Vaktuki had long been the most powerful region on Thea, more than Ingika itself. It was often held that if Vaktuki went for an all out war against the Empire, the result would fall in its favor within weeks. Yet there were issues that withheld Vaktuki from such an all out war, and most of these issues were internal, having to do with trust and deceit.
Vaktuki was founded by Vaktuki Tritha, one half of the legendary wanderers. For long it was truly a sister region of Yaktuki, but in the past few centuries this kinship was only on paper. Vaktuki had outdone the wishes and ethics of its founder, having come under the reign of ambitious and often unrestrained rulers. They were not despotic or corrupt however, and their patriotism for their region was unmatched. As a result there was none of the decay of Ingika or the corruption of Ditana to be found here. Vaktuki topped the charts in most development indices and its technology was unmatched. Despite being against the Empire, the region approached most of its relations with Kadorra and Yaktuki with subtle hostility, even though these regions too would have liked a more decentralized governance on Thea.
The rulers of Vaktuki were the Chief Regulators. The first Chief Regulator was Kintuki Tritha, Vaktuki’s niece. Regulatorship stayed in his line for a few generations following that, after which violent succession wars resulted in Regulators of dubious lineage. Currently the Regulatorship was in the hands of the Retrapi dynasty, and it had been so for the past three hundred years.
“Trust the Yaktukans to come up with something like this and take it to the Kadorrans first,” spat Chief Regulator Kinan Retrapi.
“What else would you expect, Kinan? Our questionable political stance and motives do not inspire trust in any region,” reasoned his aide, Utaril Tripun.
Utaril’s appearance was far too unassuming to look convincingly Vaktukan. He was mostly bone, with flesh added as an afterthought. His gangly long fingers and an adam’s apple that protruded most insistently from a long neck were a far cry from the typical Vaktukan muscle and strength. His straight eyes were a contrast among a people whose distinguishing characteristic was the prominent slant in the eyes. The first Vaktukans and many generations following had swum across the great ocean from Yaktuki; setting up camps on the small islands that were strewn across the ocean. As a result, Vaktukans even now had feet that were flat and flippery; but somehow Utaril lacked even those. But physical appearances apart, Utaril was a capable, intelligent, and loyal Vaktukan, and that was enough for Kinan to appoint him as chief aide.
“But we are twin regions, are we not, Utaril? Vaktuki was founded by the brother of their beloved Yaktuki. Does that not count for anything?”
“It would have, Kinan, when the planet was young and the stories of the brothers were still stories, not legends. But Vaktuki is ruled by the Retrapis now, and the Admiyogi of Yaktuki has no connection to you.”
“It would still have counted for something in my eyes.”
“But it does not translate in your actions, my CR. Yaktuki does not know whether we are, or whether we ever were, planning rebellion. Neither does it know what we intend to do if and when we overthrow the Emperor. You might be the political descendant of Tritha Vaktuki, but not his blood descendant. This counts a lot for the Yaktukans.”
“And are their Admiyogis blood descendants of the brothers, Utaril?”
“They are sanctioned regulators, Kinan, whereas the Retrapis are the clan that emerged out of the bloody succession struggles that ensued after Vaktuki’s death. There is an underlying difference.”
Kinan fell silent, defeated. His slanted, tiny eyes drew together in an expression of anger, and the cords of his tied hair stretched visibly tighter as his frowning forehead pulled the scalp forward. In true Vaktukan fashion, they were in a chamber buried many feet below the ground. Aerials that passed through Vaktukan airspace saw only barren fields and rugged mountain ranges, with occasional clumps of wasted and lifeless forests. Vaktuki was a peninsula joined by land only on its eastern borders, neighbored by the region of Ditana. It was Vaktuki Tritha who first crossed the ocean from the west and discovered the region.
Kinan Retrapi was rash and hasty, but he was a good leader for his people nevertheless. His had moved away from his father’s policy of hostility against the Emperor and opted for development and welfare for his people. For that he had been rewarded with higher tax return rates, lower crime, and better responses to his legislations. This was not to say however, that he had forgotten the fight against the Emperor, merely that he had taken time off to make Vaktuki stronger and more prosperous.
“Sulking will do no good, CR. The Yaktukans may have ‘betrayed’ us, so to speak; but it is comforting to know that neither Yaktuki nor Kadorra will ever go against us. Our military superiority notwithstanding, both regions will try to avoid conflict as much as they can. And they will never submit to the Emperor willingly. Moreover, the cultural soft power we hold in the eyes of the Kadorrans and Yaktukans will inevitably influence their political decisions.”
