"On Armiista itself, the role is almost purely ceremonial. Most everyday issues are dealt with locally, and the Grand Council is empowered to make decisions for the good of the homeworld. My primary role is to serve as a representative to my people on the galactic scale, both diplomatically and militarily."
What if I already opened the jar, but then I glued it shut to prevent pickle theft? Would you help be then?
"No, because that would have been an incredibly foolish thing to do. I also suspect that it would have caused chemicals from the glue to leach into the pickles, poisoning them."
Have you seen attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion? Watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser gate?
"We have many reasons to be interested in Terra. As it stands, your planet is a protectorate of the Galactic Federation, a loose alliance of species that controls approximately one-third of the galaxy. It is not, however, an official member of the Federation, which technically makes it neutral ground. Over the centuries, it has become a common meeting place for diplomatic talks. Scientifically, it is fascinating. Most planets that support carbon-based life have only a few hundred thousand distinct species. Even the most biologically diverse worlds have less than two million species. Terra, however, is believed to have over nine million species. Your species is of interest to us, as well. Humans have many of the same physical traits as Armiistaans. It is difficult to not see something of ourselves when we see you."
That's a really interesting answer. Can you tell me a bit about the biodiversity on Armiista? Also what is the weather like there?
"Armiista has just under half a million distinct species, most of which are plant life. The high levels of oxygen in atmosphere support many species of megafauna, many of which are harmless vegetarians. As on Terra, the most abundant forms of animal life are arthropods. Unlike Terra, where mammals dominate, the dominant lifeforms of Armiista fall into a classification we call Vyrmm, which shares traits with reptiles, mammals, and birds. My own species falls in the Vyrmm class, as do several species of what Terrans would refer to as 'dragons.' Our weather, like almost any other planet, varies by region. Equatorial regions are often hot and rainy, while our north and south poles are deserts of ice and permafrost."
"Officially, the Matriarch is a diplomatic vessel. The purpose of the ship herself is to keep me and my allies safe and comfortable while we travel. Unofficially, the modifications that have been made to her over the years have turned her into one of the most powerful weapons ever created. As a result, she has become the de facto flagship of the entire Armiistaan fleet. In battle, she overwhelms foes with her vastly superior firepower while her many layers of defenses keep her safe from harm."
