Latest blog post: Redraw of chapter 1 is happening (2024-05-11)

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New

Good. Humanity should have the chance to prove it can become a space faring race on it's own.

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Senior

Just re-thinking the first contact discussions.

It occurs to me that Shuru and Zane might have been approaching the question of mankind's readiness from the wrong perspective. The Silurans suffered a culture shock, so Shuru examined humanity's cultures and society much closer, determining they were very much like the Raharr and likely resiliant enough to withstand the shock of other, more technologically advanced species and not being alone in the universe. However, I believe they missed the geopolitical aspects.

This might be an area where the massive number of language groups, governments and nations that has surprised the Raharr, comes into play. They don't appear to have ever dealt with a species that was as "fractured" as humanity (possibly not the right word but I'll use it for now). Our nations and populations conflict with each other for advantage and even dominance on the international scale. As we've already seen, the nations, rather than working together, might very well attempt to maneuver and deal in ways they believe will benefit them to a greater degree than other nations, even if it could be detrimental to the planet or humanity as a whole.

I think the Raharr can still navigate it, but Gharr's input and expertise may be more important than Zane realises to give them the best chance of doing so.

(Edited)
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Regular

I believe that " fractured " would be entirely appropriate from the Raharr perspective, considering that they come from mostly wold wide stable structures.

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Visitor

"something like your UN and European Union"

Except it actually works? We hope?

Because making that comparison is horrible for actually getting people to join, especially any group not powerful enough to get their equivalent of the veto on the Security Council.

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New

IT seems that our world map presents an...innovative approach to geopolitics

(Edited)
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Senior

Yeah... Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, & Guatemala are being shown as part of Mexico...

edit: And on a closer look, also large parts of Texas and Louisiana?

(Edited)
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Senior

International borders have been moderately randomized and blurred, probably on purpose, to obscure the exact location of Protagonistan. And it keeps the setting from getting too personal for any readers. At least that's my guess about the map.

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Senior

"Moderately"? As far as the approximate location of Protagonistan is concerned, I see an outright Balkanization of a current-day global superpower! :-3

(Also, it looks like Scotland successfully seceded, took North Ireland plus some along for the trip, and GB got the Southern half of Ireland for consolidation ... ? X-D

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Senior

Darth has made clear that in this setting, the Soviet Union broke up differently and there is no equivalent of the Russian Federation, among other differences. Partly to obscure the exact identity of Protagonistan, and partly so he doesn't have to touch The Unfortunate Event Involving Russia.

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New

Not sure it would be a good idea to gain that travel tech with the way our world gets along. Tend to think it will be a long road to gain the trust of that. The UN definitely does not speak for the world as it stands today.

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Senior

I like to use the Japanese as a good example when Commodore Perry "Visited" the formerly closed-off country with all sorts of Western Toys for them to consider, which changed Japan but not the Japanese, who still had their Emperor as a God and that ancient feudal class structure that led to wars for resources they hadn't needed until the Future hit them hard.

(Edited)
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Senior

Well, the cat of the Alliance's multi-species-dom is officially out now. Which apparently drew more of a "wait, what?" from Iskra than from the POP (President of Protagonistan).

On the other hand, Zane announcing that the Alliance will not just dump an asteroid-worth of blueprints into the hands of any humans is bound to get POP's attention. Let's see what level of restriction Zane is talking about, there sure are shades and grades between "equivalent of your nuclear nonproliferation" and "welcome to the zoo" ...

(Edited)
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Senior

My personal expectation is that Zane intends some kind of slow rollout intended to minimize economic shocks, balance-of-power disruption, and cargo cultism. Just because he's no longer shooting for zero contact doesn't mean he's forgotten about the Silurans.

(Edited)
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Senior

Since New Technology equals money (with many wanting to be the providers and sellers, not to mention those standing in line to buy it) there will need to be some sort of licensing and registering of patents, (Legal Stuff) and payments to those who authorized this Technology to be manufactured and sold. (I can visualize the Ads on Television & Internet, creating a storm of consumers ready to own these items, but NOT how the Aliens would handle the issue.)

Wondering if money in the bank would be OK or not. It would certainly make their presence, as active members, and wouldn't they want to invest in manufacturing and other business things, and a Skyscraper Headquarters?

(Edited)





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TRIVIA
Raharrs descended from the evolutionary branch that can be described as "apelike cats" by their evolutionary niche. Although initially carnivorous and solitary, they were forced to become omnivorous and form persistent packs during the latest of the rare ice ages of their homeworld, approximately 30 million years ago.