Yes, it's in that sense a social construct, though we've also effectively been breeding ourselves for caste-relevant aptitudes for generations.

I am feeling philosophical right now. But perhaps you would not appreciate a long ramble on the nature of belief.

I told you I would speak of other kin's concerns. We live very different lives than you, we want very different lives than you. That much is clear even from how little we have spoken already. I do not like what you have done to your planet... But it is not mine. Many will find developing land which once held unique ecosystems to be offensive and wrong, and value generally leaving ecosystems alone very much. Some will want to protect the ecosystems that remain, or perhaps rebuild them elsewhere.

What are the things they value about the ecosystems?

Hmm... Preserving ecosystems exactly in place is not quite the shape of the desire, but it is similar. Ecosystems are not static, anyway.

How to best put it in a way a Tailless will understand?

We vary, of course, but - Being surrounded by thriving plants and animals creates a pleasant background environment for the sense you do not have. Diversity, the chance to be surprised or discover new things about the plants and animals. The satisfaction of being responsible for and successfully balancing something complex and many-faceted. A well kept territory is Treasure. The idea of self-sufficiency, and being able to hunt and eat as much as one wants without consuming limited resources.

Hm. We value information about ecosystems, and the things that they can provide materially, including food as well as water and air. And some people do just enjoy existing in wilder parts of the world, of which there are still some.

There is also... A common belief is... Draak have an appointed role in the world. We were created to be custodians, balancers, and guardians.

This lesson was sung to me long ago: 'You are a true child of Sun and Earth. Draak-Kin are the greatest beings in the world, and all other beasts bow before you, for you are the guardian of balance and order, charged with preserving all of Sun and Earth's beautiful children. Learn the ways of all the good beasts of the land and draw wisdom from them. Destroy that which should be destroyed, do not let rampant consumption or careless imbalance ruin the land. Preserve that which should be preserved, do not let any precious blood-line be extinguished without reason. Seek Treasure and greatness at every turn, but also know balance in your heart.'

That seems similar in character to some theological philosophies we have, though not in exact content.

I am not very theological and am perhaps explaining it poorly, but I predict you will face many objections and great anger and fear from the more theological Draak.

Amseli makes a bit of a face but nods. It's a little tricky to wrap my head around.

Perhaps I will think of a better way to explain in time. The other largest concern other kin will have with having anything to do with Amentans is fear. There are very, very many of you, and you are terrifyingly good at working together. You have rockets and projectile weapons and use unthinking machines as vast multipliers of your efforts. You have cities smaller than an ordinary territory holding more lives than our entire species. You are in a lot of ways, much bigger than us. Even though we have many kinds of secret weapons to make attacking us a bad idea, that is frightening.

I can see how it would be intimidating. Draak don't work as well together?

We do not have countries. We can work together, tirelessly, for an important goal... The evacuation ship was the work of hundreds. But it is irregular and rare.

How do you agree on what goals are important?

I have already explained Grand Moots, yes? 

Yes. Are declarations that something is important binding in the same way as laws?

There is not much precedent. Elders declaring a thing of importance is not dismissed lightly, but there are no specific consequences to ignoring a call to action except, perhaps, shame. Perhaps there should be. We keep encountering societies that set more rules with more clarity.

If your way works to muster enough people to complete the projects for which many are needed that seems to be sufficient for you.

...While he's thinking of countries, he could probably use more examples of how they work, how they play off each other...

What have you told other countries about me and my kind?

I'm not in charge of filtering our information for international use, but probably less than we know, especially anything we're not sure we understand and might have to walk back later.

He's a little surprised.

I see. I did not realize you are not necessarily informed about everything your country is doing. I would like to know.

I do not want all of my information about Amenta to come from only one country, or only two castes.

Getting you representatives from more castes won't be hard, especially if you have an idea of what you're looking for from them. I'm sure we can get some other countries to send representatives soon too.

You seem to be imagining I will stay here. For all that I chose to land in the ocean because you are land-dwellers and thus it is neutral ground away from your most precious places and your center of power, Tapa does seem to have... Claimed me. I resent the implication that I can be controlled.

We're not going to make any attempt to hold you here. If you'd rather we not fetch diplomats to this location because you're about to move, of course we won't. I can get you a map of who claims what parts of the ocean; some of it, especially much farther away from the continent, is unclaimed altogether, though it's far enough away to introduce substantial delay in getting any personnel or objects you want from anybody.

...I see. Good. I like Tapa. You, specifically and generally, were understandable. You appear to be handling my presence calmly - there is wisdom in that. I will think about moving to a part of the ocean that nobody claims, but will not do so immediately. Asking other countries to send people here, now, should not be done. I want to learn more first.

...And I want to return to my lab for now. Talking has become stressful.

...And I would still like to know what you have said about me to other countries. I assume you can send that information to the pocket everythings?

The specific device doesn't receive information; software on it can retrieve information sent to accounts. If you make an e-mail account, we can send you e-mail, but since the pocket everythings were brand new, they didn't come with accounts logged in on them. We can help you with that if you like.