1
00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:08,560
Speaker 1: Hello, I'm welcomed stories all the time. Glad you are here.

2
00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:11,880
Let's get into it. The massive crystal dome of the

3
00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:14,199
Grand Assembly Hall stretched tie above the heads of hundreds

4
00:00:14,199 --> 00:00:17,320
of alien beings. Light from three different suns filtered through

5
00:00:17,359 --> 00:00:21,320
the transparent walls, casting strange colors across the floor. Representatives

6
00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,839
from forty seven different worlds satin curved rows, each species

7
00:00:24,879 --> 00:00:27,320
in their own special section designed for their unique needs.

8
00:00:28,039 --> 00:00:30,519
Admiral Sarah chanstood at the center of the hall, looking

9
00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:33,880
very small compared to the giant creatures around her headat

10
00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:35,960
blue uniform looked plain next to the bright robes and

11
00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:39,640
gleamy armor worn by the other military leaders. In her hands,

12
00:00:39,679 --> 00:00:42,399
she held a simple data path that contained Earth's military rapport.

13
00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:44,880
The human section was near the back of the hall.

14
00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:47,799
Only twelve humans had been allowed to attend this meeting.

15
00:00:48,399 --> 00:00:51,079
They sat quietly, trying not to draw attention to themselves.

16
00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:54,320
Earth had joined the Galactic Council just five years ago,

17
00:00:54,479 --> 00:00:56,479
and they were still considered the new kids who did

18
00:00:56,479 --> 00:01:00,000
not really belong the floor, recognized as the human representatives.

19
00:01:00,079 --> 00:01:02,240
An ounce speaker velter at all being with blue skin

20
00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:05,040
and four arms. His voice echoed through the hall with

21
00:01:05,079 --> 00:01:07,120
a tone that suggested he found this whole thing born.

22
00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:11,439
Sara walked to the speaking platform in the center. As

23
00:01:11,439 --> 00:01:13,680
she moved, she could hear whispers and small laughs from

24
00:01:13,719 --> 00:01:16,760
the alien sections. She had heard these sounds before during

25
00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:19,560
the past five years. They always made the same jokes

26
00:01:19,599 --> 00:01:23,920
about humans. Honorable members of the Council. Sarah began her voice,

27
00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:27,879
clear and steady. I present Earth's annual military capability report.

28
00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:30,799
She pressed a button on her data pad, and holographic

29
00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:33,439
images appeared in the air above her head. The first

30
00:01:33,439 --> 00:01:36,959
image showed Earth's orbital defense stations. They looked like simple

31
00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:40,439
metal rings around the planet. Nothing fancy or impressive. From

32
00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:43,959
the Zephyrine section came a loud snort. War Marshall Kruksack

33
00:01:44,079 --> 00:01:45,959
was a huge creature that looked like a cross between

34
00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:49,359
a rhinoceros and a praying manti's. His species had conquered

35
00:01:49,359 --> 00:01:51,799
twelve star systems and were known for their powerful weapons

36
00:01:51,799 --> 00:01:56,319
and aggressive tactics chemical rockets and metal stations, krik Suck

37
00:01:56,359 --> 00:01:59,400
said loudly enough for every one to hear. How quaint

38
00:02:00,079 --> 00:02:03,319
did they still use gunpowder too? Blufter rippled through several

39
00:02:03,319 --> 00:02:06,400
sections of the hull, the Etherians, who looked like floating

40
00:02:06,439 --> 00:02:09,759
jellyfish made of light poles with colors that their translated

41
00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:13,360
said men to amusemen, the Vorthact delegation burned like creatures

42
00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:15,639
with silver feathers, clicked their beaks, and what passed for

43
00:02:15,719 --> 00:02:18,360
chuckling among their kind. Dot Serah continued, without sure in

44
00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:21,520
any reaction to the mockery. The next hologram should Earth's

45
00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:24,639
fleet of warships. There were about two hundred vessels of

46
00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:28,919
various sizes, dead clean, simple designs with no fancy decorations

47
00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:31,759
or glowing parts like the ships of other species. Our

48
00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:34,919
fleet consists of two hundred thirty seven vessels, Sarah reported.

49
00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:39,000
They are equipped with kinetic weapons, electromagnetic pulse systems, and

50
00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:43,520
nuclear deterrens. This time the laughter was louder. Senator Thalecs

51
00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:46,039
from the Cryllian Empire or Reptilian being with scales that

52
00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:48,599
changed color with his mood turned bright orange, which meant

53
00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:53,879
he found something very funny. Nuclear weapons dialectsist? Did someone

54
00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:57,840
say nuclear weapons? What's next? Were they going to throw

55
00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:01,080
rocks at their enemies? Maybe they use slingshots for long

56
00:03:01,159 --> 00:03:04,719
range attacks, added commanders Ether from the Hedge. Many worlds.

57
00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:07,800
The species looked like walking trees with too many eyes.

58
00:03:08,439 --> 00:03:11,599
The Vorthic delegations started making shittering sounds that their translators

59
00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:15,680
called extreme amusement. Their leader, Admiral Sectorth, spread his silver

60
00:03:15,719 --> 00:03:19,960
wings wide as he spoke. Forgive me, humans said in

61
00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:22,919
a voice like wind through metal. But your weapons technology

62
00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:25,080
seems to be several thousand years behind the rest of

63
00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:28,960
the galaxy. Kinetic weapons. We stopped using those before we

64
00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:32,599
invented faster than light travel. Sarah nodded politely and continued

65
00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:36,520
her presentation. She showed images of Earth's ground forces, their aircraft,

66
00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:40,360
and their defensive systems. Everything looked basic and simple compared

67
00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:43,439
to what other species had shown in previous years. The

68
00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:46,479
Zephrians had plasmic canons that could melt through any known material.

69
00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:49,800
The Etherians had energy weapons that couldure part matter at

70
00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:53,280
the atomic level. The Cryllians used something called quantum disruptors

71
00:03:53,319 --> 00:03:56,319
that could make enemy ships simply disappear. Even the smaller

72
00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:59,520
species had weapons that seemed like magic compared to human technology.

73
00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:02,159
Are ground for his number approximately fifty million active pers

74
00:04:02,199 --> 00:04:05,280
Nelsayer continued. They aircult with predictable weapons, armored vehicles, and

75
00:04:05,319 --> 00:04:08,159
conventional explosives. While Marshall Creeks had stood up from his seat,

76
00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:11,319
his massive form casting a shadow over several rows of delegates.

77
00:04:11,919 --> 00:04:14,840
This is ridiculous, he bellowed. Why are we wasting time

78
00:04:14,919 --> 00:04:17,959
listening to this? Their entire military could not defeat a

79
00:04:17,959 --> 00:04:21,279
single one of a patrol ships. Murmurs of agreement came

80
00:04:21,319 --> 00:04:24,680
from around the hall. The Hegemony delegates were making gestures

81
00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:27,040
that meant they thought this was all very silly. The

82
00:04:27,079 --> 00:04:30,920
Stellar Federation representatives, who looked like metallic spiders, were clicking

83
00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:33,519
their legs together in patterns that their translators set meant

84
00:04:33,519 --> 00:04:36,560
waste of time. Speakervelta raised one of his four hands

85
00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:39,120
for quiet, but his expression showed that he agreed with Krizik.

86
00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:43,480
Please continue, Admiral Chan, I'm sure the Council is interested

87
00:04:43,519 --> 00:04:46,720
in hearing about your defensive capabilities. The way he said

88
00:04:46,759 --> 00:04:49,079
interest had made it clear that nobody was actually interested

89
00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:51,959
at all. Sarah could see beings in the audience checking

90
00:04:51,959 --> 00:04:55,839
their personal devices, having quite conversations, were simply staring off

91
00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:57,759
into space. Shared the final set of images from her

92
00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:01,240
data pad. These were pictures of Earth's base monitoring systems

93
00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:04,439
and early warning networks. They looked like simple metal dishes

94
00:05:04,439 --> 00:05:08,319
and basic computer systems. Our defensive strategy relies on early

95
00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:13,160
detection and coordinated response. Sarah explained, we maintain monitoring stations

96
00:05:13,199 --> 00:05:17,040
throughout our system and have established communication networks with neighboring systems.

97
00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:20,600
This brought another wave of laughter. Admiral Sective flapped as wings.

98
00:05:20,639 --> 00:05:23,519
Then what was definitely mockery among his people. Early Warning

99
00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:26,759
Systems Sector squawked, what do you do when you detect

100
00:05:26,759 --> 00:05:30,240
an enemy? Send them a strongly worded message asking them

101
00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:33,079
to go away? The etherory and delegation poles with prye colors.

102
00:05:33,079 --> 00:05:35,560
That meant they found this hilarious. One of them, Ambassador

103
00:05:35,639 --> 00:05:37,959
Luk Sorer, floated higher than the others as she spoke.

104
00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:40,959
Perhaps they planted to feed their enemies with politeness, Looksari said,

105
00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:43,000
in a voice like singing crystals. For maybe they will

106
00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:45,160
bore them to death with talks about peace and cooperation.

107
00:05:45,319 --> 00:05:48,000
Even some of the usually serious delegates started laughing at this.

108
00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:50,480
The quantum collective beings made of pure energy, contained and

109
00:05:50,519 --> 00:05:54,199
mechanical bodies, actually made sounds that their translators called electronic gigling.

110
00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:57,720
Sarah finished her presentation and w back toward the speaking

111
00:05:57,720 --> 00:05:59,839
platform's edged. As she did, she could hear more comments

112
00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:02,759
from the audience. Fifty million soldiers with metal weapons. Some

113
00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:05,560
unhispered loudly. My Olmo's police force could handle that. I

114
00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:08,000
heard these dolphive wars in the surface of planets. Came

115
00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:10,680
another vose. Instead of just destroying the planets from space

116
00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:13,480
like civilized people, primitive doesn't even begin to describe it,

117
00:06:13,519 --> 00:06:16,079
added a third speaker, while Marshall crookxx stood up again

118
00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:18,199
as time to address the entire assembly, I moved that

119
00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:21,879
week excuse of the humans from future military presentations. He announced, clearly,

120
00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:24,240
they have nothing to contribute to our collective defense. Perhaps

121
00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:26,439
they could focus on growing food or making simple tools

122
00:06:26,439 --> 00:06:29,120
for the more advanced species. The suggestion brought the Laddice laughter,

123
00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:31,800
yet several delegates applauded the idea. At the crilliant sections

124
00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:34,279
started at chanting something that the translator said meant back

125
00:06:34,319 --> 00:06:36,680
to the caves. Speakervelterer looked at Sarah with an expression

126
00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:38,879
that might have been petty, Admiral Chun, does earth of

127
00:06:38,959 --> 00:06:41,240
anything else to her to this presentation, Any dot dot

128
00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:44,000
dot hidden capabilities we should know about? Sarah so quietly

129
00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,240
for a moment, looking out at the sea of alia vaces.

130
00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:48,360
Some were still laughing, others had already gone back to

131
00:06:48,399 --> 00:06:51,000
their personal conversations or devices. A few were looking at

132
00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:53,199
her with something that might have been sympathy, but most

133
00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:56,279
just seam bored or amused. No. Honored speaker Theras said, finally,

134
00:06:56,399 --> 00:06:59,879
this complete Sart's military capability report. Very well, Falter reply,

135
00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:03,360
the Council thanks for its thorough presentation. Next we will

136
00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:06,439
hear from the Stellar Federation about their new quantum torpedo technology.

137
00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:08,560
As Sir walked back to the human section, the hell

138
00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:11,920
felled with excited chatter about the Stellar Federation's presentation. Nobody

139
00:07:11,959 --> 00:07:14,079
was talking about Deroth anymore. They had already moved on

140
00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:16,319
to more interesting topics. Of the human delegates at and

141
00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:20,000
uncomfortable silence as the Stellar Federation representative, a mechanical spider

142
00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:22,560
the size of a small car, demonstrated holographic images of

143
00:07:22,639 --> 00:07:25,040
weapons that could destroy entire means. The technology was so

144
00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:28,439
advanced that even the other species seemed depressed. Remarkable Predembacador

145
00:07:28,519 --> 00:07:31,439
Sorror from the Etherean delegation, the precision is extraordinary. Indeed,

146
00:07:31,519 --> 00:07:34,160
Greed Admiral sect such weapons would be invaluable in our

147
00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:36,759
ongoing border dispute with the Vodzukus. Sir took her seat

148
00:07:36,759 --> 00:07:38,839
among the other humans and quietly put away her data.

149
00:07:38,879 --> 00:07:41,959
Pat around her, the odd human delegates looked embarrassed and frustrated.