“But with this Reflectiverse Technology in the hands of the Emperor, we are defeated, Utaril.”
“If you make Thea the center of your universe, CR; but with the RT’s help Thea is no longer the center of the universe. Already the Kadorran scientist, Ananuk, readies his team to journey to Edoran, and it won’t be long before we will get to send our first team.”
“You mean to say that Thea is no longer important?”
“It is not, CR; not anymore. Our technologies and people can be transported to off-planet colonies. We will build newer, better Vaktukis, away from the Emperor’s outstretched claws.”
“And what will become of our original homeland, Utaril?”
“What of it? Vaktukans are more important than Vaktuki itself, Kinan.”
“But to the Vaktukans themselves it is Vaktuki that is important.”
“To the Vaktukans of this generation, my CR, yes; but what of coming generations? What of the many Vaktukans that will now be born on different planets. Will they relate themselves to the original Vaktukan land? To Thea?”
“You look too far ahead, Utaril. The first generation of Vaktukan colonizers will forever be psychologically rooted on Thea. Their children and grand-children will make many visits to the original land. It will take quite a few generations for the aura to wear off. I cannot afford to let Vaktuki decay and weaken while its colonies grow stronger. By the theory you expound, who’s to say that the Vaktukan colonies will always be loyal to Vaktuki itself? Or Thea, for that matter?”
“You include unnecessary variables, my CR.”
“As do you. Thea, as the source and root of this impending expansion, will indeed be the center of the universe as far as humanity is concerned. And we will be foolish to assume otherwise.”
“Perhaps so, my CR. In which case, what do you propose to do?”
“I will call upon the Yaktukans, and as for the technology to be handed over to us, not the Emperor.”
“You think they will comply?”
“I cannot say, Utaril, but I intend to be as persuasive as I can.”
“You will threaten hostilities?”
Kinan shook his head sideways, “Quite the opposite, in fact. I will call on our ancient alliance, on the kinship of our founding fathers.”
Utaril smiled disdainfully, “You are an idealist if you think that will work, Kinan. The old alliances have long worn off, as I just explained to you.”
“But they are not dead, Utaril, they can be renewed; and there lies the chance for my persuasion.”
YAKTUKI-
“This is not entirely unprecedented, Rabik.”
“I must admit, Faolvay, that it missed my foresight. But what do we do now?”
“I wonder, Rabik, if Retrapi has advisors on his side to remind him that we are not brethren regions anymore. I want to know whether he makes this move despite their advice, or because he has no advice.”
“I don’t see how this is important, Faolvay.”
“It is important because it will help us judge Retrapi better, Rabik. If he has not been reminded this, then perhaps I can grant him more innocence. But if he has been reminded, and he moves in spite of it, then if would grant a touch of aggression.”
“If the case is the latter, Faolvay?”
“It would be even easier then to trust Ananuk.”
“And if it is the former?”
“I would trust Ananuk even then, but it will help us judge the future actions of Retrapi better.”
“Forgive me, Faolvay, but I must ask again; what do we do now?”
“I have just answered that, Rabik. We will stand with Ananuk no matter what.”
“And what will we say to Retrapi?”
“The truth, Rabik. Despite our old alliances we cannot trust Vaktuki at the moment. I will personally inform the Vaktukan Chief Regulator that our loyalty lies only to the Trithan Command.”
“And if he gets hostile?”
“The Trithan Command does not prohibit self defense.”
“Neither does it assure success, Faolvay.”
“But it commands courage, and both Yaktuki and its Admiyogi have enough of that, Rabik.”
Rabik bowed his head in obeisance, “No Yaktukan doubts that, my Admiyogi.”
“Nor was I suggesting that you do, Rabik. Now put in the call to Retrapi, and let me speak to him.”
Admiyogi Faolvay was not a stranger to the Retrapis. He was Admiyogi when Kinan’s father was the Regulator, and he was Admiyogi when young Kinan took over. He had watched with silent admiration as Kinan had ceased hostilities and proven to be a better leader for Vaktuki than his father. But he had also heard with disturbed musings the tales of atrocities against internal rebels and traitors and Kinan committed without restrain. The Admiyogi was old, wise, and honest enough to admit that despite having watched with interest the entire period of Kinan’s reign, he still could not decide whether the Chief Regulator was a man to be trusted or not.
