As you will have noticed in the last two chapters, I have started to include a new extra section just at the end: Glossary of terms. (Which now that it included important characters makes me think that I should look for another section title)
Today (and for the record I am writing all the same day in spite of the expressions of time,I plan to upload it during the week and a half that I will be on Earth taking advantage of the fact that I have the maximum upload speed to the terrestrial internet here) I have decided that in order to continue talking about all the good and great things about the Akken I must first mention something more ... something less ... kind about them. The first part will be why the rest of the galaxy fears the Akken and the Acheron Empire, the second part will be the type of planet that is Acheron.
Starting this chapter with the first point and while I make time for something special, we need to be clear about the term with which the Akken presented themselves to our species:
“Our Sisters”
The center of the usual Akken family unit is quite interesting from a human point of view, their families are usually made up of both "mothers" and 2, 4, 6 or even 8 daughters, always trying to make the family unit an even number. (If pregnancy gives rise to a single daughter, the dalver or fertilized is usually ready for a safe new delivery in less than 7/9 Earth months)
The reason for this trend to an even number comes directly from the time when the Akken were not in the top of Acheron's food pyramid, the equivalent of the ancient history age (Although this is a very light comparison, the Akken evolutionary history includes much more evolution in size and shape than human).
As I mentioned and now I will delve further, Acheron is an extremely dangerous planet where almost 55% of the tree species are much more immense than our largest sequoia, where alpha predators like the whale shark of our world are equivalent to Acheron's "raccoons". In a world where variation and climatic changes are so aggressive that in a single day (much longer than our days, remember that we are talking about a planet 3.8 times larger than Earth) that can go from hail to heat waves with extreme humidity and from there to colossal thunderstorms.
In such a dangerous world, the Akken always lived ready to break their family unit and communities to escape danger, their instinct for survival rising above any appreciation of their place of origin or residence. In these more routine separations than they themselves would like to admit, the custom was to temporarily divide the family into pairs, which led to the older sisters forming a bond with the younger ones in order to protect them to keep the family bloodline alive. (the order is normally for 1st daughter with 3rd, 2nd daughter with 4th and so on)
Well, with this explained, I hope you understand better the implications of Acheron considering us their “little brothers and sisters”.
The Acheron empire wants to be our allies "forever and ever", our "older sisters" although that is frowned upon by some here on Earth (and some there in Acheron, do not think that a perfect civilization exists without its good number of bad apples)
And while it is true that there are other allies of the Acheron Empire that have been introduced to us and with whom we do business, we humans are the only allies of the Acheron Empire at this level of importance.
We are the only ones the Akken would be willing to spend an inconceivable fortune for us to buy our entire solar system. The only ones for which the Acheron Empire would be willing to declare war without hesitation.
The question is obvious, especially for all those who continue to believe in massive conspiracies: What hidden motives will exist behind this "affection"? Do they want to seize the earth's resources?
Some will start to theorize that it is to avoid their extinction at all costs, others will say that it is to take advantage of our resources like oil.
I have my own theory after living so long with them and seeing their society from within:
This "affection" is an intrinsic part of the Akken mentality, part of their nature at a level as internal as the tendency to form and antagonize communities of us humans.
Do you remember the times I have mentioned how the brain of the adult Akken is more malleable and receptive than the human equivalent (in addition to being slightly larger in proportion)?
I explained it by comparing it with the brain of a child-teenager, and although there is a great deal of distance to overcome in the comparison, I sincerely believe that it was not misguided. (From my perspective I can tell you that I slowly feel my own brain changing, as slowly the new neurons inside me that I don't know how are reproducing make me feel more empathetic, more receptive, more ... direct and with less and less ability to lie or hide great intentions. And maybe something more capable of remembering data but this is surely a total placebo for the time being)
And do you know that the Akken and the human brain of our infants coincide? How extreme can be both affection for someone they appreciate and hatred for someone they despise.
The Akken are feared by the entire Milky Way being never being the ones that caused these conflicts (except on three great occasions that we can comment on another day), that is a fact that we can verify by asking any other alien civilization.
