T O P

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ItzBlueWulf

Zhao is right, this isn't satisfying at all, Kalsim is literally grasping at straws as long as he can not admit that he never had to kill any predator.


OriginalCptNerd

Even worse he has to realize that he has been a predator all his life, which doesn’t change just because you compost your prey instead of eating it.


McGrewer

They don't even do that... They burn to ash. A truly wasteful predator if there ever was one.


Saw-Gerrera

I have to wonder what Kreia would think of the Federation and especially Kalsim... ​ I can't help but feel whatever she'd say would be down right SCATHING at the very least.


Ok_Blueberry_5305

Like from Kotor 2? Everything she says is scathing anyway lol, she would unleash Nihilus on their asses


Demolisher05

Guy is only sad because he thinks the "cure" and cultural genocide were an option to complete genocide. Nope. He's too far gone. Unlike Sovlin, he has no actual empathy or remorse.


[deleted]

I can’t commit genocide? Might as well commit cultural genocide. Can’t wait to see this guy in court. It’d be interesting to see how fast his beliefs are ripped apart by anybody who’s got a brain larger than a walnut


Defiant_Heretic

He has empathy, but is too constrained by dogma and prejudice to be reformed by it. He was willing to commit genocide based on assumptions, propaganda, and ignorance. While he is certainly capable of empathy (he was haunted by the incineration of predator cubs), and reason(he creates a consistent worldview to justify his actions), he never takes the time to study humanity enough to be able to justify any kind of conflict, let alone something as final as genocide.


tatticky

To play devil's advocate, he trusted that people who told him there was no other option did their research first.


Defiant_Heretic

Why would he trust them though? His own president is a fanatic who attacked representatives that voted for diplomacy. An action I vaguely remember him disapproving of. He knows his culture unfairly demonizes predators, even if he has accepted some of that demonization.


tatticky

Not the president, the scientists. The ones who studied humanity and created the initial report. He assumed that *they,* at least, would be objective about it. From the outside, it's easy to poke holes in that belief, but it's much harder when everyone around you is saying you is saying that *you're* the wrong one for thinking differently.


CandidSmile8193

He trusted them because they were qualified experts whose job it was to advise him and his leadership when making decisions. Being a qualified expert, such as himself, it is only natural for him to trust the conclusions and opinions of other qualified experts.


Golde829

the scary thing about Kalsim's entire predicament from an entirely amoral perspective, his entire internal narrative isn't really wrong.. objectively speaking, he is a generational victim of cultural and genetic genocide and generations of exposure to oppressive anti-predator propaganda, everything he's seen relating to Predators are "savage" adults or "untainted" children who have yet to be "taught predatory savagery" his own justifications started out scarily airtight, but all it took was the single hole of Nikonus's (live) confession to make his rationale break down; don't get me wrong, it's still a solid rationale from his perspective, but from an external viewpoint he's obviously grasping at straws to keep things together SP15 has confirmed (somewhere, don't remember where tho) that he's aware of how many redemptions there are, and I'm pretty sure it was on a chapter following Kalsim so while I can actually see his reasoning, I feel bad when I look at this birb as a victim rather than an exterminator what I actually kinda don't wanna see is him having a similar revelation to Sovlin.. mostly because I genuinely feel like he would probably end up *more* broken as a result, Sovlin was just a fleet commander, Kalsim was an *exterminator*, and I wouldn't be surprised if the realization just.. breaks him and he just can't cope with it at all... maybe this chicken will cross the road, and get to the other side ~~(never thought I'd use the dark undertone to that irl)~~


CandidSmile8193

Spot on. I don't think Kalsim will be able to even self-terminate, I see him hyperspiraling through endless logical hurdles and loops till he burns out his own mind and eventually has a complete mental break and renders himself into a perpetual catatonic state and ends up institutionalized, a listless being, a body that moves but a mind totally gone, the spirit of life leaving him to wither away till he eventually stops living. He will be like someone under perpetual hypnosis: if no one tells him to eat and drink he will starve till he dies.


Golde829

fuck that's even worse- just give him mandatory therapy and let my conscious rest easy please


I_Maybe_Play_Games

Trust the experts!


SpacePaladin15

Part 81 is here! In what's likely his last POV, Kalsim learns his species' origins from Cilany herself. Rather than a complete breakdown, our Krakotl feels grateful to the Kolshians, and guilty for not offering the cure to humans. What do you think of the captain's response? Does this shape your view on his punishment? Also, Cilany returns. It appears she was the first alien given Earth citizenship by the UN…and we hear a bit of Zhao’s rhetoric. Are you concerned by the new SecGen’s humanity-first philosophy? As always, thank you for reading! Part 82 will be here on Wednesday.


only-a-random-user

Damn, talk about Stockholm Syndrome. He finds out his kind were culturally genocided, and he’s thankful for it.


Thepcfd

remind me lot of people today who are racist. agains their own race.


Negative_Storage5205

There are people in India *to this day* that engage in "white-worship" and apologetics for the British occupation. So, Kalsim's reaction is actually pretty realistic. . . Was the choice to have this part take place in India intentional on the part of SP15?


[deleted]

[удалено]


ggouge

Let me start off by saying the British were awful in india and Pakistan they ruined a lot of things and people. But correct me if i am wrong but india was not one country when england showed up it was a bunch of different states. Many of them in bad shape politically with each other. Which is how the british took over by further dividing them


IonutRO

Northern Germany and the Baltics are still Christian despite the fact that they were converted by the sword. Cultural changes from hundreds of years ago are now the norm. They don't consider that their ancestors were forced into it because they now believe in the new culture.


Tremere1974

Considering half the Indian Population is Muslim these days (literally worshiping a foreign culture) it's more accurate than one would think.


Moist-Relationship49

I wonder if Zhao just struggling to express a more nuanced opinion, or if he truly believes that. Could be trying to keep balance between "kill them all" and "why can we be friends" or he lost enough people to join humanity first.


A_Clever_Ape

I think he's using machismo to express a more nuanced opinion, personally. He obviously doesn't hold a genocidal grudge against all aliens. I suspect his real message is that he will not further martyr the human race for alien interests or approval, that he demands all future interactions benefit humanity rather than harm it.


Moist-Relationship49

It might be a negotiating tactic, see how much I'll give to help against my better judgment.


yahnne954

I still would have liked for some biological facts to be given as answers. The few retorts Zhao gave to Kalsim were words of anger that can extremely easily confirm Kalsim's preconceived notions. It's a bit frustrating to see someone deeply mistaken from brainwashing plainly showing how wrong he is, and nobody pointing out clearly where he is wrong. Why only vaguely say "you're scared of being your natural self" to someone clearly interpreting non-purely hebivorous nature to be exclusively savages eating sapients while they are still alive, when you could say "we do not eat sapients, it's against our moral codes" and "look at our omnivorous biology (diseases related to eating human meat), our civilized rules (Geneva conventions), etc."? I know that, being delusional, Kalsim would probably not be swayed by this either (he didn't register that Arjun was a vegetarian), but this really does not help that the highest political figure replacing Meier seems to be more of a military one put in place after a genocidal act against his species.


