1699-02-10-11

DEPRECATION OF OLD OTHERWORLD QUESTIONS ADDRESS. ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW OTHERWORLD QUESTIONS ADDRESSES, BOTH CONCERNING DRONES AND NOT

The Zmavli Imperial Ministry of Aliens set up the <questions.otherworld@aliens.im> address for otherworldly peoples to receive answers about the Imperium, and Zmavlimu'e in general, from the Imperium itself.

A large percentage of the questions sent to the address have specifically been about drones.

Therefore, the <questions.otherworld@aliens.im> has been deprecated and replaced with the <general.questions.otherworld@aliens.im> address. Do not send questions about drones here.

Please send questions about drones to <drones.questions.otherworld@aliens.im>. If you wish for your question about drones to be answered by a drone specifically, write to <drones.drones.questions.otherworld@aliens.im>. If you wish for your question to be answered by a Keeper specifically, write to <keeper.drones.questions.otherworld@aliens.im>.

The public keys of the new addresses are given below:

{sybom zyxif magog pobes kucyb luvyc durop xisaj nikul vyrid zobil pavav faxys tepiz namem canat | 'Otherworldly Questions Task Force' <drones.questions.otherworld@aliens.im>}

{xatyr foryz tyzof jenyf go'ag fyzyn bufyl tanag babon nadal ji'ud gemob vomek nidyt mabir fipat | 'Otherworldly Questions About Drones Task Force' <drones.questions.otherworld@aliens.im>}

{tipog gidal gojez modir lopij falan kecis mutav fa'os gumob bocud pybox mipax casox ky'ys jajic | la'o 'ky preti be lo drone bei lo fange bei lo drone tergungunma ky' 'Otherworldly Questions About Drones To Drones Task Force' <drones.drones.questions.otherworld@aliens.im>

{cirab dopos fogur ni'uj bynym zeton tegym fytag rotod zyvad sesot nupiv pocoj monyp birel xi'ot | 'Otherworldly Questions About Drones To Keepers Task Force' <keeper.drones.questions.otherworld@aliens.im>}

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You should only trust Imperial documents that have a valid Imperial government digital signature. For more information about digital signatures and the signing software the Zmavli Imperium uses, click here.

.o lacri lo balgu'e ca'irvei poi lo balgu'e ke samkai sezycipsni be ki cu drani po'o .o kli'iki fe'enau va'oda'i do djica po cilre tau lo samkai sezycipsni je lo sezycipsni samtci be pi'o le zmavli balgu'e 

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ZMAVLI IMPERIAL MINISTRY OF ALIENS
samet cojam catib lufyt coryv focig nerek nazoc romyv numej pojij zetes tukyx pisux denoj pivym

VALID signature from the 'Zmavli Imperial Ministry of Aliens' <general@aliens.im>. This is an official file from the Zmavli Imperial government.

A curious urbamfib, having recently learned of the change protocol for sending questions to the Imperium, inquires the following to <general.questions.otherworld@aliens.im>: Does the standard imperial writing system handle parts of ordinary speech that are normally pheromonal in nature? If it does, how does it? If it doesn't, how has that impacted socialization in online spaces?

To <drones.questions.otherworld@aliens.im>:

Hi! This writer is krissan. San wants to know: are drones basically alien dogs, and can san pet drones? 

(Please tell drones that all dogs including weird alien dogs are very good babs.)

 

(Dogs: very loyal companion animal, intelligent and hard working, dedicated to one single companion who they follow, get very unhappy when dog does not have any useful tasks or work to do, love to play, are very soft and very very pettable.)

From: KIRISAME Marisa <rii@fantasy.email>
To: Otherworldly Questions About Drones Task Force <drones.questions.otherworld@aliens.im>
Subject: Sourcing drone labor
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Can I buy or otherwise source around 1.7 million drones, capable of
a mixture of hard manual and domestic labor?

Is it culturally insensitive to ask about this?

