Aniolo-jat waited for emotions to settle before speaking again. “How can we expect our good friends the AAnn to help us directly in fight to remove the Deyzara?”
His tail switching back and forth, Jallrii took over for his colleague. “As we have previoussly explained, we cannot be directly involved in the fighting. If we were to do sso, and ssuch participation by uss was disscovered, it would change radically the nature of the Commonwealth ressponsse to your uprissing. It would become a matter of the Commonwealth verssuss the beloved Empire. But if all hosstilitiess remain local, then Commonwealth government reaction sshould alsso sstay confined to local action, at leasst long enough for you to accomplissh our joint intended aimss.”
Thessu spoke up. “As long as your actionss perssisst, we will continue to ssupply you with weaponss when, where, and as feassible. You will of coursse alsso have access to our advanced communicationss facilitiess, and to our sstrategic advice.”
“The Sakuntala not need advice from anybody on how to fight!” a belligerent Yuiqueru put in, rocking violently in his chair. Several self-confident exclamations echoed this sentiment.
“We did not mean to imply that you did,” Thessu responded deferentially, with a slight clacking of his sharp teeth. “We meant only to offer.”
“Your offer gratefully acknowledged.” Aniolo-jat met the AAnn’s catlike gaze evenly.
Yess, a clever one, that Aniolo-jat, the AAnn officer reflected. When events on Fluva began to settle down, he and Jallrii had already decided who would be chosen to occupy the position of prime contact with the Empire. It was good of the natives to have made the choice for them. The others could be dealt with as necessary: rewarded for their efforts or shunted into positions of largely ceremonial importance or, if they proved particularly recalcitrant to acknowledge the new order of things, disposed of. He had no doubt that the Yuiqueru Aniolo-jat would be cooperative in all aspects of realigning the social order on Fluva. It was always helpful when the usual one or two semi-intelligent natives announced themselves. It saved having to sift through the populace to find them.