A_Clever_Ape

It's definitely frustrating to read a character who blunders socially. But I think your third paragraph hits the nail on the head. Zhao is exactly what you described. A military leader AFTER a genocidal act. He doesn't care if Kalsim is redeemed, he cares if a show trial can solidify alliances.


shepard0445

I think its great that a military leader is in command. Dire times need dire actions and leaders who aren't concerned with PR and popularity but with solving the situation.


yahnne954

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing really against that choice narratively speaking. It will give good interactions and we have already had a very diplomacy-focussed Secretary-General. I guess I just wanted to see Kalsim realize the error of his ways like Sovlin did. Maybe he is meant to be the unredeemable character in all this, unable to accept the truth when it punches him in the face. Convinced of his martyrdom, of being the good guy, and unable to understand the justice in his future trial. That makes this victory a bit bitter. Also, I think popularity will not be a problem for Zhao, after Earth's partial genocide and justified anger. Plus, Earth has now definitively declard war on part of the Federation and has already controlled enemy territory. A military leader makes sense.


Newbe2019a

We don't know how much of his family was killed. Losing your family will mess you up perminently


I_Maybe_Play_Games

Like sovlin. Hes a chineese officer, theres a good chance his family was in one of the cities.


LiteX99

I feel like its a very realistic take on how humans act. If someone has to die, you would rather that be someone you dont know/an enemy rather than your own family. If your country is at war, you would rather that 1 million enemy soldiers die, than 1000 of your own soldiers. If your closest ally is at war, you would rather help them in that war, and kill 1 million enemies instead of sacrificibg a 1000 soldiers of your close ally. Humans will prioritize themself, both in this story and in real life, but just because we put ourselfs first, doesnt mean we dont put close allies below us. Though only the venlil have been close with humans for so long that they could potentially be considered close allies


Shadowex3

> Though only the venlil have been close with humans for so long that they could potentially be considered close allies At this point they'd probably be considered "humans part 2" by most of the species.


Sporner100

Zhao's attitude is perfectly acceptable for a soldier, probably even necessary. It's also part of the reason why separating military leadership from overall leadership is seen as a good idea by most modern societies. Having a competent military dictator when circumstances require it is also a viable course of action, trouble mostly starts when the circumstances no longer require such leadership.


Newbe2019a

He is the UN Secretary General, a civilian role.


Sporner100

He is to my understanding the same chinese general Zhao we encountered in the first few chapters. His recent "promotion" doesn't really change the way he thinks.


LiteX99

Last time i checked he was promoted from a military general right after an attempted genocide on earth, ofc they are going to appoint a military general quickly


Mr_E_Monkey

>Rather than a complete breakdown, our Krakotl feels grateful to the Kolshians, and guilty for not offering the cure to humans. What do you think of the captain's response? Does this shape your view on his punishment? Dude's an irredeemable fanatic. As much as I would like to advocate for a deep-fried death sentence, he'd only see himself as a martyr for The Cause. Others might, as well, and this must be avoided. He needs a life sentence so he can see us prove him wrong.


LiteX99

Give him the meat eating cure at the same time as well, and feed him meat just to fuck with him


interdimentionalarmy

Considering everything that happened, it was pretty much inevitable that someone with Zhao's views would come to power. It is easy to be benevolent and diplomatic when you have strength, but not so much when you are beaten to a pulp. There is nothing like a feeling of helplessness to drive hate, and there is plenty of that going around on Earth after the bombing.Plus, Kolshian conspiracy revelation would have added fuel to the fire for the average human... That said, the events from two chapters ago, on the bugs home world (forgot the name of the species), show that Zhao's personal thoughts are not military doctrine, so I guess the system of governance for Humanity is still in place and functioning. So his zeal tempered by others in power might end up being a good mix for humanity going forward - violent enough to saw fear where needed, diplomatic enough to retain allies and avoid any genocides.


Golde829

how did that one saying go? "speak softly but carry a big stick" I feel like the sum of the current leaders with Zhao at the helm might lead to that, with the *overall* rhetoric being more "Big Stick Diplomacy" than openly self-preservative over saving other species


golucky666

See ya then.


liveart

>What do you think of the captain's response? Does this shape your view on his punishment? From a story perspective it's nice to see a character that is just irredeemably horrible, even if they think they're right. The fact Sovlin got off light didn't bother me too much because of the tactical situation, the fact he's on a *ship* is... grating to say the least. I'm generally against the death penalty but some lines need to be drawn deep in blood and genocide is one of them so it doesn't really change my opinion that Kalsim should be executed. If anything his doubling down just makes it easier, he's not just a victim of propaganda he's a full blown believer in genocide. >Are you concerned by the new SecGen’s humanity-first philosophy I hope he's being somewhat hyperbolic in his statement but realistically if given a choice between one's own species (and family/friends/ect) or someone else's the choice is generally pretty obvious. He's being a bit blunt about it but I don't believe for a second that if Cilany had to choose between the lives of her species and Axur or human lives she'd choose any different. But luckily for her that's not the role of journalists, her role is to push back and question and force Zhao to justify his actions. They're both doing their jobs and have the right mindset for it. The only thing that bothers me is specifically the mention of civilians but if she's talking about the situation at the Mazic home world I don't see how that can possibly be construed as humanity's fault. The only other thing that comes to mind is the exterminator Tilfish and their use of civilian's as shield but I don't really see how that's on humanity either so I guess I'm a bit confused by what exactly she's accusing humanity of? Not allowing The Federation to hold the Mazic's hostage? If that's the case she needs to look at the history of terrorism and hostage negotiation on Earth and she'll find out real quick why giving in is a worse option in the long run.


SpacePaladin15

Cilany’s referring to how humanity (as seen all the way in 46) sold out attacking forces worlds to the Arxur, in our gamble at mutually assured destruction. Kalsim in 48 didn’t care about the civilian losses, and completely the missions at all costs. Our wager ended with everyone getting killed rather than them turning back 🙏 Happy cake day!


liveart

Wait she threw it in humanity's face that we did everything we could do to survive and were almost driven extinct anyways? After everything we tried to avoid exactly that conflict *and* finding out the truth about The Federation? And with us giving the attacking forces a chance to at least mitigate the damage that Kalsim turned down? Yeah I'm 100% good with Zhao's response given that context.


A_Clever_Ape

She doesn't have much to stand on in that argument. "It's not okay to hit back." has always been obviously disingenuous. And complaining to somebody that their face hurt your fist is comically hypocritical.


murderouskitteh

That seems to be the position of every fed alien so far. "It's not okay to hit back."


