The Future ArismalIntroductionThe Arismal people have never been accused of being reckless. We approached our introduction to the galaxy as a space-faring race with typical Arismal caution, taking measured steps and ensuring our footing at each opportunity.
Not for the first time in our history, an overabundance of caution was a mistake. What seemed prudent and smart ensured that, at an unforeseeable moment, too many Arismal were planetside, and are now lost to us.
This was a mere month and a half ago. Since that time, the admiralty’s plan for the survival of our species was a mystery to the fleet, and the lack of a clear mission – beyond not dying – has contributed to a deletorious effect on morale. It was perhaps this Arismal trait of approaching every step with the utmost caution that delayed either the formulation of a plan for the future, or the communication of such plan to the rank and file.
While confident that the new leadership will develop such a plan, and communicate it to the fleet as needed, the members of the 1st SOG have had a number of occasions to view the situation from both internal and external loci, and have made a number of actionable observations which may contribute to overall strategic planning efforts.
ObjectiveThe survival of both the fleet and the Arismal race is of first-order priority to this document, and should be approached as a three-pronged strategy: Preservation, curation, and promulgation.
PreservationWhere possible, Arismal lives should be preserved – although we cannot control when we are confronted by our enemy, we can mitigate losses, as the fleet has already admirably done. However, even in the face of loss of life, steps can (and should) be taken to mitigate that loss, and make the impact less profound. Before the destruction of our planet, I read that in our prehistory, several extinction-level events took place, which devastated the flora and fauna of our planet – though some species developed before such events and survived them. This is the situation we find ourselves in now – an evolutionary
bottleneck. Many species do not survive such a bottleneck, and go extinct. Therefore, a significant aim of this plan will be to ensure Arismal genetic diversity going forward.
CurationThe loss of the planet was a catastrophic loss for the Arismal people, and not just one measured in loss of life. Every aspect of our species that was not represented in our fleet suffered. Arismal food sources, knowledge bases, production facilities, and culture have all been devastated. However, the possibility exists that some elements of Arismal life may have persisted beyond the destruction of the planet. Although a military fleet should primarily focus on military objectives, even during the Great Wars before the Arismal Unification, one of the generals took pains to hide and protect cultural artefacts and art, saying
”None must go”, because he recognized the importance of preserving the culture in the face of the enemy. We should likewise do so, to the maximum extent possible, and this plan has, as a significant facet, the goal of curating such artifacts where they exist.
PromulgationThe Promulgation of a species is achieved when it reaches primacy in its venue, such as its immediate regional environment. The Arismal race promulgated on our home planet, and achieved planet-wide primacy. For our species to again promulgate, we must seek to establish a venue where we can prosper, expand, and reach primacy, before attempting to promulgate on a galactic scale, as our enemies have done. In order for the Arismal species to thrive, and not merely survive, we must take immediate steps to promulgate our people, and this plan will encompass such efforts.
Secondary ObjectiveThe secondary objective of this strategic plan should be the neutralization of the ability of our enemy to affect us. As our enemy vastly outnumbers us, the utter annihilation of our enemy is a logical impossibility. Thus, the options left to us are their neutralization through strategic victories, fomenting unrest within the enemy empire, and cementing diplomatic victories against our enemy. The combination of these efforts may sow enough discord to render the enemy impotent to cause us more harm. It is notable that the destruction of our enemy may have been the Admiralty’s primary objective, but this document seeks to correct that – our enemy should be defeated, but not at the expense of our species’ continued existence.
To use a metaphor, we are an injured Frill-cat, cornered by a feral Boarwulf. If we fight the Boarwulf, we may bite it. We could hope that bite gets infected, and eventually kills the Boarwulf, but we haven’t the strength to kill it outright – it’s much larger and stronger than we are. The Frill-cat is faster, though, and smaller, and cleverer. We can use that bite to distract the Boarhound, attacking its underbelly, and use its pain and confusion to make an escape. If the Frill-cat fights a running battle, we may lead it through the underbrush where it cannot follow, and ensure our own survival.
Like the Frill-cat, we must employ our assets, and eschew our weaknesses. And like the metaphorical Frill-cat, we must survive. Above all, we must survive. Therefore, defeating the Boarwulf is a secondary objective.
AssetsThe first step of any strategic plan must be the identification of assets, both immediate and recoverable. The Arismal species has, as its primary asset, the ADF fleet, containing a genetically diverse array of highly-trained Arismal soldiers, as well as a number of scientists, technicians, executives, and other experts. These people are our primary asset. The ships, weapons, and equipment of the fleet are a secondary asset.
