"I want to learn more about what you want to do, if it's not 'destroy filth creatures'. And I would like you to stop killing people. Maybe they're all so obsessed with purity that they'll kill themselves, but if you help them that seems like it risks bycatch of some who do not in fact want to die."

"Many who demonstrated the ability to function in the new system were spared," says the cultist. "If you will not accept reasoning on theological grounds, consider the practical. Who's to say that if the purity-keepers were all spared, they would not conspire to arrange a counter-revolution?"

"So you don't think you can hold order under conditions where organized dissent exists?"

"Perhaps you can't tell, but we are holding order!"

"Of course you are. This planet compares very favorably to the black holes. But you don't seem to think you could keep doing it if you didn't kill the purity-keepers?"

"Eliminating them reduces the risk of instability."

"Are you going to keep killing people if they don't like how you run things?"

"Of course not! The prophecies only call for sacrifices in the initial transition."

"Please just tell me what the prophecies say. This conversation will go faster that way."

"In the realm of public action the prophecies direct that we must sacrifice the purity-keepers on the first day. After that, their former functions will be taken over by related institutions or abandoned as unimportant. Their contribution to maintaining public health was more ceremonial than practical anyway."

"...It's the first day of our rule, which we know because we observe that we have taken over the planet?"

"So you were just being opportunistic and your prophecies don't mention me at all?"

"I am uninterested in discussing theology with you."

"Then why are you the representative?"

"Why do you expect to discuss theology with the representative?"

"Well, a theological interest group seems to have taken over the planet," Cam points out.

"Do you want to discuss theology or do you want to discuss policy? The two are different."

"Most things about the way your species is motivated are very strange to me. We could potentially discuss policy without touching on theology but I won't know why I should expect you're not telling me blatant lies. Incorporating the details of your apparently theological motivation would make telling me blatant lies harder."

"I am not telling you lies. Anything I say about our policy is knowledge available to the public."

"Okay. Tell me about your policy then."

The representative makes alien facial expressions. "What about our policy?"

"What is it? Where can I read all this publicly available information? I've been informed that I have to comply with local air traffic control; does any of the other policy apply to me?"

"You have no place in our society and no understanding of our system, so the same information that is available to everyone else would do you little good," says the representative. "Traffic regulations are an example of the sort of thing that has not changed at all, and also an example of a rule you are required to follow. Besides that, and because you in particular are a filth creature, for public peace of mind you are encouraged not to bother anyone who does not willingly approach you."

"Okay, but I didn't just want examples, I wanted a more comprehensive list. I am also especially interested in your dispositions towards other sapient species you might encounter who are more vulnerable than I am."