Golde829

to be honest I think it's less "it's not okay to hit back" I feel it's more them seeing us sic the Arxur on other species, which.. from a non-human perspective is reasonably scary to imagine not only are we smarter and more composed Predators than the Arxur, but now we can point them in a direction and set them loose like a rabid dog


Defiant_Heretic

Cilany states she'll be watching humanities treatment of Fahl closely. That's the Harchen's homeworld, they surrendered to humanity along with the Tilfish, and are transitioning to vassal states.


ThunderFlame24

Kalsim’s last POV? I guess that means poor bird-brains has truly gone off the deep end. No matter how this trial goes, it seems like this chapter shows he’s past the point of changing his worldview. Oh well… :(


Cooldude101013

Yup, he’s really drunk the Federation koolaid, hell! He’s chugged it and is asking for more!


raknor88

>Does this shape your view on his punishment? Since he's expecting the death penalty, I'd sentence him to life imprisonment. With a TV so he can see the human culture and maybe break the Federation brainwashing. He's, currently, fully expecting to be eaten by humans after his trail.


LiteX99

Wouldnt want a martyr on our hands either would we


MedicalFoundation149

I'm not worried about the SecGen, a nation putting itself and its citizens before any others is only natural. So I won't get worried unless he starts considering genocide or something.


TotemGenitor

>What do you think of the captain's response? Does this shape your view on his punishment? He is at the bargain stage: trying to genocide humans is bad only because we could have """saved""" them. He is not thinking why Kolshian didn't consider trying the cure on humans because questioning them would be questioning his genocidal narrative. As for punishment... I am not really one for punitive justice, but he is too deep in denial to even consider redemption. He won't become a better person with that mindset and we must be hard on a genocidal like him to deter other. For me, the best option would be life imprisonment with him receiving news of humans/alien coexistence. No greater torture for him than waiting the second shoe to drop. >Are you concerned by the new SecGen’s humanity-first philosophy? Quite a bit. Don't want the UN to go supremacist, that would be bad for our allies


LiteX99

Who would you save first? Family/friend or a stranger? The same can be said on a national scale, if country A has a close relationship with country B, then they will support each other long before they support country X on the other side of the world. The same can be said about our intergalactic allies. Humans first, close allies second/first as well


Tem-productions

Breaking news: bird brain so dense its held up by neutron degeneracy pressure


NoEffective2025

I hope he get life in prison. As the saying goes "Dying is easy, it's living that's hard." and we own him no favors. Let him spend the rest of his natural life alone with TV's providing news about everything going on in the galaxy. Maybe allow for therapy too,.. he's certainly too screwed up to fully realize the truth.


Killsode-slugcat

I completely understand what Zhao means, humans are our kin, brothers and sisters. they are simply closer and more important than aliens. and i dont think he'd fault any alien for holding a similar position if they're neutral. Neither should you, looking out for yourself, your family, your friends, your people, your species, is an entirely reasonable thing to do.


Snickims

On one hand, all sapaints are deserving of life and liberty, all are equal and all the rest. On the other hand, every xeno so far has shown themselves as some level of genocidal idiotic incompetents with the only notable exception being those who spent time around humanity, willingly or otherwise.. so I guess what I'm saying is: Terra Invicta, long live the Human Empire and death to all who resist. I didn't think that's where I would end up when I first started reading this story, but its where I am now.


[deleted]

Except for the Venlil. Those guys are cool


Snickims

The Venlil are good xenos, they did not resist us.


spadenarias

Nah, Terran Confederacy. For while it it draws its name from Terra as the founders, it does not exclude close friends and allies like the Venlil from being full member states. It also helps avoid the preconception of xenos that's its human centric, and everybody else is just slaves. Now I just hope the vassal states only remain as such til they can recover their culture and undo the damage the federation did, at which point they can seek to become full members. They don't necessarily have to be humanities closest friends and allies, but as long as constant war and genocide can be removed from the table its worthwhile.


Cooldude101013

FOR THE IMPERIUM OF MAN! (Though some xenos are cool.)


itsetuhoinen

Excellent job at making this jackass still completely unsympathetic. Hopefully he'll get to live a very long time, and think about what he's done.


MySpirtAnimalIsADuck

Kalsim might be the most complex character in the series. His obvious internal battle with bombing humanity and his predator dogma. Being so deeply brainwashed that he can see there are good humans but still can’t see that he’s been misinformed about humanity/predators. Learning of what happened in his own people’s past and being grateful then wanting to convert humanity. He has so many interesting emotions and thought processes


SpacePaladin15

Kalsim is a complicated character. Someone who understood that humanity had empathy from the start, but thought he saw the “real threat.” Who hates what he does, yet believes he’s right. After an exterminator career, he can’t believe that predators don’t need to die. That’s why he burned those pups that haunt him, right?


murderouskitteh

Does he truly hate what he does though? He could be getting a kick out of it by being the martyr who deeply understands the predators and their unfortunate fate to be exterminated, so he must be the one to do it at all cost to grant them the mercy of death.


DrKevlarHelm

oh damn last pov of kalsim? sad day


Cooldude101013

I personally understand Zhao’s philosophy considering what happened, his first priority is to defend Earth and Humanity, Humanity’s allies come to a close second.


creeperflint

I don't think Kalsim's logic is wrong, I think his axioms and underlying assumptions are wrong. It makes sense to be grateful for a cure if you think that predators are monsters, the only problem is that eating meat and being assertive does not make you a monster and that predators can get along just fine with other people. Operating off of the assumption that humans are aggressive and will start fights/conquer everyone they meet, it makes sense to destroy humanity. The problem is that there isn't a guarantee that we'll do that. Unfortunately, Kalsim is very bad at changing his worldview, he just stuffs new information into his preexisting paradigms, no matter how poorly it fits. Kalsim was never going to be redeemed, the way his mind works simply doesn't allow for it.


Tremere1974

How much access to information has ole "Bird Brains" really been given? Solvin was pretty much thrown into human society and had to sink or swim on his personal merits alone, but he also had a lot of time to study and adapt to humanity. Kalsim on the other hand has had meaningful contact with exactly one human for one day, and the human in question was mostly drugged during that time. Kalsim is a artifact of pre-contact federation thought, and like the basic law of the universe says, a object put in motion will stay in motion unless acted upon. Kalsim's moral judgement that humanity should be cured is based on his ignorance of humanity more than his lack of intelligence. Dude should be given access to a News Channel or something similar just to see the suffering he has caused. And in the end, that would be a far harsher punishment than a fire hose would.


