Disclaimer: I own nothing except for my OC Hunter and any alterations to the original storyline plot her presence creates to various readers amusement everywhere across the globe.

The Third Race Chapter 1

Something is happening on Mon Cala.

All the Mermaid tribes living in the planet's oceans can feel it. They've been able to for some time.

There's been rising tension between the Mon Calamari and Quarren for ages. But only recently it's been brought into conflict by the late King of Mon Cala's untimely death. The previous ruler was of the Mon Calamari race and his young son Prince Lee-Char. He's dedicated to ruling both the Mon Calamari and Quarren equally and fairly, but the Quarren aren't conceding. They want a Quarren King on the throne this time around.

This is why both races have chosen to convene to settle the matter before a civil war breaks out in midst of the Clone War already raging throughout the galaxy.

The Republic and Separatists each send their own representative to observe and oversee the proceeding. This planet's placement is crucial to each side.

The Mermaid's have no interest in such matters. In fact, they don't know a thing about it. Keeping separate from the Mon Calamari and Quarren all these centuries means they're completely out of the loop on everything that goes on outside of the indigenous tribes. It's how they've remained under the radar for so long with their numbers stronger than ever. The Mon Calamari and Quarren know they exist, but they either don't pay them any mind or just don't care.

One particular individual from the tribe that lives closest to the Mon Calamari and Quarren has taken a big interest in all the commotion occurring at Mon Cala City.

Breaking so many rules a young female hunter gets very curious and wants to get a more accurate take on what's going on.

So Hunter sneaks into Mon Cala City, the planets capital, sticking to the shadowed outskirts so as not to be seen. She and a couple of others in her tribe have explored the city before, but at night when their skin tone can camouflage better. Hunter has never gone in when it's been so active during the daytime.

Luck is on Hunter's side as she slips in unnoticed.

Hunter's always seen the city as fantastic and remarkable in its own way. Mermaids have lived more primitive than the rest have, not touching technology, and preferring the old ways of life in the sea to modern types.

Hunter makes her way to the Mon Cala Palace. She reaches the dome that is the royal throne room where the bulk of the activity is occurring.

Only when the meeting they're all gathered for commences does Hunter peek inside, pressing her ear against the glass to listen.

It's this that she learns about the recent Mon Calamari King's demise and how both species are now fighting for control.

A highly ranked individual going by Nossor Ri is speaking for the Quarren people with someone called Ambassador Riff Tamson beside him representing the Separatists. Riff Tamson is a shark humanoid species called Karkorodon that live in a different oceanic realm. He is a commander and warlord in the Confederacy of Independent Systems.

For the Republic there is Senator Padme Amidala, sitting beside Mon Calamari Senator Till, guarded by long respected protector Captain Ackbar.

The issue at hand apparently is the matter of succession for the throne.

The Mon Calamari want their surviving Prince to rule, but the Quarren want one of their own.

Hunter finds this to be overly complicated. Why can't this Prince Lee-Char and whoever the Quarren choose to fight in single combat? That's how Mermaids always settle on who leads as the Alpha in their world.

When Senator Amidala moves to intervene and try to arrange a compromise where they call can benefit Ambassador Tamson rudely interrupts her and Prince Lee-Char when he attempts to get a word in, Saying that the Republic doesn't have a say here because it is an internal affair and that Prince Lee-Char hasn't earned the right to speak as of yet in spite of his royal heritage. Captain Ackbar makes the same argument for his attendance at this gathering, but Ambassador Tamson notes that he was only requested after the Mon Calamari summoned the Republic.

This Ambassador Tamson is so patronizing and speaks so suave and sly that it makes Hunter's hackles raise in her mouth. She already doesn't like nor trust this individual, getting a bad feeling about him. She's finding his behavior and methods to be highly questionable. He's only out to see that only one single side benefits, not the entirety as a whole. Ruefully creating further disorder.

On Ambassador Tamson's word, the meeting is dispersed. Hunter conceals herself better so as not to be spotted by anyone departing. The Quarren head out in droves, very few remaining to stick around.

Nossor Ri and his attendants are the only ones that approach the devastated, alone, and crestfallen Lee-Char to converse privately with him.

Turns out Nossor Ri was a close friend of Lee-Char's father. Just because he doesn't outright support Lee-char as the future ruler doesn't mean he lacks sympathy, empathy, or compassion for him. He's only doing what he thinks is best for the people he represents on planet.

As Nossor Ri leaves a smile crawls onto the Prince's face for the first time that day, happy that he at least has one friend amongst the Quarren who shares his pain.

Hunter has observed this all, thinking all she's seen and overheard carefully.

Is this serious enough for maybe the Mermaid tribes to at last get involved in Mon Cala's worldly affairs?

.patronizing, suave

Authors Note:

Happy New Year!

Just a heads up to those of you who aren't aware of this yet, Email alerts for this website are now only active if Email opts is enabled in account settings.

Apologies for the long wait everybody!

I cannot begin to describe how apologetic I am for taking so heinously long to get back on track. It's difficult when you have so many ideas flying around to start on one and then another just pops out in your head. From this day forward that's all gonna change.

I hope you all like this one! I certainly did while writing it for your vast enjoyment! ;D

For those of you just starting out with my stuff there are other works on my profile that may catch your interest. I highly recommend you take a look as soon as the opportunity presents itself to you. Who knows, you may be pleasantly surprised by what you discover.

By the way whose been watching House of the Dragon? I am so in love with Prince Daemon. He is a dream. Matt Smith was the perfect person to play that character.

Stay safe everyone. Especially with all of these crazy natural disasters occurring a lot lately due to global warming and climate change everywhere for sure.