RP: Hidden Sun Clan Call from the Void

Tesgi looked at Yuumi, noting that she once again failed to answer his question except to ask another one. Also she was not truly eating, so he placed his utensil on his plate and shifted his position. He longed for decent clothing, but the cloth given to him would have to do.

As he thought back upon what little she had said earlier, and her evasive nature, he casually drew his tail in close. He took a moment to examine the wounds and wrapped it around his waist. He closed his eyes for a moment and listened to the grass, it whispered to him in an unfamiliar manner.

He opened his eyes and looked back at Yuumi.
"I am being unfamiliar with this word Premier. Tesgi not knowing much about Yamatai. We hear little, that you fight the NMX who defile the dead.

But who is your clan leader? Who is their second? Are you the second? Who speaks for your people? Who do you speak for?"

Not going to eat unless I do? Yuumi read the deliberate actions of the alien like she would read them from a Yamataian or Nepleslian. Instinct told her to stick to her reading, so she bit off more of the cheese.

"I speak for Ketsurui Himiko, the Empress of Yamatai. She is my nation's leader. The Premier is partially who speaks for her at home, and her main speaker outside my nation. I am that Premier. As for who speaks for our people, it depends. Here, with you, I speak for my people. At home, a group of individuals elected by the people represent them in a body we call a Senate."

Tesgi listened to Yuumi, noted that she picked up a piece of food, so he picked up a piece of fruit and nibbled at it. But his stance otherwise remained the same.

"So Empress is leader of your people. This I understand.

Strange this Premier position, we not have. A person is speaker or is not speaker, not sometimes. Their words would have no strength.

Sounds to Tesgi that your Senate is being much like our Council."

He took another nibble of the fruit, "Is Senate also for.... what is word... deciding criminal matters?"

"Also wanting to know... why what is place Yamatai changes so often. Star system part of empire, then not, then is."

Yuumi wasn't sure if something was being lost in translation or she was just being dense. How the KAMI wasn't better synthesizing his speech was beyond her.

"The Empress can do only so much, and she does not often handle matters of state. Those she leaves to me. My effective power sometimes is greater than my enumerated power; sometimes it is less. That is politics — working with people who do not agree at the start to agree on a common goal."

She finished her first bit of cheese and started on an apple slice. "The Senate is like a council, but instead it is the people who tell it what to do. Each member of the Senate is chosen by the people of a certain area — in our case case, a star system — and each member is expected to do the people's bidding. It does not always work out that way either. Politics again.

"We have judges, juries and courts for criminal matters. Judges are an official appointed to oversee a court. Juries are made up of people from the area where a crime was committed."

She munched down half the slice. "I don't understand your last question. Do you mean the name? Or location?"

Tesgi relaxed a little, he watched Yuumi. He was curious so far she had not eaten any meat. He thought her people were carnivorous.

"Pardon Sar-Yuumi, Tesgi understood your words. The concept is what he did not understand. Among my people, if you are a Speaker you have authority. No matter where you go, you are Speaker, be it for ship, sect, house. So speaker for clan is always speaker, power same all the time.

Your way is curious.

Tesgi will restate query. We understand the taking of stars and planets in conflict. Our Searchers always look for places to gather from. They also keep track of where our ship not go. But Tesgi does not understand why clan Yamatai would give worlds to others. Tesgi give example there is region of space where Yamatai ships go and settle. We do not gather there because Council say not to. But we watch. Then we see Yamatai ships leave and other ships we see with different heraldry. Then the NMX come and take those worlds. Now the NMX leave them. So why did Yamatai give them away? Did they know NMX would want and give to another clan so it would be attacked? Explain please if can."

Yuumi let the talk of Speakers go, as Tesgi's query left her dumbfounded.

What was he talking about? The war? How sometimes citizens flee in the face of NMX raiders or invasion fleets? What had he seen or heard?

"Tesgi, forgive me, but I actually do not understand what you mean. We were, and still are, at war with the NMX. Planets are invaded and reinvaded. Is that what you mean?"

Tesgi looked at Yuumi and shook his head from side to side. "No Sar-Yuumi, war my people know. A moment please, must think how to answer so that your word machine will give my words correct."

Tesgi then closed his eyes, his lips moved ever so slightly as he sorted his thoughts and words. After a couple of moments he opened them and looked at Yuumi.

"Apologies for making Sar-Yuumi wait. Is much that Tesgi is knowing that can not be shared, forbidden by law is.

Trying again with my query.

My people is being here long time, there are areas in space that we gather resources.

There is one such region where almost six years back, our searchers preparing the way see ships bearing the heraldry of Yamatai. What Josea has taught Tesgi is being called Hino-maru. A Nekovalkyrja clad for battle in a circle of red.

Seeing these ships our gatherers must go elsewhere. But our searchers check these places in hopes that Yamatai will leave. But Yamatai stays builds places for your people.

Then we is hearing from our searchers, that Yamatai has left that area and new ships with heraldry of blue with rays like sun through clouds is now claiming these systems.