A nontangible asset of the Arismal people is our leadership. One of the first actions of the admiralty was to declare martial law, an act which will serve to enable efforts to preserve, curate, and promulgate our people. As a direct effect of this declaration, the fleet leadership may be able to use its new legal status to claim any recoverable Arismal assets.
Recoverable assets are Arismal goods, food, livestock, products, funds, or cultural artifacts that may have been exported off-planet before its destruction. As de facto leadership of the Arismal people, the ADF leadership should have legal claim to any Arismal-owned businesses that may have had off-world operations, facilities, or accounts, and may have legal recourse under some alien legal systems to recover exported goods, livestock, food, and artifacts, using endangered or protected species status classifications or other legal mechanisms. These recoverable assets may even be purchased back or recovered by military action if no other options exist.
Another non-tangible asset of the Arismal is our diplomacy. Our enemies have numerous enemies apart from the Arismal, a fact which can be exploited through diplomacy. Even in the failure of diplomacy, this fact may be exploited tactically, through espionage, or even by fleet placement. The plight of our people is dire, and may give us diplomatic leverage with the enemies of our enemies. Further, our enemy has numerous slave and client species whose loyalty to their masters may be subverted with sufficient diplomatic efforts (or military victories).
WeaknessesWhile listed as an asset, the ADF fleet is also a weakness. While formidable, it is smaller than our enemies’ fleet, yet too large to hide indefinitely, which renders direct assault and flat retreat as both untenable strategies. Further, while the fleet is largely self-sufficient, it cannot proceed indefinitely without a defensible port of call, a place to effect large-scale repairs, build new ships to replace those lost, and reprovision.
Our next major weakness is psychological. Every living Arismal has suffered catastrophic loss. In the pre-unification days, this was referred to as “soldier’s heart” or "shell-shock” but Arismal physicians have come to know it as post-traumatic stress disorder, and it can manifest in a wide variety of ways. Further, such catastrophic loss may have had a profound impact on each Arismal’s psychological well-being. These and other issues have contributed to a persistent loss of morale. This will, inevitably, affect individual performance, and steps taken to mitigate these issues should be seen as necessary for success.
Limited provisions are also a weakness of the fleet. While steps such as rationing, food development, and the employing of innate Arismal abilities have greatly helped or are positioned to help mitigate this weakness, reprovisioning on a vast scale must occur soon. As they used to say in the old days, “an army marches on its belly.”
They also used to say, “there are known unknowns, and unknown unknowns,” and to this point, intelligence about our enemy (things of which we know we are ignorant as well as things about our enemy of which we currently have no concept) is currently a weakness. Identifying intelligence we need (i.e., the known unknowns) is certainly important, but efforts must be undertaken to find key intelligence of which we are entirely ignorant (i.e., unknown unknowns) as well. The extent to which we can gather such intelligence must be improved. Further, identifying ADF fleet weaknesses of which we are ignorant (also unknown unknowns) must be done, therefore, fleet readiness must be thoroughly and regularly evaluated. Finally, as Maricko Taarwin once wrote:
”It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so.” Therefore, all intelligence must be
red-teamed to both verify it and evaluate its usefulness.
Observations and ProposalsObservation 1Whereas the ADF fleet morale is suffering, reprovisioning must occur, and a secure port of call must be established.
Proposal 1To address this, we propose that every effort must be made to immediately secure a colonizeable planet, or alternatively, we need to negotiate to secure base locations (possibly in return for joint defense agreements). Such planet should ideally be placed in an area inaccessible to our enemy (located within a region of space occupied by one of our enemies’ enemies – The FAR or the TMC), or remote from them (a location on the far side of the FAR or the TMC, for example). This will assist with all three prongs of this plan.
Given that there are numerous other humanoid races in the Galaxy with equivalent dietary needs, we should look to reprovision by trading or raiding.
Observation 2Whereas fleet morale is suffering, fleet resources are limited, and recoverable assets may exist to partially remediate our situation.
Proposal 2Efforts must be undertaken to identify and secure, through legal, financial, or military means, any recoverable Arismal assets as defined in “Assets”, above, which exist. Focus should be made on Arismal livestock and food (particularly food which may be recultivated, such as tuberous plants, seed-bearing fruit, and the like), accounts with positive capital (in any currency), offworld Arismal-owned production facilities should such exist, and originals OR copies of Arismal-created artwork, books, music, or other Arismal cultural ephemera. Replicas of these last should be displayed/accesible throughout the fleet, as a reminder, not of what is lost, but of what we Arismal are, and are capable of, and are, thus, safeguarding. Some Arismal artefacts or replicas of Arismal artefacts may exist in places of higher learning, scientific installations, or art galleries. Replicas may be more purchaseable. Care should be taken that such efforts not undermine diplomatic efforts.
