NationStates

"Out of the 16 hangates, 10 were in favor of this second option. As such, majority of our own citizens prefer genetically modifying them to be more resistant to the fungus that eradication through sterility gene. However, there are voices that oppose any alteration to nature. And besides, we seek to take opinions from as many nations as possible before we try anything."

"The Yak Maruwa hornets keep bee populations in check while providing food source to spiders and birds. But the infected ones explode on death (hence useless a food source) and neither do they specifically hunt bees. The fungus has corrupted them to target other hornet nests and made them hyper-sensitive to human sweat."

Mr Zamha Pwqceraqh, the 42 year old recently appointed delegate to the League on behalf of the Dominion of Nhoor, looked around uneasily and a little bit annoyed. "We're talking about bugs now", he thought. "I hate bugs. The only good bug is a dead bug! Why don't they just put huge UV lamps in that hangout of them like I did in my houses?"

He cleared his throat and spoke out loud. "The government of Nhoor opposes the extermination of any species but with the number of victims that my esteemed colleague from Athara Magarat just mentioned it is clear to them that drastic measures may be needed. It is wondered whether genetic modification can be done quickly enough to prevent many more deaths; if not, a significant reduction of the insect population until the long-term solution of genetic modification will become available may be the necessary solution."

"I have been advised by the Narara-based division of IPNO that they stand ready to assist in whatever way they can. As your government will know already, these men and women do great work and are amongst the leaders in their field. With Ahnslen logistical support, we can get these people on the ground to better understand the problem and lead a multinational effort to manage these hornets.

My counterparts in the Electoral Government of Dallama are willing to send some firewasp containment specialists if their tactics are requested or their knowledge considered helpful to the issue.

Please forgive me for my brevity, I must leave now for Arnton - my Government has summoned me back. My aides will remain though, to maintain lines of communication between the League and Ainslie for the short period I am in Arnton."

"Thank you, delegate. I am certain their expertise would be helpful. Please have a safe journey back home."

"Rather than exterminating the hornets, why don't we exterminate the fungus? Or develop some kind of a vaccine. Therefore, I would like to request samples of the hornet and the fungus to be further examined by our scientists back home in Scantarbia. We stand together to stop the suffering of the people."

"Were it so easy...The fungus reproduces asexually. Sexual reproduction is much easier to control. For example; say we genetically modify a male with sterility gene. Thanks to gene drive, all of the children will carry the sterility gene let's say at around 51%. Among these children will be future queens and males carrying the sterility gene. With each successive generation, the strength of the sterility gene will increase like 60%, 70% and so on. By the time the sterility gene is 100% dominant, the hornets would have gone through multiple generations and introduced this particular trait to other hives as well. To increase our chances and make this entire process happen quicker, we would have to release more modified males into several nests."

"Now the fungus is asexual. It reproduces through spores. These spores grow on a hornet like tendrils and make them covered in white web-like substances. However, to achieve this mummification; the hornet has to release the deadly neurotoxin called mandaratoxin from its body. This where the spike in attacks on humans, livestock and wild animals alike comes in. As I mentioned earlier, the fungus increases hyper-aggressiveness in the already territorial hornets. The more mandaratoxin the hornet releases, the more the tendrils grow. In the final stage, the hornet is dead inside with its body being an immobile husk being controlled by the fungus. The fully-developed spores are then released into the air and more hornets are infected. Hence, there is no use in modifying the fungus as long as other specimen of the fungus remain."

The Havallish delegate speaks up.
"Our kingdom always believed in the advancements of science and alchemy, we should probably study this and come up with a medical solution that can even save lives in the future."

Américo did a slight double take.
"Did he just say alchemy", he thought, "or do I need to get my hearing checked?"
Although delegate Américo Trujillo actively took care of his body, and always had, time stops for no man, and he was beginning to notice signs of aging. Even though he was only 50, by no means dead yet, little things were starting to change. His once black hair was beginning to show signs of grey, he simply wasn't able to run as far, or as fast, as he could before, and he found himself picking at food he once loved. Could his hearing be the next thing to leave him, another humiliation, although hardly the last, in a procession of disappointments that only ends in death?

