"To recap the fundamentals, power in the Haven pack is roughly broken down into thirds—the elders control the education system and manage issues of discipline and punishment. Break our rules or go as far as assaulting another packmate, and the Council of Elders will be the one sitting in judgment.
"Those adults above the age of majority but below the status of elder are each allowed one vote on issues of political importance. These adults make up the remaining two thirds of our power structure and they're broken up into two factions—the Builders manage the work we do for the humans, mostly manufacturing and other…" He coughs. "…small tasks.
"All remaining responsibility, the majority really, goes to the Alpha Assembly. They handle everything from waste management to updating the rule of law. A small subset of this group is known as the Human Relations Council, or HRC. It's their job to work directly with the human military, negotiate the price of our food and water supply, and generally keep the relations machine running smoothly.
"Which group to press depends on your goal, of course. I have it on good authority that the Builders are growing dissatisfied with their lack of influence on the Assembly. The humans keep demanding more and more from the manufacturing plants, and the HRC's negotiations have been pitiful, allowing the humans to walk all over them with their demands.
"The head of our primary manufacturing plant, Razor, is at her breaking point, and she's begun openly speaking her discontent within earshot of the plant's assembly lines. There's even been concerned rumbling among the elders. Between your generation growing into adulthood and the widening gulf between the Builders and the Alpha Assembly, the power structure is shifting, and it may be in your best interest to leverage that if you get the chance.
"Presume you have a significant level of influence within the pack. Now tell me, in detail, how you might begin asserting your will over the Alpha Assembly, given the current political climate."
"First I'd work with the HRC to negotiate a better trade deal with the humans."
"Dissent can be leveraged. I'd stir the Builders into a fighting mood and then present a workable solution to the Assembly."
"The elders interpret and enforce pack law. Use their discontent with the HRC to stifle the Assembly until change can be made."
"The entire system is falling apart. Why not let it crumble and then be poised to pick up the pieces?"
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