Cheating during challenges
Given the importance of the
challenges in the
Aliens's life and social hierarchy, cheating is something that naturally comes to many individuals' mind, and while many are too intimidated by the sacrality of the challenge to go through with it, just as many attempt to do so.
Cheating can be done in different ways: cheating to improve your own scores or cheating to hurt your rivals. Both are not considered in the same manner by Alien society.
Cheating to improve your own score
How: Everyone can watch replay of the previous versions of the challenge they are about to undertake, but details about the specificities of their own version of the challenge are secret. Most cheaters aim to get access to those information or to influence the choices made by the organisers. Less popular cheating methods are to have external help during a challenge or to have others reduce the difficulties of a challenge beforehand.
Social view on this: This is seen as something that everyone does at least once in their life, and anyone able to get away with it is generally seen as having earned the extra ranking points.
Those who disapprove are scornful of anyone getting ahead in the ranking without having the skills to support it, and this is a common accusation thrown against any social superiors that someone's dislike. Politicians themselves are free from such accusations, as straight duelling between candidates preclude most forms of cheating.
Interfering with your rivals' challenges
How: Sabotage of the equipment used in a challenge, drugging a contestant, interfering with the organisation of a challenge to change its rule or increase its difficulty...
Social view on this: This is seen as truly dishonourable, and any accusations of such cheating are taken extremely seriously. Anyone wanting to beat their rivals should focus on improving themselves, not on bringing everyone else to their levels. Similarly, while hurting others during a challenges (especially during duels or in obstacle courses) is perfectly fine, doing so outside of a challenge arena is despicable.
Even coordinated attempt by the population to hurt someone's place in the ranking through voting and pressure groups is disliked by most, whereas doing so to give points to people who have done something impressive is encouraged.
The governments' answer
The governments themselves disapprove of all kinds of cheating, especially as all government officials and the kings themselves have obtained their own posts through the challenge ranking. Therefore, strong measures are in place throughout the planet to counter cheating attempts, and anyone caught in the act is severely punished.
Anyone involved in the organisation of challenges is carefully vetted and placed under surveillance, as they are the main target of any would-be cheaters. To avoid the temptation of bribe, they are incredibly well paid. The officials in charge of them are under special scrutiny and are under the direct authority of their local king.
Challenge organisers are currently under a huge amount of pressure and surveillance, given that the
Babies are about to began undertaking challenges. As
Human-Alien hybrid, the question of whether or not they belongs to the Alien people or are animals like their Human other half is extremely controversial; the answer hang on whether they are able to control psy energy and to prove it by succeeding in the challenges.
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