.
YES.
“After you send a warship into our space?”
Another, longer pause.
YES. PLEASE.
The vulpine sat back, his ears swiveling as he scratched his chin. Now that cards were figuratively on the table, he felt a bit more confident. Having the whip paw, as it were, increased his confidence. “Under our treaty with the Ichoniik, I believe, we can act as a mediator. I will speak, er, communicate with the Imperial Ambassador.”
GRATITUDE. Alhamid chuckled as the image vanished. He waited until the lights came back on in the room, and gave a little start when he caught sight of a figure in a corner. “Oh, it’s you. Well, you heard, I take it?”
“Yes, I heard.” The feline’s fur was a uniform gray, his features completely unremarkable. He smirked at the now-empty focus. “You’ll tell the President?”
“Of course. Have you gotten anything from the prisoners?”
A ghost of a smile. “What prisoners?”
end
Category Story / General Furry Art
Species Alien (Other)
Size 120 x 92px
File Size 35.3 kB
Listed in Folders
I've noticed that stories with characters limited in their ability to communicate can pose special problems. Your Ichoniik (interesting species name, by the way) pose this problem. With only a small number of nouns and verbs available, it's often difficult to be clear about complicated ideas. And interstellar politics must certainly be complicated.
Nicely wicked ending there, my good chap.
Nicely wicked ending there, my good chap.
(bows) It's the best way to clear away any loose ends.
The Ichoniik language is gestural, which is what you'd expect from creatures with tentacles; vocalized words are a bit few and far between. There are limitations to the translation software, trying to pick and choose between movements that mean "Can we be friends?" or "Go stick your head in a pig."
The Ichoniik language is gestural, which is what you'd expect from creatures with tentacles; vocalized words are a bit few and far between. There are limitations to the translation software, trying to pick and choose between movements that mean "Can we be friends?" or "Go stick your head in a pig."
More difficult still when one of the conversants is a predator type that might relish sticking his head in a pig.
I'm reminded of a Star Trek: TOS episode where a Horta (a rock dissolving critter killing people in a mining colony) tries to communicate with the humans by burning three english words into the cave floor: "NO KILL I". Someone immediately posed the question, "Is it asking not to be harmed or promising not to kill us?" That was one of my first memorable lessons in the critical nature of grammar.
I'm reminded of a Star Trek: TOS episode where a Horta (a rock dissolving critter killing people in a mining colony) tries to communicate with the humans by burning three english words into the cave floor: "NO KILL I". Someone immediately posed the question, "Is it asking not to be harmed or promising not to kill us?" That was one of my first memorable lessons in the critical nature of grammar.
Comments