We've got a real Star Trek situation on our hands here and Captain
Picarding at the aliens just isn't going to cut it in real life. I can
Captain Picard at aliens all day if I have to, I can't personally mine
all their minerals for them in perpetuity.

Best,
Marisa

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To: Curious Urbamfib
From: Dimit Nereid Minam of the Zmavli Imperial Ministry of Aliens <dimit.nereid.minam@aliens.im>

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I think you are overestimating the specificity and bandwidth of pheromonal communication. It can be used for:

1. Knowing when someone is present.
2. Identifying someone.
3. Communicating certain physiological states (sickness, tiredness, energy, etc.)
4. Communicating certain emotional states (ecstasy, depression, lust, anger, satisfaction, etc.)

1. and 2. are lost in online communication. 3. and 4. are not, because they can be communicated with attitudinals, which are particles that communicate the state of the speaker. In the very early versions of Standard Imperial, pheromonal qualia was communicated using scent qualia words that say what such a person who felt that emotion would have smelled like, but nowadays we communicate it more directly.

I do not think this has impacted socialization in online spaces, because Zmavlipre are already very well used to asynchronous long-distance communication such as teletype and paper letters, which also do not support that communication medium.

Suggested further reading: (read the current editions if unspecified)

• Rusnan's Anatomy; Section Five: Integumentary System (link)
• Standard Imperial Reference Grammar; Section Two: Attitudinals (link)

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Does this answer your question? If not, follow up to this email by including the signature of this one to your reply so we know that you are responding to it.

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DIMIT NEREID MINAM OF THE ZMAVLI IMPERIAL MINISTRY OF ALIENS
daror kugam bamis vuvyt zefoz pobud nator jyxak palyc sizex tugyt bebek bu'ym rapov vugef fybyb

VALID signature from 'Dimit Nereid Minam; Zmavli Imperial Ministry of Aliens' <dimit.nereid.minam@aliens.im>. This is an official file from the Zmavli Imperial government.

To: San, who is Krissan
From: Dimit Nereid Minam of the Zmavli Imperial Ministry of Aliens <dimit.nereid.minam@aliens.im>

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Sadly, I don't know enough about Krissan dogs to be able to tell you whether that analogy is useful.

You can pet drones with their master's permission. If you buy your own drones, you can pet them as much as you want.

I will tell them this.

Drones are very loyal, intelligent, hard working, and are dedicated to one single person that they follow. Drones will become listless if they are not given orders, but these do not need to be orders to do productive work. It can be as simple as 'sit in a chair'.

Drones do not play. Drones are not soft. Many Keepers do like petting or touching drones.

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Does this answer your question? If not, follow up to this email by including the signature of this one to your reply so we know that you are responding to it.

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DIMIT NEREID MINAM OF THE ZMAVLI IMPERIAL MINISTRY OF ALIENS
pabaz fomol nipuj ritig vasyt misem fakyz takyj gafyp sesur cyros rabib xagym re'es tumes gigil

VALID signature from 'Dimit Nereid Minam; Zmavli Imperial Ministry of Aliens' <dimit.nereid.minam@aliens.im>. This is an official file from the Zmavli Imperial government.

To: KIRISAME Marisa <rii@fantasy.email>
From: Tak Dimit of the Zmavli Imperial Ministry of Aliens <tak.dimit@aliens.im>

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It is legal but logistically and economically impossible if you wish to purchase that many drones at short notice. The current population of the Zmavli Imperium is about two billion remna, of which one billion nine hundred and sixty million are drones. There would not be enough Keepers willing to sell you drones.

It is not culturally insensitive to ask about purchasing drones.

If you still wish to purchase drones, it may be possible to negotiate a long term trade deal where a shipment of drones is sent to you every season (144 days) or every four jeftu (48 days) and with payment for each shipment. However, this is speculation on this drone's part, and this drone recommends that you write the Imperial Ministry of Commerce about this.

This drone is unfamiliar with 'Star Trek', 'Captain Picarding', and 'Captain Picard'. 

This drone also recommends that you write the Imperial Ministry of Commerce if you wish to negotiate for mining rights.