150
00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:45,040
Colonel Martinez, sitting to left, leaned over and whispered annually,

151
00:07:45,079 --> 00:07:47,240
they are treating us like children with test soldiers. He

152
00:07:47,319 --> 00:07:49,879
so quietly let them so reply, her voice so low

153
00:07:49,879 --> 00:07:52,399
that only Martinez could hear. Sometimes it's better when people

154
00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:55,720
underestimate at the presentation continued with more demonstrations of advanced

155
00:07:55,720 --> 00:08:00,279
alien technology, planet cracking bombs, ships that could travel through dimensions,

156
00:08:00,279 --> 00:08:02,480
that could stop time itself in small areas. Teaching the

157
00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:05,279
capability brought guests of admiration from the audience. When the

158
00:08:05,279 --> 00:08:08,519
Stellar Federation finished, wore Marsha Crixux stood up again. Now

159
00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:11,040
this is what real military power looks like, he declared,

160
00:08:11,199 --> 00:08:13,519
not like the primitive toys we saw. Alo more laughter

161
00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:15,560
felled the ull. Sarah noticed that some of the smaller

162
00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:18,079
species were joining in now, probably hoping to gain favor

163
00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:20,160
of the more powerful members of the council. Perhaps we

164
00:08:20,199 --> 00:08:23,759
should establish a special category for developing walls suggested Senator

165
00:08:23,759 --> 00:08:25,959
th Alex, somewhere they can play with their simple weapons

166
00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:28,319
without embarrassing themselves in front of the grow nuts. The

167
00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:30,720
suggestion was met with a disastic approval from most of

168
00:08:30,759 --> 00:08:34,000
the delegates. Sarah watched a species after species nodded their agreement.

169
00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:35,879
Even some of the humans looked like they wanted to

170
00:08:35,919 --> 00:08:37,919
sink through the floor and share and speak of valtaicult

171
00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:40,720
for order again, we will consider all suggestions for improving

172
00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:43,919
future presentations, he announced. For now, let us move on

173
00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:46,440
to the next item on our agenda. As the meeting continued,

174
00:08:46,519 --> 00:08:49,279
Sarah so quietly and listened to more discussions about military

175
00:08:49,279 --> 00:08:53,039
technology and defensive strategists. Nobody asked for human but nobody

176
00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:55,320
seemed to remember that Earth was even part of the Council.

177
00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:57,759
But Sarah remembered something that none of these laughing superior

178
00:08:57,759 --> 00:08:59,759
beans new. She remembered the real reason why Earth had

179
00:08:59,799 --> 00:09:01,720
joined the galact To Council five years ago, and she

180
00:09:01,799 --> 00:09:04,200
remembered what was hidden in the dark spaces between stars,

181
00:09:04,519 --> 00:09:06,720
waiting patiently for the day when it might be needed.

182
00:09:06,759 --> 00:09:08,960
For now, though she was content to let them laugh.

183
00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:11,559
Three months had passed since the humiliating presentation at the

184
00:09:11,559 --> 00:09:14,279
Grand Assembly Hall live continued as normal throughout the galaxy.

185
00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,519
Trade ships moved between stars systems, diplomatic meetings were held

186
00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:20,120
on schedule, and the various species went about their daily

187
00:09:20,159 --> 00:09:22,919
business without much worried. Admiral Sarah Chamber was in her

188
00:09:22,919 --> 00:09:25,679
office on the Human Embassy station orbitting the Council Homeold

189
00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:27,840
when the first alarm sounded. It was a soft beeping

190
00:09:27,879 --> 00:09:30,080
sun that meant someone was calling her on the emergency

191
00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:32,399
communication line. She pressed a button on her desk and

192
00:09:32,399 --> 00:09:35,080
the face of Commander Wales appeared on her screen. Admiral,

193
00:09:35,159 --> 00:09:38,279
we're getting reports from the air to monitoring stations, well said,

194
00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:41,000
his voice, tight with concern. Long range senses are picking

195
00:09:41,039 --> 00:09:43,480
up something bit moving toward the galaxy's cour systems. Sairy

196
00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:45,559
sat up straighter in her chair to how big and

197
00:09:45,679 --> 00:09:48,840
known man. The readings are ark unusual. Whatever it is

198
00:09:48,960 --> 00:09:51,159
is massive and it's moving fast. To the Voak were

199
00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:53,799
the first to detect it. They're calling an emergency counceled session.

200
00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:56,759
Sarah nodigrumly Albeda in and ire the Grand Assembly holl loud.

201
00:09:56,879 --> 00:09:59,440
Very different during an emergency session, instead of the casual

202
00:09:59,519 --> 00:10:01,759
atmosphere of a regular meeting. There was tension in the

203
00:10:01,799 --> 00:10:04,519
yet delegates hurry to their seats, speaking in urgent whispers.

204
00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:06,559
The usual jokes and laughter were nowhere to be heard,

205
00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:08,480
speak of. Vetter called the session to order, with all

206
00:10:08,519 --> 00:10:11,279
four of his hands raised high. Cancil members, we face

207
00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:13,960
a situation that requires media attention. Admir Or Sector that

208
00:10:14,039 --> 00:10:16,080
the vote. The will present the findings. The silver feathered

209
00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:17,879
bird like being flew to the center of the hull,

210
00:10:18,039 --> 00:10:20,240
his wing spread wide with worried As he landed in

211
00:10:20,279 --> 00:10:22,919
the speaking platform, holographic displays filled the air above him.

212
00:10:22,919 --> 00:10:25,600
Three days ago, our deep space monitoring stations detected a

213
00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:29,200
massive fleet approaching from the void between galaxies. Sectorth announced initials.

214
00:10:29,159 --> 00:10:32,080
Scan suggests over fifty thousand vessels of unown design. Gasps

215
00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:34,960
and shot murmurs filled the hall. Even the usually Cometherians

216
00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:37,159
began pulsing with colors that meant alarm and fear. The

217
00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:39,840
holographic display shows star shots with a red arrow pointing

218
00:10:39,879 --> 00:10:43,000
toward the galaxies center. The arrow was enormous, suggesting something

219
00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:45,279
much larger than any fleet anyone had ever seen. We

220
00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:48,559
have identified the threat. Sector continued, his voice becoming even

221
00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:50,600
more serious. The hour of virus. The name had the

222
00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:53,039
assembly like a physical bloat. Several delegates stood up in

223
00:10:53,039 --> 00:10:56,120
shark Others began talking frantically to their neighbors. The Divirus

224
00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:58,159
were spoken of in whispers throughout the galaxy. They were

225
00:10:58,159 --> 00:11:00,559
a legend, the nightmare story told to friday Nen beings

226
00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:03,240
or Marshal crooksp from the Zephyran delegation stood up, his

227
00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:05,519
massive form, trembling with what might have been fair? Are

228
00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:08,399
you certain the Divirus are just stores all tailors meant

229
00:11:08,399 --> 00:11:10,639
to scare children? I'm afraid, not sected or replied. We

230
00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:13,159
have confirmed their identity through analysis of their ship designs

231
00:11:13,159 --> 00:11:15,879
and movement patterns. The match historical records from the seventeen

232
00:11:15,919 --> 00:11:18,279
star systems. They have already consumed. The hell rapted teen

233
00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:20,919
Panet voices to the mechanical beings of the Stellar Federation

234
00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:23,559
were collecking their legs serrapolates andded like machine gun fire.

235
00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:26,000
The Hedgeminy delegates were making high pitched sounds that their

236
00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:28,600
translators called extreme distress speak of veutther. How to use

237
00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:31,240
an amplified voice to restore order of silence. We must

238
00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:33,799
remain calm and work together to address this threat. Ambassador

239
00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:36,399
sorrow from the ethery and delegation floated higher than usual,

240
00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:38,960
light form pulsing with rapid color changes. What do we

241
00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:40,960
know about their capabilities? Of how long do we have?

242
00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:44,159
Admiral sect manipulated a holographic display to show more detailed

243
00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:46,639
information based on the current speed and trajectory, they will

244
00:11:46,639 --> 00:11:49,159
reach the outer Council worlds in approximately six weeks. Just

245
00:11:49,279 --> 00:11:52,120
for the capabilities, he posed, his feathers rustling with anxiety.

246
00:11:52,159 --> 00:11:54,519
They are unlike anything we have phased before. The display

247
00:11:54,639 --> 00:11:57,039
changed to show images recovered from the last systems to

248
00:11:57,120 --> 00:11:59,600
encounter the devirus. What the Council members saw made many

249
00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:01,480
of them with They hadn't looked at the Vayuo's shirts

250
00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:04,440
were dark, annual things that seemed to absorblied rather than reflected.

251
00:12:04,559 --> 00:12:06,960
They moved in perfect formation, like parts of a single

252
00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:09,559
massive organism. But most terrifying of all were the planets

253
00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:11,919
they left behind, where once they have been driving wells

254
00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:14,080
full of life. Now though we're only empty hask strained

255
00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:17,120
of everything useful. They don't just conquer Secteth explained, they

256
00:12:17,159 --> 00:12:19,720
consume every bit of metal, every drop of water, every

257
00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:21,879
living thing. They strip. Planets stand about, rock and then

258
00:12:21,879 --> 00:12:23,960
they move on to the next system. Senator Thoalits from

259
00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:26,279
the curllant empos the first to speak after the horrifying

260
00:12:26,279 --> 00:12:28,840
images disappeared. His skills had turned a deep purple color

261
00:12:28,879 --> 00:12:30,919
that men series fear among his people. What is our

262
00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:33,600
combined military strength compared to their, as Thylux asked, are

263
00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:35,559
a total fee strength across all counds of members is

264
00:12:35,559 --> 00:12:39,320
approximately twelve thousand versels? Secteth replied, they have fifty thousand,

265
00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:41,639
But numbers alone don't tell the whole story. The technology

266
00:12:41,639 --> 00:12:43,600
appears to be dot dot dot adapt of What does

267
00:12:43,639 --> 00:12:46,159
that mean to manded commanders ephy from the hedge many worlds?

268
00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:49,480
That means they'll learn from every attack, Sectoth explained. Historical

269
00:12:49,519 --> 00:12:52,600
records showed that weapons which work against them initially becoming useless.

270
00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:55,200
After a few battles, they adapt their defenses in real time.

271
00:12:55,279 --> 00:12:57,799
The implications of this sank, and slowly the assembled delegates

272
00:12:57,799 --> 00:12:59,879
began to understand that they weren't just at numbered, They

273
00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:02,000
or facing an enemy that could evolve faster than they

274
00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:04,879
could change tactics. While Marshall Kruksok stirred up again, this

275
00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:07,919
time without any of his usual arrogance. We must mobilize imediately,

276
00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:10,360
every ship, every weapon, every soldier. This is a fight

277
00:13:10,399 --> 00:13:13,000
for the survival of our civilization. The greed said, umbased,

278
00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:15,279
dilic sorrow. The Ethery and Collective will commit our entire

279
00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:17,559
fleet to the defense. F One by one, the major

280
00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:19,960
military powers of the galaxy pledge to forces. The Vote

281
00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:22,720
Act would provide their advanced reconnoissance ships and tactical expertise.

282
00:13:22,799 --> 00:13:25,639
The Crillions would bring their quantum diswraptors and heavily solve vessels.

283
00:13:25,639 --> 00:13:28,120
The Stello Federation offered their planet cracking to repeat us

284
00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:31,399
and shield technology. Even the smallest pieces promised to contribute

285
00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:34,120
what they could. The Quantum Collective would provide their energy weapons.

286
00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:36,759
The Hedgemany Worlds would supplied the massive carrier ships filled

287
00:13:36,759 --> 00:13:39,039
with fider craft dot as each pieces made their commitment.

288
00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:41,240
As we gradually turned to the human section, Sir Chan

289
00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:44,559
had been sitting quietly, listening to the discussions without saying word. Finally,

290
00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:47,480
Speaker Velter addressed her directly. Admiral Chan, while can Earth

291
00:13:47,519 --> 00:13:50,639
contribute to the defense effort? Sarah stirred up slowly. Around her,

292
00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:52,480
she could feel the mixture of hope and doubt from

293
00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:54,519
the other delegates. They needed every ship they could get,

294
00:13:54,519 --> 00:13:56,799
but nobody expected much from the human's Earth will commit

295
00:13:56,840 --> 00:13:59,080
our entire fleet, so set simply two hundred and thirty

296
00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:01,840
seven vessels orted in our last military assessment. There was

297
00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:04,639
a moment of awkward silence. Everyone remembered the primitive weapons

298
00:14:04,639 --> 00:14:07,039
and simple technology that atha show in just three months ago.

299
00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:09,559
Two hundred ships with kinetic weapons wouldn't make much difference

300
00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:12,240
against fifty auzend advanced deel in vessels. Dot War Marshall

301
00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:15,080
Crooks had tried to be diplomatic. Every contribution is valuable,

302
00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:17,600
Admiral Chan, your ships can support the main battle lines,

303
00:14:17,639 --> 00:14:20,960
will take the reguard positions, added senateor thalics his skills

304
00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:23,440
showing the color pattern for polite dismissal. Keep the humans

305
00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:26,159
safe while the real military forces engaged enemy. Sarah nodded

306
00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:28,720
without any sign of offense, as you wish, that's forces

307
00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:31,639
will take whatever position the Council deems appropriate. The emergency

308
00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:34,600
session continued for several more ayos as military leaders worked

309
00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:37,399
out logistics in battle plans. The strategy was simple, meet

310
00:14:37,399 --> 00:14:39,120
the di virus at the edge of Council space with

311
00:14:39,159 --> 00:14:41,360
overwhelming force and tried to stop them before they reached

312
00:14:41,399 --> 00:14:44,200
any populated systems. The greatest military minds in the galaxy

313
00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:47,159
work together on the plan. Admiral Setov would coordinate reconnaissance

314
00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:49,440
and early warning, while Marshal Kriksacker would lead the main

315
00:14:49,480 --> 00:14:52,600
assault forces to the Etherians would provide long range energy bombardment,

316
00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:55,120
while the Stellar Federation ships used the quantum weapons to

317
00:14:55,159 --> 00:14:57,759
punch through enemy lines. Human forces were assigned to protect

318
00:14:57,759 --> 00:15:00,600
supply lines and evacuate civilians if the main battle went badly.