There is no army more brutal and effective than that of the Acheron Empire, known to the entire galaxy for 17 undefeated millennia! More than 20 generations of Akken without receiving a single military defeat, the casualties of soldiers are so low that you can count them with an abacus. Akken are so direct and brutal in battle that no one dares to contest any territory or sovereignty against them.
Allow me to describe to you a course of a random conflict with the Acheron Empire and before let me mention that another part of Akken nature is that they are unable to attack / pressure civilian populations, leaving all their onslaught and military power to fall on the enemy army. and its leaders.
The army seeking to confront them must be prepared for Zero surviving soldiers policies whose only way to escape is by showing constriction, sieges to entire continents for decades without rest, scorched land taken to the extreme on every battlefield so that there is no possibility of counter-advance by the enemy. Prepared to fight against a land army more similar to a force of nature than to living beings, armed for both kilometer distances and close combat and against a naval, air and space force that destroy all their objectives without stopping to even consider taking advantage and capture enemy weapons, vehicles, and bases.
Soldiers, leaders, weapons, vehicles, bases, trenches, satellites ... everything ends up in ashes, crushed under their gigantic bodies able to grow at will to the point that certain species of our size are no bigger than their fingernails. Whole continents reduced to lifeless wasteland after their unstoppable advance.
What do our dear allies do with these brutal victories, you ask?
Nothing. Zero. Nada.
Usually there is no attempt to even demand compensation or claim the territory won. It's much more common for Akken themselves to end up sending necessary goods and resources to the civilian population of their eradicated enemies than to even think of taking advantage of their victories to send a message.
They simply ... go back to Acheron, leaving the civilian population to rebuild their worlds having known the mistake of confronting them. In the Akken mentality there is no enjoyment or pleasure for war (something very different than for battle, which for the Akken as we will see is something similar to our high-level sport), nor of the results of these. War is the last resort and must always be carried out with the utmost ferocity and speed so that they last as little as possible.
And that is absolutely terrifying when you have against you a population of hundreds of millions of beings that in less developed worlds they would we call goddesses, fed and supported by a home planet with almost infinite resources. (I think that in total population the Earth is more numerous and populated, but that is because our planet is much more peaceful and peaceful than Acheron and I plan to emphasize it a thousand times, there are creatures in Acheron that look like they were taken from Monster Hunter)
Let's stop being afraid of them for a second and let's talk about Acheron's army, okay?
Let's start with the name the army receives both in Acheron and beyond its borders: Acheron's High Rain Armies. As I did when listening to it, you may be wondering what the word rain has to do with all this.
You see, for Akken, rain is not just another climate. The simple event of raining has a very symbolic meaning and is always a highly celebrated event in their society. (I think this comes from the general climate of Acheron driving very powerful rains, lasting in duration and scarce on the calendar)
The rain represents the end of suffering, the cleansing of the spirit and the earth and the beginning of something new, something that will nourish itself from what was before to shine even more. The army of Acheron is the army of the rain since new things are rebuilt in its path, clean of all the previous and that will feed on the bad decisions of their grandparents to be something better. And if you ask me now if the civilians of the races that have faced the Akken think the same, I will give you the greatest shrug that I can do.
If we talk about combatants in total, the Acheron army usually has between 10 million troops ready for action, either against other planets or against the nature of Acheron himself. It is important to note that local police, firefighters, rescue forces and all earthly equivalents are part of those 10 million prepared and trained operatives with all the social implications and duties that this entails.
The highest and most important position is curiously one of the words that coincides with the one on earth, the Great Kaiser. For an Akken becoming Grand Kaiser of the Acheron High Rain Armies (full position name) is relatively easy as be chosen by the previous Kaiser... or as simple as being the strongest on Acheron's face.
Exactly what you just read, the position of greatest power in the strongest army of this galaxy goes to the most powerful Akken, without any kind of process of choice other than defeating whoever is in command battle face to face, one on one or how they know this tradition, sport and even ritual of passage between mother and daughters, Lastar. This position is ... for life until defeat or resignation, the latter being the most common as I understand it.
