Well, the Ked-Paddah would be absolute failures of "prudence" if they let their reactionary zeal against mad scientists drive them to attack a peaceful species far from their borders who are under the protection of a major galactic power. Talk about staring into the abyss for too long...
Point. So scratch worries about Ked Paddah vs Gaeni, and just worry about what the Licori might do when their culture is under existential threat. Random-ass civilians are running around poking topological defects really hard without even notifying the people who live in the area, after all. If they're worried the Ked Paddah are about to enforce a Mentat ban at gunpoint I'd expect much worse.
Point. So scratch worries about Ked Paddah vs Gaeni, and just worry about what the Licori might do when their culture is under existential threat. Random-ass civilians are running around poking topological defects really hard without even notifying the people who live in the area, after all. If they're worried the Ked Paddah are about to enforce a Mentat ban at gunpoint I'd expect much worse.
Yeah, the difference between the Gaeni and the Licori is that the Gaeni are content to keep the crazy to themselves,* while the Licori export it across half the quadrant. I'm starting to wonder if some of the Mentats have created a secret death cult or something.
*I've had a Gaeni history omake in mind for some time that hints at a historical grudge between them and the Ked-Paddah. Hopefully I'll get around to it soon. But even so, a historical grudge against the Gaeni is not the same thing as the clear and present threat posed by the Licori.
Pragmatism outweighs sentiment to a Romulan, and the Romulans need every ship they have at the moment. No idea when the spark that touches off the Klingon-Romulan war will be, but it gets likelier every year.
Point. The Romulans aren't in that wierd spot starfleet is where a main constraint on our capability is political. That was a pragmatic AND sentimental decision for us. And they don't have anything capable of that kind of mission other than their brand spanking new Heavy Warbird, and they don't have any kind of institutional experience. While I'd argue that there's certainly pragmatic value in getting an in with the people who make FTL-capable Starbase Vs with integral capital shipyards, it's probably not worth it here for them.
Yeah, the difference between the Gaeni and the Licori is that the Gaeni are content to keep the crazy to themselves,* while the Licori export it across half the quadrant. I'm starting to wonder if some of the Mentats have created a secret death cult or something.
*That said, I've had a Gaeni history omake in mind for some time that hints at a historical grudge between them and the Ked-Paddah. Hopefully I'll get around to it soon. But even so, a historical grudge against the Gaeni is not the same thing as a clear and present threat posed by the Licori.
I could totally buy the death cult thing. If that quantum filament had hit a planet ...
You know, if we'd met the Ked Paddah first and the locations were reversed we might have actually already had a war with the Licori, because what they get up to is problematic enough even with their spin filters applied. With Ked Paddah spin applied we might have gone to war on R2Pish grounds - not so much that the Licori people need to be protected from their government, but that everyone ELSE needs to be protected from the Licori.
I doubt we will ever 'solve' them and I doubt they will seem like much less of a threat. We might see a decline in Threat over the next decade or two, but if so, we can just stand down some of our older ships with less favorable Combat/Defense ratios (Mirandas being favorite targets for this).
In my opinion a lot of the problems with the Cardassians stems from the fact that we are both "unused" to each other and lack any established connections meaning that we have a very hard time relating to each other (leading in turn to mistrust and antagonism). However this is already starting to disappear with both sides getting a feel for each other, establishing clear schemata for dealing with each other and solving things like the unclear border bit by bit (if in a rather radical manner when we take the Gabriel zone as an example) which in my eyes should result in us/the Fed viewing them as far less of a threat simply because they are no longer an unknown quantity. The same like we do still respect the Klingons but don't live in a constant fear of them attacking us.
Point. The Romulans aren't in that wierd spot starfleet is where a main constraint on our capability is political. That was a pragmatic AND sentimental decision for us. And they don't have anything capable of that kind of mission other than their brand spanking new Heavy Warbird, and they don't have any kind of institutional experience. While I'd argue that there's certainly pragmatic value in getting an in with the people who make FTL-capable Starbase Vs with integral capital shipyards, it's probably not worth it here for them.
Yeah. So, so glad the Licori are not affiliates.
I could totally buy the death cult thing. If that quantum filament had hit a planet ...
You know, if we'd met the Ked Paddah first and the locations were reversed we might have actually already had a war with the Licori, because what they get up to is problematic enough even with their spin filters applied. With Ked Paddah spin applied we might have gone to war on R2Pish grounds - not so much that the Licori people need to be protected from their government, but that everyone ELSE needs to be protected from the Licori.