Cienea_Laevis

Exept, Sovlin showed remorse, hell, he went to Earth to be punished. Kalsim's only remorse is that he didn't genocide humans with a good reason. He still think in every way that humans are a horrible thing thta need erasing, its just that he's sad he could have tried a simple cultural genocide before the real one. He's not even sad about *his* planet being gone. He can certainly be converted back into a decent being, but it'd be like making a good guy ou of a Taliban that's been fighting since he was 5. A lot of patience and care. Exept he also condemned two world to death, and pretty much sparkled a galactic war.


Tremere1974

He led the event that sparked a turn in an existing galactic war. He didn't even attack first, the Humans did. I'm not excusing his feathery ass, but really from his standpoint what did he really know? He had the Federation's fake/edited report of humanity in the 1940's, Venlil Prime going radio silent after contact with Humanity, one speech by Noah and Humanity attacking the Gojid cradle, and military targets proactively. How was he going to take all of that and decide "Hey, maybe these primates are the kind of folks to share a beer with?"


gmharryc

I’m sorry, where did humanity attack first? The Gino’s were gearing up to strike earth, humanity hit them before they could enact it. That’s like blaming a fight on someone for kicking the aggressor in the balls after the aggressor stated “I’m going to attack you” and pulled their fist back.


JustWanderingIn

To add to your point, Kalsim is doing the mental gymnastics because he *needs* to be right. If he's right, and humans are hunger-driven beasts that will fall on any "respectable" species the moment they lapse, then he's a good person, who sacrificed his mental well-being for the greater good. If he's wrong though, then he's the exact same kind of monster he accuses humans to be. A monster who mercilessly bombs civilians, who commits genocide and who sacrifices entire planets and lies to his own subordinates to get what he wants. So he absolutely *must* be right, otherwise he'll completely break. So mental gymnastics it is, as a form of protection for his mind.


ragnarocknroll

Keep in mind that this same mind had no issue keeping a sociopath on a leash because she was useful. He was good with a monster as long as she worked for him. His issues with dangerous creatures isn’t their existence if he can use them to eliminate enemies.


JustWanderingIn

Yes, but that was "for the greater good". Remember, he credited said sociopath for the survival and exemplary conduct under fire. And that was *one* dangerous being among a ship full of people who would kill her should she lapse. Humanity was an entire species of "monsters" so they needed to go, because they were a danger to every Federation citizen. Thus he isn't a monster for trying genocide humanity, since what he was doing was "for the greater good".


Lisa8472

Yeah, but from the sound of it nobody has bothered to give him a basic biology lesson. Humans don’t eat meat out of bloodlust, and we don’t have to restrain our hunger every time we’re near a prey animal. Live animals don’t smell tasty to humans. Heck, raw meat without the hide doesn’t smell tasty either. It’s cooked meat we like, not raw. Kalsim is clearly operating off pure “predators are monsters) propaganda. We also lack the basic equipment to be able to kill and eat a large animal with no tools. Even a starving human is highly unlikely to jump on a 150 lb live animal and try to gnaw off a limb (which would likely fail anyway). That’s never been part of our makeup. A starving human might go after a squirrel or something small, but if plants are available I’m pretty sure most humans would go after plant life instead of live animals. A dead one, maybe, but not a live one.


JustWanderingIn

Would it matter though? Kalsim is experiencing drastic cognitive dissonance and as a way of protecting his mind from completely shattering he engages in the mental gymnastics we've seen for a while now and see taken to the extreme this chapter. He's created a looping thought pattern that makes him unable to be reasoned with. He *can't* be wrong, or he would be a monster. He *isn't* a monster, so he can't be wrong. All information that would break this loop is either ignored or simply waved off as "predator propaganda". It wouldn't matter if somebody tried to explain basic biology or ecology. The idea of "eats meat = abomination against nature" is tied to everything he believes about himself and how the universe works, he can't let it be disproven or he'll break.


OriginalCptNerd

He’s desperately trying to remain the hero of his story, even when he knows he did evil things.


Blackwhite35-73

This. This the facts here.


Negative_Storage5205

That said, I can certainly imagine some human vegans, more extreme [PETA](https://youtu.be/_kfBFMhdaMI) participants gladly accepting or requesting the cure and proselytizing to other humans.


Lisa8472

Yeah, if the Feds had said “take this medicine to become allergic to meat and we’ll let you join the Federation”, a great many humans would have agreed. But that’s not the deal the Federation offers. Instead they’re determined to wipe out all history and culture that could indicate a species ever ate meat. That’s something damn few humans would willingly accept.


Negative_Storage5205

Perhaps they could raise a *"cured human"* colony with a PETA founding population? Their culture might resemble that of the humans of "Nature Preserve 4,%" in Larry Niven's "Known Space" universe. A herbivore species called "Pierson's Puppeteers•," captured a slower-than-light human colony ship and then "domesticated°" the descendants of the human colonists to serve as crews for scout vessels in dangerous or unexplored areas, or laborers in dangerous enterprises. They sanitized the colonists' language, culture, and censored all information pertaining to Earth's location and history. Concocting a story where the Puppeteers rescued their ancestors' frozen embryos from a damaged colony ship with no clues to its true origin. English and even the QWERTY keyboard were claimed to be Puppeteer inventions for the sake of the newly integrated species. % Otherwise known as "New Terra." • Otherwise known as "The Citizens." ° Enslaved


[deleted]

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[deleted]

Yeah, he goes from “Destroy humans but I feel bad, to force them to become vegetarians because it makes me feel better” Hell no, I’m gonna keep eating meat, Kalsim. Take your bird looking ass and get in the deep fryer. …that… That was too mean, wasn’t it


Tremere1974

(looks at the user name) It certainly was not "Friendly".


[deleted]

I’m definitely one of the humans who would give aliens a aneurysm within the first three minutes of contact


Thegrayman46

I disagree, he waa offering to cook for others...thats friendly...


Tremere1974

He said he'd tell the birb man to fry himself. That's not cooking, that's making the meal cook himself (the self plucking would be the hard part)


Thegrayman46

Isnt that a friendly suggestion? ( its not nice, but friendly doesnt mean nice...just look at your friends.)


OriginalCptNerd

Mean but understandable.


Newbe2019a

He will have the rest of his life to think about it. In a lonely prison cell.


Tremere1974

But should he? Why isolate him? We use prison time to isolate humans from other humans as we have a social need to be among familiar places and surroundings. If Kalsim is going to be in Prison, it would be one of those "Protective Custody" things because several Billion humans want his ass dead. But for himself, the worst thing would be learning how wrong he was, how broken his morality is, and realizing the sacrifice of not only every human who died, or lost family or friends, but all of his own kin as well. The Arxur did not play nice, or even stop for a snack if how we prevented the Arxur from doing the same to the Spider-folk went.


Newbe2019a

He will die very quickly in general prison population.


IonutRO

Put him in a federation prison with other federation criminals.


Allstar13521

I think that probably just adds the potential of other prisoners conspiring something stupid with him or using him as a figurehead. Doesn't eliminate the chance someone blames him for getting their planet bombed by the Arxur either.