319
00:15:00,679 --> 00:15:02,840
Nobody said it at loud, but everyone understood that the

320
00:15:02,919 --> 00:15:04,720
humans were being kept out of the real fighting for

321
00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:07,519
their own safety. Two weeks later, the Combined Council Fleet

322
00:15:07,519 --> 00:15:10,000
assembled and the Helix Nebula just outside the galaxy's main

323
00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:12,639
spiral arm. It was the largest gathering of military forces

324
00:15:12,639 --> 00:15:15,919
in galactic history, twelve thousand ships from forty seven different species,

325
00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:19,000
all working together against the common threat. Admiral Sarah chanstood

326
00:15:19,039 --> 00:15:21,000
on the bridge of their flagship, simple vessel called the

327
00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:22,799
Terran Nurba, through the main view that she could see

328
00:15:22,799 --> 00:15:25,759
the vast Ariovlia worships spread out across based. Massive Crillian

329
00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:29,679
dreatnots bristled with quantum weapons Elicandteraian ships glowed with contained energy.

330
00:15:29,759 --> 00:15:32,759
The mechanical precision of Stellar Federation vessels was obvious even

331
00:15:32,799 --> 00:15:35,200
from a distance. Compared to these marvels of technology, the

332
00:15:35,279 --> 00:15:37,879
human ships look like ancient relics. The simple metal hulls

333
00:15:37,879 --> 00:15:41,360
and basic weapon systems seemed almost primitive in comparison. Admiral

334
00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:44,200
cold woultenant power from a communication station were receiving the

335
00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:46,679
final battle planned from Cancel Command. Human forces are to

336
00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:49,159
remain in sect to seven in a seven, approximately fifty

337
00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:51,840
thousand kilometers behind the main battle line. Sarah nodded a

338
00:15:51,879 --> 00:15:54,519
canowledge signal all Earth vessels to take position as ordered.

339
00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:57,200
As the human fleet moved to their assigned position, Sarah

340
00:15:57,200 --> 00:15:59,320
watched the airline forces prepare for battle. She had to

341
00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:01,559
admit they were in press. If the coordination between different

342
00:16:01,559 --> 00:16:03,919
species was remarkable, the sheer fireport they could bring to

343
00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:06,480
bear with staggering us. Sarah also remembered something at else,

344
00:16:06,559 --> 00:16:09,639
Shiakov's files that contained the real history of humanity's expansion

345
00:16:09,639 --> 00:16:11,840
into space. Files had told a very different story about

346
00:16:11,879 --> 00:16:14,919
human military capabilities. For now that those files would remain secret,

347
00:16:14,919 --> 00:16:16,840
Earth would play the role assigned to them by the Council.

348
00:16:16,879 --> 00:16:19,440
They would be the primitive species with simple weapons, staying

349
00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:21,879
safely in the rear while they advanced civilizations fought the

350
00:16:21,879 --> 00:16:24,440
real war. The first contact with Devirus scouts came three

351
00:16:24,519 --> 00:16:27,360
days later. Lawn range sensors detected small groups of enemy

352
00:16:27,399 --> 00:16:30,080
ships probing the edges of the Council formation. Admiral sectors

353
00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:32,879
dispatch for the g Recunnissance vessels to investigate. The reports

354
00:16:32,879 --> 00:16:35,000
that came back were troubling. The Deviraus ships moved in

355
00:16:35,039 --> 00:16:37,080
ways that seemed to ignore the normal laws of physics.

356
00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:39,440
They could accelerate and tend faster than should have been possible.

357
00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:41,840
The house absorbed sense of scans, making it difficult to

358
00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:44,240
get accurate readings on their capabilities. They are testing us,

359
00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:47,879
reported Admural set off during the daily command briefing, probing affirmations,

360
00:16:48,559 --> 00:16:51,639
studying our tactics, their learning about us before the main

361
00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:56,039
battle begins. Or Marshal Krikseck was confident, despite the troubling reports,

362
00:16:56,720 --> 00:16:59,639
let them study us when our four fleeting ages them.

363
00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:03,080
Thus see what real military power looks like. The confidence

364
00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:05,880
was shared throughout the Council fleet. They had the best

365
00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:09,400
technology in a galaxy. Their tactical expertise built up over

366
00:17:09,440 --> 00:17:12,279
thousands of years of warfare. They had the advantage of

367
00:17:12,279 --> 00:17:16,160
fighting together on familiar ground. What they didn't have was

368
00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:18,559
experienced fighting an enemy that could adapt to any weapon

369
00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:21,160
or tactic with then iyos of encountering it. The main

370
00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:25,319
deviral fleet arrived exactly when the calculations predicted. Fifty thousand

371
00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:27,559
DOC ships emerged from the vood like a spreading stain

372
00:17:27,599 --> 00:17:31,319
across the stars. They moved in perfect coordination, forming attack

373
00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:34,640
patterns that no organic mine could have devised. The council

374
00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:38,720
fleet moved to intercept them, twelve thousand ships against fifty thousand.

375
00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:42,039
The odds were terrible, but the alien commanders were still

376
00:17:42,079 --> 00:17:45,319
confident they had quality on their side, even if they

377
00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:48,200
lacked quantity. The first engagement began with long range energy

378
00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:51,240
bombardment from the Etherea ship's beams of pure light lance

379
00:17:51,319 --> 00:17:53,960
cross bays, striking the leading edge of the diviral formation.

380
00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:57,480
Several enemy ships were destroyed immediately, their hulls unable to

381
00:17:57,519 --> 00:18:01,240
withstand the concentrated energy. Chars were up throughout the council fleet.

382
00:18:01,799 --> 00:18:04,839
The enemy could be hurt, they could be defeated, but

383
00:18:04,839 --> 00:18:07,960
within minutes the situation began to change. The next wave

384
00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:11,000
of ethereum attack seemed to have less effect. The Divira

385
00:18:11,079 --> 00:18:14,720
ships were already adapting their defenses, learning to absorb or

386
00:18:14,759 --> 00:18:17,720
deflect the energy weapons. The Stella faderusion launched the quant

387
00:18:17,799 --> 00:18:22,039
and torpedoes necks. The first salva was devastatingly effective, causing

388
00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:24,960
entire sections of the enemy fleet to simply vanish from existence,

389
00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:28,319
but by the third salvo, the torpedoes were being intercepted

390
00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:31,640
or neutralized before they could reach the targets. Their adapting

391
00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:34,920
faster than we anticipated. Admiral Sector reported his voice tight

392
00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:38,319
with worry. Weapons that worked minutes ago are now useless.

393
00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:42,319
One Marshal Crooks cordered the zephyrin assault shipped forward. Their

394
00:18:42,319 --> 00:18:45,319
plasma canons opened fire at close range, melting through enemy

395
00:18:45,359 --> 00:18:48,599
hells with superheated matter. For a brief moment, it looked

396
00:18:48,599 --> 00:18:50,480
like the close range as all might work. Then the

397
00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:54,720
Devis began returning fire. Their weapons were unlike anything the

398
00:18:54,799 --> 00:18:58,359
Council Forces had seen before. Dark energy beams that seemed

399
00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:02,000
to drain the life from whatever they touched, projectors that

400
00:19:02,039 --> 00:19:04,519
phased through shields as if they went there, and most

401
00:19:04,599 --> 00:19:07,039
terrifying of all, some kind of virus weapon that turned

402
00:19:07,599 --> 00:19:11,079
councilships against their own allies. The battle that was supposed

403
00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:13,720
to be a decisive victory quickly turned into a desperate retreat.

404
00:19:14,359 --> 00:19:17,000
Council ships fled in all directions as the adaptive Devira

405
00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:19,480
A fleet overwhelmed their defenses and turned their own tactics

406
00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:22,480
against them. In the space of six iOS, the greatest

407
00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:26,000
military force in galactic history had been chattered. Thousands of

408
00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:29,319
ships were destroyed or captured. The survivors limped back toward

409
00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:32,640
Council space, carrying the terrible news of their defeat. The

410
00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:36,400
diviers meanwhile continued their advance toward the Corps worlds, the

411
00:19:36,519 --> 00:19:39,680
Dark Fleet now swollen with captured Council technology and the

412
00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:41,839
knowledge of how to defeat everything the galaxy could throw

413
00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:44,920
at them. From her position in the Regard, Admiral Sir

414
00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:48,599
Chuen watched the disaster unfold with growing concern. Around her,

415
00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:51,440
the other human ships maintained their assigned positions, waiting for

416
00:19:51,559 --> 00:19:55,079
orders that might never come. Admiral called Lieutenant Park. We

417
00:19:55,079 --> 00:19:58,920
were receiving scattered communications from the retreating Council forces. It

418
00:19:59,039 --> 00:20:03,319
sounds like there in full retreat. Sarah nodded, grimly signal

419
00:20:03,359 --> 00:20:06,200
Earth Command, tell them we may need to implement prof

420
00:20:06,279 --> 00:20:10,759
Call seven after all. Maw Park looked confused. I'm not

421
00:20:10,839 --> 00:20:13,880
familiar with that protocol. Sarah looked out at the approaching

422
00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:16,599
De vayra Or fleet, now enhanced with stolen Council technology

423
00:20:16,599 --> 00:20:21,079
and adaptive capabilities that made them newly unstoppable. No reason

424
00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:24,880
you should be, Lieutenant, she replied quietly. It's been classified

425
00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:26,920
for over two hundred years, but I think it's time

426
00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:30,519
to dust off some very old files. The emergency session

427
00:20:30,519 --> 00:20:32,680
in the Grand Assembly Hall was very different from the

428
00:20:32,759 --> 00:20:35,400
last one. Three weeks had passed since the disaster at

429
00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:37,880
Helix Nebula, and the mood was one of complete despair.

430
00:20:38,599 --> 00:20:41,039
Many seats were empty because their owners had died in

431
00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:44,000
the battle. Others were absent because their species were too

432
00:20:44,039 --> 00:20:47,759
busy evacuating their home whilst to attend meetings. Speakervelter looked

433
00:20:47,759 --> 00:20:50,079
older and more tired than Sorrow had ever seen him.

434
00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:52,559
His blue skin had taken on a great hint, and

435
00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:54,680
his forearms moved slowly as he called the session to

436
00:20:54,759 --> 00:20:58,200
Orator Council members. Felter began his voice heavy with the

437
00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:00,759
fee we gado to day to de scuss our remaining

438
00:21:00,799 --> 00:21:03,640
options in the face of the Divir advance. Admiral Secteth

439
00:21:03,640 --> 00:21:07,039
will provide the current tactical assessment. The Vodic Admiral flew

440
00:21:07,079 --> 00:21:09,680
to the center platform, but his usual graze was gone.

441
00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:12,119
One of his wings had been damaged in the battle,

442
00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:14,400
and he moved with all of his pain. His silver

443
00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:18,599
feathers were dulled and many were missing entirely. The situation

444
00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:22,279
is grave. Secteth reported, our combined fleet has been reduced

445
00:21:22,279 --> 00:21:25,680
to fewer than three thousand operational vessels. The Diviers have

446
00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:28,440
absorbed our technology and adapted to all of our weapons.

447
00:21:29,039 --> 00:21:32,720
They now possessed quantum disruptors, energy weapons, and plasma canons

448
00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:37,279
in addition their original capabilities. Holographic displays showed the current

449
00:21:37,319 --> 00:21:41,079
positions of both fleets. The Devier Amada, now grown to

450
00:21:41,079 --> 00:21:44,559
over sixty thousand ships recaptured Council vessels, was moving steadily

451
00:21:44,599 --> 00:21:48,279
toward the core wells. The remaining Council forces were scattered

452
00:21:48,279 --> 00:21:51,079
and retreating. How long until they reached the core systems,

453
00:21:51,119 --> 00:21:55,079
asked Ambassador Luxarar. The Etherians light had dimmed considerably and

454
00:21:55,119 --> 00:21:57,799
her usual bright colors were musured with grief. At their

455
00:21:57,839 --> 00:22:01,400
current speed, approximately two weeks, sect It replied. We have

456
00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:04,480
evacuation ship moving civilians from the outer colonies, but there

457
00:22:04,519 --> 00:22:07,880
simply isn't enough time to save everyone. War Marshall Crixack

458
00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:09,839
stood up from his seat, but the mass of Zafarin

459
00:22:09,880 --> 00:22:13,000
looked broken. His proud bearing was gone, replaced by the

460
00:22:13,039 --> 00:22:16,039
slouch of defeat. Nearly half of his species fleet had

461
00:22:16,079 --> 00:22:19,279
been lost in the battle. What about the defensive insulations

462
00:22:19,279 --> 00:22:23,200
around the coreps worlds Krieks are casked, surely they can

463
00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:26,920
sloaed the advance. The deviers have studded our defensive strategies,

464
00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:30,680
Secteth answered, they know how to neutralize our fixed installations.