Further, any surviving Arismal cultural artifacts which exist within the fleet (such as books, music, and knowledge) should be curated in a database accessible to all members of the fleet. This will help work to minimize the losses to Arismal culture if a ship should be lost. Further, Any Arismal who are willing should be allowed to cross-train in other areas, which will keep some Arismal knowledge (including languages) alive.
Observation 3Whereas the galaxy is a hostile place, and the enemy of the Arismal have other enemies besides, and whereas the fleet, while strong, is insufficient on its own to defeat the enemy.
Proposal 3Diplomatic or espionage efforts should be undertaken to secure assistance against the enemy. In a galaxy full of conflict, surely the Arismal can engineer some of that conflict to benefit us, with little impact on the fleet. By placing our fleet close to the periphery of the FAR or TMC, we may engineer a conflict between them and the Atorians, with the FAR or TMC potentially unaware of our involvement. Placing ourselves on the distant side of the TMC or FAR separates us from our enemy, and allows us “breathing space” to regroup.
Observation 4Whereas intelligence about our enemy/enemies is missing or incomplete, and unrest may be fomented among them, weaknesses exploited, and technologies and processes copied, subverted, or destroyed.
Proposal 4Espionage should be undertaken within the enemy’s operations. A team of Arismal, disguised as and impersonating the enemy, should undertake to infiltrate strategic enemy locations to gather intelligence, sow discord, and/or engage in strategic demolition of enemy resources.
Observation 5Whereas the peaceful future of the Arismal people must be secured.
Proposal 5Efforts must be undertaken to seek diplomatic solutions, to provide the Arismal with an autonomous zone of the galaxy, partially secured by treaties and agreements with alien governments (to such extent that is warranted or possible). Diplomats should be trained in alien governmental types, briefed on alien cultures, negotiation tactics, and priorities, and emplaced to effect such negotiations as are beneficial to the Arismal fleet.
Observation 6Whereas Arismal life is sacred and should be preserved.
Proposal 6Steps must be taken in advance of any further loss of Arismal life, in order to effect successful remediation of Arismal genetic diversity if it becomes necessary in the future. Genetic samples should be taken of all living Arismal, and all the recently dead, and those samples should be effectively stored for the duration. Such samples may be used for in vitro fertilization, cloning, and genetic repair efforts when such efforts become necessary and feasible. Further, any recoverable Arismal livestock and plant matter should be similarly curated. When possible, Arismal should be disallowed from contaminating Arismal genetic diversity by breeding with non-Arismal. Genetic samples could be used in these instances to provide Arismal/non-Arismal couples (should such exist) with pure Arismal offspring.
Observation 7Whereas the peaceful continuance of the Arismal people must be assured.
Proposal 7Despite the necessary martial law declaration we are under, efforts must be undertaken to restore civilian leadership, when such efforts as establishing a colony in an Arismal Autonomous Zone, mitigating the enemy’s ability to attack us through diplomatic, espionage, and/or military means, and ensuring the preservation, curation, and promulgation of the species are attained. Such a transition would be smoothed by establishing a civilian leadership seat on the leadership body to succeed the admiralty. Such a civilian seat could be established by a majority vote, and would be held by a non-military or retired military survivor, for a limited term of service, with succession determined by vote. Further, it should be enacted as a foundational policy that no position of authority in the fleet be held by a non-Arismal.
ConclusionThe 1st SOG recognizes that the fleet has a wide array of responsibilities, which are in fact more than the fleet was designed to accommodate, and that the fleet has proceeded admirably thus far in surviving the efforts of our enemy to destroy us. It is our hope that this document be received in the spirit in which it is offered: not as a criticism of the fleet’s laudable efforts, but as a voice from the soldiery which freely offers its observations and proposals as a starting point for coming conversations on the future of the Arismal.
May the old gods of Arismal bless us all.
Signed,Niall Zeddeus, 2nd LT, 1st SOG
Cairo Xanreys, 3rd LT, 1st SOG
Jerrik Halko, Sgt. 1st SOG
Rosseyn Ridatharen, 2nd LT, 1st SOG
Ryden Hunter, 3rd LT, 1st SOG
Gillina Hassan, 3rd LT, 1st SOG