"What?", Ander, one of the Ahnslen aides who had remained stated just loud enough for people to hear.

"Man these monarchists can be barking mad at times...", he thought.

He then looked back down at his papers which were haphazardly placed around him once Callum departed.

The moment the Havallish ambassador started speaking about alchemy, Thomas wondered if his government had done the right thing by bringing the issue to the League.

Tarnajef had also reacted with a mix of stunned silence and a Hurculean effort that just barely stopped him from bursting out laughing. Thankfully, he retained his cool demeanor and poker face, though if he had lost it then, he was sure he'd be forgiven. After a ridiculously long and awkward pause, he leaned into the mic and asked:

"Honorable delegate from Havalland, from reading the faces of our fellow delegates, it seems that there may have been a miscommunication... Did you, in fact, say alchemy?"

This was great. Everything the party hardliners said about monarchists was... actually true. He hadn't quite believed it, but here was proof: they actually all were a bunch of superstitious and backwards folk.

Alchemy. Oh gods... now that's a word I haven't heard since 120 B.C. Lord Marius silently chuckled to himself. After receiving confirmation from his aide, he shifted in his seat as he prepared to address the League. He cleared his throat, ignoring the current preoccupied shenanigans of the League delegates.

"As for the report of the Magarati delegate, Roendavar extends its condolences to those affected by the Hornet... War..." He said in disbelief but quickly regained his composure. "Both the Roendavarian Government and the Vendriae Alciuxalion Ithaerae, VAI, Animal Protection Group, NGO in Roendavar, have expressed support in research and the containment of the hornets. We are also offering to help in the medical efforts and send medical teams especially to the rural parts of Athara Magarat. Our research teams will also contribute to this endeavor and, if funding is needed, we would gladly provide."

"As staunch environmentalists, we believe that there can be a better solution to this that would benefit all sides whether it be the bees, the humans, the birds, or the hornets. We ask the Magarati Government to not exact harsh measures on the hornets, despite the pain that they have brought, and understand animalistic tendencies. They are not rabid animals, no, rather they are sick and they need our help." He elaborated. "Which is why I vehemently disagree with proposals to eradicate the hornets. To do so is a horrible act. To do so makes us worse than they. Roendavar disagrees with the idea, or even, we dread entertaining the idea here in the League."

"My apologies for being emotional. Perhaps my alchemist could provide me something that could calm me down." Lord Marius slumped back in his seat, pleased with that final statement.

The Havallish delegate seemed confused, and responded.
"Yes I said alchemy, that's what we call chemistry it's part of our culture and traditions."
The Havallish delegate sat down having explained himself.

"Lord Marius, we respect your nation's concerns for nature. As a nation where 80% of the people own pets, we are ourselves a nation of animal lovers and environmentalists as well. You might be aware of how our nation brought back its great forests. But as more and more death toll keep piling, especially the uncountable number of non-human casualties, and more hornets are infected; we have no other choice than to implement gene drive as quickly as possible. Lord Marius, what if I told you that we could bring them back once all the host hornets and this specific fungus subspecies died? A re-extinction program of sorts. You all might be aware of the Gael Auk revival project our scientists have been working on." Thomas tried to be reassuring.

"Alternatively, we are talking only about the Yak Maruwa populations within Athara Magarat. We could eliminate this particular population and reintroduce them from elsewhere. But still, we cannot let a single infected hornet remain alive. A stand has to be taken; the quicker the better."

"Scientists from our nation have developed hornet males possessing sterility gene. Unless someone else can develop genetic traits that make hornets completely resistant to the spores of the fungus, the solution at our hands seems the best option."

While his aide cringed at the interminably long-winded discussion about bugs and alchemy, Ambassador Zava looked pleased. He knew all about bugs, and had played more than his share of Dungeons and Dragons back in secondary school, which was probably why his fellow students had bullied him. The ancient sense of shame which suddenly reappeared in Zava's head stirred him to raise his hand in a tough-guy gesture.

The tough guy pushed his glasses up his skinny nose. "I fail to see why the League shouldn't act together to sweep the Yak Maruwa from the face of the earth. It's not as if we're murdering apes"- here, his knowledge of animals started to falter- "the great apes, I mean. Or even livestock."

