What would you do if Earth became a Client World?

At best a war of resources.

Seriously humans may be easy to kill, but humanity as a whole is hard to deal with.

"Prove you can do what you say you can. If you really were All That you wouldn't have to threaten us to get what you want."

My headcanon is still "food", because they reject robots outright and anything really alien enough to warrant the name is either going to find us too ugly for sexytimes or have a nasty reaction to our body fluids.

A more plausible scenario I think is "lab subjects". 100 subjects for genetic studies, or perhaps some discipline of Biology that we haven't discovered yet.

Regardless, if they have no weaknesses then our only other option is to pretend they aren't there. Except, you know, at lottery time.

I really want to know why they don't want humanity leaving Earth. What do they gain out of keeping us here? Are they afraid of us or something?

If they aren't scared, well, they will be soon.

Humanity: Making You Crazy since First Contact

They're not necessarily afraid of us, they're just not taking chances.

Really, though, all you need to say is "Try to harm us, damage our equipment, or fail to meet our demands, we destoy cities." Not threaten cruel and creative punishments (rocks? Why rocks? Rods from god are easier to fire) for those who disobey.

And also: why do they need to ask? If they're so advanced, they could likely just abduct folks off the planet quietly for their thing (and given the prevailing attitude towards UF Os and alien abductions, it would be nicely covert).

About the only reason for these demands I can see is humiliation. The point would be to make sure that the client species is reminded at all times of their utter inferiority.

The thing is, if you're under the thumb of an empire that thinks along these lines, there isn't really anything to be gained by not fighting and dying.

Which brings us back to my point: do the right thing even if you get wrecked afterwards. And when the universe asks "What of Earth?" we will reply "We chose to die rather than yeild". If they want Earth, they'll have to pry it out of our crispy, irradiated hands.

edited 1st Aug '15 11:44:22 AM by dvorak

I'm starting to regret making this thread, mostly because yeah, it's a shitty, hopeless situation which humanity could do nothing about. There was no point framing it as an invitation to problem-solve, since as De Marquis pointed out on the first page, there isn't really any way out.

I feel the need to put my own five cents worth in and point out that it's a pretty harsh and restrictive take on the concept of a client state, to the point where it's starting to move out that trope and into more dystopian ones.

A more open version where an alien species comes in and basically says "Right, you're part of our empire from here on in. We get to levy troops, taxes and put our own person in charge with veto power, but otherwise you may continue on as you were" at least has more room for discussion.

you could go with the british system and introduce new tech and culture while brutally exploiting the natives

Or go Roman and dangle full citizenship in front of them in exchange for service.

Regardless, you want to bring something to the table that gives the natives something to strive for. Be it wealth or prestige or a chance to see the world/Galaxy, just so long as it's worthwhile.

Honestly, I'd go with the roman system. Citizens are obliged to pay taxes after all.

I agree that slavery is REALLY fucking bugging me as a sheltered first-world person, but I'm also betting on the Trojan slaves because we're at least TRYING not to fold so easily.

On a writing standpoint, I love the idea that the aliens are a Vestigial Empire trying to hold on to their former glory by taking their machismo out on weaker planets/species. Their exposure as a has-been empire would be a fantastic twist.

Plus, it would be a lot more interesting than if they were actually powerful enough to curb-stomp planets. With the scenario as depicted, you've maybe got a one-shot or maybe a few chapters with a depressing Foregone Conclusion. With the Vestigial Empire twist, THEN you've got a story.

edited 2nd Aug '15 12:45:10 PM by Sharysa

If they can't deliver on their promise to destroy us for non-compliance, but we can't touch them except the guys who drew the short straw and had to fly the slave ships, we have a stalemate situation.

If they have interstellar travel, they can deliver on it. That much is beyond question. Anybody with that capability can wipe out a planetbound civilization easily enough.

^^ Sometimes a stalemate is preferable.

Have you read Harry Turtledove's "The road not taken"? I know the example in that story is pretty extreme, but still.