What satirical purpose does the reference to the emperor’s speeches on mercy serve?

it shows good speeches being celebrated without regard to the intent of their speakers.

it reveals the low moral standards of subjects in relation to their rulers.

it exposes the hypocrisy of rulers who obscure their brutality with meaningless words.

it shows the need to impart justice without regard for mercy and without prejudice.

martians or other types of aliens represent a unique fear as opposed to zombies. vampires and other types of monsters.   in most sci-fi stories, aliens come from other worlds and have different or more advanced technology.   abductions and experimentation on human bodies that involve these technologies, or the use of these technologies against human beings and the use of unknown "powers", are a type of fear that's different from that of other types of monsters.