465
00:22:31,319 --> 00:22:34,039
The platforms arounds and hiy Prime lasted less than four

466
00:22:34,079 --> 00:22:38,559
ires against their adapted weapons. Senator Thylix from the Crillian

467
00:22:38,599 --> 00:22:41,519
Empire was the next to speak. His scales had remained

468
00:22:41,519 --> 00:22:44,079
a deep papal of fear ever since the battle. Are

469
00:22:44,079 --> 00:22:48,319
we seriously considering surrender negotiating with these creatures? We've tried, it,

470
00:22:48,319 --> 00:22:52,759
replied Commander Zephya. They don't respond to any communications. They

471
00:22:52,759 --> 00:22:56,240
don't seem interested in anything except consumption. As far as

472
00:22:56,240 --> 00:22:58,359
we can tell, they view all organic life as nothing

473
00:22:58,359 --> 00:23:01,839
more than fuel. For their expansion. Then Paul fell into

474
00:23:01,839 --> 00:23:05,480
depressed silence. These beings had ruled the galaxy for thousands

475
00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:09,920
of years. They had built fast civilizations, created incredible technologies,

476
00:23:09,960 --> 00:23:13,200
and conquered countless challenges. Now they faced extinction at the

477
00:23:13,240 --> 00:23:16,440
hands of an enemy they couldn't understand or defeat. Perhaps,

478
00:23:16,599 --> 00:23:19,599
said one of the Quantum collective representatives, we should focus

479
00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:22,200
on preserving what we can seat ships to other galaxies,

480
00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:24,920
ensure that our cultures survive even if our worlds do not.

481
00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:28,480
This suggestion sparked a brief discussion about evacuation plans and

482
00:23:28,519 --> 00:23:31,920
survival strategies, but every one knew the truth. They didn't

483
00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:34,200
have enough ships to evacuate more than a tiny fraction

484
00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:38,680
of the galaxy's population. Lillians would die when there devirus arrived.

485
00:23:39,359 --> 00:23:42,279
Admiral sir Chan had been sitting quietly through the entire session,

486
00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:45,480
listening to the despair and defeat in every voice. Finally,

487
00:23:45,559 --> 00:23:47,359
she stood up from her seat in the human section.

488
00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:50,640
Honored Speaker Sorrows said, clearly, I request permission to address

489
00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:52,039
the countsil The whole turn to look at her. Some

490
00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:54,880
faces show surprise that the Eman representative wanted to speak.

491
00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:57,000
Are the sure polite resignation, as if they were willing

492
00:23:57,039 --> 00:23:58,680
to listen to any one who might have an idea,

493
00:23:58,720 --> 00:24:01,359
no matter how unlikely the fall recognize its Admiral chan

494
00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:04,799
felt as said wearily. Sarah walked to the center platform,

495
00:24:04,920 --> 00:24:07,640
just as she had three months earlier for her military presentation,

496
00:24:08,319 --> 00:24:10,960
that this time there were no mocking laws or dismissive comments.

497
00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:14,480
The assembled delegate watched her with desperate hope, willing to

498
00:24:14,519 --> 00:24:18,119
listen to any possible solution. Council members, Sir began, I

499
00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:20,599
need to share some information that Earth has kept classified

500
00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:25,079
until now, information about our true military capabilities. This got

501
00:24:25,079 --> 00:24:28,640
everyone's attention immediately. While Marshall Crooks are cleaned forward in

502
00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:33,599
his seat, Ambassador luxories light flickered with renewed interest. Even

503
00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:36,640
the broken admiral sectors turned to focus on Syah's words.

504
00:24:37,319 --> 00:24:40,000
The presentation I gave three months ago. If Sarah continued,

505
00:24:40,079 --> 00:24:43,440
showed only a small portion of her sexual military strength.

506
00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:46,680
We have learned through centuries of our undevastating wars that

507
00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:49,119
it is wise to never reveal your for capabilities until

508
00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:53,400
absolutely necessary. What are you saying? Demand and Senator th alex,

509
00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:56,720
his scale shifting from purple to orange with excitement. Are

510
00:24:56,720 --> 00:24:59,119
you telling us that humans have been hiding advanced weapons?

511
00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:03,200
Eron nodded. I'm saying that humanity has spent the last

512
00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:05,920
five hundred years preparing for exactly this kind of threat.

513
00:25:06,559 --> 00:25:09,079
We have been watching the galaxy, learning from every conflict

514
00:25:09,119 --> 00:25:12,400
and developing technologies specifically designed to fight enemies that conventional

515
00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:16,160
weapons cannot defeat. She pulled out her ditapad and activated it,

516
00:25:16,599 --> 00:25:19,839
but instead of the simple holographic displays from her previous presentation,

517
00:25:20,039 --> 00:25:22,079
the arab of the platform filled with images that made

518
00:25:22,079 --> 00:25:25,400
the assembled delegates gaspin shock. The first image showed a

519
00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:27,599
human ship, but it was nothing like the simple vessels

520
00:25:27,599 --> 00:25:30,559
from the Earlow presentation. The ship was sleek and dark,

521
00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:33,240
its hall seeming to bend light around it. It was

522
00:25:33,359 --> 00:25:35,880
larger than the biggest Crillian dreadnought, and its design was

523
00:25:35,920 --> 00:25:38,720
unlike anything anyone in the hull had ever seen. This

524
00:25:38,880 --> 00:25:41,880
is the Urchip Prometheus, Sarah explained. It is one of

525
00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:44,920
fifty vessels in our Strategic Defense Fleet. Each ship is

526
00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:48,640
equipped with quantum and tangled weapon systems, matter antomatic cascade bombs,

527
00:25:48,799 --> 00:25:52,119
and adapt to AI tactical networks. The next image showed

528
00:25:52,119 --> 00:25:55,640
an entire fleet of these mysterious ships. They moved informations

529
00:25:55,640 --> 00:25:58,119
that seemed to flow like water, changing shape and position

530
00:25:58,160 --> 00:26:01,160
in ways that suggested incredible cord and nation. How is

531
00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:06,279
this possible, whispered Ambassador look sorrow. We've monitored your communications,

532
00:26:06,319 --> 00:26:09,359
your industrial capacity. There's no way you could have built

533
00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:12,599
such vessels without us knowing. Sarah smiled, for the first

534
00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:16,359
time since the crisis began. Our actual industrial capacity is

535
00:26:16,359 --> 00:26:20,279
not located in this galaxy. Humanity began expanding into neighboring

536
00:26:20,279 --> 00:26:23,200
galaxies over three hundred years ago. What you see here

537
00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:26,440
represents the combined resources of seventeen different star systems across

538
00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:31,599
four galaxies. Valhole erupted in shot voices. The implications were staggering.

539
00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:35,079
Humanity wasn't the primitive, struggling species they had appeared to be.

540
00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:38,400
They were already in into galactic civilization with resources that

541
00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:41,559
dwarfed anything the Council could imagine. But why hide this,

542
00:26:42,319 --> 00:26:45,799
demanded war Marshal Krikseek. Why pretend to be weak and primitive?

543
00:26:46,480 --> 00:26:50,079
Because Sarah replied, we learn lam a Gir that being

544
00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:53,680
underestimated is often the greatest advantage you can have. While

545
00:26:53,720 --> 00:26:56,599
you were building larger weapons and stronger ships. We were

546
00:26:56,599 --> 00:26:59,720
studying your mistakes and preparing for the enemies you couldn't defeat.

547
00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:03,319
The holographic display changed again, showing weapon tests that made

548
00:27:03,319 --> 00:27:06,559
the assembled delegate step back in their seats, beams of

549
00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:09,880
energy that could stabilize stars, gravitational weapons that could compress

550
00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:12,880
matter into black holes, and most incredible of all, technology

551
00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:15,519
that seem to manipulate the basic laws of physics themselves.

552
00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:19,880
These weapons are designed specifically to fight adaptive enemies. Sarah explained,

553
00:27:20,519 --> 00:27:23,079
each system use of principles that cannot be easily copied

554
00:27:23,160 --> 00:27:26,480
or countered. Where conventional weapons rely on energy or matter,

555
00:27:26,559 --> 00:27:30,400
iris manipulate fundamental forces that exist at the quantum level.

556
00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:34,200
Anneral Sector fanned his voice. First, are you saying you

557
00:27:34,240 --> 00:27:37,079
have weapons that the diviers cannot adapt to? I am

558
00:27:37,119 --> 00:27:39,720
saying we have weapons that work on principles the diviers

559
00:27:39,720 --> 00:27:43,880
have never encountered. Sarah replied, Our quantum entangled systems exist

560
00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:48,160
in multiple dimensions simultaneously. Our gravitational manipulator is effect based

561
00:27:48,240 --> 00:27:51,279
in itself. An ear I nevers operate on quantum consciousness

562
00:27:51,319 --> 00:27:54,119
principles that make them impossible to hack or infratrate. The

563
00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:57,079
excitement in the whole was building rapidly. For the first

564
00:27:57,079 --> 00:27:59,720
time in weeks, the assembled delegates were hearing something other

565
00:27:59,720 --> 00:28:02,400
than you of defeat and retreat. How many ships do

566
00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:06,640
you have, ask commanders after a strategic defense fleet consists

567
00:28:06,680 --> 00:28:09,799
of fifty capital ships, each more powerful than anything currently

568
00:28:09,799 --> 00:28:13,400
in this galaxy, Sir answered, But more importantly, we have

569
00:28:13,480 --> 00:28:16,200
tactical systems that can coordinate the actions of every human

570
00:28:16,279 --> 00:28:18,359
vessel as if they were parts of a single organism.

571
00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:21,599
She manipulated her data pad again, and the holographic display

572
00:28:21,640 --> 00:28:25,119
showed about a simulation. Human ships moved in perfect coordination,

573
00:28:25,279 --> 00:28:28,039
their weapons firing in patterns that seemed almost like a dance.

574
00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:32,519
Enemy vessels representing the Diviers try to adapt, but the

575
00:28:32,559 --> 00:28:35,440
human tact exchanged faster than the enemy could evolve. This

576
00:28:35,559 --> 00:28:38,839
is theoretical, of course, Sair said, We've never actually fought

577
00:28:38,839 --> 00:28:42,200
the Diviers, but our simulations suggest that our adatave I

578
00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:46,759
cannot think they are adaptive technology more Marshall critxic stood up,

579
00:28:46,759 --> 00:28:49,519
his earlier depression, replaced by something that might have been hope.

580
00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:53,000
When can thee ships arrive? How quickly can they get here?

581
00:28:53,599 --> 00:28:56,880
They are already here, Sarah replied calmly. The silence that

582
00:28:56,960 --> 00:28:59,920
followed was absolute. Every being in the hall stared at

583
00:29:00,119 --> 00:29:01,920
Sarah as if she had just announced that the suns

584
00:29:01,920 --> 00:29:04,640
were about to explode. What do you mean they are

585
00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:08,480
already here? Us speak of velter, Sarah touch who it

586
00:29:08,559 --> 00:29:11,079
had one more time. The main viewing screen of this

587
00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:14,440
embly hall, which usually showed peaceful stuff fields, suddenly filled

588
00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:16,480
with an image that made everyone forget how to breathe.

589
00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:19,319
Fifty ships hung in space to outside the station, but

590
00:29:19,440 --> 00:29:21,519
calling them ships was like calling a mountain a rock.

591
00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:24,680
These vessels were enormous, sleek, and beautiful in a way

592
00:29:24,680 --> 00:29:27,759
that seemed almost alive. They moved slowly through space, their

593
00:29:27,799 --> 00:29:29,559
hulls shifting and changing as if they were made of

594
00:29:29,559 --> 00:29:32,960
liquid metal. The Earth's Strategic Defense Fleet has been monitoring

595
00:29:33,039 --> 00:29:35,799
the situation since the first to buy Or scouts were detected,

596
00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:40,079
Sarah explained, We've been studying their capabilities and preparing our response.

597
00:29:40,799 --> 00:29:44,440
With the Council's permission, we are ready to engage the enemy.

598
00:29:44,480 --> 00:29:48,039
The hull exploded into excited chatter. Delegates were standing up,

599
00:29:48,079 --> 00:29:50,680
pointing at the viewing screen, talking rapidly to their neighbors

600
00:29:51,359 --> 00:29:53,920
for the first time since the disaster Helix Nebula. There

601
00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:56,839
was hope in their voices, but Admiral sec to freeze

602
00:29:56,839 --> 00:30:00,000
the wing for attention, Admiral Chhan, these ships are in press,

603
00:30:00,359 --> 00:30:02,480
but the Devir is still out number you sixty thousand

604
00:30:02,480 --> 00:30:05,839
to fifty. How can you hope to defeat such overwhelming numbers,

605
00:30:06,319 --> 00:30:10,160
Sarah SmaI became wider and more confident. Admiral sectif you

606
00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:13,319
are thinking about this in terms of conventional warfare, ship

607
00:30:13,359 --> 00:30:17,279
against ship, weapon against weapon by our approach is very different.

608
00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:20,880
The holographic display changed to show tactical predictions that were

609
00:30:20,960 --> 00:30:24,279
unlike anything the Council had ever seen. Instead of traditional

610
00:30:24,319 --> 00:30:27,359
battle lined and weapon exchanges, the human strategy looked more

611
00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:30,839
like a complex puzzle being solved than real time. We

612
00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:34,359
don't plan to fight sixty thousand ships, Sarah explained. We

613
00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:37,000
plan to turn their greatest strength into their greatest weakness.