Our dismay at our damaged ships is probably nothing compared to the Sydraxian horror: a bunch of grass smoking peacenic hippies beat them up, destroyed their ships, and stole their shit. Sydraxian morale amongst the rank and file must be in the toilet.
Given the attitude the Federation has shown historically, the mentat had a right to be there, but not a right to ignore navigation or traffic regulations, and not a right to poke a quantum filament without permission.
I understand where @Leila Hann is coming from -- part of the reason I was concerned about the Amarki not piling in is because I expected the Sydraxians to make Deva IX their Thermopylae, their Bastogne, their Battle off Samar. A glorious last stand against a superior foe, a battle where victory can be gained and even defeat can inflict terrible losses on the enemy. I expected Operation Ten-Go shit where they crashed a crippled battleship into a moon or something.
Instead they pack bags and leave. Weird. Watch as the Dylaarians fight us tooth and nail if we ever get up there.
Deva Outpost:
Sir, we have Federation forces on an approach vector!
Can we id the ships yet?
Yes, the scanner crew believes it is two Explorers, two Cruisers and two Escorts.
Impossible, that is the same as the last fight and we crippled an Explorer and an Escort then! Our Federation experts estimate they need a full year of yard time!
Scanner crew has confirmed their readings. Ships do not appear to be damaged at all.
Sir, they must have bought in fresh ships to replace their losses.
...
Retreat plan Alpha. Get the engineers out of here.
- The unlikely version is that war is starting to have serious repercussions on Sydraxian leadership; I wouldn't be surprised if there's a faction among them that decided to cut their losses now and preserve their fleet for home defense, along with asking themselves why they're fighting a war with one of the biggest power on the block that they share a direct border with.
The Romulan Desk has harboured concerns about the development of the Daljerra for a while, and after the investment of further resources, we feel this has been born out. It comes with a higher cost in exotic materials, however, the Daljerra's performance is effectively equivalent to that of a Constitution-B class cruiser. It's agility in subspace is believed to be higher.
With a cloak.
So far the Romulans have built the one prototype, and have approximately five more under construction now. Against the K'tinga it has a significantly higher payload and agility, but a hull that is perhaps half as strong. It is unclear how they will compare in battle, however, it is a dangerous follow-up move to the Romulan shift to a large-ship focused fleet.
@OneirosTheWriter If we can't have cloaks, can we use hologram tech to emulate the Red Alert Mirage System or make a space submarine that 'dives' into subspace like the UX-01 in Yamato 2199?
Supplementary Report: Cardassia, Konen, Dylaaria, and Goshawnar
Our understanding is that there is both a certain amount of, if not tribute than certainly favourable trade terms, flowing towards Cardassia. However, the biggest problem is that with the accumulation of three significant client states, the Cardassians are experiencing the same bonus that we are. With multiple types of resources produced by each group, trade is allowing them to remove the weakest links in their supply chains, improving their ability to produce ships even if they haven't found new resource deposits.
Supplementary Report: Economic War Footing, Sydraxian Hierarchy
Our analysis shows that the Sydraxian Hierarchy is nearly at full war footing, and are producing their ships at an accelerated rate. We would estimate that they are at 90% of full capacity, which is probably the maximum they can sustain without longer term harm being inflicted on their economy.
Keeping in mind that to run their expanded trade networks and keep that economic bonus takes a certain amount of cargo handling capacity... Yow. In Admiral Ainsowrth's boots I'd be looking at maybe trying some commerce raiding, harassing of prospectors, or something on all those construction sites.
[ ][WG] A 1v1 with any two Ships, including member world ships (Nominate two ships)
[ ][WG] A 2v2 with any Ships, including member world ships, (Nominate ships)
[ ][WG] A Fleet Battle (Cost 2pp/Explorer, 1pp/Cruiser, 1pp/2 Escorts)
Thing is, the needs of an intel ship are basically to have high S, high D, and at least decent C in case it gets cornered. Preferably, it can perform for extended periods behind enemy lines, so Explorer-ish design. We also don't realistically need more than a couple of them at a time.
In the amount of time it would take us to design and prototype a specialized SIGINT ship, our Excelsior fleet will have grown considerably. Why not just assign an Excelsior or two to SIGINT duty?
The imperialist bugs are due rimward of us. First contact was in the c -5, c -6 region. Given that they're a new contact and this was a LR exploration run of theirs, it's pretty likely they're going to have much bigger problems soon, like trying that tribute spiel on the Klingons.