Environmental-Wish53

Yeah, Kalsim is definitely balls deep in cult mentality, with no chance of recovery. His logic is wrong. His beliefs and opinions on "Predators" are wrong. And his acceptance that eliminating a core facet of your very being based off indoctrination wholly detailing *the reality of your existence* as nothing but an abomination is disgusting. He even willingly ignores or throws away, as *unsubstantial* or *inconsequential*, the results stemming from the now-revealed truth behind the Federetion's creation, growth, and sustainment. The guy deserves a bullet to the head for that alone. That level of disregard is more sociopathic than the actual sociopath that was in his crew...because he is *aware* of most of the nuances and still shits on them. I'd rather have Stalin as a teacher. At least he can be proven wrong.


Attacker732

Slight disagreement. His logic perfectly follows the core tenets that he was indoctrinated into. However, it's a case of garbage in, garbage out. Plug good data into a bad formula, and you get bad conclusions.


raknor88

Except since his capture, they haven't actually shown him any good data. He's been in a cell with zero contact to prove what he did was wrong.


Marcus_Clarkus

You are correct that Kalsim's logic is wrong. But being precise, Kalsim's logic is valid (as in if the premises are true, then the conclusions are also true), but it's not sound (not all the premises are true, so the conclusions are not necessarily true). Also, as far as the ignoring / explaining away discorroborating evidence? That's every zealot ideologue ever, whether religious, political, etc. It's common as dirt among them. So not too surprising he's doing it, and in fact is a point in favor of realism for this story.


Moist-Relationship49

"Oh, now that you failed to exterminate us, you want to negotiate culture genocide. We're good thanks" I worry about Zhao, humanity first could alieninate our alien allies.


IonutRO

Isif already dislikes him.


Cooldude101013

I’d of thought he’d at least respect another military leader.


IcyDrops

Of Military leaders the Arxur are already full of, it's nothing new or unusual. What makes Isif different from the others is his diplomatic attempt and dream of elevating the Arxur back from fascism, which is why he respected was someone like himself, a diplomatic mind like Meier. Zhao might be a competent warrior, but lacks the diplomatic prowess of Meier, thus making him in the eyes of Isif the same as any other Arxur.


mechakid

He has a point though. Perhaps an overstated agressive point, but a point none the less.


A_Clever_Ape

Friends that are only your friends if you're the one paying the bill aren't friends, they're exploiters. I think Zhao's attitude is a much-deserved demand that our allies give as much as they get in the future.


McPolice_Officer

That describes humanity, you realize that? Without the Venlil, no FTL for us, no political allies or goodwill in the galactic community, nothing to cause doubt among the aliens about the nature of humanity as a compassionate species. Without the Yotul, we would have severely gimped space combat abilities, without the Arxur we would be fighting the galaxy essentially alone. Humanity hasn’t really paid any of them back, either - we set up an exchange of prisoners for supplies for the Arxur and the Venlil, but we also co-opted basically the whole Venlil space force and a bunch of their citizens died in Earth’s defense. Humanity ain’t paying any bills out here.


A_Clever_Ape

You got me with the Venlil. Humanity is taking advantage of them. The Arxur have also given indispensable aid without reward. I suppose my attitude, and probably also Zhao's, is shaped by the treatment of the Federation. Humanity has been submissive and forgiving of a lot of mistreatment. I imagine that Zhao only sees it as fair that ex-Federation species aid humanity after being accomplices in attempted genocide.


LordTvlor

I'm sure humanity will at least try to repay their allies once they actually have something the others want. But as it stands, what could they offer? They've been interstellar for like half a year. Once they establish a proper space economy then maybe they could send raw materials from the asteroid belt and Saturn's rings, but until then, what do they really have?


ArchitectOfTears

Humanity has unique position in diplomacy, which gives their allies reasonable way to tackle Arxur diplomatically, previously impossibility. Also Humanity has already proven to be excellent military personnel and commanders, which each of their allies are lacking. Both diplomacy and military aspects can be used for repaying their allies in short and long term.


nullSword

>That describes humanity, ... Without the Venlil, no FTL for us Humanity did have at least a basic form of FTL from the start, the first contact ship was I think an FTL test flight? Still though, you're right that Humanity is in a situation where they don't really have much to give right now besides acting as a buffer between the Arxur. Humanity is also a little wary from their initial treatment, but it seems like that's relaxing a little with the news of genetic and cultural manipulation that's come out.


setthoth

To be fair Humanity is building bridges to actual understanding and real cooperation without the overlords of the federation pulling the strings on everything behind the scenes. May not be much but it is something


Monarch357

Honestly, I can totally understand Kalsim's logic here. I don't agree with it, obviously, but his reasoning is totally consistent and ideologically sound *for the first time in his entire life*.


MedicalFoundation149

Yep, it's his underlying philosophy that is wrong, not his logic when applying it. But that underlying philosophy is so evil and his adherence to it so complete that I think it is impossible for him to repent without literally going insane. Which means to me the greatest punishment he could get (and I want hum to get it) is a life sentence in a cell that has a TV playing 18 hours a day (the remaining 6 would be in one hour breaks evry 3 hours to give him time to think) that's television programming alternates between showing human history and psychology (the parts that invalidate his worldview) and current galactic news, especially the parts when humans go out of their way to save aliens or do other actions that hopefully invalidate his core philosophy. After enough time of this, it should break him, no physical torture needed, though it wouldn't hurt to add.


Jrmundgandr

Depriving someone of sleep continuously is also torture. It's a recipe for insanity. A madness of a broken mind, exhausted and unable to rid itself of the toxins that build up, it is horrible torture.


MedicalFoundation149

I mean, people can sleep with the TV on. But if he can't sleep with it on then a different scedual would be needed. I want his mind to break itself in response to the new information, it would be far less satisfying to just to break it ourselves before his worldview can shatter.


Vipertooth123

Nah, I would get him all human documentaries about Earth's nature, with a special emphasis on herbivore behavior. No need to put him on a schedule, boredom will make him look at them.


[deleted]

[удалено]


win_awards

This is a distinction I wish more people appreciated. Logic is just a system for deriving new statements from old while preserving truth value. *Every* logical conclusion is an if-then statement with the first 'if' being "if our premises are correct..." Logic can give you some insight into the fact that your premises are flawed, but not *which* premises. There has to be some observation and reason before logic can be applied and if you fuck that up then no amount of logic can save you from being wrong.


pyrodice

He's thinking of predators like we think of zombies. If you could cure them, wouldn't you?


Inquisitor_Gray

I partially hope Kalsim’s sentence is to have the ‘cure’ reversed


ImaginationSea3679

That would actually a pretty severe and fitting punishment for his mentality. A part of me imagines that he continues to remain un-redeemed and he deliriously joins the Arxur in some way.


