The Human Situation | HFY | SciFi Short Stories

The Human Situation
This story was written by reddit user Merean_Cartographer, It was narrated and posted with their knowledge and consent.

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The Human situation
OC
Otvo curled his mouth in a wide smile and spread his arms wide open, a custom for his species where they open themselves up and show vulnerability. A sign of kindness. He knew, of course, that many of the other GuS, what everybody called the Galactic Union of Stars, species saw it more like a fearsome display of their size and teeth. It was a tactical decision that Otvo made, a test. As would be just about everything the next hour or so.

"Andol! Welcome! It has been too long! Four years since we last met?" Andol was a Tranarian, a smaller species when it came to the GuS standard. Around 4 foot 8 was their average height. Compared to the 9 foot 8 of Otvo's species, the Kaed, the height disparity between the two was quite unsettling for Andol. The Tranarian diplomat did not show a sign of being phased by it, though, and returned the greeting in traditional, Tranarian form. By bending down on the fore legs and bowing, arms outstretched behind them.

"Blessings to you, Otvo." Andol said as they came back up. "Indeed, four years. The Boalesian situation, if I recall correctly."

"Hmm" Otvo nodded, the enlarged flaps of skin and meat nodding along with his head. "Yes, that was a pickle. We all did great work. I knew back then, I would see you some day again, here. I must say, faster than I expected!" It was a compliment, a rare treat when it comes from a Kaed.

"You are too kind, thank you." Andol bowed again.

"Follow, please! The room is just down the promenade here. You passed all the tests with flying colours. Quite remarkable. The only thing remaining is this briefing. After that, you will be a GuS inner circle diplomat." Otvo paused, letting it all sink in. "Not to worry, I am sure you will do just fine."

Andol nodded. While the exact nature of the inner circle 'debrief' was not known, everybody that thought of taking it knew the so-called attrition rate. Seemingly, seventy percent of applicants that made it that far, died. Or well, disappeared. Never heard from again. Andol tried to calm themselves down, they had excelled at every test. This would be the same.

"Now, I know that the debrief is cloaked in mystery, but it is really just us sitting down at a table, with a glass of Venularean wine and talking. You will see that there is no real reaso- ah! Noir! Pleased to see you here!" Otvo cut his sentence and made the same greeting again. When Andol looked at the person being greeted, they froze. A human.

Andol swallowed and needed a moment to steel their resolve and nerves. Humans were known throughout the GuS as strong, fearsome and violent, even though their only hostilities had been during first contact. But their resolve and resilience had left an imprint with the other member species. Humans were a tough species. Not shy of doing war, and war was something they did well. The Fluroc, the species that had made first contact with them and ended up in a three-month war, admittedly due to their greed and incompetence, were still recovering from the losses. Almost a hundred standard years later.

"Greetings, I am known as Andol." Andol gave a polite, thin smile. No grand greeting as they had given Otvo. The Fluroc and the Tranarians had been planning to attack another species together. Plans that were all foiled when the Human-Fluroc incident occurred. No Tranarian was terribly fond of the humans. Especially not with how the GuS used them as a threat to any species or nation that was walking too far next to the line they laid out. Twice, in the past hundred years, had it happened with the Tranarians alone.

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