If it happens. I think its quite probable given that they seem to be scouting for tributaries and thought trying to extort Saavik in an Excelsior when they had a Connie-A equivalent tops was a good idea.
It would solve several problems for us. Klingons are going to be doing less rattling towards a Klingon-Romulan war if they're rolling up someone else and the Cardassians won't get them.
Under normal circumstances, yes. The Klingons might not be willing to send a significant force rimward with the current Romulan situation, though. More likely, they'll just fuck the insects up a bit as a warning.
Of course, if I'm wrong and the Klingons can spare the forces to conquer them right now...that's still a satisfying outcome for us. I'd much rather have a Klingon vassal to our south than a Cardassian one. Especially one that got its fleet decimated in the process of becoming a Klingon vassal.
On the insect empire guys what we should do sometime before Sousa's tenure ends is ask the Council to add a second kind of diplomatic push, with the objective of both fact finding and more friendly relations but not affiliate status. Maybe at -10 to our normal pushes and cannot result in affiliate gain? I'd pay pp for that regularly. Maybe the Pacifists or especially Development would go for that.
Yeah, that's... actually a good point. We need a category of diplomacy that involves us interacting and building relations with neutrals, in order to cultivate the neutrality of groups we don't want aligned against us, but do not foresee recruiting into the Federation in the foreseeable future.
If we'd met them early quest we might have gotten that status before the starkiller incicident.
And we've yet to see what happens if the cause is good enough the federation is willing to jump in, and Ked Paddah vs Licori seen from the Ked Paddah PoV first might qualify.
Captain's Log, USS S'harien, Stardate 25150.4 - Captain Saavik
We have encountered a small long-range explorer from an unknown species between Qloath and Dawiar space. When they appeared, we scanned them thoroughly for signs of Lecarre trickery, as they were in this area, and because their opening address was ... unusual at best.
They have declared themselves to be emissaries of the Ittick-ka, or the Imperium of the People. They are an insectoid race who lives, apparently, well rimward of here, but are looking to expand in our direction. I was given a very long brief as to their powers and scientific advancements, which actually seemed to be of little import.
I have informed him that tribute is illogical.
-
Captain's Log, USS S'harien, Stardate 25151.4
The Ittick-ka attempted to threaten us with dire consequences if the Federation does not offer tribute. However, I gauge the technological level of this vessel to be 2280s technology, and I am most uninterested in being intimidated in this fashion. I suggested to the emissary that any tribute we make should include starships to save them from having to make such toothless demands. My first officer was alarmed by the comment, but it appeared to have a positive effect in making the emissary realise that he did not hold the upper hand.
The following discussion was as troubling as it was enlightening. We are the most advanced species that the Ittick-ka has encountered. Indeed, most of the species in the outer rim are relatively young, it appears, and there are many pre-warp civilisations that have fallen into vassalage to the Ittick-ka. This is, I'm sure, a topic that will engender much discussion in the Federation.
[Meet new species: the Ittick-ka. 25/100 starting relations]
[QM/N: Hard DC passed thanks to special trait]
Point. So scratch worries about Ked Paddah vs Gaeni, and just worry about what the Licori might do when their culture is under existential threat. Random-ass civilians are running around poking topological defects really hard without even notifying the people who live in the area, after all. If they're worried the Ked Paddah are about to enforce a Mentat ban at gunpoint I'd expect much worse.
Oh yes, that's been my biggest concern about the whole thing for a while.
To be fair, we're doing a lot of mentat trash talking but help from a mentat saved a Betazoid colony not that long ago. So they have their positive sides as well.
I don't mean blocked by issues, I mean we get a short report out of it to explain what their deal is instead of blind pushing.
It would also give us a mechanic to keep peaceful relations with people we don't necessarily want to join and would shut up naysayers who object to diplo pushes on the grounds that we don't want them to join.
There is a line here that we are playing Starfleet, not the Federation. There comes a point where that sort of thing shouldn't be under player control.
If they are incompatible with Federation membership/affiliateship, they'll just be blocked when their relationship reaches that level. We'll still have better relations though.
Caitians
Nutshell: "The friendlier version of those guys from Wing Commander!" Canon/OC: Canon Homeworld: Unknown IC, main seat of power Ferasa Alignment: Engineers Tech: Federation-level Type: Humanoid Distinctive Features: Cat like features, fur. Social: Friendly, social, focus on aesthetics, loyalty.
