A Coyote’s Hunting Ground

But there was still one obstacle to overcome. Meeting the Shlups Chieftess. Upon learning about aliens, humans have scrambled to learn all they could, but still, the Shlups were so secretive that even among other aliens, not much were known. All humans could learn about ths Shlups were that they were aquatic, that they had a longer lifespan than any known species, and that they could know things. At a single touch, a Shlup could learn more things about a person and a species then a decade of study.

The Shlups were the final requirement before the final vote. And even though the diplomats of every planet had the right to cast a vote, the Shlups opinion was held in such high regard that if they voted no, then it was so unlikely that humans would be allowed to join that they might as well give up.

Though none of the alien diplomats had phrased it that way, that was how General Stallings felt as he rode in the shuttle to meet with the Shlup chieftess and the rest of the alien diplomats. Though humans had been advised that several humans should accompany this momentous event, General Stallings had been adamant in his decision to go alone.

Long before his time, the military were simply killers fighting wars, but that was long ago and now they were mostly peacekeepers. Helping disagreements from escalating into wars. They were also the ones who explored space. His father was actually on the ship that made first contact. And now here he was. What happened here would determine whether or not humans could join the conglomeration.

The shuttle docked at the station and General Stallings followed his guide, a koala looking alien (though he would never say something like that to his face) with a name General Stallings couldn't pronounce. Until finally entering the council room. There were 17 aliens gathered around a large round table, with 2 chairs empty. His guide took one, but General Stallings didnt sit down. He scanned the room until he found that the one alien he didn't recognize. Though other aliens had visited Earth since making contact, this one species hadn't, meaning she must be the Shlup Chieftess. Though other species either breathed the air with a few having some kind of breathing apparatus, this one was covered in a mostly clear suit that conformed to its body. To General Stallings, it seemed a bit like a jellyfish. A small center with twelve tentacles, each one nearly six feet long, acting as limbs, as well as a dozen eyes on stalks protruding from the center of its face. The eyes always seemed to be shifting its gaze. For a moment he would be staring at one eye, but then it would look away and a different eye would be looking at him.

General Stalling bowed slightly.

"You must be Aashwayla," john said, careful to pronounce the name as best he could, "Chieftess of the Shlup race."

There was a slight delay as the translators that the aliens provided the humans with to convey his introduction, but Genral Stallings had gotten used to that and barely noticed the delay.

The voice coming from the priestess sound similar to whales, but he focused on the translator.

"Yes, and you are General Stalling of the human race."

It wasn't phrased as a question, but the General answered yes anyway. The Chieftess spoke again.

"You understand what is about to occur. We will touch. I will look deep into your soul, and know it, and I will know the soul of the human race. I will convey what I learn to my fellow diplomats. We will discuss this. We will decide whether or not humans will join the conglomeration."

The General noticed the chieftess did not phase anything as a question. To her this was simply a matter of fact. These things would happen.

"I understand Chieftess Aashwayla." He said. "But before that happens, feel the need to tell you and all other diplomats something before we begin."

"You may." The chieftess replied.

"We could have. We didn't. We won't."

All the chieftess eyes focused on General Stallings.

"Those words do not convey meaning."

"Not yet. But they will."

General Stallings held out his hand to the chieftess. She approached him, her tentacles moving her so that she didnt appear to walk but rather glide over the open air. There was a slight hiss as one of the tentacles was released from the suit and reached out towards him.

The feelings was like his mind was falling into a bowl of jello and surrounding it. He felt the presence of the chieftess mind and he could see small flashes of her life. The feeling of being underwater, but it being the most natural feeling of the world. He knew that if he pushed his mind he could have seen more, but felt that would be an invasion of sorts. Instead his mind just waited.

It took only about three seconds, but suddenly Chieftess Aashwayla jerked away and quickly moved backwards. All eyes were once again focused on him, but the fear was unmistakable.

Other diplomats reacted to her reaction. Most leapt to their feet (or whatever they had resembling feet) and some even backed away like the Chieftess. The General did nothing but allow his hand to fall to his side.

After a few seconds he spoke.

"We could have. We didn't. We won't." He repeated.

"I understand." The chieftess replied

The General glanced at the chair that was meant for him and back to the chieftess.

"I think it'll be best for me to wait in the shuttle and allow you to make your decision."

A few diplomats tried to speak, but Chieftess Aashwayla overruled them.

"I agree."

General Stallings walked out of the room and only when he did, did the Chieftess relax.

"I have never seen you react in such a manner." Said one diplomat. "I've never even heard of such a strong reaction from any Shlup. What is the human soul."

The chieftess waited for a moment before beginning to speak. Each of her eyes shifting between diplomats. Except one that remained firmly locked on the door the General exited.

"When we first discovered humanity we studied them. We needed to learn about them before deciding whether or not they should join the conglomeration. Their history was filled with wars. This troubled us. But very few races can claim to have never been in a war. And humanity seemed to move past their wars. We studied them. They studied us."

There was a moment of silence before a diplomat spoke. "That seems only natural. After all, they had no way of knowing if we were peaceful. In fact, my race also studied the conglomeration before joining."

Chieftess Aashwayla focused an eye on the diplomat.

"The human race has discovered a critical flaw in our security and our defenses. They studied it and knew that they could exploit that flaw. If they had acted, the conglomeration would have fallen."

"Impossible. Our defenses our strong."

"Our defenses hasnt been used in a long time. We have grown lax. Humans saw this. They can wipe us out."

"Is that what they're doing? Threatening to destroy the conglomeration if we dont allow them access."

"No. They have decided they want to join the conglomeration. They will abide by the decision of the conglomeration. If we deny them access, they will be saddened, but they will accept it."

"With this new information, I say we attack. Destroy the humans before they destroy us."

"No!" The chieftess harshly shouted. "They could have. They didn't. They won't. Unless we strike first. That is their decision. They will not destroy us unless we strike first."

"We should at least deny them entry to the conglomeration. And watch them. Make sure they abide by that decision."

The chieftess waited silently for several minutes before speaking.

"I cast my vote, on behalf of the Shlup race, to allow the human race entry into the conglomeration."

Several diplomats began to speak at once. Chieftess Aashwayla waited until they quieted before continuing.

"They could have. They didn't. They won't. They have decided they want to be a part of the conglomeration. If allowed, the first thing they would do is upgrade our defenses. They would treat each species as a member to their own. And to a human, an insult to one is an insult to all. An attack to one is an attack to all. Their loyalty is nigh unbreakable. I vote in favor. I know the Shlup opinion is highly regarded, but make your decision with your own merit and with your own people in mind."

The diplomat who brought Stallings to the station approached the shuttle, though much more cautiously. General Stallings glanced at him.

"So we're in?"

The diplomat looked confused.

"Yes, but how did you know we would vote in favor?"

"Because there's only one thing scarier than a monster within."

"What is that?"