While the Omul are all
about individualism and relativist thought, the insectoid Chiraktis
in Solar Echoes can almost be considered a polar opposite. Their
entire society is structured around a single point of focus--the
Queen. Her will is followed without question, and the males, or
drones, exist only to serve her. Individualism is not only
discouraged inside the hive, but punished severely. Outside the hive,
exceptions are made for the drones so that they may blend in with the
other cultures and quietly pave the way for Chiraktis expansionism.
Even the names of the drones reflect their ideology—in the
Chiraktis language, each name is merely a number. Lying or dying for
the Queen is considered a great honor, and Chiraktis drones are
fiercely loyal to her. However, it does seem that the longer a drone
is away from the hive and its brothers, the more the influences of
other cultures appear to have an effect. Some drones have even
adapted rather well to life outside the hive, but if there is even an
imagined lapse in their loyalty or quality of service to the Queen,
these “defectors” are hunted down and killed quickly for their
betrayal.
As seven alien races struggle to co-exist in an uneasy alliance, the Inter-Stellar Union sends Union Guard agents on missions to preserve the crucial balance. These specialized operatives must do what regional security cannot, dealing with smugglers, pirates, terrorists, and even greater challenges in order to bring stability to a universe that needs it desperately. Without the Union Guard, the races will not be prepared to face a looming alien threat they can only hope to defeat together.
No comments:
Post a Comment