But our ships is hearing no battles, no death screams of ships, just new clan is there.

Why would Yamatai give this clan these systems we is wondering.

Then two years ago the NMX come to this region and there is death screams and the Defilers then claim that region.

So perhaps now you can understand my question. Yamatai finds good worlds and takes as theirs. Then they give to another clan, other clan does not take by war. Later NMX takes by war and other clan is crushed.

Is was being this plan of Yamatai, to lead this clan into a trap by offering good worlds, so that NMX will go there and crush this clan.

Tesgi is not wishing to make offense, understanding of events he is seeking."

Yuumi kept a straight face, even if she wanted to hit her head against a tree.

Boiling down the entire UOC incident into something digestible was a tall task. She could handle it, but she had to be encompassing. There were a lot of views. It didn't help that she wasn't actually there for it.

"Many people of what we called the United Outer Colonies wanted to be independent from Yamatai. This was skeptically viewed, but we granted them their independence in good faith, allowing them to be free of us and we of them. Their freedom came with the price of self-responsibility. That is to say, we would not defend them."

She nibbled at a coin of meat and sipped some water. "We did not intend for them to die. Many wanted reconciliation, if not reunification, though how we were going to get it was unknown.

"The NMX made our decision for us when they attacked the UOC. We eventually assisted, but it was too late. The UOC was shattered beyond repair. We slowly are retaking those systems and helping the remaining Jiyuuans and other UOC citizens who chose to return under Yamatai's banner."

Tesgi listened to Yuumi's explanation, and took a piece of meat and chewed it slowly while paying attention to her words. Once she was finished he took a sip of the water.

"Thank you for giving explanation. Tesgi is thinking that he is having understanding.

These peoples of yours who chose to leave the clan. They were not wise. Leaving your clan made them weak. They became prey when they left the strength of your clan.

We know what happens to prey. The NMX hunted and killed them. If it had not been the NMX another would have hunted them.

Long ago we be having some who chose to live away from the clan. They too wanted freedom. They too became prey."

Tesgi looked around at the place. Is this to be my fate stuck living in alien ships breathing dead air. Will I never see the sky and stars.

At that moment, the park's systems shift to evening. Overhead a night sky came into being, the sky was representing the sky above Ronica. Tesgi just looked up at the stars for a moment.

"Are these your stars that the shine above us now?"

"I wouldn't call them mine," Yuumi said, leaning back to look up at the darkened sky. And smiled. The stars often were hard to see from Kyoto, with its usual cloud cover.

"This is the sky above Ronica, the only habitable planet in the Veronica system." She pointed upward, hoping Tesgi's eyes would follow, and had the KAMI highlight one small pinpoint of light, between the horizon and the sky's peak. "That is the Yamatai System, where I am from."

Tesgi made a series of strange sounds, while his chest moved rhythmically and a smile crossed his face. The noise was a cross between a hiss and squeak, but with a bit more volume.

Josea looked at his PMS for a moment concerned that something might be wrong with Tesgi, but all of the Tula's vital signs were strong.

After a moment he replied, "No, not be meaning stars belong to Yuumi personally.... I was meaning those being stars of your people. Tesgi has not been near this place so stars are being unfamiliar to me."

He followed her gesture looking upward at the star that was highlighted.

"So that is where the birth world for Nekovalkyrja is. Can you be showing Tesgi image of your world? Tesgi would be liking to see place where friend Josea and Nekovalkyrja come from? Unless is being forbidden naturally." he said with a slight tilt of his head.

Yuumi shook her head. "Not at all. Any time we can share the beauty of our Empire, we're happy to."

She decided on vocal commands this time, to help Tesgi follow what she was doing. She brushed some of her hair from her eyes first.

"KAMI, display planet Yamatai, typical weather patterns, viewing height of 100,000 km. Half day, half night."

The globular image that appeared between them centered on Eastern Yamatai, above Ternifac, New Malifar and Jskita. Those cities' lights called out from the dark desert and rainforest lands as the planet hung in front of them. The planet itself cast a soft white-blue glow.

"My home is here," Yuumi said, a little blue arrow pointing to an area just before the horizon, above the equator. "It's called 'Kyoto.' "

Tesgi looked towards the image though he wondered who this Kami was, but it did not matter at the moment.

Tesgi stared at the visual of the planet Yuumi had called up. He particularly took note of the large tracks of water. It was markedly different from the images he had seen of the clan's birth world. He was in all probability the first member of the clan to see a close up image of the Yamatai world. Of course the image was purely visual, there was no scientific data, regarding size, density, atmospheric content, etc.

He wondered for moment what it would be like to visit such a place to stand on the surface and walk among these people. He shook his head to dismiss such fooling ideas.

"Thank you Sar-Yuumi. Your world is being very beautiful. Very different from the world of our ancestors." he replied, looked down at the food, picked up a piece of meat and chewed on it.

Yuumi bowed her head at the compliment.

This time, she took the bait.

"What was your ancestors' homeworld like?" she asked.

Tesgi thought for a moment about how to describe the lost home world. "It had the name Otâgolisoy which meant world of our birth. It was the bright jewel of the Empire.