Ef_Mxn

Oh imagining him be fed meat and finding out he likes it gives me the same kind of cathartic revenge satisfaction I got from watching something like Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd And man, I believed he was a knight templar, but turns out he's just a brainwashed cultist.....


AndreDoruk

Oh god it would be crazy to see him eat one of his wings, SPOILERS FOR BEASTARS >!like how some carnivores in Beastars [ate their own limbs after tasting meat](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/638685837214744576/1063867250223886396/image.png)!<


Ef_Mxn

......welp I guess now I'm kinda spoiled on Beastars......and I was planning to watch it sometime......


Thisismy23thaccount

May i ask if it is a good series to watch?


AndreDoruk

Definitely!


agentronin316

#!> j4f3j0g ## This comment has been edited in protest to reddit's decision to bully 3rd party apps into closure. If you want to do the same, you can find instructions here: http://notepad.link/share/rAk4RNJlb3vmhROVfGPV


Marcus_Clarkus

Honestly, if we're talking about a knight Templar in the TV Tropes sense, there's no real difference between them and a brainwashed cultist. Neither believes they are, nor can be, wrong or unjustified.


OriginalCptNerd

Even better if it was reversed to the point that he needed meat to survive.


derpy-_-dragon

You say that, along with others thinking it'd turn him into a monster, but honestly, I think you're onto something. Imagine he takes the cure, *and nothing changes.* His body is simply able to process meat, nothing else. No bloodlust, no cravings, no sudden sadism. I think realizing that within himself would tear him to shreds because there would be no way for him to deny anything about humans at that point. If he was still the reasonable, empathetic, pacifist concerned for others the way he thinks he is despite being a predator, then what's his excuse for denying that humans are the same?


Shandod

Sneak the cure into his food supply just like it was snuck into the food of the other races. Hide meat in his dishes in increasing quantities until he finally realizes it’s in there, he’s been eating it, and he’s been ENJOYING it. All the while forcing him to have a television playing documentaries on human history, on biology, on how the humans and aliens are cooperating, etc. Complete annihilation of everything he “knows” to be true.


samtheman0105

And so Kalsim completes his role as the anti Sovlin Also I knew there was something about Zhao I didn’t like, and while I like him more now, still not a fan of his humanity first rhetoric, unless that include humanity and our allies first


Intelligent_Ad8406

no, human supremacism leads to 40K and i do NOT want that to happen!


Tremere1974

**The Terran Empire has entered the Chat:**


Loetmichel

True. I'd rather see humanity go than convert into something so abhorrent.


Intelligent_Ad8406

indeed


Marcus_Clarkus

What's not to like about a grimderp future, where there's mass death, disease, famine, ignorance, irrationality, hate, injustice, oppression, and tyranny committed by the human government against its own citizens? Let alone noncitizens. /s Did I miss anything? I think I got all the main traits that apply with that long list. =P


A_Evil_Grain_of_Rice

Kalisim isn't just drinking that copium juice. He's chugging it


IonutRO

Born in it. Molded by it.


nmheath03

Bro's going to drown in it


Ctrl-Alt-Vixx

The bird is impressively stupid, for being so intelligent and articulate. I'd really forgotten just how much cognitive dissonance Kalsim has


Negative_Storage5205

I beg to differ. Forgive me for being pedantic about wording, but he is not stupid. He is foolish and dogmatic. Many intelligent people fall into the trap of "closed systems of thought." The irony is that their intelligence actually maintains the trap. It allows them to come up with convincing *ad hoc* rationalizations to maintain their existing beliefs. A wise individual, whatever their level of intelligence, is capable of questioning their beliefs. An intelligent fool can nimbly jump through as many mental-hoops as their dogmatic beliefs demand.


Tremere1974

What evidence has he been given to counter his opinions though? Even a copy of "Encylopedia Britannica" would give his mind something to digest about humanity, but all he's been shown is that Humans are as violent and aggressive as he thought they would be.


Negative_Storage5205

I suggest that he reads Carl Sagan and Anne Druyan's "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors." The introduction of the book outlines the book's purpose. An attempt to answer the question, "Is there something fundamentally wrong with our species?" The book makes a good case that our failings are learned from culture and institutions and not endemic to our biology.


Tremere1974

At the moment, Kalsim barely understands that Humanity is self aware. And I own "The Dragons of Eden" by Mr Sagan. It's a good read also.


sluflyer

The primary evidence (in my opinion) is that he’s still alive.


Tremere1974

The Arxur capture cattle too.


sluflyer

Indeed


Intelligent_Ad8406

CILANY HAS RETURNED!!!! TRUTHBOMB GOOOOOOOo


Tremere1974

Looking for one's "good side" is a bit harder after attempting xenocide on their entire species, Mr Kalsim. Humanity has had its share of people who were "Following orders" or "It felt right at the time" moments where people try to justify their stupid actions. Kalsim may not be guilty of acting via hate, but that just makes him even more guilty in that he well knew his actions were cruel compared to the use of a biological agent that rendered the Humans Sterile or some such. Going straight from pity to xenocide is not the sign of a balanced mind regardless of what one eats.


Other_War_5709

I feel like Kalsim needs more exposure to the truth. Maybe a hardline humanity first guard can tell him more about humanity and our history. About the Geneva Convention and why we needed it. How we don't eat sentients and why that is an anathema to us. Maybe just give him a tv so he can see humanity in all it's glory and keep up with current affairs. Right now he is so indoctrinated into the cult mentality that he is in full apologetics mode. The cognitive dissonance and confirmation bias is typical of cult members and more than anything else his deprogramming is necessary for me to feel like his punishment is even worthwhile. Not saying that he shouldn't be punished, throw the book at the space nazi. It would be more satisfying for him to realize that humanity doesn't need to cured, that his race had been genocided and religiously subjugated. This would be as soul crushing as Solvin's realisation but, not as redemptive.


Marcus_Clarkus

Eh, Kalsim doesn't really strike me as a space nazi (Arxur are a better fit for that). He reminds me more of a middle ages missionary or a colonial missionary from the time of the age of sail. Utterly convinced that his "religion" can't be wrong, and that the natives need to be "converted" or die (which of course their deaths will still be sad, may his God have mercy on their souls).


HiMyNameIsFelipe

I now understand that meme someone shared about this chapter a week ago. Kalsim you DENSE MOTHERFUCKER.


AlexWaveDiver

Turkey boy is so dense he has his own gravity well.


