piratejournal | [written]

I'm fluent in Japanese, English, and German. I have a passable knowledge of French, as well.

I've heard of the first two several times by now. They seem to be common. Are there others from your world here?

Quite a lot.

You all speak the same languages, I assume?

We all speak Japanese and English -- both are just about required for international business these days. A close friend of mine speaks French fluently, which is how I learned.

There seem to be a lot of languages in your world. Doesn't it make it difficult to communicate with others?

For people who aren't from the same part of the world? It makes it extremely difficult.

Sounds like it would get annoying to work with anyone who didn't speak the same languages you do.

It does, certainly. That's why it's a good idea to learn several.

Why are there so many languages, if it's so inconvenient?

They've simply developed, as people have been separated. And, of course, no nation will concede to bring us to one language.

How many countries are in your world? Are they all so powerful that they don't need to work with one another?

Several hundred. They work together in business but not so much that they can agree on a language.

[There's a definite pause while he processes several hundred.]

What are the wars like in your world with that many countries?

Devastating, with causality counts in the millions. At best.

[Another long pause before he writes again:]

Do you have experience with warfare, then?

No. Only a study of history and an attention to the modern media.

With conflict at that size, how do you avoid it? Even civilians in my world deal with the effects of the war.

My country has no standing military, and we have been fortunate enough to avoid war on our soil for quite some time.

No standing military at all? Do you not have anything that others want to invade you for?

Another nation's military stands guard against foreign threats.

[Thank God he's writing that so he can't sound completely bitter.]

So you contract with this other military for protection, then.

[This is written with a more even stroke, unlike the confused questions before. This idea is familiar.]

Yes. We manage our own affairs internally, and they see that we are not bothered by external forces.

Do they contract with many countries besides you?

Not as directly, no, but they have, to some degree, appointed themselves guardians of the world. They're not as helpful as they think they are.

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