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Does this answer your question? If not, follow up to this email by including the signature of this one to your reply so we know that you are responding to it.

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TAK DIMIT OF THE ZMAVLI IMPERIAL MINISTRY OF ALIENS
detas munol nigyt kyvek fycyr nizoz ravov mu'og xaker jo'ip popyt jecim tojam tirit syjit na'og

VALID signature from 'Tak Dimit; Zmavli Imperial Ministry of Aliens' <tak.dimit@aliens.im>. This is an official file from the Zmavli Imperial government.

To: drones.questions.otherworld@aliens.im

As you may have been informed by the recent delegation, Kastakia could considerably benefit from drone based solutions to basic nursing labour and resource extraction.

However, there are some concerns that various interest groups would like to address before coming to agreements relating to drone ownership and generally allowing immigration:

Does your polity have any concept of religions that promise afterlives, and if so what is the position on drone acceptance therein? Most of our afterlife related religions do not believe that animals are admitted, but drones appear to have an in between status which has interested several groups of comparative theologicans.

In the case of loan agreements, would it be reasonable / ordinary to negotiate specific compensation for the case that the drone was not returned? Is this similar in the cases of accidental death, the drone being kidnapped by other parties, the drone expressing they do not want to return (I understand the latter is very unlikely)?

Can drones reproduce?

Is there any circumstance under which your people would pursue a legal case, aggressive undertakings or similar against a Kastakian for their treatment of a drone, other than a specific contractual obligation as part of a loan agreement?

Would the originating owner of a drone be upset or aggrieved if religious groups attempted (or even succeeded) to convert a drone to their religion - obviously if this had non return or performance implications in the case of a loan I expect it would be covered by contract provisions, but many of our religions do not preclude most services provided by drones, to the best of my understanding.

To: general.questions.otherworld@aliens.im

There are a number of Kastakian interest groups that would like temporary immigration permissions. Could you provide general opinions on the feasibility of,  length of stay that might be awarded to, and reciprocation / consideration required if applicable, for:

Sightseeing adventurers, who would be happy to abide by nature reserve rules, ie most reasonable non interference protocols you might require

Scientific expeditions focused on comparative planetology, including oceanography, animal and plant biology, atmospherics etc, possibly also including your own biology

Technologies and techniques sharing expeditions, focused on cataloging the most useful technologies and techniques that are available and filling in any gaps in your technology stores that we may be able to provide

Scientific expeditions focused on cultural, sociological, historical investigations - these would of course be open to being studied in turn

Religious delegations focused on comparative religion and finding common ground

Religious delegations focused on proselytising (see also drone related details to the drone address)

Families who would like to avail themselves of your comparative advantages as a location for child rearing

Industrial endeavour groups who would like to leverage your infrastructure in their endeavours

All of these would bring their own vessels; details of waste discharge, fishing permissions, and any other resource usage are all negotiable. Collected data would be by default made available to any interested parties.

As for return immigration of Keepers, the main objection raised by various groups is the possibility of an unsustainable population being established - I believe there is no barrier at all to reasonable quantities of temporary immigration on the proviso that all reproduction is also reported and subject to approval in the same manner as initial immigration.

Of course we would be happy to reciprocate this arrangement if required.

To: general.questions.otherworld@aliens.im

Due to the single-state nature of your planet, there are no obvious historical patterns to observe when (in considering factors relevant to immigration) attempting analysis of whether remna in other polities will obey the laws of those polities. This is of particular relevance because it is our understanding that Keepers typically maintain possession of and access to trained drones and weaponry in many public circumstances and might be legitimately difficult for state police to apprehend if a conflict arose. Can you offer assurances or cautions about this we can take into account when various subpolities of Green consider accepting remna immigrants/imports?

To: Tavinter Meddlebasket of Kastakia
From: Tak Dimit of the Zmavli Imperial Ministry of Aliens <tak.dimit@aliens.im>

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The Imperium has no significant religions or philosophies that claim the existence of afterlives, unless you count cryonics. In that specific case, the process of signing up drone for cryonics is virtually identical to that of the Keeper procedure.

