Thande
June 16th, 2005, 09:15 PM
Basic idea behind this is a slightly different version of Turtledove's Race from Worldwar. Largely they're similar - socially conservative, taking a long time to progress technologically, and different in some ways to humans but mostly acting in similar ways. However, this Race is not into outright imperialism: they search the stars for planets to join an interstellar confederation on equal terms.
However, they believe that might makes right. Upon encountering a planet they select the most powerful nation there, negotiate with them and then arrange for the rest of the planet to be put under that nation's control to unite the planet, giving the nation whatever assistance from their superior technology.
Let's also say this Race is more technologically advanced than Turtledove's and still poses a serious threat to 2005 Earth.
Here's the crunch: their ships and sensors are speed of light. And because they themselves are ultra-conservative, they 1) Don't expect things to have changed here and 2) Will continue to treat with the pre-selected nation even if they have. If they are confronted with the change, they might get confused and decide to destroy the planet because its fast-changing natives are clearly aberrant and a possible threat.
So I think you can see what's coming. The natives of 2005 Earth quickly cotton onto this when the aliens arrive and decide to practice a subterfuge, pretending that whoever the aliens think should be superpower IS still the superpower - as the alternative may be being wiped out.
This could work in several timeframes.
Aliens look in 1850 - in 2005 they think Britain is the superpower.
Aliens look in 1600 - in 2005 they think Spain is the superpower.
Aliens look in 200 - in 2005 they think Rome is the superpower.
Etc.
However, they believe that might makes right. Upon encountering a planet they select the most powerful nation there, negotiate with them and then arrange for the rest of the planet to be put under that nation's control to unite the planet, giving the nation whatever assistance from their superior technology.
Let's also say this Race is more technologically advanced than Turtledove's and still poses a serious threat to 2005 Earth.
Here's the crunch: their ships and sensors are speed of light. And because they themselves are ultra-conservative, they 1) Don't expect things to have changed here and 2) Will continue to treat with the pre-selected nation even if they have. If they are confronted with the change, they might get confused and decide to destroy the planet because its fast-changing natives are clearly aberrant and a possible threat.
So I think you can see what's coming. The natives of 2005 Earth quickly cotton onto this when the aliens arrive and decide to practice a subterfuge, pretending that whoever the aliens think should be superpower IS still the superpower - as the alternative may be being wiped out.
This could work in several timeframes.
Aliens look in 1850 - in 2005 they think Britain is the superpower.
Aliens look in 1600 - in 2005 they think Spain is the superpower.
Aliens look in 200 - in 2005 they think Rome is the superpower.
Etc.