internal-conflict-and-doubt

This chapter introduces the Gubru, a bird-like alien race governed by a tripartite system of military, priesthood, and civil service, represented by three candidates destined to become leaders through consensus and competition. The bureaucrat of Cost and Caution, one of these candidates, reflects on the strategic importance of the planet Garth, a vulnerable human colony targeted for conquest to coerce the humans. The chapter explores the Gubru's cultural and political structures, their reverence for balance and consensus, and the tension inherent in their leadership selection process.