The Akken highly values personal strength, and not only do I speak of physical strength, but also speed, intelligence, composure, agility, endurance, psychoenergetic manipulation, will... Only those individuals who defeat the current Kaiser at all levels are prepared to lead their own in martial, commercial or diplomatic battles. And the part about leading them in battle is completely literal, the Grand Kaiser is always the first to attack and the last to leave.
The training to join the army and once inside is absolutely brutal and selective, and only after this previous training and being appointed an official soldier an Akken can act on behalf of the main government of Acheron. We are talking about an extreme preparation process, one that can lead us to the comparison in destructive potential between a first class Akken soldier and a small human seawarship.
Well, having said that I must attack a point that you have surely stopped to read a second time. Psychoenergetic abilities, or as I see many people call it I think that due to Xcom (I don't know which of the 8 exactly but I think it is because of Xcom) psionic abilities.
All Akken possess psychic abilities that allows them to manipulate certain environmental fields such as static (to a greater or lesser extent), from very superficial abilities among the general population such as slight telekinesis or telepathies to specializations such as prediction, levitation, reinforcements or force projection. And when I say all Akken is all of them, it's not a genetic factor that can fail or malfunction like certain human traits. Think of it as the ability for our hearts to beat.
These abilities resonate with certain Acheron minerals (although there are theories that they are due to these same minerals), giving rise to the Akken's Army preferred weapons capable of splitting the battlefield in two, of destroying entire bases with just one hit or destroy mountains of certain materials in a single perfect maneuver: the Ra1-Memo weaponry.
These psychic abilities are the reason that the Akken can manipulate us without damaging us with their enormous physical strength, detect where we are in their surroundings or simply understand what we say without the need for translators (The latter ... do not take it literally. I am talking more about feeling what we want to express than understanding any language).
I guess part of the reason some humans are afraid of Akken is this very thing though I can't figure it out why!
From the first day I found out about all this I have always thought how cool it is!
I think the part of the army has been made clear, and although it's not intended to scare anyone, it's important to note how stupid I think the ideas of some humans are to declare space war on the Akken. Almost as stupid as that in 2045 we continue with theories that the Earth is flat. (Although I suppose it is part of our nature to deny the obvious and put nails in our own way)
Let's go to something more personal without abandoning the theme of today's chapter. Do you know who is the sister-in-law of the current Kaiser? Bingo! The only human who currently has Akken nationality and is slowly becoming one! Me as myself!
Today instead of continuing my memories I have something very special, a live call with Kaiser Maelana Mika herself! (For the record, this is a surprise and not the result of being scared because I'm listening a saw out there and have started calling the police, making a mistake on the number, ending up dialing Mae's, that's a stupid thing only a truly stupid person would do... sigh ...)
And I know that it is not necessary but I will remind you how calls between planets work, especially between planets with such different sizes.
The course of time is the same in almost the entire universe despite what the films made many believe years ago.
When you speak to a person on another planet, the correct measure of time to use is, both courtesy and practicality, that of the planet whose rotation around its star is the shortest.
Now that I'm thinking about it… whether this is a live call does not matter at all. Both because the conversation is going to be transcribed by an application on my mobile and because later I have to separate all this text into chapters.
Well ... c'est la vie! Enjoy this live call technically live just for me!
Fi, myself :P : Mae, are you there? Wait a moment, don't talk. The application is transcribing the call with the names of my phone contacts.
MaeMae, Sister <3<3<3<3: Application? Application as on Earth phone? Where are you calling from?
Fi, Myself :P: What did I tell you? ... wait ...
---
Fi: Now... yes, custom names! Welcome to chapter 4 of my memoirs, Kaiser Maelana Mika! It's a pleasure having you around here! Say hello to our listeners-readers!
Mae: Readers? Wait a minute, Fi. Let's start at the beginning, where are you?
Fi: On Earth.
