A Conquistador on Loris

This thread follows Johnny Bezique from suspicious visitor to ruler of Loris, where his aggression is turned into a political tool.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Standard Nightmare Begins

First Contact Through Fear A familiar scenario Johnny hears a voice from the planet and learns that the inhabitants can communicate with his ship. He immediately recognizes the beginning of Earth’s standard nightmare of alien contact. Power as the central question He assumes that contact will eventually become a contest over who rules whom. The expectation shapes how he interprets even friendly evidence.

Paradise Feels Threatening

A Society That Works An unsettling success Johnny sees a prosperous, peaceful society with free goods, creative work, and highly capable machines. Lorian life appears to provide many human ideals without coercive government. Suspicion grows The perfection makes Johnny more, not less, uneasy. He looks for a weakness, convinced that an orderly society must conceal a flaw.

Violence Meets Politeness

A Small Conflict Escalates A road dispute Johnny makes an unauthorized turn and argues with another driver. He insists on being right by force of certainty rather than evidence. The system responds gently A counselor urges adjustment therapy, and a monitor tries to restrain him. Johnny punches the officials and concludes that escape is necessary.

A False Identity

Aggression Disguised as Authority A plausible lie Johnny claims to be a Lorian planner returning from a secret mission. His confidence and urgency persuade one group of monitors to let him pass. Resistance at the final door A special monitor unit refuses to accept his story and threatens to shoot. Johnny walks through anyway, relying on the hesitation of a society unused to meeting force with force.

Ruler by Invitation

Loris Accepts a Conqueror A forecast of conflict Veerhe explains that Earth and Loris are likely to clash because Earth will not accept an alien society’s dominance. Loris’s technology is superior, but its culture is poorly suited to aggressive rivalry. Johnny accepts power The Lorians offer Johnny personal rule as a way to avoid a future conflict. He agrees and begins planning how to take control of Earth as well.

As Johnny approaches Loris

During Johnny’s first days in Athisse

Nearly two weeks after landing

During Johnny’s attempt to reach the Planning Office

During the conversation with Veerhe