"That's the danger point, sir. The kzin culture is expansionist by nature. The Patriarch doesn't care if the Conquest Heroes win or die trying, as long as they keep moving out from the settled systems. Up until now they've been willing, even eager, to do it. There isn't much opportunity for an ambitious kzin on a settled planet. Joining a conquest isn't just more glorious, it's safer, or it was until now.”
Tskala was puzzled. "I know they're crazy for combat, but how can going to war be safer than staying at home?”
"All social carnivores have ways to limit damage. Most threats are bluffs and most fights aren't serious; those that are, are subject to strict rules. On an established world the only quick way to the top is through serious duels, with the rules rigged against the contender. That serves to preserve their social structure, but it only works if there's a better alternative for the challenger. That used to be the conquests, but we've changed that. I saw a lot more duels in my last year on W'kkai than in my first, duels involving senior kzin. It's only going to get worse as their population pressure builds up. Kzinti can't be packed into multiblocks the way humans can; they need a lot of room.”
"How does that affect us?”
"Put yourself in the Patriarch's shoes! Already the first cracks are starting to show – Fleet Commander is proof of that. He's facing his own death, the destruction of a dynasty that predates human civilization, the dissolution of his society and maybe the extinction of his species. He's a kzin. Do you want to bet thirty billon lives he won't decide to learn how total war is fought?" Long paused for breath. His words had come tumbling out almost unaided. The half-formed ideas that had stewed in his brain while he hung on the police web had clicked into place. Now that he was sure of the problem he knew the answer.
Tskala whistled. "I think I'm beginning to see your point, but what do you propose? Extermination isn't really an option even in theory, despite the flatlander prattle. We couldn't take them out fast enough to prevent just the kind of war you're talking about. We either give up or contain them. I'm not in favor of giving up, and you're telling me containment won't work.”
This was the critical moment. The admiral could make it very easy for him, or impossibly difficult. "I'm not in favor of any of those choices either, but I think there's a better one. The galaxy is a big place, there's room for warriors to win honor whatever their species. I think we should form an alliance." Long held his breath.
Tskala considered before answering. "What makes you think they'll agree with that any longer than it takes to mount the next invasion?”
"I think they don't have a choice, any more than we do. If something doesn't change neither race has anything to look forward to but total war and massive devastation, if not extinction. We're supposed to be the flexible, far-thinking ones. We've been lucky so far; let's do something about it before it's too late.”
Tskala snorted. "I don't think being invaded by the most predatory species in the galaxy is lucky.”
Long persisted. "Angel's Pencil encountering a kzin warship in interstellar space and surviving to warn us. Our completely pacifist society surviving the onslaught of technologically superior warriors. A slaver in stasis four billion years being released at just the right place and time to wreck the fifth invasion force. The Outsiders arriving on We Made It and handing us the hyperdrive. That research team stumbling onto a secret kzin base before they could surprise us when they got the hyperdrive too. Maybe we're even lucky they shook us out of our artificial paradise before the UN became the most unbreakable tyranny ever seen. Every war we've fought with them has turned on an impossible coincidence. How much longer can we count on that?”
Tskala waved an arm, brushing aside his argument. "Good tacticians make their own luck, Major.