There were a few moments of silence while Rabik called Retrapi through the interplanetary live communication system. After a while the pony tailed head of Kinan Retrapi appeared on the visoscreen facing Faolvay, with a curious smile on his face.
“Good evening, Chief Regulator,” greeted Faolvay.
“Good evening to you as well, Admiyogi Faolvay. I gather you have received my request?”
“I have indeed, CR. But I must inform you with sincere regrets that it is not a request we can meet.”
Retrapi frowned; he had not expected such a swift and blunt refusal. “Why is that, Admiyogi?”
“Because what you request is that we deceive the Emperor and the other regions, CR. And deception is not permitted under the Trithan Command.”
“We Vaktukans too honor and revere the Command, Admiyogi, but what I request is not a deception but a mere precaution. It would be unwise to let only one hand control the technology that your scientists have devised.”
“You are right, CR; but what makes you think that only the Emperor will have the control and ability?”
“Who else will then, Admiyogi? The Kadorrans?”
“No, CR, not the Kadorrans, but the Yaktukans themselves.”
Retrapi made a face, “That is not what I mean, Admiyogi. Yaktuki should anyways retain the ability of this technology, but we both know that Yaktuki does not intend to use it for itself.”
“And if I accede to your request, then Vaktuki does intend to use it?”
“For the mutual advantages of both regions, Admiyogi.”
“The regions have no mutual advantages, CR.”
“Of course they do, Admiyogi Faolvay. It is in the interests of both to have the Emperor’s power dwindle, and to keep the Ingikans and Ditanians considerably weaker.”
“You are mistaken, CR, if you think that such matters are of concern to Yaktuki. If they were, we would not have involved the Emperor, or even Kadorrans, into the matter.”
“Admiyogi Faolvay,” reasoned Retrapi, “the world is going to change with the advent of this technology; as you very well know. Does Yaktuki intend to forever stick to its line of neutrality and reluctant interference?”
“As far as we can, CR Retrapi.”
Retrapi recline back in exasperation, “But that is ill-judged, Admiyogi. How can you see yourselves existing among five regions that are continuously expanding?”
“By maintaining this very policy of neutrality and reluctant interference, CR. Our sincere disinterest will safeguard us against the hostilities of the other regions.”
“And have you no desire to expand for yourselves?”
“And embroil us in further political and economic complications? No, Sir Retrapi, I’d rather we not.”
“Is that what all of Yaktuki feels?”
“Chief Regulator, as far as you are concerned, I am all of Yaktuki.”
“And you will not consider my request?”
“I have considered it, but I must politely decline.”
A shrewd look entered Retrapi’s eyes, plainly visible through the visoscreen, “But the ability that you will retain, will that be available to Vaktuki in times of need?”
“Who will judge that need, CR?”
“All of Yaktuki, Admiyogi Faolvay,” was the sardonic reply.
Faolvay smiled dourly, “You would trust my judgment then?”
“I don’t trust it even now, but I must accept it.”
“We will retain the ability, CR, precisely to insure that no region is unjustly treated by the Emperor.”
“Does our common history not matter at all, Admiyogi Faolvay?”
“Only so that I would feel better aiding Vaktuki in times of distress more than Ingika or Ditana, or even Ahurun.”
“And Kadorra?”
“You are insistent on knowing of our relationship, Chief Regulator.”
“And you seem insistent on hiding it, Admiyogi Faolvay.”
“But I have nothing to hide. Kadorra and Yaktuki are neighbors and allies from a time before when Vaktuki Tritha first cross the ocean. He set foot on banks of the
“Is that why you went to the Emperor through Kadorra?”
“It is only part of the reason, CR. A bigger reason is that our scientists have collaborated with the Kadorran Science Agency on many occasions to much success. On the other hand the
“The Center complains the same of you, Admiyogi Faolvay.”
“That is baseless. Yaktuki has always shared its science impartially. The Reflectiverse technology is a recent example, CR.”
“My Center maintains that there is also science that you do not share.”
Faolvay frowned, “I cannot allow for such accusations, Chief Regulator. I repeat again that our actions are all guided by the Trithan Command; if you cannot believe that, then you will find very few reasons to trust Yaktuki at all,” he concluded.
“Is that your final stand?”
“My stand has been clear from the start.”
Faolvay saw Retrapi stand up and reach towards his own communication device. “So be it, Admiyogi Faolvay.” The visoscreen went blank as Retrapi closed the connection from his side.
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