Amarki
Nutshell: "It's the Abh!" Canon/OC: OC Homeworld: Amarkia/Dzinghi III Alignment: Martial Tech: Federation-level Type: Vulcanoid Distinctive Features: Blue hair, pale, pointed ears Social: Chivalric, martial, honour-driven, welcoming, hospitable.
The product of a world where a feudal system persisted relatively late, and left an indelible mark. They have a great love of space, and are one of the largest space-going fleets outside of the major powers. Bi-gendered, with earth-similar marriage habits. Giving someone your personal sidearm is the Amarki equivalent of a giving someone an engagement ring.
Risa
Nutshell: "The Space Hunks and Space Babes" Canon/OC: Canon Homeworld: Risa Alignment: Hedony Tech: 2260s-level Type: Humanoid Distinctive Features: Decorative Mark on their forehead Social: Peaceful, perhaps not libertines but largely focused on relaxation.
Caldonians Nutshell: "Bowl-headed science guys" Canon/OC: Canon Homeworld: Caldonia Alignment: Scientists Tech: 2280s Type: Humanoid Distinctive Features: Large cranial ridges from either eye up around the head Social: Science focused, organised around a democratic system where almost anyone in power needs to be a scientist to be taken seriously.
Gaeni
Nutshell: "Crazy Science Guys" Canon/OC: OC Homeworld: Gaen Alignment: Science Tech: 2280s, climbing Type: Humanoid Distinctive Features: Delicately framed, slightly elongated skull, skin tends to be either rusty red through to dark browns. Social: Everything is focused around the Science Institutes, which work together in order to govern.
The Gaeni, or The Illuminated Technocracy of Gaen, are driven researchers, held back largely by the internecine struggle between their Institutes. Their world has a distinct cybertech feel to it, including a level of personal tech use that gives many human Starfleet members the creeps, if not rising to the level of Council concern. Bi-gendered, they have no real concept of marriage in the modern-era. The Technocracy assumes considerable control over child-rearing and education.
Orions
Nutshell: "Sexy Green Space Babe/Hunk Criminals" "Also Cyberpunk" Canon/OC: Canon Homeworld: Orion/Alukk Alignment: Crime/Money Tech: Federation-level Type: Humanoid Distinctive Features: Green skin, females have pheromones to mess with men (don't look at me, blame Gene Roddenberry) Social: Complex - The Orion Union is full of large companies, and everything worships almighty money. Very high-tech cyberpunk twinge. Very powerful criminal underworld, especially the Orion Syndicate, and strong involvement in slaving and piracy.
Indorions Nutshell: "I like hammers" Canon/OC: OC Homeworld: Indoria/Pyllix System Alignment: Engineers Tech: 2260s Type: Vulcanoid Distinctive Features: Pointed ears, pointy chins, three bony ridges run down their backs, hairline starts much further back than with humans, narrow builds, tall Social: Have formed an oligarchical world government. By their natures, Indorians are engineers, rather than scientists. Their capacity for theory isn't great, but applied sciences comes naturally.
These Indorians have built tremendous skyscrapers on their homeworld, and are building extensive mining colonies on the worlds they have claimed around them, which is part of the reason behind Cardassian interest. Twin gendered with relatively limited dimorphism.
Sydraxians
Nutshell: "The fighty-bard guys" Canon/OC: OC Homeworld: Sydrax Alignment: Martial Tech: 2300s Type: Humanoid Distinctive Features: Long, clawed fingers, slitted eyes, long necks, nose continues into a ridge that runs to the back of their head, very-long haired. Social: Governed by the "Hierarchy", a powerful group of senior governor-commanders.
The Sydraxians venerate battle, not so much in the conducting thereof, but in song (and other forms of media). Singing is a huge part of their culture, and any Sydraxian who cannot sing is in trouble socially. They still know how to fight, however.
Yrillians
Nutshell: "Pirates who are Giants" Canon/OC: OC Homeworld: Yrillia/Ethur II Alignment: Shipbuilders Tech: Fed-Level (but used for cheap ships instead of powerful ships) Type: Humanoid Distinctive Features: They're all over 2 meters tall. Social: Referendum-based democracy; about to tip into civil war.
Dawiar Nutshell: "Like grumpy dwarves." Canon/OC: OC Homeworld: Oriolis III/Kharhazad Alignment: Martial Tech: 2200s (Recent data shows their weapons are being brought up to modern spec by Cardassians) Type: Humanoid Distinctive Features: Broad and heavy-set, if a little under average human or Vulcan height. Social: Have associated poorly with others. Although they a unified government, it is one that rose to the top in the aftermath of a devastating war a hundred years ago. Since contact with the Federation, they have found themselves in competition with the Caitian for naturally suitable colony worlds and resources. Their social life is built around extended rather than nuclear families, and they live in frequently clashing communal groups.
