That'd be really interesting!

Yes. I plan to visit more countries to gather a wider perspective, but briefly. That is why I wished to speak to a red, for Tapa brought members of all other castes to converse with me.

What would you say is the most unique or interesting thing about Doet? What would be missing from my view of Amenta if I left this very moment, having spoken at length only to representatives from Tapa and Tuviri?

I think the thing we're most known for internationally is the increased prominence of greens. I guess you wouldn't have talked to anyone on the Voan child model if you left now? Unless Tuviri uses it and I just don't know because I don't know anything about Tuviri. Or the permissions model but the permissions model is awful.

I don't know what model Tuviri uses either - I was there very briefly. I plan to visit Voa as well, and a few others besides. 

Permissions model? Ah, is that why I was warned away from Calado?

There's others, I don't think most of them would be that bad of an idea. Calado's just the worst of the bunch.

I admit that restrictions on reproducing is a foreign concept. I would not have children I expected to die because they couldn't find a territory or enough food, but there is no law about it among the Draak. I certainly understand why Amenta needs the system, but it remains strange. Two each seems stable, at least, but auctions or permissions models appeal more - the greatest among you will pass on their traits more often.

That's the idea behind permissions, but in practice it distorts the economy and the culture crazily.

I don't understand economies and societies well enough to predict how, but I can certainly see that it would do that, yes. Are there many permissions system countries? Calado. I recall the Empire of Oahk used the system as well.

The modern Free State of Oahk does too. Yvalta. Some places do combination systems, which I think aren't as bad.

I will have to learn more about this later, it seems important. But for now I may well leave Doet soon with thanks for your welcome. I do not mean to privilege Tapa overmuch, having spent most of my time here talking to them alone, but I feel more need to return home each hour.

Don't let us keep you! Thanks for swinging by.

And so he radios ahead to Voa and goes there!

(And emails a little miscellaneous non-picture-based exoplanet data to Tapa, with a note saying the rest probably has to wait until he comes back again and asking if they're sharing the exoplanet data with all the other countries because pocket everythings aren't really a Tapa-only product, are they?)

Tapa's reply says they haven't distributed the data yet, and his pocket everything will say Made In Tapa on the back of the case in fine print if he looks, but if he'd like they can distribute it once it's been rendered into maximally useful form.

He finds it a little hard to believe that all the foundation of work and years of development into computing-in-general that led to the current state of the art in pocket everythings came just from Tapa. It should probably be distributed more widely since electronics are an all-Amenta advancement, not just a Tapai one, and he might take it into his head to do that himself if they won't.

They'll be happy to!

Good. On to Voa!

Voa's coastal bits are northerly and cold. He's greeted by a party of two blues, three greens, and a yellow. "Welcome!" a blue says in Tapap. "I'm Asonde be-Lorkea de-Nivo."

The cold means he'll burn a little more energy, that's all, not enough to be a food concern or anything (though he idly wonders what arctic fish would taste like).

Hello. I have been going by Seeker. I am glad to meet a representative of Voa, though I am moving quickly now and will return home soon since I cannot make commitments for my whole species and they do not even yet know Amenta exists.

Conservatism in such a substantial matter seems advisable. We're glad you chose to stop here despite your hurry and will eagerly await your return. We've brought you a gift. It's a little golden sculpture of a semi-abstract creature which looks sort of like him. The gold should be able to tolerate being underwater as necessary.

He inspects it carefully. Very pretty, a bit small, not exceptional, but gold is gold, and it's the first real glittering treasure he has gleaned from Amenta - he wasn't really trying to gain the physical kind of treasure, admittedly. Then again, gold is gold.

Yes, if I were less wise I would perhaps have promised a starship to the country that could produce for me the most gold. Which would be a terrible idea in multiple interesting ways. Thank you. This is good. Gifts are not given so casually among the Draak, but as the first golden Treasure brought from Amenta, perhaps it will help convince my kin that a relationship with its people will be good. I will be sure to mention that it is Voan as appropriate. If there is an appropriate favor I can show in return, name it.

We don't know how you'd measure appropriateness. All we want is room for our people to breathe more easily.

That is beyond my remit to grant this day. I can only offer my hope that it will be possible, and the assurance that I will have a much clearer picture of this hope a season from now.

I would like to learn what you think is unique and good about Voa. I know you do not use auctions like many others, granting permission for two children to each person, and I think this seems a likely source of stability.

We do think it adds stability. People in Voa don't grow up anxious about their ability to compete just so they can have their share of the next generation. We think it lowers our crime rate and our suicide rate.

Suicide? What possible reason...

I have only seen or even heard of Draak killing themselves once in all my life! It was at the Grand Moot at the beginning of the second war against Humans, when our slow decline and extinction seemed likely or inevitable. There is nothing but oblivion after death! Out of twenty thousand and more, when destruction loomed near, three destroyed themselves... And they seemed to think they were accomplishing some kind of magic in doing so!

- Amentans do not usually die by suicide but it does happen, and it happens in Voa less often because fewer people must cope with the prospect of living childless.