Zava nodded at Lord Marius. "I know your concerns are deep-seated. But it's better to kill off an insect population than to put a human one at risk, surely?"

The collected Tarnajef watched the former nerd representing Almorea make some bizarre comment promoting insect genocide, and nodded. "Honorable Almorean delegate, it should be noted that while it may seem tantalizing to exterminate the hornets thoughtlessly, it actually would harm the ecosystem quite badly. Hornets work as pollinators, and if you take them out of the equation, Magarati farming is going to be in big trouble."

"Indeed, while there is merit to the idea of promoting a fungus resistant strain, either by gene editing or by conventional breeding, exterminating extant populations is asking for trouble. Humans aren't as good at predicting the consequences of their actions on ecosystems as they'd like to be, and there is no way to no that exterminating the hornets would help populations in the long run. What if by exterminating them, another species fills their niche and makes it difficult for the fungus resistant strain to establish itself? What if the hornets were an integral but unknown to science step in the life cycle of a parasite impacting pest species? There are any number of things we cannot account for."

A random man mostly unrecognisable to the rest of the Chamber gestured towards Ander, who was quite willing to let the man lean into a mic that the aide shouldn't have even needed to use in the first place.

"My name is Xavie Currande and I have been attached to the Ahnslen delegation as an expert advisor on this manner. I am from the International Parks and Nature Organisation and I do research into urban settlements close to or even integrated within the natural environment. It is my organisation's position that we should explore management plans for urbanised areas such as towns, villages and cities in Athara Magarat as a short-term solution before we undertake vital research and strategic planning.

Our organisation would be very appreciative if some funds in the upcoming resolution would be devoted to this effort."

After an inexplicably long absence from the League, Cantonosian representative Philippe Yoon-Bum entered the Assembly, averting his gaze from the others. As he calmly retrieved the usual stack of papers that accompany such a diplomatic role, he took his former seat near the corner. He procedeed to plant a souvenir Cantonosian flag mounted with a suction cup on the table. He would loosen his tie sligtly and lean into the microphone.

"I do not believe there's an explicit need for reintroductions, my fellow delegates. Now that cuts to the foreign office budg..." Yoon-Bum nodded his head sideways as he rolled his eyes. "In short, Cantonos is happy to engage with our fellow nationstates once more."

Yoon-Bum would square up the stack of papers on the table and browse through the first page.

"It is irreconcilable that there seem to be compelling arguments both for and against the extermination of these -- bugs. If the Magarati delegate is open to suggestions, I would suggest them to follow their original plan. Both options have risks, but only one of them can address the issue now before more victims fall. "

Zava's glasses hung limp over his nose. He looked down at his hands, thumb-wrestling with himself, while the Almorean aide sat behind him and scanned briefing papers.

The aide bent over and tapped Zava on the shoulder. The ambassador turned around.

"Don't let yourself look like a fool, Camden." The aide spoke in the polished, unoffensive voice of a career diplomat. "Stand up and say something."

Zava coughed and learned forward to the microphone. 'More will die while the League vacillates." He calculated funding commitments in his head, and added a little more, because one Treasury official or another would pocket some of the earmarked money. "Almorea will fund whatever items the League includes in a resolution, but we support quick and effective extermination of infected hornet populations."

Gabriel Barette looked up at all the environmentalistic nations, seeing nations who have not truly faced the issue the Magaratis are.

"I have to say, as long as there are stable captive populations, the evidence for exterminating these hornets or culling them off to more sustainable levels is quite compelling."

He lent back in his chair, fully awaiting the dressing down he was about to get for not siding with the majority as a representative from an observer state.

"Lord Secretary-General, perhaps it is time we count the votes in this chamber on this issue? Or should there be further more discussions on solutions? Every second we waste results in more loss for our nation."

"I believe a resolution needs to be tabled first."

"As we all know, for obvious reasons, no resolution put forth a Magarati delegate has ever passed in all these years. I wonder if any of my fellow delegates would do us all a favor by tabling a resolution on our behalf?"

"Is there absolutely no method to fend off the hornets and protect citizens of Athara Margarat until the multinational research effort comes up with something?"