Yes, it is standard in contracts to include a clause stating the amount that must be paid in restitution in the case of non-return of the drone. In general only the fact that the drone was not returned is considered – the exact reason why is not. It is also possible to take out insurance policies for legal matters or restitution, or to have insure drones that you loan.

All drones are sterile.

There are no such circumstances. If the drone is the property of a Kastakian, then they are free to use their drone however they wished. Likewise, the Imperium will not intervene in the case of contracts being correctly followed.

Most likely yes. Drones are different from Keepers in that all of them terminally desire to serve their Masters. Any attempt to tamper with this terminal desire of drones would be tantamount to their non-return. And yes, negatively affecting the performance of drones after return, such as returning them injured, is normally covered by contract provisions. Caveat: It is possible that this drone has misunderstood how Kastakian religion works. The Imperial Ministry of Aliens is in the process of studying Kastakian religion.

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Does this answer your question? If not, follow up to this email by including the signature of this one to your reply so we know that you are responding to it.

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TAK DIMIT OF THE ZMAVLI IMPERIAL MINISTRY OF ALIENS
dofac pygub korod coryx gifer saziz tukax loput zyxek nysur pysem bunos nulif redun zixax

VALID signature from 'Tak Dimit; Zmavli Imperial Ministry of Aliens' <tak.dimit@aliens.im>. This is an official file from the Zmavli Imperial government.

I am eager to hear answers to the many questions I have about the thing that is called a drone.

I am a thing such that it is difficult for me to use words to give other beings my thoughts. Therefore I ask for your patience in interpreting my words, which may be used unusually and difficult to understand.

Does the mind of a drone have thoughts inside? Is a drone a thing that experiences the world? This question is the first and most important of my questions because I cannot benefit from owning a thing that does not think thoughts.

How big is the body of a drone? The height of the people I am familiar with is approximately one hundred and fifteen doubles of the breadth of the grain of space. My estimate is that the height of the body of a drone is one more double of that amount.

How easy is it to discern the preferences of a drone? How easy is it by using words to exchange thoughts? How easy is it by examining thoughts directly? A drone is more useful for my purposes if the preferences are easier to discern.

There will perhaps be more questions at a later time but these are the questions that I am asking now.

I express gratitude for the patience and attention of the one who examines my words.

To: Tavinter Meddlebasket of Kastakia
From: Dimit Nereid Minam of the Zmavli Imperial Ministry of Aliens <dimit.nereid.minam@aliens.im>

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Imperial tourist visas subject one to the protections and obligations of Imperial law, plus the laws of the province or city that you choose to enter and stay at. Tourist visas do not expire and are of indefinite duration – once you are granted one, you may stay inside the Imperium's borders for as long as you desire (unless you are deported for some reason). However, said visas are one-time use only. The moment you leave the Imperium, you must apply for another one to come back.

Tourist visa holders have no restrictions on their behavior and may sightsee, conduct research, talk about their religion, or do business, and otherwise do as they wish, except for the following which are forbidden to them: enlisting in the military, running for public office, voting, or owning real estate. Aside from these, they are identical to Imperial citizens in most intents and purposes, with the exceptions applying only in the case of tourist visa holders being charged in the criminal court. In that case, treaties between the Imperium and their home country may apply.

Tourist visa holders are strongly discouraged from having children in the Imperium during their stay, as their child will not be protected under the visa, and are strongly encouraged to immediately leave if this happens. Permanent resident status is being considered by the Imperial government which would grant the additional rights of conferring permanent residency to children of holders, as well as permitting them to own real estate.

It is known to us that Kastakians live on the surface of the ocean. The Imperium does not enforce its laws on the oceans except for environmental protection laws, and likewise does not militarily patrol it, with the exception of the area near coasts. The Imperium cannot, in the general case, guarantee the safety of Kastakians if they choose to sail. However, it is open to negotiation about escorts to accompany Kastakian ships on Zmavliterdi waters. In any case, it is permitted for Kastakians to sail freely at their own risk.