Kadesh Nutshell: 'Ere we go, 'ere we go, 'ere we go! Canon/OC: OC Homeworld: ("Ha ha") Alignment: Engineers Tech: Federation Equivalent Type: Humanoid Distinctive Features: Remarkably similar at a cosmetic level to Humans Social: Currently part of a great fleet in exile on their way to find a distant homeworld of their people after discovering that their Kadesh was a Preserver transplant.
Sotaw
Gretarians Nutshell: "Those yappy dog guys" Canon/OC: Homeworld: Gretaria / Apatek III Alignment: Peaceful Tech: 2150s Type: Humanoid Distinctive Features: Canine features, a little smaller than humans on average Social: A people with no concept of organised violence beyond the personal. They can and will talk your ear right off.
Seyek Nutshell: Inquisitive, Pragmatic Snake-People. Sneeple. Canon/OC: OC Homeworld: Rethelia Alignment: Explorer Tech: 2290's Type: Reptilian/Snekoids Distinctive Features: Big snakes with arms. Social: Proportional Oligarchy/Constitutional Monarchy
Qloathi Nutshell: "The Mellow Exploration Guys" Canon/OC: OC Homeworld: Arqueniou Alignment: Explorers Tech: 2300s Type: Humanoid Distinctive Features: Forehead ridge at hairline, bony joint protrusions Social: Based around a Republic. They have a strong affinity for the arts and theatre, inspired by the tales of explorers and adventurers.
Lecarre Nutshell: "Those kooky spy people" Canon/OC: OC Homeworld: Gervanis Alignment: Paranoid Tech: 2240s (Being uplifted) Type: Humanoid Distinctive Features: Radial fins on their head Social: Limited knowledge at current
Honiani Nutshell: "Spiritual Cathedral Ship Builders" Canon/OC: OC Homeworld: Okatha Alignment: Spiritualist Tech: 2310s Type: Humanoid Distinctive Features: Slim, pretty males, curvy females, twin nodules on heads (think NGE clips) Social: People with a strong sense of spirituality, who believe that their ornate construction is necessary to compensate the natural world for the resource extraction. Partly democratic, partly oligarchical.
Licori Nutshell: "The Gaeni think they're nuts" Canon/OC: OC Homeworld: Morshadd (Arcadian Empire of Morshadd) Alignment: Science Tech: 2280s Type: Humanoid Distinctive Features: Green heroin chic appearance, except the "Mentats" who turn red. Social: Ruled by an Emperor who oversees a number of noble houses. Violently eschew thinking machines, using bio-mechanically altered "mentats" in their place.
Ked Paddah Nutshell: "Don't rock the boat, bro" Canon/OC: OC Homeworld: Paddah Alignment: Pragmatist Tech: 2280s Type: Humanoid/Andorian Distinctive Features: Andorian in appearance but with swept-back antenna and shades between brown, orange, and red. Social: Use a Tri-Cameral system of government where the Judicial Branch is subject to lifetime appointments by general election and are considered part of the main houses of parliament. The Ked Paddah like to view their approach to the world as one of being "sensible". Everything should be in moderation, which makes the high-intensity risk taking of the Licori and Gaeni repulsive to them. "Aggadah" is their ruling principle, which is usually translated as "prudence".
Dylaarian Federation Nutshell: "Lizard MPAA" Canon/OC: OC Homeworld: Dylaaria Alignment: Scientists/Mercantile Tech: Cardassian Current Type: Reptillian Distinctive Features: Dylaarians are Reptilian creatures, with major sexual dimorphism where Females generally measure about a meter and a half tall and males much smaller at about 1.25m on average. Social: Built around the Clan Conclave, which is a series of large clans that work together in a Federation to guide the Dylaarian people. Extremely focused on the importance of maintaining Intellectual Property, they will go to lengths to protect a patent that other species would consider incomprehensible.
Goshawnar Nutshell: "Build me a better flying machine" Canon/OC: OC Homeworld: Lodshar Alignment: Engineering Tech: 2290s now uplifted to Cardassian current Type: Humanoid-Avian Distinctive Features: High cheekbone, feather-like hair, lanky arms, attractive faces Social: In ancient days the Goshawnar organised around "flights" of three-to-five families. Though now flightless mammals, the genetic antecedents of the Goshawnar were equivalent to giant eagles. It is suspected that Preserver intervention was involved.