[deleted]

Propaganda and indoctrination are a hell of a drug. Can't wait for Sovlin to meet Kalsim, that'll be one interesting conversation.


luckytron

WARNING: CRITICAL MASS DETECTED MASS RAPIDLY APPROACHING POINT OF NO RETURN FOR GRAVITATIONAL SINGULARITY FORMATION RECOMMEND GEN~~eral~~ Z~~hao~~ STOPS TAUNTING THE BIRD ----------- Also, damn, if Khalsim had a Persona 5 style palace, it'd straight up just be a W40K Fortress World. Also also, someone seriously toss in some ecology/biology textbooks inside his cell, an audio tape, a damn roll of TP with first year Biology Mayor notes scribbled in it, just something to try to make him understand how much he *really* fucked up. Edit: Ungoofed some grammar


wantedsafe471

Kalsim's Palace might as well be the Iron Cage at this point


Ok-Face672

The more I read this series the more it hits me that the herbivores are coming off like a bunch of self entitled vegans obviously things are slowly changing but that’s how I see it


Existential-Nomad

Space PETA... They both share a similar world view and grip on reality.


zero-f0cks-given

Please tell me that next chapter is also kalsim or his trial because I really want his reaction to having a fair trial and being proved wrong 😤


SpacePaladin15

This is likely the last Kalsim chapter, his story has played out its course!


MedicalFoundation149

But the trial! Can we at least see it from a different point of view?


Tremere1974

Enter in r/NatureofPredators and the boss just gave us the character to use to write our own version of "I'm sorry, but mostly because I failed to kill you all" in both the perspective of the Venlil lawyer, and Kalsim himself.


Watch_me_crank_it

Kalsim's infuriating density strikes again


Yoylecake2100

***The Terran Sentinel*** ***A Slice of Japan on Venlil Prime*** ***January 16th, 2137*** **Its only been 7 months since first contact and were already seeing massive changes in the cultural (and culinary) landscape of Venlil Prime as we'll soon see** **Sylvan is the restaurant owner of "Lackadaisy Diner", a Restaurant in the town of Sweetwater Relief that he inherited from his parents which was built by his father with a very special chef behind the kitchen** **Kenta is the chef of the Diner who was inspired to bring a slice of Japan to VP after being encouraged by Sylvan to cook for him and save his family's diner** **in the span of just 3 months, Lackadaisy Diner went from nearing closure to the most popular restaurant in the region with their most popular meals being the Curry, Miso and Sushi. With the Curry and Miso inspired by a restaurant he frequented regularly in Marunouchi in an exclusive interview** **We wonder what the future may hold for not just Venlil and Human Culture but Galactic culture might look like in the next 5,10 or 20 years but there is certainty that the love food will never wain**


Yoylecake2100

Credit and Kudos to u/YakiTapioca


Ctrl-Alt-Vixx

I had just found and read through that fanfic yesterday! Love how it ended up as a news blurb.


[deleted]

God damn man this racism is so unnerving, keep on going


Cheesypower

Honestly, Zhao's rhetoric worries me too. It's completely understandable why he ended up being the one in office, and regarding our enemies that's simply the pragmatic choice, but I notice he didn't specify between aliens allied with humanity and those who aren't. If that rhetoric applies to our allies too, then that's going to cause problems we really can't afford.


drgreenthumb585

A million to one is stretching it but he sorta has a point. We just lost a percentage of all humanity to a attempted genocide, with our population being lowered to that degree look at it from a military perspective. How much larger are the enemies Allies compared to how large humanity and their Allies are? In a cold math perspective 100k :1 might be justified when looking at extinction.


Shandod

The loss of a single planet wouldn’t really do much to the Feds. We don’t even have a single planet worth of humans left. It’s a blunt way to put it, but we simply cannot afford that level of loss anymore. If condemning a few other civilizations to extinction keeps ours alive, the cold hard logic stands.


RapidestGoblin

I hope they sentence him to life without parole. I feel like a quick execution is too good for him. Once again OP, great chapter! I’ve been binge reading all these posts and caught up yesterday.


Rebelhero

That Yoylecake guy is just silly fast. Edit: Boy that trial is going to be a SPECTACAL!


beyondoutsidethebox

Kalsim's sentence should be something like undergoing the "cure's" reversal process for his species, and being forced to live the rest of his natural lifespan as what he hates most, a meat eater.


HFYWaffle

/u/SpacePaladin15 ([wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/HFY/wiki/authors/SpacePaladin15)) has posted 132 other stories, including: * [The Nature of Predators 80](https://www.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/1098lj7/the_nature_of_predators_80/) * [The Nature of Predators 79](https://www.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/105r3g4/the_nature_of_predators_79/) * [The Nature of Predators 78](https://www.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/1035tya/the_nature_of_predators_78/) * [The Nature of Predators 77](https://www.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/zzw3cx/the_nature_of_predators_77/) * [The Nature of Predators 76](https://www.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/zxbsa8/the_nature_of_predators_76/) * [The Nature of Predators 75](https://www.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/zubinr/the_nature_of_predators_75/) * [The Nature of Predators 74](https://www.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/zrpl0s/the_nature_of_predators_74/) * [The Nature of Predators 73](https://www.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/zo83xw/the_nature_of_predators_73/) * [The Nature of Predators 72](https://www.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/zltkjc/the_nature_of_predators_72/) * [The Nature of Predators 71](https://www.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/zhun1h/the_nature_of_predators_71/) * [The Nature of Predators 70](https://www.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/zf3clg/the_nature_of_predators_70/) * [The Nature of Predators 69](https://www.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/zbi7tn/the_nature_of_predators_69/) * [The Nature of Predators 68](https://www.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/z8tw0l/the_nature_of_predators_68/) * [The Nature of Predators 67](https://www.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/z59jx4/the_nature_of_predators_67/) * [The Nature of Predators 66](https://www.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/z2rjgf/the_nature_of_predators_66/) * [The Nature of Predators 65](https://www.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/yzeaou/the_nature_of_predators_65/) * [The Nature of Predators 64](https://www.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/ywvwpb/the_nature_of_predators_64/) * [The Nature of Predators 63](https://www.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/yt9vmh/the_nature_of_predators_63/) * [The Nature of Predators 62](https://www.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/yqllq2/the_nature_of_predators_62/) * [The Nature of Predators 61](https://www.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/ymv3yc/the_nature_of_predators_61/) This comment was automatically generated by `Waffle v.4.6.1 'Biscotti'`. [Message the mods](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FHFY&subject=WaffleBot|10bqniy&message=If%20you%20have%20problems%20with%20updatemebot,%20contact%20Watchful1.%20We%20do%20not%20maintain%20it.) if you have any issues with Waffle.