Mae: ... why? Are you or your other family in trouble? I have heard that the Earth mafias are very insistent, maybe I can do something to help if I call our embassy in... Spain. Are you in spain
Fi: Don't stress, big sister, this has nothing to do with mafias. Right now I'm sending you by message a preview of chapter 3 of my memoirs where I explain what I'm doing here. Are you too busy now to talk?
Mae: I left the meeting because of your call so we have about 10 Earth minutes before I have to come back in. Memories, huh? Are you not too young for this phase? As I understand it, humans begin to live off their memories since they turn 70.
Fi: I know it's early but I'm surrounded and if I don't get out of this alive I want there to be some of me- IT'S NOT LITERAL, MAE, I'M LISTENING TO YOU UNWRAP YOUR SWORD FROM HERE.
Mae: Fi, don't say something like that again if it's not literal, please! You know that if something happens to you I will not answer for my actions. I would never forgive myself if something happens to my family, to my sister's wife and the future mo-
Fi: Easy, easy, it was an Earthly joke! I will be here for a week and I need to recover my humor, sorry! I am not surrounded by anyone except the other passengers on the flight that takes me to Barcelona, so I have decided to entertain myself by writing some “memoirs about me” on social media. Can you believe I still remember my passwords from 20 years ago? I can't believe how much advertising is still on facebook!
Mae: You are the human by far the smartest I know, so of course I do.
Fi: I haven't doubted for a second what you would answer that, MaeMae. Well, do you mind answering some questions for my memories then? I'll be brief, okay?
Mae: You are never brief, that’s a part of what I like about you. What do you want to ask, who am I and what? An interview like the one from the show you taught me?
Fi: If you're talking about that Late Night we don't have that much time or jokes prepared, so better introduce yourself and I'll ask you a few questions so that my human readers feel closer to the Akken and your culture.
Mae: You work more for the relations between our worlds than many Earth and Akken politicians I've had the pleasure of meeting, Fi.
Well, my name is Maelana Mika and I am the eldest of the four daughters of Charlise and Abbyl Mika. I currently hold the position of Grand Kaiser of Acheron's High Rain Armies for 35 years after I defeated my predecessor in honorable Lastar. I have led our armies in two campaigns, a peaceful campaign to buy the Alph solar system to which the Earth belongs and where you are right now, and a military campaign against the Aruns-Zae protectorate to defend our borders, both successful with only 3 casualties.
I am currently 79 years old, of which I have spent 40 years in the army, my previous position was builder-guardian in the province of Saemir. Something like this?
Fi: Technically yes, but I expected something less ... curricular, you know? Something else of the type ... if you have a lover or partner, your tastes and hobbies ... those things.
Mae: You know I've never had a partner, Fi, I spend too much time between my work, my training, and our family. And if I have to talk about my private passions I want to emphasize that I am passionate about sport fishing, one of the best things that we have imported from humanity and for which I personally want to thank all the Earth fishermen who have been perfecting it for so many centuries.
Fi: I still don't understand how you have turned fishing into a heads-up battle against the fish, although I suppose considering that most of the fish species in Acheron are as big as blue whales and as aggressive as Brage Wells I suppose that it was simply the most logical transformation.
Mae: I also really like another Earth sport, Formula 1, if that helps! I find it so incredible the precise handling and speeds they achieve with vehicles so slow and poorly designed to turn. I fully understand that our presence when moving affects the races but I would love to see a race while I'm on the circuit ... the stands count as a circuit, right?-
Fi: I think so, and you know that this is just what I meant! This is how you show how great you are! It's much easier to empathize and to be accepted on a more personal level if they see you as the normal people you are! You specifically, not only because of you being the Kaiser but you understand me! Give me something else, something that you do every day and that you like!
Mae: Well, I also like physical exercise, especially with weight lifting by far. The other day I grew to my full size and was lifting for 6 hours, the first time in many months that I had time! I broke my old record and that of the headquarters in one session!
