Someone mentioned that many of the worlds in the Hierate seem to have plenty
of room for population expansion. Perhaps. However, remember the male
Aslan's drive for land? Most of those areas in the inner Hierate will have
been claimed already, even if the actual land is still relatively unpopulated.
Those little worlds with populations in the 90 billion range are *seriously*
overpopulated from an Aslan point of view!
I agree, an attack on Reaver's Deep by the ihatei would make sense, if it
is taken as given that it makes sense they are attacking the Domain of
Deneb. But that ritual battle that settled the Aslan/Human Wars was fought
in the area, and perhaps the clans in the area are unwilling to cast that
treaty away lightly. Deneb was never confronted by the Aslan, so if it is
no longer part of the Reaver's Deep area's government, it doesn't qualify
for protection (in some Aslans' eyes, anyway). Different clans, different
policies....
- --Steve