Mr.Tucker wrote:But why would we want to get rid of them? It's a massive advantage if we ever get integrated in the Union for the other (non-Loroi) races to have a species among them capable of defeating the otherwise insurmountable edge the empire has. The only reason the Loroi decided to form the Union after calling the other species' bluff following the Mannadi conflict (instead of violently smashing them outright) is basically a combination of tiredness, laziness, and opportunity for bloodless expansion. Their isolationism and general mild distaste for the affairs of xenos is basically what allowed the other races to still prosper somewhat even under foreign rule. No telling if the Loroi emerge from this conflict mostly unchanged but shaken, or as bloodthirsty, Exterminatus crazed maniacs. And humanity has the bargaining chips in that case.... assuming the Union survives at all (their chances seem veeeeery slim at the moment).
We might want to get rid of our Lotai so that the Loroi don't find a pretext to squash us while we're still contained to a handful of worlds. At least until we get our bearing in interspecies diplomacy. And unless the Loroi learn how to detect unwilling humans, whatever technique we use can always be not applied.
Assuming the Loroi win, they will have a window of opportunity inbetween breaking the Umiak and ending the war, in which details such as the human species can be handled. Who could stop their fleets with the Umiak no longer a threat?
It depends on how ruthless Loroi leadership is. In the current state, we have to assume the worst. Once things calm down and wartime measures have been lifted, humanity might be able to meaningfully spread to the territory of other species. The Nissek for example should be very interested in human settlers.
And does Fireblade look happy to anybody else? Having one eye also suits her really well.