It’s Sunday again, time for Weekend Writing Warriors (click the logo above) and Snippet Sumday (click the logo below.) This is again a quote from Rescue Operation, following on from last week.
What neither Roi nor the Council had realized was that a group of parasitized Humans were ready to move in on Rakal the instant the R’il’noids were no longer guarding the system. The infection would be self-limiting—the parasite could not reproduce in Humans, and the infection could only be maintained by bringing in captive Maungs. With both Maungs and R’il’noids on patrol, that would not happen often—but the original population of the planet was now being treated as a food supply and hostages by the parasitized Humans, who considered themselves to be a different and superior species.
The Confederation rescued those they could, but the entire Inner Council had agreed that Rakal would be a unique episode. No further planets could leave the Confederation—but that decision had set up the potential disaster on Horizon.
“We have two distinct problems,” Kaia said, “and we’d better treat it that way. Horizon’s an emergency, and I agree with Roi on that. But I’m not sure what we can do beyond trying to get a reconsideration. All Zhaim’s supporters are on planet, so that means we need seventeen votes.”
And Zhaim has already thought of that.
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Wow, love how this gets deeper and more complex every week.
Hope you’re doing okay otherwise!
Still basically doing setup and back story.
Wow, things are taking a turn toward the seriously frightening.
Hope you are okay, Sue Ann. Here in the lower 48, we keep hearing about a super storm headed your way. Take care.
Not this far inland, though we may have thawing temps next week.
I got a better understanding of the situation. This scene reminds me if the movie, The Thing.
Politics in every world seems to be skullduggery and intrigue. Great snippet.
In the the case of the Maungs it’s more an uncomfortable trick of biology.
Of course Zhaim has thought about these contingencies! I love the intricacies of all this intergalactic politics….best wishes to you, stay warm!
Now if I can just find a publisher …
Dazzled by the intricacies of this story. Surely a sci fi publisher would love it.
I would hope so, but one thing I don’t have any more is time.
Such a frightening situation with the parasites, oy. As always I am spellbound by the details you put into this world-building. Great job.
In book 3 we’ll meet a Maung.
This just gets better and better, Sue Ann! I’m in awe of your plotting talents. 🙂
I’m flattered. I usually think my world-building and character-building skills are stronges, with plot being a distant third.
I wonder if Zhaim was parasitized and looking for a revenge. Damn! This is getting even more complicated than just a bad deal.
That hadn’t even occurred to me. Anyway, any of the outer councilors would have detected it at once.
Complex and deep, with far reaching politics. Great 8.
Still mostly the setup.
I wonder if humans somehow make better hosts… though it’s obviously not good for the human that gets erased!
No. In fact it’s a dead-end host for the parasite.
Then why are they intentionally making more of them? I suspect there’s some reason there, you always have such clever twisty plots.
It is the Maung-parasitized humans who want to make more.
Solid, deliberate prose, fitting for the situation you’re telling us about. Seventeen votes sounds daunting.
Especially with Zhaim controlling 7.