I have to admit - I avoided this thread for a very long time because of the crack-fic nature of the original posts. Outsider is a serious attempt to translate very soft sci-fi tropes into a much harder sci-fi setting while keeping the space opera themes intact. The last thing I wanted to see was a Marty Stu crack-fic.
ShadowDragon8685... wow, to write a fic like you did is hard enough, but to take the original material and turn it into...
this takes real talent. This is incredible and you are to be commended.
Something from
much earlier I wanted to comment on:
ShadowDragon8685 wrote:As requested, a bit of Opalstorm simmering in the tiny brig aboard Swiftwind.
======
She twisted her lips up in a smirk; indeed, if human menfolk were so irresistible to Loroi warriors, once the race was properly vassalized, perhaps Loroi vessels could keep one or two aboard for morale purposes. It would greatly simplify her task of keeping discipline if she had some sort of apparently-irresistible alien reward to dangle for good behavior. Then the need to constantly discipline her subordinates would be alleviated, as they would, surely, to some degree reign in their own unruly and wild impulses in the hope of pleasing her and by so doing, gain access...
Opalstorm reached up, stroking her ear thoughtfully. This possibility bore some... Consideration.
All *wink* *wink* *nudge* *nudge* fan-service jokes aside, this is what hit me when I first saw the
thread on what Humanity could offer the Loroi. Judging by the
map of the Local Bubble, Terran space is out of the way at best, and unreasonably far at worst. Even if Humanity could offer Loroi fleets a "back door" into Umiak space, the Loroi would still need to expend ships and resources to take advantage of it. As I see it based on what I've read in the 'Insider,' even with technical assistance or outright uplifting, Humanity isn't going to be of much military or industrial help for the Loroi anytime soon; the initial push to fortify our (and by extension the Loroi's) position would involve mostly Loroi assets. Any ships and war materiel sent to a new Human "front" would NOT be sent to the Steppes and bordering Loroi systems - a risky proposition with the Umiak continuing to press on it.
Of course, the Loroi could justify any and all resources sent to secure us because of the threat we would pose if we, as a whole, fell into Umiak hands. Farsight-invisible Human slaves forced into warships on the front line would be devastating to the Loroi. That said, we have just as much interest in staying alive (and free) as the Loroi do in keeping us out of Umiak control, nullifying our negotiating position somewhat. And who knows if the human diplomat at the other end of the table will even understand the full nature of the Loroi's position, and the leverage our telepathic immunity grants us?
Without anything more substantial to gain than access to (and knowledge of) new jump routes, refueling points, and a potential (future) industrial base, and especially considering that the Loroi could simply
take all the above, I could see them asking Humanity for a cadre of "observers" as I'm sure they'd be officially called. Ten thousand men, one or two for each Loroi ship, would hardly be a drop in the global population bucket, and I'm sure there would be little difficulty in finding volunteers. What's more, the TCA could actually
use them as observers, both to garner intelligence and a simple understanding of how a broad interstellar war is actually fought.
It costs Humanity practically nothing, gains us security (unless, of course, the Umiak win), and gives us a leg up in understanding the races and technology that surround us in the local bubble. From the Loroi side, assuming their culture would even allow for such a thing (something not yet addressed in canon), they gain a huge morale boost for their troops (without putting any of their
extremely valuable male population at risk), secure a possibly existential threat from the control of their enemy, and gain a potential back door to Umiak space, opening up a future second front.
lols!
Though might be tough to get going again after two years since the last installment....