In modern times, the Goshawnar have an autocratic government, a system which has persisted for decades. The exact autocrat and their regime changes from time to time, and most recently another coup occurred that planted a pro-Cardassian group in power.
Konnen Nutshell: "In Empathy, no one needs to hear you scream" Canon/OC: OC Homeworld: Aeidi Prime Alignment: Spiritual Tech: Cardassian-Current Type: Humanoid Distinctive Features: Elongated Diamond-shaped skull ridge on the forehead. Indigo, red or gold iris, hair colours between red, pink, green. Social: When you can't hide ill-intent, sometimes it doesn't help purge your society of ill-intent. It simply brings it out into the open. Although science has driven out the cruel old gods of the Konnen, the mark they have left on society is deep and indelible. For a long time they clashed with the Cardassians, before eventually deciding that they had no practical path to victory.
Name Nutshell: Canon/OC: Homeworld: Alignment: Tech: Type: Distinctive Features: Social:
We've already had issues because we are unable to request diplomacy to neutrals. I feel dealing with people that you don't want to join is more of a Starfleet role than trying to expand the Federation, which really has little to do with Starfleet at all.
Oh yes, that's been my biggest concern about the whole thing for a while.
To be fair, we're doing a lot of mentat trash talking but help from a mentat saved a Betazoid colony not that long ago. So they have their positive sides as well.
I'm getting the impression that the problems are being caused by a rogue element within the Arcadian Empire. An element that perhaps the emperor can't acknowledge, for political reasons.
I'm getting the impression that the problems are being caused by a rogue element within the Arcadian Empire. An element that perhaps the emperor can't acknowledge, for political reasons.
Remember that mentats have a lifespan of ten years after they get the mentat treatment. It's in their nature to burn brightly but briefly, and it's not surprising to me that they think nothing of dying if they can leave behind a great discovery that will be their immortality. What's I'm saying is "mentat death cult" is redundant. Every mentat accepts their death when they subject themselves to the process.
Okay so the story fairy wouldn't leave me alone on this idea.
The New Guard(s)
Rear Admiral Certunn Guk peered at a particular group of cadets of the incoming class much more than normal. The first class to include Yan-Ros cadets, sure, and everyone had heard of their prowess by now. More educated than most, he knew this was a product of their "Hunter" class, and also that the incoming Yan-Ros cadets included exactly one Hunter, with the others coming from more mundane backgrounds. Of course, one Hunter meant one Hunter's equipment, items that he was assured carried immense cultural significance in addition to their practical uses. Which meant he couldn't lock the gear in a lab for engineering students, as desperately as the CFP R&D teams wanted him to and as much as he was afraid it would make standard Away Team training a farce. But then again Cadet Branwen's previous combat experience would probably do that with or without the gear.
The other thing he'd picked up was their elective choices. You could tell a lot about a culture by averaging their electives and looking for patterns. Vulcans took science and math courses for their electives more than anything else, finding enjoyment in logical pursuits. Amarki liked their security, tactical, and history courses; the values of the knightly orders which permeated their society. Humans tended to follow trends related to what was going on in the galaxy, the perversely collective nature of a group of individualists.
Yan-Ros packed their schedule with every elective security-related class they could find. Every martial arts class, from the human staples of campus life to Amarki knife-fighting, would add Yan-Ros students. They spilled into strange specialist classes that normally had under a dozen students. Comparative Criminology, only instituted the last year Kahurangi had been in office, was suddenly going to be over half Yan-Ros. Defensive Architecture, which had long been the province of Andorian and more lately Amarki engineering students, would be adding three Yan-Ros. The class on Hostage Negotiation didn't even normally have cadets in it, only security officers doing their continuing education work to qualify for promotion, but would now sport four Yan-Ros cadets.
A less charitable Tellarite would say they had a mania on the subject.
I see a lot of comments revolving around the lack of a neutrality mechanic.
Thing is... As the Feds, our primary hat revolves around diplomacy. We broker peace and bridge the gap between peoples as different as the Risans and the Amarki, and both human and Vulcan. We assimilate and adapt new peoples to the Federation, but the Federation as a whole encompasses a great deal of very different cultures in a loose framework for mutual support.
Perhaps the lack of a neutrality mechanic is because our "faction perk" so to speak is that we don't need one. All peoples, in time, may become one of us. E Pluribus Unum; Ex Astris, Scientia.