DRogue6

I feel like there are certainly narratives available for Kalsim's defense without excusing his actions or behaviors. An argument could be made that while his need and ability to function as a carnivore were removed, his predatory instincts were not. The removal of their culture prevented normal carnivore social boundaries and instinct control from being established within their species. Add to this the levels of cultural programming and it becomes easier to see how he could justify his actions at the time. Their cultural norm was likely to distance themselves from carnivores to externalize them from their collective. Next came normalization of inhumane killing of predators to desensitized them. Burning any living this alive is not something that any entity would do outside of the maladapted. This training went so far as to permanently and perpetually disrupt their natural ecosystem without care for the impacts that a loss of the natural balance would have on their world and it's peoples. He likely acted out of misunderstood instinctual inclinations that were in response to a perceived threat to their ecological dominance in combination with these artificially induced factors. He simply responded based on his unabated predatory instincts that were left imbalanced by the amoral genetic tampering, cultural genocide, and cultural reprogramming committed against his peoples. Given the genetic modification abilities of those responsible, it is likely that they intentionally retained these instincts in the population. One logical explanation would be to use them as pawns and expendable militia in their misguidedly zealous war against any and all carnivores. Using them in such a way would not be outside of the character of a species that has no objections to genocide and views themselves as disproportionately superior to all others who do not fit their deviously proclaimed idealist requirements for sapience. Kalsim and the others acted as they did due carefully calculated genetic manipulation, cultural deletionist reprogramming and an environment of perpetuated lies. He was subjugated into responding as he did before he was even born as we're all of his kind. Slaves to the genetic cleansing of their fascist overloads, the Kolshians. Should Kalsim volunteer for therapy to remove this programming and rid himself of his overly violent and sadistic inclinations, he may be able to gain enough competence to understand the depth of his actions and stand trial able to more fully understand his choices. At this time, the programming he and his people have endured make him currently incompetent to stand trial as he is not able to understand any possibilities outside of their induced prejudices. He was genetically modified to retain his territorial responses. He was forcefully desensitize to the torture of innocent species. He was programmed by a third party aggressor to respond with these violent acts when specific criteria were met. His morality was custom tailored and imprinted into him at a young age to ensure his adherence to these amoral directives. He is a victim in the combined circumstances as much as his people and his planet.


only-a-random-user

> “Plan on it? No. But a hundred human lives are worth more than a hundred million aliens, in my book.” > Cilany narrowed her eyes. “That’s the kind of rhetoric that worries me. Let’s just get this interview finished.” Yeah… this sort of rhetoric is what leads to nationalism.


Moist-Relationship49

It could lead to extermination campaigns, here's hoping it's mostly for show.


Danubian_Alchemancer

But he is right, he is the elected leader of humanity, and therefor is responsible for human lives moreso than the aliens'. It's literally his job, wouldn't have it any other way. But you are also right.


Away-Location-4756

It sounds like Kalsim has gone mad, unable to process his place in the slaughter of billions. It's always someone else's fault, he couldn't really be blamed. I really want Kalsim to meet Sovlin


x-lksk

> My life was dedicated to wiping predators off the face of Nishtal Congratulations! You finally did it, Kalsim! Thanks to your actions, your homeworld is now completely devoid of predators! Also devoid of everything else too. But knowing you, it was worth it, right?


ThePoeticDragonbirb

alright, I am back, think I’ve got away from the sivkit’s goons now. thankfully the lead paint in my old home protected me from their mind control. Make sure you paint your entire house with lead paint, it saved me. Don’t let them get you. You’ll hear stuff about how ‘lead is poisonous’ and that ‘lead paint is dangerous’, all lies from the sivkits and co to keep us from using lead paint to block them out.


facebooknormie

Common Fed L


JustThatOtherDude

More Khalsim please I've disassociated myself from reality so hard, i can't imagine the feelings of a mental breakdown on my own


Appropriate_Sleep_87

i was just wondering when the next Kalsim POV was gonna be! seeing how he’s grateful to Nikonus was actually kind of disturbing ngl. imagine being so brainwashed :(


win_awards

It is beginning to get infuriating that people keep missing the opportunity to point out to Kalsim or others like him that *they're* the ones with a genocide fleet, blowing planets up, and immolating baby animals; they don't have a lot of room to lecture others about being violent. Cure? I'll cure your fucking cloaca with my boot.


Psychronia

I've been looking forward to seeing Kalsim see the revelation for a while. I probably should have expected the way he took this, but I didn't. The problem with Kalsim is that he's a true believer of the Federation's brainwashing. While he's flexible with everything around it, the one belief he seems unable to budge on is "Predator = Evil". And because being a predator is evil, it needs to be eradicated in the same way a person that was "possessed by a demon" would have to be killed to get rid of the demon. After all, an absolute evil morally justifies any questionable act taken in order to destroy it. The cure became a godsend for his existing ethical crisis, if anything, because it will "only purge the undesirable" parts. And it looks like he's quickly using that to loop back around on justifying his attempted genocide again because "surely the Federation would have taken an alternative if it was viable", right? At this point, I think the best way to deprogram him is to...simply expose him to humans. Honestly, I feel like it's kinda "inhumane" to deprive this guy of any and all stimulation while he's locked up. Not that he doesn't deserve some punishment, but due process and moral high ground and all that. If no human wants to spend time with him, how about we just let him binge some sitcoms? Ideally not something like Seinfeld where humans are being exaggerated jackasses to each other. Just...shows with humans being flawed but not evil human beings. Just doing their daily human things, caring about normal things.


WillGallis

Wow, what a chapter. Interesting that General Zhao is now the Secretary-General, which really tells me that humanity is (understandably) looking for blood. Cilany becoming a citizen is also interesting. Finally, based on his reaction, Kalsim is too far gone in his fanaticism. Makes me wonder which reaction to the news (Sovlin's or Kalsim's) will be more common within the Federation. Thanks for the chapter mate!


Red_Riviera

Kalsim is what he is till the end. Sad really. Now. Time for the electric chair. Or, maybe we should call the retired madam de guillotine. She’ll be more that happen to deal with the worst killer in humanities history


BXSinclair

Nah, death is a mercy he doesn't deserve, throw him in a cell forever, let him socialize with other prisoners, allow him to observe the world he thought he knew change into something unrecognizable, a world where his type of thinking is shunned, let him see the glory and prosperity we bring to his people ​ Make him wallow in despair as his attempts at "curing" us amount to nothing, and just to add insult to injury, treat him as we would any other prisoner, no more no less


beyondoutsidethebox

As I said in a comment above, reverse "the cure" and force Kalsim to live the rest of his natural lifespan as what he hates most.


ItzBlueWulf

Unfortunately for him I think a life sentence is more likely, he won't get to stop battling his demons any time soon.


No-Construction-8697

A little bit of Krakotl social conditioning to make the general populace actively hostile to everything he fought for, even to the extent that he's safer in solitary confinement than out of it, wouldn't hurt... well, it'd hurt *him*, but that's the fun part.


Fexofanatic

dense bird finishes his collapse into a black hole, nice. looking forward to the trial and really curious about the venlil lawyer - which strategy will be employed ? do they have a personal opinion ? will we get a personal (court-)meeting between isif and kalsim ?


ZeusKiller97

At this point, Kalsim is this universe’s version of Crimson 1 from Project Wingman.