un: shinra | text

[unionized]

I see the companion bots have been hard at work updating our skyline of late. A neat trick, reproducing such elaborate structures — for those of you familiar with what's gone up, have you found them to be faithful recreations? Or has a little Etrayan creativity found its way in?

Aurora went out of her way to make one thing clear in her initial communication to us: that we were selected for this exercise for a reason. That begs two immediate questions: why were our worlds the ones selected for representation, and why were we the ones selected to represent them?

Our hosts are unlikely to give us those answers, as we know the selection criteria is being withheld from us. So perhaps the only way we'll make any headway is by taking matters into our own hands.

Consider, then, an exercise of our own: to share something about your world and its circumstances. At best, we might find a common denominator that speaks to our hosts' interest in us. At worst, we'll all come away with a better idea of what's at stake for each of us.

I'm not proposing a forum to advocate for these worlds' continued existence; Aurora and her contemporaries have that much well in hand already. What I am suggesting is that we all better understand our purpose here, and its implications: that should we succeed, these are the worlds that will survive, even at the expense of others that weren't so lucky as to have people like us brought here to fight for them.

Comments

[unionized]

I wasn't aware queens were term-limited. Was becoming a senator a promotion or a demotion?

[politicallyinclined]

They are on Naboo since they are decided by election.

Neither. It is merely a different way to serve my people. Instead of wearing the regalia of a queen, I enter the Senate Chamber and make sure my people have what they need.

[unionized]

I'm curious how your system of government managed to equate the two. What makes a senator different than a queen, if the duties are so similar?

[politicallyinclined]

I was elected as Princess of Theed at thirteen; that gave me the opportunity to run for election as Queen of Naboo at fourteen. I won the people's vote and served for two terms - or four years. The Queen who took over after me asked me to serve in the Senate and I gladly accepted. I follow her orders and convey what I hear in the Senate Chamber to her.

A Queen needs eyes and ears everywhere.

[unionized]

Is it common among your people to elect leaders of that age?

[politicallyinclined]

It isn’t unusual and I’m not even the youngest.

[unionized]

Dare I ask about the youngest?

I don't know why typing on my phone makes the font not work appropriately. That's cool.

[politicallyinclined]

She was a capable ruler. (What else needs to be said?)

[unionized]

At how old?

[politicallyinclined]

Thirteen.

[unionized]

And what was it about her that made her so capable? Her life experience?

[politicallyinclined]

The Naboo believe that the young possess child-like wisdom. Age and experience can sometimes blur lines that should be clear.

[unionized]

In other words, make them your politicians before they learn to play politics.

[politicallyinclined]

You could look at it like that, but I was involved in the Apprentice Legislature and taking part in relief missions before I was Queen.

[unionized]

That sounds an awful lot like experience that might've muddled your child-like wisdom.

[politicallyinclined]

I wasn't tainted.

[unionized]

Tainted is an interesting word. Not one I used.

[politicallyinclined]

What ends innocence? My mind was open.