Imperial ocean environmental protection laws are available here.

The policy laid out above is quite similar to the one you proposed, and it is acceptable. I have forwarded your message and this response to the Senate so that talks can begin as to a formal treaty between Kastakia and the Zmavli Imperium. There is much interest in the Imperium of mutual immigration treaties precisely because Zmavlipre live on land and Kastakians live on water. I hope that fruitful cooperation between our two worlds results.

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Does this answer your question? If not, follow up to this email by including the signature of this one to your reply so we know that you are responding to it.

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DIMIT NEREID MINAM OF THE ZMAVLI IMPERIAL MINISTRY OF ALIENS
fulid faxef zozot za'yx fyfef keput pojen bynuc kaxif zo'ip rolez sycuv jufac dupuk sinyv tyxyc

VALID signature from 'Dimit Nereid Minam; Zmavli Imperial Ministry of Aliens' <dimit.nereid.minam@aliens.im>. This is an official file from the Zmavli Imperial government.

Followup to: DIMIT NEREID MINAM OF THE ZMAVLI IMPERIAL MINISTRY OF ALIENS

fulid faxef zozot za'yx fyfef keput pojen bynuc kaxif zo'ip rolez sycuv jufac dupuk sinyv tyxyc

Could you elaborate on what kind of dangers may be present in your oceans, so our expeditionary can be properly equipped to handle them? 

From: KIRISAME Marisa <rii@fantasy.email>
To: Tak Dimit of the Zmavli Imperial Ministry of Aliens <tak.dimit@aliens.im>
Subject: Re: Sourcing drone labor
Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="uZenq9WbFKBCRKKOmmeO"
Message-ID: <Syn1sOtsQPVOtUQMsJjyUri31OOsNYi4WxkXkzFbCZcCc5T7Rd1iIR8vvUDKJLgW@fantasy.email>
In-Reply-To: <"detas munol nigyt kyvek fycyr nizoz ravov mu'og xaker jo'ip popyt jecim tojam tirit syjit na'og"@aliens.im>

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Thanks, Tak Dimit! We've learned more about the situation on the ground
now and it looks like the "slave species" would be happy with the
situation materially, except for the part where the surface dwellers
decided the worker units they had were their own property and not
drone labor on loan from the subterranean hive queens. Or something
like that. This is all filtered thirdhand through some interfering
Federation bureaucrats. I'm just a humble trader.

So I'm going there personally and negotiating a settlement and hoping
the local Feds don't get mad at me about it. We'll have a pretty good
treaty worked out soon, I think. The Feds probably won't be a party,
but I will, and just between us civil servants the Feds are scared
of me. I guess it's because trade breaks down barriers!

Do you loan out drones for work on your world? Are there standard legal
formalities if so? I think the queens don't keep formal track of it
when they do it, which might be the root of the problems here.

By the way, I like your email system! I guess your threaded mail
readers use signatures as message IDs, which would be a lot smarter
than the "we hope it's unique!" freeform strings we use. It was all too
old and entrenched to change by the time I got to it; my planet are
pretty late adopters. You can get my public key from my website, by the
way! It's also cool how they're made of pronounceable words! Is there
an Imperial ministry I can bug about email interoperability?

(´• ω •`) ♡
Marisa

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To: <general.questions.otherworld@aliens.im>

To whom it may concern,

I represent Northern Five Oaks Herbal Teas, a prospective exporter of food products to the Zmavli Imperium. Due to local regulatory difficulties, we cannot accept in-person inspections of our facilities from aliens at this time. Given this, is it still possible for us to export our products? We would be happy to permit random sampling of shipments and/or the use of a telepresence setup so as to ensure all parties of our commitment to quality. Furthermore, other regulatory details would be appreciated, as we've heard that the Zmavli Imperium takes a broad view of what products qualify as intoxicants, a category which is often heavily regulated.

Thank you for your time and consideration,
Ralularen