I have been thinking about one thing Zoraal Ja mentions early on, about how the younger population is clamouring for expansionism that would result in war without knowing the kind of hell that war is.

Then you have Koana stepping down and giving Wok Lamat his support at some point and I thought Zoraal Ja would do the same in a completely different way.

I thought he would pretend to contest Lamat's rule by causing a civil war so he could teach the cruelty of war to the young generation so Lamat's peace offering feels more attractive. Then at the end of the conflict he would either be defeated and/or killed as a bad guy and that would cement support for Lamat despite her inexperience. Lamat would of course be devastated by this once she realizes it (either because he states it outright on his dying breath, speculation, or just because it's obvious).

Yet this isn't what happened. Would this angle make a better story or better characterization than simply one selfish guy who has daddy issues and wants to rule at all cost? Maybe it's a little cheesy.