Zaftan Background
I have more stories about the Knights from Camelot, but before I show those, I’ll tell you want the zaftans are doing.
In this newsletter, I’ll describe the background of the zaftans and next week I’ll tell what these aliens are up to.
The zaftans are a vicious race. They consider treachery and assassination to be social skills. Successful attempts at both are added to their resumés. Zaftans resemble giant squids with their eight tentacles, eye stalks and rubber-like skin. To humans, their stench is so bad, that people immediately get sick and throw up when anywhere near a zaftan.
Zaftans believe they have a moral right to crush inferior races and enslave them. Over the eons, zaftans had never found a race they didn't consider inferior. They have two methods of overwhelming these inferior beings. One was the military approach and the second used a corporate strategy. In the second, the central government assigned a corporation to exploit the native race. The corporation sold the natives sophisticated devices at outrageous prices, prices so inflated that the natives could never pay without taking out loans — from the corporation — at exorbitant interest rates. While that process went on, other programs plundered their mineral, cultural and artistic wealth. Within fifteen years, the corporations owned everything of value, and the natives swam in debt owed to the corporation. Anyone who didn't obey corporate orders would have that debt called in. Everyone knew zaftan debtor prisons had few survivors.
With the military option, they simply invaded the planet and destroyed the native's ability to resist. In combat, zaftans had a huge advantage; they were extremely hard to kill because of their multiple brains. Besides the usual one in the top of their torso, every major muscle group had its own processor. All of these brains were linked, but could also operate independently. To kill a zaftan, all eight brains had to be destroyed. If one was left intact, it could activate a chemical and hormonal reaction that would grow replacement processors and new body parts.
The head of the Zaftan government is known as the Dictator, no name, just the title and a number Once installed, the Dictator served for life which really meant until he was assassinated. Once the Dictatorship had an opening, up to dozen politicians announced their candidacy. The next Dictator was the survivor from that group after all the others were murdered. Thus, the Dictator was always the most efficient assassin of all the candidates.
The Vice-dictator is “elected” in similar fashion. However, the current Vice-dictator has served under seventeen Dictators. It is rumored that the current Dictator is a figurehead who spends the day doing three-dimensional crossword puzzles. That means the real power rests with the Vice-dictator.
From what I’ve been able to find out, the zaftan government officials (i.e. The Vice-dictator) are angry because their archenemies, the gundies have established a base in a nearby star system. The zaftans fear the base will be used to support a sneak attack. They also fear that the author (me) is in league with the gundies and that I’ll write a story in which the zaftans are defeated.
The Gundies are from the planet Gundarland in a far way star system. It is populated by several races such as dwarfs, elves, trolls, half-pints and even men. This Gundarland is different from the Gundarland in my novels. Those novels take place in Medeaval settings while these gundies are hundreds of years into the future.
In the meantime, the zaftan government (i.e. the Vice-dictator) has burned all copies of my books and anyone found with a copy is sentenced to five years in prison. And I’ve learned the Vice-dictator is actively plotting to thwart my (supposed) support of the gundies.
Besides the viciousness of the VD, another concern is troubling me. One of the zaftans visited Manhattan in several short stories. So the zaftans know how to reach our world. If a zaftan comes here is he still real? Or does he become fictitious once he leaves the parallel universe? And what about all the other short stories that were set in our world? Are those characters real or figments of my imagination? If real, that’d mean a two-hundred year old undead chick is roaming around Manhattan. And an alien is running a tour guide operation for other aliens who want to vacation in New York City. Just thinking about this stuff is giving me a headache.
Next week, I’ll describe the Vice-dictator’s plans to influence my writing
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