Ancillary Mercy discussion

Something that I now can't stop considering about how this book ended is the following, spoiler filled, questions:
(view spoiler)[
So Breq is trying to get the Presger to recognize the Ratch AIs as significant beings. It seems that the treaty between the humans and the Presger prohibits humans from starting conflicts with other significant beings. Breq wants the AIs recognized as significant beings on the grounds that they've been enslaved by Anaander Mandiri.

But Breq herself questions whether Anaander is still technically human. The Ratch AIs have been killing humans consciousnesses but keeping their bodies alive as ancillaries, as has Anaander on occasion. These ancillaries have been made from humans the AIs killed during annexations AKA conflicts in which the AIs fought humans.

Could the argument then be made that it is actually the Ratch AIs that have been harming/in conflict with the humans--AKA significant beings--and actually the AIs that are going to be in trouble with the Presger for it? Or does it matter that the AIs weren't the ones who made the treaty? Unless Anaander is an AI--then wouldn't it have been AIs who made the treaty as the treaty was said to be made between Anaander and the Presger on behalf of all humanity?
(hide spoiler)]

Jacqueline wrote: "Something that I now can't stop considering about how this book ended is the following, spoiler filled, questions:


Mild spoilers below, read at own risk.

(view spoiler)[I think that would mean that the treaty would have to be applied retroactively, which wasn't the case in the first instance. There were no reprimands on both sides for past aggressions, so for me, the Presger treaties seem to be a "clean slate" kind of deal. And if the Presger decide that AIs are not significant, then they have nothing to worry anyway, since the Presger seem to be not interested in them or in reprimanding them for their behavior towards humans.

Also, the Presger have only a very loose understanding of what a "human" actually is. Even if they were to have issues with ancillaries, I doubt they'd be able to grasp the concept. The character(s?) of the translator(s) show(s?) that the Presger have difficulties getting their heads around "humans" and their bodies, and the ideas that one consciousness should remain in the same body continuously and/or one entity spreading over several bodies doesn't seem to be much of a problem to them.

In the same vein, I doubt they would identify Anaander Mianaai as an AI - and they (Anaander) would be wary of pointing them in that direction. They could only lose there; by pointing out they were an AI, they would either invalidate the treaty for the rest of humanity, therefore weakening their position even further, or they would strengthen Breq's argument by proving the significance of AIs.

So, all in all, I think the plan is pretty solid. (hide spoiler)]

Shufflecat wrote: "Jacqueline wrote: "Something that I now can't stop considering about how this book ended is the following, spoiler filled, questions:


Mild spoilers below, read at own risk.

I think that would ..."
,spoiler>
Yeah, now that I've thought about it a little more, it does seem like the plan will work. The Presger are just weird, so it can be a little hard to wrap my head around their though patterns at times. There will definitely be a lot for the conclave to discuss though :)