Something's Rotten

Date: February 6, 2152

From: Colonel Miles Quartich

To: Administrator Parker Selfridge

Subject: Na'vi Prisoner

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In light of the recent conflicts between SECFOR forces and the locals, I have agreed to your request to take in Pandoran prisoners for study and interrogation. Not the easiest of tasks given that the savages don't know when they've been beat and if not for Ryder's work in the field, I suspect that you'd be busy dealing with a bunch of casualty notification forms by now. Regardless, in light of my interrogation of such a prisoner (hereby deemed Subject #UN31), I will present what I have learnt firsthand.

If UN31 is any indication, the average na'vi is three metres tall with a long tail, yellow eyes and has three fingers and one thumb. Although I have yet to see these creatures in the field myself, reports indicate that they are quite nimble. Unfortunately, our interrogation facility cannot test this-pressurized methane is easy to contain, but in the interests of safety, I have to refuse requests for a larger testing ground. The idea of a large room filled with a flammable gas in light of the na'vi's abilities does not fill me with confidence about the safety of RDA ESC 01.

From x-rays (which the na'vi seem to have greater resilience than humans do-possibly due to evolution coping with radiation from Polyphemis) we can conclude that the na'vi are omnivorous, with a mouth structure similar to humans. However, UN31 refused all offers to food my troops made, but whether this is due to inedibility or foolish pride is difficult to say. I think the na'vi at least understood our attempts-their intelligence is comparable to humans, albiet offset by a primitive state of existence. I do not know how long the na'vi have existed on Pandora, but whatever the case, their societal evolution seems to have stagnated, although their physical evolution is impressive. While removing them from this world's ecosystem is a desirable goal, I see no quick way to do it.

At this point in time, I do not think UN31 is of any more use to us. While you may send my praise to our scientists for perfecting our translation software, it may be for nought if all the natives will do is yammer away about "balance" and "sanctity"-in essence, kind of like one of those environmental nut jobs I used to deal with on Earth. While understanding the natives is the key to defeating them, I don't think risking human lives to capture them will yield any results. As such, if UN31 continues to refuse to offer anything useful, I would like permission to terminate the subject and begin searching for alternatives, whether it be with our Avatar Program or strength of arms.

Oh, and these aliens stink. And Hell's Gate smells bad enough without methane making things worse.

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