614
00:30:37,359 --> 00:30:41,720
Their adaptive technology requires central coordination. Disrupt the coordination and

615
00:30:41,799 --> 00:30:45,079
sixty thousand ships become sixty thousand individual targets with no

616
00:30:45,200 --> 00:30:48,000
way to share information. How do you disrupt something we

617
00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:52,400
don't even understand, ask Ambassador looks Horeror by understanding it

618
00:30:52,480 --> 00:30:56,200
better than they do. Sarah reply, humanity is bestudying adaptive

619
00:30:56,200 --> 00:30:59,000
AI for over four hundred years. We know how it

620
00:30:59,039 --> 00:31:01,200
works because we build our own versions and then learned

621
00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:03,880
how to defeat them. Our biggest advantage is that no

622
00:31:03,920 --> 00:31:07,400
one has ever successfully fought their adaptation systems, but we have.

623
00:31:07,519 --> 00:31:09,519
She paused and looked around the hole at the face

624
00:31:09,519 --> 00:31:12,240
of staring back at her. These beings had spent months

625
00:31:12,279 --> 00:31:15,519
in despair, convinced that their civilizations were doomed. Now they

626
00:31:15,559 --> 00:31:18,559
were hearing that salvation might be possible. There's something else

627
00:31:18,599 --> 00:31:21,799
you need to understand, Sarah continued. F didn't join the

628
00:31:21,799 --> 00:31:24,519
Galactic Council five years ago because we needed you protection

629
00:31:24,599 --> 00:31:27,799
or technology. We joined because we had been monitoring your

630
00:31:27,839 --> 00:31:30,720
progress and we knew this day would come. We've up

631
00:31:30,759 --> 00:31:33,440
been preparing for this specific threat for over two centuries.

632
00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:36,799
The implications hit the assembled delegates like a physical blow.

633
00:31:37,359 --> 00:31:41,480
Humanity hadn't stumbled into galactic politics as primitive newcomers. They

634
00:31:41,480 --> 00:31:43,799
had arrived as advanced guardians, watching and waiting for the

635
00:31:43,799 --> 00:31:46,119
moment when their protection would be needed. You've been protecting

636
00:31:46,200 --> 00:31:48,839
us all along with but Senator Thyalux's scale showing colours

637
00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:51,480
that mental and gratitude. It's what we do, Sarah replied, simply.

638
00:31:51,559 --> 00:31:54,359
Humanity learned long ago that the strongest civilizations others that

639
00:31:54,400 --> 00:31:56,359
protect the weak, not thos that exploit them. We've been

640
00:31:56,400 --> 00:31:59,079
quietly watching over this galaxy because we believe the cultures

641
00:31:59,119 --> 00:32:02,240
here are worth preserving. While Marshall Kriuksack was stirvring at

642
00:32:02,240 --> 00:32:04,920
the mass of human ships and the viewing screen, why

643
00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:09,440
reveal this now? Why not continue to hide your capabilities? Because,

644
00:32:09,480 --> 00:32:12,519
Sarah said, the time for hiding is over. The diviers

645
00:32:12,519 --> 00:32:15,319
represent a threat that requires our full capabilities to defeat.

646
00:32:15,960 --> 00:32:18,799
And because this Council, this alliance of species working together

647
00:32:18,880 --> 00:32:22,039
despite their differences, where it presents something worth fighting for. Openly,

648
00:32:22,720 --> 00:32:24,400
she walked to the edge of the platform and looked

649
00:32:24,400 --> 00:32:26,720
out at the phases of beings from dozens of different worlds.

650
00:32:27,440 --> 00:32:30,359
We're not asking to take over your defense. We're asking

651
00:32:30,359 --> 00:32:33,160
for permission to fight alongside you, to use our hidden

652
00:32:33,160 --> 00:32:35,359
strength to protect something that took thousands of years to

653
00:32:35,359 --> 00:32:39,200
build speak of. Velt was the first to respond. Admiral

654
00:32:39,279 --> 00:32:42,200
chan On, behalf of the Galactic Council, a formerly request

655
00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:45,119
her as assistant in defending our civilization against the divier

656
00:32:45,119 --> 00:32:49,559
of for it request granted, Sarah replied, dead, Strategic Defense

657
00:32:49,559 --> 00:32:52,480
Fleet will engage the enemy in seventy two hours. We

658
00:32:52,519 --> 00:32:55,319
suggest that all remaining Council forces be positioned to support

659
00:32:55,359 --> 00:32:59,640
our operations and assist with rescue in evacuation efforts. As

660
00:32:59,640 --> 00:33:01,960
the emer Urgency session broke up into planning committees and

661
00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:05,039
tactical discussions, the mood in the whole had completely transformed.

662
00:33:05,680 --> 00:33:08,519
Where there had been despair, now there was hope. Where

663
00:33:08,519 --> 00:33:11,519
there had been defeat, now there was determination. The beings

664
00:33:11,559 --> 00:33:13,880
who had laughed at human primitive weapons three months ago

665
00:33:13,960 --> 00:33:16,519
now watched in o as the most advanced military force

666
00:33:16,519 --> 00:33:19,240
they had never seen, prepared to save their civilization. But

667
00:33:19,359 --> 00:33:21,200
in the back of her mind, Sarah hoped that the

668
00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:24,319
weapons and strategist humanity had spent centuries develop and would

669
00:33:24,359 --> 00:33:26,480
be enough to defeat an enemy that had already proven

670
00:33:26,519 --> 00:33:28,720
it could adapt to anything the galaxy could throw at it.

671
00:33:29,319 --> 00:33:32,039
The real test was still to come. The Human fleet

672
00:33:32,079 --> 00:33:35,240
moved through space like shadows made solid from the obplivation

673
00:33:35,359 --> 00:33:38,079
dick of the Council Command Station, Admiral Sektov watched the

674
00:33:38,119 --> 00:33:41,319
fiftieth ships take their positions with the mixture of awe nervousness.

675
00:33:41,839 --> 00:33:44,240
Each vessel was larger than anything in the Council fleet,

676
00:33:44,359 --> 00:33:46,880
yet they moved with the grace of living creatures. I

677
00:33:46,920 --> 00:33:50,039
still can't believe were seeing this, wore Marshall. Crixix said quietly.

678
00:33:50,640 --> 00:33:54,880
The massive zephyrn stood beside Sectov, his earlier arrogance completely bun.

679
00:33:55,519 --> 00:33:58,039
Three months ago, we were laughing at their primitive weapons.

680
00:33:58,680 --> 00:34:01,400
Three months ago they wanted a to laugh. Secteth replied,

681
00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:04,400
I'm beginning to understand that humans are far more complex

682
00:34:04,440 --> 00:34:07,279
than any of us realized. On the main viewing screen,

683
00:34:07,720 --> 00:34:11,159
long rain censors showed the approaching to Viral fleet. Sixty

684
00:34:11,199 --> 00:34:14,199
thousand dark ships moved in perfect formation toward the coal worlds.

685
00:34:14,800 --> 00:34:17,280
Their hulls absorb light and censor beams, making them look

686
00:34:17,360 --> 00:34:19,960
like holes in space itself. They would arrive at the

687
00:34:19,960 --> 00:34:23,639
battle zone in less than six hours. Admiral sarah unstood

688
00:34:23,679 --> 00:34:26,960
on the bridge of the Prometheus, watching the tactical displays

689
00:34:26,960 --> 00:34:30,119
with calm focus. Around her, the human crew worked with

690
00:34:30,199 --> 00:34:33,840
quiet efficiency. There was no panic, no shouting of orders,

691
00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:36,960
no dramatic speeches. They moved like parts of a well

692
00:34:36,960 --> 00:34:41,119
designed machine. Admiral Cold, Command of Torres from the Tactical station.

693
00:34:41,760 --> 00:34:45,639
All ships report ready status. The quantum entanglement network is

694
00:34:45,679 --> 00:34:50,079
active and synchronized. Sarah nodded signaled the Council Fleet to

695
00:34:50,079 --> 00:34:54,880
take position at safe distance menimum fifty thousand kilometers from

696
00:34:54,880 --> 00:34:59,599
the engagement zone. Ma'am, said Lieutenant Park. The Council Commander's

697
00:34:59,599 --> 00:35:02,920
a request sting permission to assist with the attack negative,

698
00:35:03,039 --> 00:35:06,920
Sarah replied firmly. Their weapons or uses against adaptive enemies,

699
00:35:07,079 --> 00:35:09,639
and their presence would only give the Divirus more technology

700
00:35:09,679 --> 00:35:13,159
to steal. This battle must be fought with systems the

701
00:35:13,280 --> 00:35:16,400
enemy has never encountered. As the human fleet spread out

702
00:35:16,400 --> 00:35:19,880
into attack formation, something strange began to happen. The ships

703
00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:23,519
started to change. Their hulls shifted and flowed like liquid metal.

704
00:35:24,039 --> 00:35:26,239
What had looked like traditional vessels now appeared to be

705
00:35:26,280 --> 00:35:30,199
something alive and organic. From the Council Devation Station, Ambassador

706
00:35:30,239 --> 00:35:34,760
Looks Sorrow watched in fascination other ships transforming themselves. It

707
00:35:34,800 --> 00:35:38,559
appears so, answered one of the Stillar Federation representatives. The

708
00:35:38,639 --> 00:35:41,639
hull configurations are shifting into patterns I have never seen before.

709
00:35:42,199 --> 00:35:44,480
The human ship continued to change until They no longer

710
00:35:44,480 --> 00:35:47,360
looked like anny vessel any one had ever built. They

711
00:35:47,400 --> 00:35:50,400
resembled sea creatures from an alien ucean, flowing and undulating

712
00:35:50,960 --> 00:35:53,679
to space. Their surfaces rippled with energy patterns that seemed

713
00:35:53,679 --> 00:35:56,559
to pulse with their own. Harby the Vira of fleet detected,

714
00:35:56,599 --> 00:36:00,320
announced the sensor operator aboard the Prometheus, ranged to a million

715
00:36:00,320 --> 00:36:04,079
kilometer is enclosing. Estimated time to contact four hours and

716
00:36:04,119 --> 00:36:07,280
seventeen minutes. Sarah walked to the center of the bridge

717
00:36:07,280 --> 00:36:10,840
and activated the ship's communication system all units. This is

718
00:36:10,880 --> 00:36:15,159
Admiral Charn initiate Phade one of Operation Silent Thunder began

719
00:36:15,239 --> 00:36:19,079
quantum displacement. What happened next made the watching Council Delegate

720
00:36:19,079 --> 00:36:21,840
to question everything they thought they knew about physics. The

721
00:36:21,920 --> 00:36:25,239
human ships simply vanished. One moment they were visible on

722
00:36:25,239 --> 00:36:27,599
every censor, and the next moment they were gone completely.

723
00:36:28,119 --> 00:36:32,320
Where did they go? Demanded wore A Marshal krisac Unknown,

724
00:36:32,599 --> 00:36:35,960
replied Admiral sectorf, his voice filled with confusion. They're not

725
00:36:36,039 --> 00:36:38,719
showing up on any of our censors. It's as if

726
00:36:38,719 --> 00:36:42,039
they never existed. On the bridge of the Prometheus, Sarah

727
00:36:42,079 --> 00:36:45,760
could see everything perfectly. The quantum displacement system had shifted

728
00:36:45,800 --> 00:36:48,800
the human fleet into a parallel dimensional space. They could

729
00:36:48,840 --> 00:36:51,480
observe and interact with normal space, but nothing in normal

730
00:36:51,519 --> 00:36:56,440
space could detect them. Fascinating technology, said Commander Torres. We're

731
00:36:56,519 --> 00:36:59,400
essentially fighting from a dimension that the enemy doesn't know exists.

732
00:37:00,119 --> 00:37:03,239
That's the theory, Sarah replied, Let's see if it works

733
00:37:03,239 --> 00:37:08,480
in practice. Tantafer's contact two ires fifteen minutes, reported the

734
00:37:08,519 --> 00:37:12,639
sensor operator. The Devira fleet continued its approach, completely unaware

735
00:37:12,719 --> 00:37:15,039
the fifty of the most advanced worships ever built were

736
00:37:15,039 --> 00:37:18,679
moving alongside them in dimensional space. The dark shapes maintained

737
00:37:18,679 --> 00:37:21,360
their perfect formation, their adaptive senses scanning for threats that

738
00:37:21,360 --> 00:37:26,039
they couldn't detect. Admiral Cold, Lieutenant Park, we're receiving a

739
00:37:26,079 --> 00:37:29,599
transmission from the lead to Vira vessel. Sara raise an eyebrow.

740
00:37:30,199 --> 00:37:34,719
They're trying to communicate. That's new. Put it through the

741
00:37:34,800 --> 00:37:37,000
main screen, filled with an image that made several bridge

742
00:37:37,039 --> 00:37:40,079
crew members step back in shock. The being that appeared

743
00:37:40,159 --> 00:37:43,400
was clearly artificial, but it had once been organic. Pieces

744
00:37:43,400 --> 00:37:46,000
of different species had been combined with mechanical pots to

745
00:37:46,000 --> 00:37:49,960
create something that was neither alive nor dead. Resistance is unnecessary,

746
00:37:50,000 --> 00:37:52,400
the creature said, in a voice that sounded like grinding metal.