Fi: I'm going to regret it but I'm really curious. What weight do you generate on the dumbbell? And to make it better understood, Acheron training dumbbells use a system that generates pressure equivalent to an amount of weight, so that the same dumbbell can be used to lift 40 kilos as well as 1000. How much did you lift?
Mae: Keep in mind that I was using my maximum size until I almost didn't fit in the gym and that my muscles were maximized, okay? 1000 tons on each side. Of course this doesn't mean anything, it's impossible to maintain that size in a situation that requires not being fully focused on the effort-
Fi: Sorry, what weight did you say you have lifted?
Mae: 1000 tons.
Fi: Damn ... I mean, you're telling me that you lifted the equivalent of an earthy redwood for hours ... and in turn you implied that you were almost as big as a whole military gym ... We were so good at avoiding seeing you too intimidating. Sigh ...
Mae: I ... have I made a mistake mentioning that?
Fi: Not at all, it's something to be proud of! I am at least proud of you, big sister.
Mae: Thanks for the compliment, I'll help you match me when you're a full-fledged Akken! Your readers know about your transformation, right?
Fi: Yep, previous chapter. And for the love of God and all that is most sacred, don't you think of making me lift that! Love me a little, please!
Mae: It's precisely because I love you, Fi! When the process is over, your body will be that of an Akken, one who has been ill for too long and has lost all physical form. So you will need to work it up seriously, in order to feel 100% of your performance! ... And with this I don't mean that humans cannot give 100% of their performance, okay ?! They can and their merits are incredible in proportion, I mean it totally seriously and without any irony!
Fi: Forget it, Mae, they will understand what you mean. It would be hard to do worse than the first time they invited the Herald of Acheron to witness the Earth Olympics! Many don't want to understand it but I am sure seeing the surveys and the requests of young humans to study in Acheron that every day more and more people are able to see that there is no evil in your way of expressing.
Mae: I wish I could confirm that but knowing that they are going to read it ... listen to it? Whatever it is. That this is going to be read by humans and I can only apologize over and over again in the name of our species for all those Akken voices that belittle you, I know that it is unfair to compare it with yours-
Fi: Stop right there! There are bad weeds on both planets, people with too much political power and social diffusion, trashing and stabbing our relationships. They can and will be as vocal as they can be, humans and Akken, in hating us ... but surveys, trends and simply our increasingly close relationships show otherwise.
Humans and Akken, Akken and humans ... our ties are getting deeper and deeper every day and nothing can stop that.
Mae: That's true too, my position allows me to directly maintain and see the results of our closeness. Although I have to say I may never understand how humans can declare war on their own kind, it's the biggest point that makes me feel somewhat uncomfortable meeting with your military leaders.
Fi: Honestly I would feel the same way… we have been here for about 10 minutes, do you have to come in now or can you stay a little longer?
Mae: You know how much I would love to, but I can't keep ignoring the knocks my assistant is giving to the door that separates us much longer.
Fi: Well consider yourself goodbye, MaeMae! Thank you very much for answering the call, really! I'm sure this is going to look great in my "memories"
Mae: Be very careful, will you? Call ... when it's night there on Earth, so I can continue working without the stress of knowing if something has happened to you. See you later ... I think that's the expression.
Fi: Bingo! See you later, Mae!
I think it wasn't too bad, right? I don't see a lot of errors in the audio to text transcription either, yep, I think it was a successful rushed first attempt! If you want another day to call another of my friends or Akken family to hear first hand everything I'm telling, leave it to me in the comments, but if you want to know the testimony of someone specific!
Interviews, first-hand data, scientific and cultural information ... I think that without having planned these "memories" are fitting me very well! I hope I can continue writing as soon as I get home, either thanks to the local police or the Akken embassy, I am liking it much more than I thought and I still haven't posted any of this.
I am going to divide the chapter here and in the next day, which for me technically will be a few minutes while I let the corrector correct all the errors that my big fingers have caused with the keyboard being too small, we will talk about Acheron as a planet and how did the Akken's first reception here on Earth end, including ... my first encounter with my beloved lover.
See you soon! : P