It had sixty three percent of the surface being water. The air was similar to the air that you breath. There was a large continent that was twenty-five percent of the surface. It was here that our people sprang forth and would one day reach for the stars. There were two other continents one at the south pole a cold and bitter land, and one in the eastern sea which was said to be a tropical sanctuary.

Our world was warmer than others we visited, the dominant terrains were jungles and grassland. Standing on the surface you could see our moon which was called Habilu and the Great Ring which shown like a ribbon of light at night. It could be seen during the day as well, but not so brightly.

We had dozens of large cities which shown brightly by night. And looked like sculptured art by day.

Our industry was long ago moved into space so as to not continue to poison our home. So the surface of our world was becoming healthy and full of life.

Of course, Tesig is only be seeing pictures from the archive. Tesgi is not having any family spirits from then, and not having enough money to commune with other spirits to be shown their memories."

Spirits again, Yuumi thought.

"You speak of spirits," she said, forming the question on instinct. "How do they come to be? How do you talk with them?"

Tesgi pondered the question, this was not his area of specialty.

"Ryauos'te is being living spirit. Ryauos'te is being name, is not spirit of life as within." He said placing his hand on his chest. "Living Spirit is copy of a person mind, memories, wisdom. All that they learn, dream and feel is stored in manufactured brain made by Silver Moon Sect. Silver moon members create and maintain the spirits for their owners.

Living spirit exist while person lives, or can exist after death has come. It knows all the person knew when created. But it is not just memory, living spirit can think, and speak. Can answer questions, or tell of its life. While alive owner can update living spirit, and sometimes scientists or inventors will think with... no not right word... collaborate with living spirit.

While person lives living spirit is being possession. Owner can have destroyed when they die, or can pay for it to live on. If owner wants can destroy spirit while alive." Tesgi paused for a moment.

"Living spirits can be in person's home, but usually stay in Spirit Preserve with other spirits. Relatives can visit with and speak with the spirit, or others can pay to speak with the spirit and learn from it.

No ancestor of Tesgi is being in spirit preserve."

Yuumi highlighted in her mind everything Tesgi said, and sent it to the KAMI to theorize exactly how that was possible.

The technology sounded startlingly close to the Soul Savior technology Yamatai had developed from the Elysians. The "spirit" might as well have been a soul, it seemed, and the ability to place it a manufactured host that wasn't a body seemed like a very handy tool. Almost like a static SI based off a person.

We're still so young, Yuumi thought. We haven't begun to scratch the surface of Soul Saving's potential. Everlasting life awaits us. Why stop at 150 years? Their technology at least allows a person to die.

"How long has this kind of technology been among your people?" she asked.

Tegsi picked up a small piece of meet, and popped it into his mouth. He savored the strange meat's flavor. After chewing it thoroughly he swallowed it.

"Sar-Yuumi, Ryauos'te was being first new technology Silver Moon be making. Silver Moon Sect take technology we having and make new technology to create. Necessity to not be losing more wisdom and guidance from elders."

Tesgi looked around hearing a fluttering sound nearby. His eyes locking briefly upon a Yamataian Scissor-Tail Flycatcher. He smiled briefly then turned back to face Yuumi.

"Sar-Yuumi, I is being curious, two questions. First, is being regarding this meat, Tesgi has never had before. Sar-Josea was being telling is called beef. Tesgi is wondering what a beef is looking like.

Second question is being harder to ask, but Tesgi is thinking possibly same thing as what Sar-Yuumi explain about UOC.

When being prisoner of NMX who defile the dead.... " he paused for a moment, "Tesgi is seeing Nekovalkyrja working with NMX. Tesgi could not be understanding why they be with NMX. We is being told that Yamatai and NMX making war upon each other. But now Tesgi is being thinking that these Nekovalkyjra is being like the UOC, is being wanting independence from Yamatai so they being joining NMX.

It Tesgi understanding being correct?"

Start easy, Yuumi wryly thought.

"Beef is made from the meat of an animal we call a cow," Yuumi said, silently commanding the KAMI to replace the projected image of Yamatai with that of a bovine. "They're herd animals that are domesticated as livestock. Some parts of the Empire, especially agricultural ones, use the animals as a source of milk too. Cow milk is nutritious."

The second question was so wrapped up in politics that she had to think about how to answer accurately.

"As for Nekovalkyrja like me ... it is not so simple."

KAMI wiped the image of the cow away and replaced it with two Neko — one in the NMX infantry outfit, the other in the usual Star Army uniform. Beyond the uniforms, the Neko visually were the same.

"Nekovalkyrja created by the NMX are used as tools of war beyond what Yamatai does with its Nekovalkyrja. They are created to be loyal to the NMX. They desire no independence from them, only service to them. Nekovalkyrja created by Yamatai have measures of free will our NMX counterparts do not.

"Ultimately in Yamatai, Nekovalkyrja bodies are possessions, not a species or a nation. In the NMX war machine, Nekovalkyrja are even less than that."