747
00:37:52,920 --> 00:37:56,360
Your biological and technological distinctiveness will be added to our collective.

748
00:37:57,039 --> 00:38:00,559
Surrender now, and your assimilation will be efficient. Sarah looked

749
00:38:00,559 --> 00:38:03,239
at the horrifying combination of flesh A machine noun has green.

750
00:38:03,800 --> 00:38:06,400
I am Admiral Sir Chon of the Earth Strategic Defense Flee.

751
00:38:06,960 --> 00:38:10,440
You have entered Council space without permission and have destroyed

752
00:38:10,440 --> 00:38:15,039
seventeen star systems. You will see, Sir, advance and withdraw immediately.

753
00:38:15,679 --> 00:38:17,639
The creature and the screen made a sound that might

754
00:38:17,679 --> 00:38:20,719
have been laughter. F We have analyzed two species from

755
00:38:20,760 --> 00:38:24,239
the battle, a Helix nebula, primitive kinetic weapons and chemical propulsion.

756
00:38:24,760 --> 00:38:27,719
He posed no threat to her collective. You might be surprised,

757
00:38:27,760 --> 00:38:31,760
Sarah replied, calmly. Surprise is not possible. The creature responded,

758
00:38:32,559 --> 00:38:34,960
We have adapted to every weapon system in this galaxy.

759
00:38:35,599 --> 00:38:39,280
Your Council's plasmic cannons, quantum disruptors, and energy weapons are

760
00:38:39,280 --> 00:38:42,599
now part of our capabilities. What can your primitive species

761
00:38:42,639 --> 00:38:46,119
offer that we have not already assimilated? Sarah smiled coldly.

762
00:38:46,840 --> 00:38:51,360
Something you've never seen before shun out. The transmission ended

763
00:38:51,400 --> 00:38:54,719
and Sarah turned to her tactical officer commendator, as how

764
00:38:54,760 --> 00:38:58,599
long until we're an optimal firing position? Thirty minutes, Admiral,

765
00:38:59,239 --> 00:39:02,719
the enemy fleet would be concentrated in the Meridian System's

766
00:39:02,760 --> 00:39:08,320
asteroid field, perfect location for our gravity weapons, excellent signal

767
00:39:08,360 --> 00:39:11,119
ships to prepare for fast I full spectrum quantum attack.

768
00:39:11,800 --> 00:39:14,599
Thirty minutes later, the Deviu fleet into the asteroid field,

769
00:39:14,639 --> 00:39:18,519
exactly as predicted. The dark ships moved through the space

770
00:39:18,599 --> 00:39:22,079
rocks would not concern their sensors, detecting no frets anywhere

771
00:39:22,079 --> 00:39:24,760
in the system. That was when the human fleet attacked.

772
00:39:25,360 --> 00:39:27,519
The assolve a gam of weapons that the diviers could

773
00:39:27,559 --> 00:39:30,159
not understand because they worked on principles that didn't exist

774
00:39:30,199 --> 00:39:34,360
in normal space. Quantum and tangle beams reached cross the

775
00:39:34,440 --> 00:39:37,159
mansional barriers, destroyed targets that had no idea they were

776
00:39:37,159 --> 00:39:41,440
being attacked. The first wave of Devire ships simply ceased

777
00:39:41,440 --> 00:39:44,800
to exist. One moment they were flying through the asteroid field,

778
00:39:44,920 --> 00:39:49,320
and the next moment they were gone. No explosion, no debris,

779
00:39:49,360 --> 00:39:52,239
no energy signature. They were there, and then they were not.

780
00:39:53,039 --> 00:39:55,559
What happened to them? The lead to Viyre, a creature

781
00:39:55,599 --> 00:39:59,360
broadcast on all frequencies. Where did our ships go? The

782
00:39:59,440 --> 00:40:03,280
human fleet remained invisible as they continued their attack. Gravitational

783
00:40:03,320 --> 00:40:05,719
weapons reached out to grab clusters of enemy vessels and

784
00:40:05,719 --> 00:40:08,920
compressed them into points of infinite density. Hundreds of ships

785
00:40:08,960 --> 00:40:11,920
were crushed into black hole so small they evaporated almost instantly.

786
00:40:11,920 --> 00:40:15,360
On the council observation station, the watching delegates could only

787
00:40:15,400 --> 00:40:17,960
see the effects of the battle. The viral ships were

788
00:40:18,000 --> 00:40:20,679
disappearing or being destroyed by weapons that produced no visible

789
00:40:20,719 --> 00:40:23,639
beams or explosions. It looked like the enemy fleet was

790
00:40:23,679 --> 00:40:28,599
being attacked by ghosts. Incredible, whispered Senator Thalics. The humans

791
00:40:28,599 --> 00:40:30,360
are winning and we can't even see how they are

792
00:40:30,360 --> 00:40:33,199
doing it. The divirus tried to adapt to the attack,

793
00:40:33,360 --> 00:40:36,239
but they couldn't adapt to weapons they couldn't detect. Their

794
00:40:36,239 --> 00:40:40,519
sensors showed no enemy ships, no energy signatures, no incoming projectiles.

795
00:40:41,079 --> 00:40:43,239
The fleet was being destroyed by forces that seemed to

796
00:40:43,239 --> 00:40:46,840
come from empty space. All units came Sarah's voice over

797
00:40:46,840 --> 00:40:51,440
the human fleet's communication system initiate Phase three reality anchored deployment.

798
00:40:52,039 --> 00:40:55,199
What happened next was beyond anything to council delegates could imagined.

799
00:40:55,760 --> 00:40:58,320
The human ships began to manipulate space and time itself.

800
00:40:58,800 --> 00:41:01,079
They created pockets of altars physics, where the laws of

801
00:41:01,159 --> 00:41:05,079
nature work differently. Inside these reality anchors, the Divier's adaptive

802
00:41:05,079 --> 00:41:08,800
technology simply stopped functioning. Ships that had been vulnerable to

803
00:41:08,840 --> 00:41:11,559
every weapon in the galaxy suddenly found themselves vulnerable to

804
00:41:11,559 --> 00:41:15,280
basic kinetic force. Their advanced hulls became as fragile as paper,

805
00:41:15,880 --> 00:41:20,039
their powerful shields became useless. Decorations impossible. The lead viral

806
00:41:20,079 --> 00:41:22,840
creature broadcasts its voice now, showing something that might have

807
00:41:22,880 --> 00:41:26,119
been fear. Our adaptive mate re sias are failing. We

808
00:41:26,199 --> 00:41:29,440
cannot analyze the attack vectors. That's because there are no

809
00:41:29,480 --> 00:41:33,159
attack vectors, Sir replied half leads still invisible to enemy sensors.

810
00:41:33,760 --> 00:41:37,199
We're not attacking you with weapons, We're changing the fundamental

811
00:41:37,280 --> 00:41:40,800
nature of reality around you. The Divira fleet tried to retreat,

812
00:41:40,800 --> 00:41:43,719
but the human ships had surrounded them completely in dimensional space.

813
00:41:44,400 --> 00:41:46,679
Every escape route was blocked by vessels that couldn't be

814
00:41:46,760 --> 00:41:50,480
detected or targeted. How are you doing this, the Devira

815
00:41:50,599 --> 00:41:55,119
creature demanded, what technology are you using? Technology you can't steal?

816
00:41:55,159 --> 00:41:59,360
Because it doesn't exist in your universe. Sarah answered, we're

817
00:41:59,360 --> 00:42:02,719
fighting you from dimension you can't enter, and using principles

818
00:42:02,760 --> 00:42:06,440
your collective consciousness can't comprehend. The battle continued for three

819
00:42:06,480 --> 00:42:09,079
more hours, but the outcome was never in doubt. The

820
00:42:09,119 --> 00:42:12,320
Divirus had built their entire strategy around adapting to conventional

821
00:42:12,320 --> 00:42:15,679
weapons and tactics. They had no defense against enemas who

822
00:42:15,679 --> 00:42:18,599
could rewrite the laws of physics were attacked from parallel dimensions.

823
00:42:19,280 --> 00:42:21,559
One by one, the Dark ships were destroyed or captured.

824
00:42:22,239 --> 00:42:26,199
Some were compressed into gravitational singularities, others were dissolved at

825
00:42:26,199 --> 00:42:29,519
the molecular level by quantum disintegration beans a few were

826
00:42:29,559 --> 00:42:31,920
simply transported to empty regions of space, where they would

827
00:42:31,960 --> 00:42:35,000
drift homelessly fraternity. But the most remarkable part of the

828
00:42:35,039 --> 00:42:37,320
battle came near the end, when the human fleet began

829
00:42:37,360 --> 00:42:41,000
to do something unprecedented. Instead of simply destroying the remaining

830
00:42:41,039 --> 00:42:43,719
Devirus ships, they began to reverse the damage the enemy

831
00:42:43,760 --> 00:42:48,119
had caused. These four initiated Sirenance, molecular reconstruction, and left

832
00:42:48,159 --> 00:42:51,679
restoration protocols are now active. The human ships began to

833
00:42:51,719 --> 00:42:55,480
rebuild everything that the Virus had destroyed. Broken Council vessels

834
00:42:55,480 --> 00:42:59,000
were reconstructed from the scattered atoms. Dead crew members were

835
00:42:59,000 --> 00:43:02,320
resort to life using genetic temperates stored in quantum memory banks.

836
00:43:02,960 --> 00:43:05,360
Even entire planets that had been stripped bare were reformed

837
00:43:05,400 --> 00:43:08,639
and were populated. From the Council observation station, the Watch

838
00:43:08,679 --> 00:43:12,000
and delegates saw their destroyed fleet slowly materialize in perfect condition.

839
00:43:12,599 --> 00:43:14,760
Ships that had been vaporized in the battle at Helix

840
00:43:14,840 --> 00:43:17,280
Nebula appeared in space as if they had never been damaged.

841
00:43:17,880 --> 00:43:21,480
This is impossible, Admiral Sector whispered, They are bringing back

842
00:43:22,199 --> 00:43:25,960
the dead. They are reversing destruction itself, not reversing corrected.

843
00:43:25,960 --> 00:43:29,519
Ambassador look sorrow, are light pulsing with amazement. A building

844
00:43:30,079 --> 00:43:32,960
they were building everything from nothing. On the bridge of

845
00:43:32,960 --> 00:43:36,880
the Prometheust, Sarah watched the reconstruction process with satisfaction. How

846
00:43:36,960 --> 00:43:41,239
many Council vessels have been restored, commanded horrors, all of

847
00:43:41,280 --> 00:43:45,280
them Admiral nine thousand, four hundred thirty seven ships, exactly

848
00:43:45,320 --> 00:43:47,960
as they were before the first battle. All crew members

849
00:43:47,960 --> 00:43:50,039
have been restored to life, with their memories intact up

850
00:43:50,039 --> 00:43:52,480
to the moment of their destruction, and the dvir or

851
00:43:52,559 --> 00:43:58,519
fleet completely neutralized. Fifty eight thousand, seven hundred twelve vessels

852
00:43:58,519 --> 00:44:02,440
destroyed or captured, no survivors, but we've extracted their entire

853
00:44:02,480 --> 00:44:07,039
database of consumed civilizations. The reconstruction protocols can restore every

854
00:44:07,079 --> 00:44:11,000
species save assimilated over the past thousand years. Sarah nodded

855
00:44:11,000 --> 00:44:15,000
with grim satisfaction signal the Council fleet tell them they

856
00:44:15,039 --> 00:44:18,840
can return to normal space. The threat has been eliminated.

857
00:44:19,119 --> 00:44:21,760
As the human feet emerged from dimensional space, they appeared

858
00:44:21,760 --> 00:44:25,079
around the remnants of the Divyra Armada, like avenging angels

859
00:44:25,079 --> 00:44:27,719
made of metal and light. The enemy ships that remain

860
00:44:27,800 --> 00:44:30,360
were dead hulks drifting in space, their adapt of technology

861
00:44:30,400 --> 00:44:34,079
permanently disabled. Admiral Chun came a transmission from the Council

862
00:44:34,119 --> 00:44:37,800
command station. This is speaker Velter on behalf of the

863
00:44:37,960 --> 00:44:40,880
entire Galactic Council. I we how do we even begin

864
00:44:40,960 --> 00:44:44,039
to thank you? Sarah's voice came back, calm and steady,

865
00:44:44,679 --> 00:44:47,679
No thanks necessary, speak of alter. We did what we

866
00:44:47,760 --> 00:44:51,480
came here to do. The galaxy is safe, but the reconstruction,

867
00:44:51,639 --> 00:44:53,840
the restoration of our lost ships and people. How such

868
00:44:53,880 --> 00:44:57,039
a thing possible? When you can manipulate matter and energy

869
00:44:57,079 --> 00:44:59,679
at the quantum level. Sarah replied, death becomes just another

870
00:44:59,719 --> 00:45:02,599
engine a nearing problem to solve. The human fleet began

871
00:45:02,679 --> 00:45:05,440
to form up for departure. At their mission complete, the

872
00:45:05,480 --> 00:45:08,360
crisis that had threatened to destroy galactic civilization had been

873
00:45:08,440 --> 00:45:11,480
ended in a single battle that most observers couldn't even see.

