Heebi ab-Lesh ab-Erbl ab-Kosh ab-Rosh ab-Tothtoon wol:ab-J'8lek ab-Khilp ab-Brawch
When the very successful and respected Lesh began the Lith uplift project they expected that they were uplifting their last client. The Lesh, through little effort of their own became the foster patrons to their Heebi god-clients in the wake of the Stoort rebellion against their J'8lek patrons. The J'8lek ab-Khilp ab-Brawch ul-Kaschan ul-Stoort ul-Heebi ul-B'8koo were uplifted by the Khilp as a servitor race. When mature the J'8lek proved avaricious, ambitious, and ruthlessly efficient capitalists. The J'8lek rose rapidly in Galactic society and soon had scores of planetary leases and four clients. Unfortunately, their ruthless greed drove the Stoort, their military arm, to team with the Khilp diplomats in a rebellion. The Stage Two Heebi also actively supported the rebellion. After a mere 623 hab-years of war the J'8lek lost all but two planets and the B'8koo. (The GUI ruled that the J'8lek were harsh, but not _per se_ abusive patrons. Indeed, the fact the Stoort rebelled successfully impressed the GUI with the quality of J'8lek uplift projects.) As the leaders of the rebellion the Stoort opted to end their uplift, the Kaschan were fostered to their Pargi god-patrons and the Heebi to the Lesh. J'8lek planetary leases were re-assigned to the rebels and their new patrons in the negotiated peace settlement. The J'8lek planned to uplift the Heebi as a specialized servitor race. The Heebi were well suited to the role with only a couple of deficits. Proto-Heebi were centipedal with two limbs per segment. All proto-Heebi had a comensual relationship with one or two species of large herbivores, or in a couple of instances with large pack-hunting carnivores. The main population of proto-Heebi followed herds of very large herbivores. They grubbed for roots and insects in soil and tree trunks disturbed by their associated species. They also groomed the comensual species, cleaning off parasites. The presence of the huge herbivores also offered the smaller Heebi some protection from predators. Proto-Heebi were in many ways a very promising species--they even used primitive tools and cooperated. Proto-Heebi had low levels of sexual stratification, mating jealousy and territoriality. Young resembled adults with fewer segments, but had distinct, prolonged childhoods. Heebi are born with an anterior segment, five limbed segments, and a posterior segment. All proto-Heebi were dormant for about a quarter of their homeworld year. During this time they would excrete a chrysalis, absorb their exo-skeleton, grow a new segment, then a new exo-skeleton. Heebi have been modified so that they only need a growth hibernation period every four or five hab-years. A growth hibernation period lasts a little over one-third of a hab-year. Proto-Heebi all went dormant in one season. There is no strong seasonality in Heebi growth hibernation so at any given time a fraction of the population are dormant. With the exception of its anterior and posterior segments, every Heebi segment has two limbs. All limbs end in four digits. Heebi use all their limb-ends indiscriminantly as both feet and hands. When they were fostered to the Lesh the J'8lek were considering advancing the Heebi to Stage Three. However, the Lesh wanted to revisit Stage Two for the Heebi, so advancement to Stage Three has been postponed. There is much to admire in the Heebi. They work well together, are amiable and get on well with aliens and strangers. Heebi are sensitive to others moods and enjoy pleasing others. Conflict is rare in Heebi society. They tend to form devoted attachments to powerful individuals and patrons. A tendency that is not out of place in a servitor race. The Heebi are even moderately ambitious and should make adequate Galactic citizens. The primary drawback with the Heebi project, as the Lesh see it, is that the J'8lek left allowed the typical Heebi without guile. They are honest to a fault and trusting to the point of gullibility. It is the rare Heebi who has the discretion due a servant. They can understand secrets and secrecy, but getting a Heebi to give up secrets is trivially easy. Lesh, Zhuup, and to a much lesser extent Vijilus currently use Heebi as personal servants. Personal servants are seldom allowed to interact with outsiders. Since the Lith and Heebi are nominal equals, the Lesh do not allow Lith to have Heebi servants. Nevertheless, when Lith encounter Heebi it is evident that the Lith take measured advantage of the situation. Heebi are also found in service roles where personal discretion is not at a premium. Erbl Clan Tradition dictates that all members must be self-sufficient, at least theoretically. Lesh have indicated that Heebi guilelessness will be *the* priority for Stage Two in the Heebi project. The goal is for Heebi to have their own ventures in hospitality; running casinos, hostels, restaurants, and interstellar passenger lines. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
