... I was slightly embarrassed, squeezing out a gloomily:
- Such entertainment, guys, does not excite me at all at the moment. After all, we are in a war situation... something is constantly happening there without our participation...
- And okay... we are lucky so far, - Eroh replied, extinguishing his mischievous smile. - I heard something about the sudden appearance of an invisible enemy, striking from nowhere... and several cruisers were shot down... and how can we fight, because they are not even visible? We have to slip away at full speed... if only the vile beasts would show up! Fortunately, our technology is more advanced now…
- Yes... new engines and equipment, - Dylan noted enthusiastically, rubbing his palms. - I am delighted that ours manage to slip away from these unpredictable creatures... And the guns! I have already tried them out at training! What super laser guns... brandnew! My hands are itching to shoot! But I'd like to understand where to aim if the enemy isn't even visible on the radar! So unfair!
... That's who's most willing to fight, I suppose!
- And I... - the paramedic's pale eyes suddenly lit up. - I just can't wait to put my hands in the belly of a dead enemy body!
- Ugh... Eroh, why? - Dylan covered his face with his hand in deep disgust. - I didn't realize you liked it so much - cutting up bodies... So disgusting!
- Well... I'm a doctor... - the paramedic cast a dreamy glance, businesslike folding his arms across his chest.
- Not a doctor, but a butcher!
- A practical surgeon actually! Let's say so! It's so exciting - to know the enemy from the inside! They're a different form of life... Although they are rumored to be humanoids, and I've seen a lot, actually... we need to find answers to why they are so angry towards us?
- What is a really abominable thing! - Dylan shook his head emotionally with disgust. — Will it help to delve into this?
— Dream... dream, Eroh, — I smiled awkwardly, surprised by his overly odious curiosity. — Only when and under what circumstances will you be so lucky to meet a dead enemy? I seriously doubt that this will happen anytime soon... no one has ever seen them alive!
— So sad... — the on-board butcher was genuinely sad, scratching his chin thoughtfully. — To die ingloriously... and never to immerse himself in such a fascinating investigation!
— Ugh, Eroh! What pessimism! Why die right away? — undisguised irritation poured out of me.
… This was not part of my plans at all! I haven't made enough money yet... and he's thinking about death. What kind of person is he! Medics have always seemed strange to me...
— And really... buddy, get used to thinking positively! — Dylan noted animatedly, clapping Eroh on the shoulder. — I promise you, I will personally deliver a pile of these dead creatures to your infirmary! You will have a blast, but without my testimony!
... Assessing the deviant moods of my colleagues, I wondered how they even got a position on this starship... How did they pass all the psycho-tests? Where was the personnel officer looking? One is a skilled ripper, the other is a agitated shooter!... Maniacs! However, all their aggression is directed specifically at the enemy and the team is not in any danger... and our mission continues - to quietly deliver geologists to defenseless Pretoria, which the enemy may not yet know about... otherwise it would no longer exist.
This is a densely populated picturesque planet with a mild tropical climate, which I have never visited and admired only the images of majestic cities of white stone in the midst of dark emerald greenery.
The Coalition Catalog explained to me that the social system there is patriarchal, ruled by a group of men, and therefore archaic, and there is undoubtedly social inequality, with a noticeable gap between the poor and the rich, which never existed on my planet.
Dylan, smiling mysteriously, did not really want to talk about his homeland, referring to the fact that I would see everything myself.
- It is obvious that you love Pretoria ... such beautiful landscapes and original architecture! Everything is so rich ... Luxury! Our Seymour culture is much simpler in every sense. Why did you go to serve the Coalition? For money or adventure?
- Both! My folk are very active and hot-blooded! The main population is male and they all love military affairs. Tournaments and battles with swords, spears and other stabbing weapons. All this seems primitive to you, does not it?
— The Seymour are a peaceful race and we have never done such things, we have lived for eons in sparse vegetation without much conflict and when the Coalition came to us for the first time, we greeted the aliens cordially, believing that this is how it should be. No one conquered us, their technological civilization smoothly blended into our life, providing us with diversity and knowledge of the world beyond our world. This happened long after I was born and I cannot imagine any other way of life.
— You were just like naive children, to whom kind men came and arranged a new and wonderful life for you? Sounds like a fairy tale! — Dylan exclaimed.
— However, it is! And therefore it was a revelation to me that there are star wars, which the Coalition told us about when they recruited for space service. And why do you have more men than women?
Dylan waved his hand mockingly:
- Who knows? There are simply fewer of them born: one in ten.
- Wow! How strange! We have about the equal number. And how do you divide these unfortunates among yourselves?
- Why divide them? - he was surprised. - It's fine as is! Everyone there is gay! No problem!
- But I noticed that you suffer if our pretty employees ignore you?
- Not at all! I have established a permanent relationship with Lea! And the guys here are very skilled! Nothing to complain about! I am very pleased, Commander!
- I don't get it... You said that Pretoria is full of prostitutes!
- Well, yes, that's true! Absolutely all the women there are there only for this, there are no other activities for them! They serve men day and night... What's wrong? There are elite and simpler ones, it all depends on their beauty. However, all our women are gorgeous ... you'll see!
... How so?! I was quite amazed at how different our societies are... Completely various concepts of a woman's purpose! Try to force my fellow tribeswomen to perform only such a role... what savagery, they will squeal with indignation! Although it is so convenient... the Praetorian ladies conscientiously perform their duties every day without complaint. And for them this is normal?!
I will find out everything in detail when I get there. Apparently, the Coalition did not interfere much in the cultural field with gender inequality... because such a situation in society is really convenient for men.
But they did something different with the Seymur women... they were given an education and with such baggage they serve us, the crews of starships, under the guise of scientific activity... Well, this is quite fair, I suppose... Otherwise, how would we manage without graceful beauties specially prepared for us... And everyone is happy!