874
00:45:12,000 --> 00:45:16,719
Admiral called commandators all systems report mission successful. Ready to

875
00:45:16,760 --> 00:45:19,840
return to dimensional space for the journey home. Sarah looked

876
00:45:19,840 --> 00:45:21,960
out at the restored Council Fleet and the debris of

877
00:45:21,960 --> 00:45:26,000
the devir Ormada. Not yet, Commander, there is still one

878
00:45:26,000 --> 00:45:29,039
more thing we need to do. She activated the communication

879
00:45:29,119 --> 00:45:31,800
system one more time. This is Admiral Chunt to all

880
00:45:31,840 --> 00:45:34,920
Council vessels. He might want to gather your representatives for

881
00:45:34,960 --> 00:45:38,159
one final meeting. There are some things about galactic security

882
00:45:38,199 --> 00:45:41,119
that we need to discuss. The battle was over, but

883
00:45:41,199 --> 00:45:44,360
Sarah neither. The real conversation was just beginning. The galaxy

884
00:45:44,400 --> 00:45:46,679
had seen where humanity could you and fully committed to

885
00:45:46,679 --> 00:45:48,880
a fight. Now it was time to talk about what

886
00:45:48,960 --> 00:45:51,800
came next. One week after the Silent War, the Grand

887
00:45:51,840 --> 00:45:54,039
Assembly Hall looked different than it ever before. The same

888
00:45:54,079 --> 00:45:56,800
crystal Durham stretched overhead and the same cove seating arrangements

889
00:45:56,800 --> 00:45:59,920
held representatives from all forty seven member species. The atmosphere

890
00:46:00,079 --> 00:46:02,199
was completely changed, hought. Where once there had been casual

891
00:46:02,280 --> 00:46:04,719
chatter and easily aughter, ne there was respectful silence. Where

892
00:46:04,719 --> 00:46:07,360
delegates had once launched in the seats with comfortable arrogance,

893
00:46:07,400 --> 00:46:09,599
now this astraight with careful attention. Every eye in the

894
00:46:09,679 --> 00:46:12,159
hole was focused on the human section, where Admiral sorrow

895
00:46:12,199 --> 00:46:14,920
Chan sat quietly among her small delegations, speak of vertical

896
00:46:14,960 --> 00:46:17,199
the session to order with more formality than any one

897
00:46:17,199 --> 00:46:19,440
had ever seen from him. His forearms moved would preciss

898
00:46:19,480 --> 00:46:22,079
so many as he addressed the assembly Council members VLTA began.

899
00:46:22,199 --> 00:46:24,039
We gathered to day to discuss the new realities of

900
00:46:24,039 --> 00:46:26,639
galactic security following the defeat of the Davao, where Flour

901
00:46:26,719 --> 00:46:30,119
recognized as Admiral Sarah Chenovev. Sarah stood and walked to

902
00:46:30,159 --> 00:46:32,719
the center platform, just as she had done twice before

903
00:46:32,760 --> 00:46:35,760
in this same hall, But this time her footsteps echoed

904
00:46:35,760 --> 00:46:40,320
in complete silence. No one whispered, no one laughed, no

905
00:46:40,440 --> 00:46:42,360
one even seemed to breathe. As she took her position,

906
00:46:42,920 --> 00:46:46,199
honor delegates, Sarah began I want to start by addressing

907
00:46:46,280 --> 00:46:49,000
the questions that I know were on everyone's minds. How

908
00:46:49,039 --> 00:46:52,719
long has humanity possessed these capabilities? Why did we hide them?

909
00:46:53,320 --> 00:46:54,760
And what does this mean for the future of the

910
00:46:54,800 --> 00:46:58,760
Galactic Council. She paused and looked around the hall of

911
00:46:58,880 --> 00:47:02,199
faces that showed mixture of awe, failure, of gratitude, and uncertainty.

912
00:47:02,840 --> 00:47:05,800
To answer the first question, Sarah continued, humanity has been

913
00:47:05,840 --> 00:47:09,239
developing these technologies for over four hundred years. We began

914
00:47:09,360 --> 00:47:12,519
serious research into dimensional warfare and quantum in acalation shortly

915
00:47:12,559 --> 00:47:15,480
after we achieved faster than light travel. Admiral set a

916
00:47:15,519 --> 00:47:18,840
phrase to Wind to speak, Admiral chan, our records show

917
00:47:18,880 --> 00:47:21,519
that humanity achieved after L travel only sixty years ago.

918
00:47:22,119 --> 00:47:24,679
How is it possible that you've been researching these technologies

919
00:47:24,719 --> 00:47:29,199
for four centuries? Sarah nodded, having expected this question, because

920
00:47:29,280 --> 00:47:32,039
humanity achieved after L travel over five hundred years ago,

921
00:47:32,320 --> 00:47:35,280
not sixty. What you detected sixty years ago was our

922
00:47:35,320 --> 00:47:38,360
first contact mission to this galaxy. We have been exploring

923
00:47:38,400 --> 00:47:41,079
other galaxies for centuries before we ever made contact with

924
00:47:41,159 --> 00:47:44,280
the Council. The implications of the statement hit the assembly

925
00:47:44,440 --> 00:47:48,119
like a physical well. Several delegates stood up in shock.

926
00:47:48,880 --> 00:47:52,800
Others began talking rapidly to their neighbors. The Stellar Federation

927
00:47:52,920 --> 00:47:56,039
representatives clicked their legs so quickly as sounded like rattling metal.

928
00:47:56,480 --> 00:47:59,880
You've been watching us for centuries, as Ambassador look sorry,

929
00:48:00,000 --> 00:48:05,159
her light flickering with confusion and concern, not watching, Sarah corrected, protecting,

930
00:48:05,199 --> 00:48:08,440
there's a difference. We've been monitoring this galaxy for signs

931
00:48:08,440 --> 00:48:11,719
of threats that the local civilizations couldn't handle alone. The

932
00:48:11,800 --> 00:48:14,320
Divirers were exactly the kind of enemy we were prepared

933
00:48:14,320 --> 00:48:17,519
to face, while Marshal Krikxuck stood up as massive form,

934
00:48:17,559 --> 00:48:19,719
trembling with emotion. You let us struggle with our wars

935
00:48:19,800 --> 00:48:22,039
or conflicts, our turtorial disputes, while you are the power

936
00:48:22,039 --> 00:48:24,400
to stop all of its. Sorrow's expression became more serious.

937
00:48:24,440 --> 00:48:26,840
Marsha Krikseck, what you call struggles and conflicts, we call

938
00:48:26,920 --> 00:48:29,480
growth in learning. Every civilization must find its own pact

939
00:48:29,519 --> 00:48:31,760
to maturity. We intervene only when faced with thrust to

940
00:48:31,800 --> 00:48:35,760
existence itself. She activated her data pad, and holographic displays

941
00:48:35,800 --> 00:48:38,440
filled the air above the platform, But these images were

942
00:48:38,480 --> 00:48:41,159
different from anything she had shown before. They showed a

943
00:48:41,239 --> 00:48:44,360
vast network of galaxies connected by streams of light. This

944
00:48:44,559 --> 00:48:48,000
is the reality of human civilization, Sarah explained. We are

945
00:48:48,079 --> 00:48:51,559
present in over three hundred galaxies, We monitor thousands of

946
00:48:51,599 --> 00:48:55,199
developing civilizations, and we have faced and defeated dozens of

947
00:48:55,239 --> 00:48:58,400
extinction level threats over the past millennium. The scale of

948
00:48:58,480 --> 00:49:02,039
what she was describing was beyond hening the Council had imagined.

949
00:49:02,639 --> 00:49:04,599
They had thought of themselves as one of the great

950
00:49:04,599 --> 00:49:07,880
civilizations of the universe. Now they were learning that they

951
00:49:07,920 --> 00:49:10,360
were essentially children being watched over by adults they had

952
00:49:10,400 --> 00:49:13,960
never known existed. The second question, Sarah continued, is why

953
00:49:14,039 --> 00:49:17,400
we hit our capabilities. The answer is simple, because we

954
00:49:17,519 --> 00:49:20,400
learned long ago that revealing overwhelming power too early prevents

955
00:49:20,400 --> 00:49:24,159
civilizations from developing their own strength. Senator Thalks from the

956
00:49:24,199 --> 00:49:27,000
Krillian empouse poke up has scaled, showing deep blue colors.

957
00:49:27,039 --> 00:49:29,440
That meant serious thought. You were saying that if he

958
00:49:29,480 --> 00:49:32,119
had revealed your true capabilities from the beginning, we would

959
00:49:32,119 --> 00:49:34,840
have become dependent on you. It's debt of growing on

960
00:49:35,000 --> 00:49:39,000
our own exactly, Sarah confirmed. Look at what this council

961
00:49:39,000 --> 00:49:42,280
has accomplished. You've created in the lines between dozens of

962
00:49:42,320 --> 00:49:46,440
species with completely different biologies, cultures, and beliefs. You be

963
00:49:46,480 --> 00:49:51,119
sadest trade networks, diplomatic protocols, and mutual defense agreements. You

964
00:49:51,239 --> 00:49:53,800
did all of this yourselves, for your own efforts and wisdom.

965
00:49:54,400 --> 00:49:57,719
She gestured toward the assembled delegates. If we had arrived

966
00:49:57,719 --> 00:50:00,440
five years ago with our full capabilities revealed, would you

967
00:50:00,519 --> 00:50:03,440
have worked so hard to build these relationships? Would you

968
00:50:03,519 --> 00:50:06,679
have developed your own technologies and strategies. What would you

969
00:50:06,719 --> 00:50:08,800
have simply asked the powerful humans to solve all your

970
00:50:08,840 --> 00:50:11,440
problems for you? The question hung in the air like

971
00:50:11,480 --> 00:50:15,639
a challenge. Around the whole delegates began to understand what

972
00:50:15,800 --> 00:50:19,079
Sarah was really saying. Humanity had hidden their strength, not

973
00:50:19,119 --> 00:50:21,280
out of deception, but out of respect for the potential

974
00:50:21,320 --> 00:50:24,559
of others. But surely, said Commander's Epha, there were times

975
00:50:24,559 --> 00:50:27,639
when revealing your power could have prevented suffering. Wars could

976
00:50:27,639 --> 00:50:31,639
have been sopped, lives could have been saved. Sarah's expression

977
00:50:31,639 --> 00:50:35,000
became sad and distant. Commander. That is the most difficult

978
00:50:35,000 --> 00:50:38,280
part of being a guardian civilization. We have watched conflicts

979
00:50:38,280 --> 00:50:40,599
that we could have ended in minutes. We have seen

980
00:50:40,639 --> 00:50:42,800
suffering that we could have prevented with a single ship.

981
00:50:43,519 --> 00:50:46,480
But we have also learned the civilizations which never faced challenges,

982
00:50:46,519 --> 00:50:50,039
never developed the wisdom to handle power responsibly. The holographic

983
00:50:50,079 --> 00:50:54,400
display changed to show historical images from various Council species, wars,

984
00:50:54,519 --> 00:50:58,920
natural disasters, political upheavals, and technological breakthroughs, moments of struggle

985
00:50:58,960 --> 00:51:01,519
and moments of triumph. Every species in this whole is

986
00:51:01,599 --> 00:51:05,079
phase moments that seemed hopeless. Sarah continued, the fourth and

987
00:51:05,119 --> 00:51:08,320
Civil war that lasted three centuries, the Crillian plague that

988
00:51:08,440 --> 00:51:11,639
killed half your population, the Etherian schism that splad your

989
00:51:11,639 --> 00:51:15,199
people into opposing factions. He survived all of these challenges

990
00:51:15,239 --> 00:51:18,519
and became stronger because of them. At Mozart nodded slowly,

991
00:51:18,639 --> 00:51:22,320
a silver feathers rustling with understanding. And if you had intervened,

992
00:51:22,519 --> 00:51:25,880
we would never have learned to overcome our own problems. Precisely,

993
00:51:26,079 --> 00:51:29,440
Sarah replied, the strength of a civilization is not measured

994
00:51:29,440 --> 00:51:32,199
by its weapons or technology. It is measured by its

995
00:51:32,239 --> 00:51:35,599
ability to face adversity and emerge stronger. The Council has

996
00:51:35,639 --> 00:51:38,840
proven its strength many times over. Speak of Elt raised

997
00:51:38,880 --> 00:51:41,679
a hand for attention. Admiral Chrand. This brings us to

998
00:51:41,760 --> 00:51:44,199
the third question, What does this mean for the future

999
00:51:44,199 --> 00:51:47,199
of the Council? Will humanity now take over our defense?

1000
00:51:47,960 --> 00:51:50,840
Will we become a protectorate of Earth? Sarah shook her

1001
00:51:50,840 --> 00:51:55,280
head firmly. Absolutely not. The Galactic Council will continue to

1002
00:51:55,360 --> 00:51:59,440
operate exactly as it has. You will defend yourselves, govern yourselves,

1003
00:51:59,519 --> 00:52:02,119
and make your our own decisions about your future, as

1004
00:52:02,199 --> 00:52:04,679
will not interfere in your internal affairs or impose our

1005
00:52:04,679 --> 00:52:08,239
will onnest civilizations. But what about threats like the Diviers,

1006
00:52:08,960 --> 00:52:11,920
ask war Marshall Crisik, How do we know when we're

1007
00:52:12,000 --> 00:52:15,960
facing something beyond our capabilities? You'll know, Sarah replied with

1008
00:52:16,039 --> 00:52:18,960
a slight smile, And when that time comes, we'll be here.

