Universal Broadcasting Network welcomes viewers to a special edition of The Siblings, UBC's news and analysis program focusing on the three races who inhabit Sol. I'm your host, Allen Jordan. Joining me today is one of the system's most highly regarded xenologists Dr. Robert Freitas, thank you for joining me Dr.
Robert: It's a pleasure to be here, and please, call me Bob.
Allen: OK Dr. Bob, the events leading up to the battle at Asteroid 1 has been the top news from Earth to Titan for the last year or so, and many believe the Venusians victory there signals a renewal of aggressions for the first time since the arrival of the Others. Do you agree?
Robert: No actually, the Venusians, whatever else you can say about them, have always been strictly above board with their intentions, they believe it the height of dishonor to lie for an advantage.
Allen: But what about their breach of the tri-party accords? Activating their sensor in the way they did was clearly a threat, and proves they lied about their intentions.
Robert: That certainly seems to be the position taken by Mars, but if you examine the Dragon's public statements, they never agreed to anything specifically, though they certainly worded some communications to take advantage of some terms of the Accords, the rest of the system accepting that was, to them, either a sign of acceptance of the status quo, or a sign of weakness in negotiations.
Allen: Well, how did the governments of Mars and Earth manage to miss this?
Robert: I can't actually speak for them seeing as I was not consulted, nor to my knowledge were any of my colleagues.
Allen: Which might be indicative of a reason right there.
Robert: Perhaps.
Allen: So you don't believe Venus will take advantage of its perceived superiority after their victory at Asteroid 1? Or a reactivation of their active sensors? Clearly Mars and Earth would have difficulty forcing them to turn it off.
Robert: No, the Venusians clearly stated in a public communication that they will leave their sensor off. And the fact that they set it as terms of a challenge makes it an almost ironclad promise.
Allen: Talk about the challenge a little bit, this is an aspect of their society that many are unfamiliar with.
Robert: Challenges are a means of internal control, they prevent disputes in the Venusians very competitive and violent culture from spilling into civil war. Exact details are somewhat nebulous but essentially if one party desires something from the other, they make a challenge and set the terms, if it is accepted then the result of the fight is taken as law, if rejected then it is assumed the defender has submitted to the challenger. The challenge must be public, and made between relative equals. A lowly engine tech cannot challenge MIlkhogast, the current leader, for example. However one of the other senior administrators or military commanders might be able to.
Allen: Is it significant that this was the first challenge Venus has made to either Mars or Earth ever?
Robert: Oh my yes, as I mentioned, challenges must be between relative equals, making the challenge shows that they perceive us as on their level. Which argues against them launching an unprovoked attack.
Allen: Even though they won their challenge handily?
Robert: Even so, if they had lost then the rest of the system would be in a better negotiating position, however their stated intent was to test our strength and encourage the powers to increase their military.
Allen: Does this mean that Venus would accept challenges from the rest of the system? Say perhaps to access Mercury and the ruins there, or force them to join the Accords?
Robert: Probably, though standard negotiations might also work to do that, as long as all parties specifically state, rather than imply what they are agreeing to. And in the case of Mercury, losing it might immediately result in a new challenge to recover the planet, since they have an estimated 5 million people on it currently and the ruins represent a potentially incalculable advantage.
Allen: I see, well we are about out of time, Dr. Bob, thank you again for your appearance, we hope to see you again soon.
Robert: thanks again Allen, it's been a pleasure.