1009
00:52:19,639 --> 00:52:22,400
Think of humanity as a backup system, with the safety

1010
00:52:22,480 --> 00:52:24,239
net that catches you when you fall from heights you

1011
00:52:24,239 --> 00:52:27,639
couldn't have imagined climbing. The hall fell into thoughtful silence

1012
00:52:27,679 --> 00:52:30,559
as the delegate absorbed this information. They were learning that

1013
00:52:30,639 --> 00:52:33,119
their place in the universe was both smaller and larger

1014
00:52:33,159 --> 00:52:35,519
than they had thought. Swallowed because they were part of

1015
00:52:35,559 --> 00:52:38,480
a vast community of civilizations they had never known existed,

1016
00:52:39,199 --> 00:52:41,840
Larger because they had proven themselves worthy of protection and

1017
00:52:41,920 --> 00:52:45,519
respect from beings with godlike power. Ambassador look Sorrow floated

1018
00:52:45,599 --> 00:52:49,000
higher than usual as she spoke. Admiral chan may I

1019
00:52:49,159 --> 00:52:51,480
ask about the restored shipsend and the people who were

1020
00:52:51,480 --> 00:52:54,280
brought back to life. How was such a thing possible?

1021
00:52:55,000 --> 00:52:58,800
Sarah's expression became more technical. She explained, when you understand

1022
00:52:58,880 --> 00:53:01,239
matter and energy at the CONTI, death is simply a

1023
00:53:01,360 --> 00:53:04,440
change of state. Every atom in a person's body retains

1024
00:53:04,519 --> 00:53:08,360
quantum and prints of his previous configurations. With sufficient technology,

1025
00:53:08,400 --> 00:53:11,320
those imprints can be read and restored, but their memories,

1026
00:53:11,440 --> 00:53:16,039
their personalities started. Senator Thlex, consciousness exists in quantum patterns

1027
00:53:16,079 --> 00:53:20,400
that persist even after biological death, Sarah continued, Those patterns

1028
00:53:20,440 --> 00:53:23,719
can be recovered and reconstructed. The people we restored are

1029
00:53:23,760 --> 00:53:25,960
exactly who they were before, with all their memories and

1030
00:53:26,039 --> 00:53:30,639
experiences intact. The implications were staggering. If humanity could bring

1031
00:53:30,719 --> 00:53:34,119
back the dead, if they could rebuild entire civilizations from nothing,

1032
00:53:34,239 --> 00:53:36,599
what else could they do? What other powers were they

1033
00:53:36,679 --> 00:53:39,840
keeping hidden? As if reading their thoughts, Sarah addressed their

1034
00:53:39,880 --> 00:53:43,480
unspoken concerns. I know what you are thinking. If we

1035
00:53:43,519 --> 00:53:45,400
can do all of this, what else are we hiding?

1036
00:53:46,039 --> 00:53:49,199
What other capabilities do we possess. The answer is that

1037
00:53:49,280 --> 00:53:52,199
our technological abilities are limited on the by our imagination

1038
00:53:52,320 --> 00:53:55,159
and our sense of responsibility. She walked to the edge

1039
00:53:55,199 --> 00:53:57,480
of the platform and looked out at the assembled delegates.

1040
00:53:58,159 --> 00:54:00,280
We could re shape this galaxy according to our designs.

1041
00:54:00,880 --> 00:54:03,480
We could eliminate poverty, disease, in conflict with a few

1042
00:54:03,519 --> 00:54:06,480
simple commands. We could make every world of paradise and

1043
00:54:06,599 --> 00:54:09,679
every species a model. But we don't because we understand

1044
00:54:09,719 --> 00:54:12,280
something that took us thousands of years to learn. The

1045
00:54:12,360 --> 00:54:15,920
hall was completely silent as everyone waited for her to continue.

1046
00:54:16,519 --> 00:54:19,119
The most important power, Sarah said, quietly, is the power

1047
00:54:19,199 --> 00:54:22,000
to choose not to use your power. True strength is

1048
00:54:22,079 --> 00:54:24,079
not in the ability to control others, but in the

1049
00:54:24,119 --> 00:54:27,400
wisdom to let them control themselves or Marshall quis Ex

1050
00:54:27,400 --> 00:54:29,639
stowed up again, but this time his posture was one

1051
00:54:29,679 --> 00:54:32,960
of respect rather than challenge. Admiral Chan, I owe you

1052
00:54:33,000 --> 00:54:35,320
an apology. Three months ago I marked your people if

1053
00:54:35,320 --> 00:54:37,599
primitive and weak. I see now that you allowed us

1054
00:54:37,599 --> 00:54:39,519
to believe that because it served the greater purpose. No

1055
00:54:39,639 --> 00:54:43,960
apology needed, Marshal Sarah replied, your reaction was exactly what

1056
00:54:44,079 --> 00:54:46,079
we expected and hoped for. It proved that you were

1057
00:54:46,119 --> 00:54:48,880
thinking independently and making your own judgments. That's the sign

1058
00:54:48,920 --> 00:54:51,880
of a healthy civilization. Speak of Velter stood up and

1059
00:54:51,920 --> 00:54:54,800
addressed the Assembly. I believe I speak for the entire

1060
00:54:54,840 --> 00:54:56,800
Council when I say that we are grateful beyond words

1061
00:54:56,840 --> 00:54:59,719
for humanity's protection. But I must ask the question that

1062
00:54:59,800 --> 00:55:02,840
is on every one's mind. What happens now? How do

1063
00:55:02,960 --> 00:55:06,159
we move forward with this new understanding? Sarah smiled for

1064
00:55:06,239 --> 00:55:09,079
the first time since entering the Hall. You move forward

1065
00:55:09,159 --> 00:55:12,199
exactly as you have been. You continue to build your alliance,

1066
00:55:12,280 --> 00:55:15,320
to develop your technologies and solve your problems. The only

1067
00:55:15,400 --> 00:55:17,039
difference is that you now know you're not alone in

1068
00:55:17,119 --> 00:55:20,480
the universe. She activated her data had one final time.

1069
00:55:21,039 --> 00:55:23,519
The holographic display showed the human fleet, but now it

1070
00:55:23,639 --> 00:55:26,559
was dispersed throughout the galaxy, single ship stationed at the

1071
00:55:26,599 --> 00:55:30,719
edges of Council space, watching and waiting. Humanity will maintain

1072
00:55:30,760 --> 00:55:34,280
a small monitoring prisons in this galaxy, Sarah explained, not

1073
00:55:34,400 --> 00:55:36,480
to control or interfere, but to watch for threats that

1074
00:55:36,599 --> 00:55:39,599
might beyond your current capabilities. Think of us as your

1075
00:55:39,639 --> 00:55:43,000
galactic immune system. Most of the time you'll never know

1076
00:55:43,159 --> 00:55:47,239
where there. But when something truly dangerous appears, well you ready.

1077
00:55:47,800 --> 00:55:50,119
And if we need help of smaller problems as commanders

1078
00:55:50,199 --> 00:55:56,239
after border disputes, trade conflicts, resource shortages, those are your

1079
00:55:56,320 --> 00:55:59,920
problems to solve, Sarah replied, firmly but kindly. We'll provide

1080
00:56:00,039 --> 00:56:04,000
devisive asked, but only if asked. The strength you've built

1081
00:56:04,039 --> 00:56:07,519
over censuris comes from facing challenges yourselves. We won't take

1082
00:56:07,559 --> 00:56:10,320
that away from you by solving every minor difficulty it

1083
00:56:10,400 --> 00:56:13,800
most has raised away. What about the technologies you've shown us,

1084
00:56:14,559 --> 00:56:17,880
Will we ever have access to dimensional warfare and quantum manipulation?

1085
00:56:18,639 --> 00:56:21,880
Sarah considered this carefully before answering. Some technologies will be

1086
00:56:21,920 --> 00:56:24,480
shared when you're ready for them, others may never be

1087
00:56:24,559 --> 00:56:27,639
shared because they're too dangerous for any single civilization to possess,

1088
00:56:28,440 --> 00:56:31,320
and some you'll develop on your own, probably in ways

1089
00:56:31,360 --> 00:56:34,039
we never thought of. She paused and looked around the

1090
00:56:34,079 --> 00:56:36,000
hole again. But I will say this, A fact that

1091
00:56:36,079 --> 00:56:39,119
you're asking these questions instead of demanding these technologies tells

1092
00:56:39,159 --> 00:56:40,920
me that you're already in the right path to handling

1093
00:56:40,960 --> 00:56:44,320
them responsibly. The session continued for several more hours as

1094
00:56:44,360 --> 00:56:48,000
delegates as detailed questions about galactic security, human capabilities, and

1095
00:56:48,079 --> 00:56:51,880
future corporation, but the most important points had already been established.

1096
00:56:52,599 --> 00:56:55,639
Humanity would protect, but not control. They would watch but

1097
00:56:55,760 --> 00:56:58,719
not interfere. They would help but not replace the efforts

1098
00:56:58,719 --> 00:57:01,880
of others. The meeting drut are close speak of VELTI

1099
00:57:01,880 --> 00:57:04,960
made a formal announcement. The Galactic Council hereby recognizes the

1100
00:57:05,000 --> 00:57:07,440
Earth Strategic Defense Fleet as the primary peace keeping force

1101
00:57:07,519 --> 00:57:10,719
for Thrits. Beyond our current capabilities. We also establish Humanity

1102
00:57:10,719 --> 00:57:13,280
as our guardian civilization, with the understanding that this role

1103
00:57:13,360 --> 00:57:17,440
comes with great responsibility in greater restraint. Sarah nodded formally,

1104
00:57:17,599 --> 00:57:21,320
Earth accepts this responsibility. We pliged this galaxy and its civilizations,

1105
00:57:21,559 --> 00:57:23,920
while respecting their right to grow and develop according to

1106
00:57:23,960 --> 00:57:26,239
their own choices. As the delegates began to fill out

1107
00:57:26,280 --> 00:57:28,480
of the hall, the atmosphere was one of quite satisfaction

1108
00:57:28,599 --> 00:57:30,199
mixed with all. They had learned that they were part

1109
00:57:30,239 --> 00:57:32,440
of something much larger than they had ever imagined. But

1110
00:57:32,480 --> 00:57:34,519
they could also learned that they were valued and respective

1111
00:57:34,519 --> 00:57:37,719
members of a community that spanned multiple galaxies. While Marsha

1112
00:57:37,760 --> 00:57:41,679
Kruskipproch Sarah, she gathered materials. Admiral Chan have one final question.

1113
00:57:41,840 --> 00:57:44,559
When you first presented your military capabilities three months ago,

1114
00:57:44,719 --> 00:57:46,760
did you know then that the diviers were coming? Sarah

1115
00:57:46,760 --> 00:57:48,679
looked at the massive zephy end with an expression that

1116
00:57:48,800 --> 00:57:51,599
might have been amused. Marshall, We've been tracking the divirus

1117
00:57:51,679 --> 00:57:55,480
for over fifty years. We knew exactly when they would

1118
00:57:55,559 --> 00:57:57,480
arrive in exactly what it would take to defeat. The

1119
00:57:57,599 --> 00:58:00,079
only question was whether this galaxy civilizations were war or

1120
00:58:00,119 --> 00:58:03,760
its saving. In your conclusion, Sir smiled as she looked

1121
00:58:03,760 --> 00:58:06,840
around the nearly empty hall, the galactic cancel is one

1122
00:58:06,880 --> 00:58:10,559
of the most remarkable political achievements we've encountered in three

1123
00:58:10,639 --> 00:58:14,119
centuries of exploration. Species with completely different biologies and cultures

1124
00:58:14,159 --> 00:58:17,079
working together for the common good. It was definitely worth saving.

1125
00:58:17,679 --> 00:58:20,199
As the last delegates left the hall, Sarah stoed alone

1126
00:58:20,199 --> 00:58:22,280
in the platform where she had been mocked just months earlier.

1127
00:58:22,920 --> 00:58:25,159
The beings who have laughed at human primitive weapons now

1128
00:58:25,239 --> 00:58:28,280
understood that humanity's greatest weapon had never been the technology.

1129
00:58:28,880 --> 00:58:31,440
It had been their wisdom to use that technology responsibly.

1130
00:58:32,039 --> 00:58:34,800
The galaxy was safe not because humanity was strong, but

1131
00:58:34,880 --> 00:58:36,719
because they were wise enough to know when and how

1132
00:58:36,760 --> 00:58:39,800
to use their strength, and in the dark spaces between stars,

1133
00:58:39,880 --> 00:58:43,199
fifty ships continued a silent patrol, watching over civilizations that

1134
00:58:43,239 --> 00:58:45,119
were free to grow and develop because someone else was

1135
00:58:45,119 --> 00:58:48,840
strong enough to let them. And that is the end.

1136
00:58:49,480 --> 00:58:51,159
Thank you for listening, and I will see you in

1137
00:58:51,199 --> 00:59:00,880
the next one. S