Speaker 1: Hello, I'm welcomed stories all the time. Glad you are here.
Let's get into it. The massive crystal dome of the
Grand Assembly Hall stretched tie above the heads of hundreds
of alien beings. Light from three different suns filtered through
the transparent walls, casting strange colors across the floor. Representatives
from forty seven different worlds satin curved rows, each species
in their own special section designed for their unique needs.
Admiral Sarah chanstood at the center of the hall, looking
very small compared to the giant creatures around her headat
blue uniform looked plain next to the bright robes and
gleamy armor worn by the other military leaders. In her hands,
she held a simple data path that contained Earth's military rapport.
The human section was near the back of the hall.
Only twelve humans had been allowed to attend this meeting.
They sat quietly, trying not to draw attention to themselves.
Earth had joined the Galactic Council just five years ago,
and they were still considered the new kids who did
not really belong the floor, recognized as the human representatives.
An ounce speaker velter at all being with blue skin
and four arms. His voice echoed through the hall with
a tone that suggested he found this whole thing born.
Sara walked to the speaking platform in the center. As
she moved, she could hear whispers and small laughs from
the alien sections. She had heard these sounds before during
the past five years. They always made the same jokes
about humans. Honorable members of the Council. Sarah began her voice,
clear and steady. I present Earth's annual military capability report.
She pressed a button on her data pad, and holographic
images appeared in the air above her head. The first
image showed Earth's orbital defense stations. They looked like simple
metal rings around the planet. Nothing fancy or impressive. From
the Zephyrine section came a loud snort. War Marshall Kruksack
was a huge creature that looked like a cross between
a rhinoceros and a praying manti's. His species had conquered
twelve star systems and were known for their powerful weapons
and aggressive tactics chemical rockets and metal stations, krik Suck
said loudly enough for every one to hear. How quaint
did they still use gunpowder too? Blufter rippled through several
sections of the hull, the Etherians, who looked like floating
jellyfish made of light poles with colors that their translated
said men to amusemen, the Vorthact delegation burned like creatures
with silver feathers, clicked their beaks, and what passed for
chuckling among their kind. Dot Serah continued, without sure in
any reaction to the mockery. The next hologram should Earth's
fleet of warships. There were about two hundred vessels of
various sizes, dead clean, simple designs with no fancy decorations
or glowing parts like the ships of other species. Our
fleet consists of two hundred thirty seven vessels, Sarah reported.
They are equipped with kinetic weapons, electromagnetic pulse systems, and
nuclear deterrens. This time the laughter was louder. Senator Thalecs
from the Cryllian Empire or Reptilian being with scales that
changed color with his mood turned bright orange, which meant
he found something very funny. Nuclear weapons dialectsist? Did someone
say nuclear weapons? What's next? Were they going to throw
rocks at their enemies? Maybe they use slingshots for long
range attacks, added commanders Ether from the Hedge. Many worlds.
The species looked like walking trees with too many eyes.
The Vorthic delegations started making shittering sounds that their translators
called extreme amusement. Their leader, Admiral Sectorth, spread his silver
wings wide as he spoke. Forgive me, humans said in
a voice like wind through metal. But your weapons technology
seems to be several thousand years behind the rest of
the galaxy. Kinetic weapons. We stopped using those before we
invented faster than light travel. Sarah nodded politely and continued
her presentation. She showed images of Earth's ground forces, their aircraft,
and their defensive systems. Everything looked basic and simple compared
to what other species had shown in previous years. The
Zephrians had plasmic canons that could melt through any known material.
The Etherians had energy weapons that couldure part matter at
the atomic level. The Cryllians used something called quantum disruptors
that could make enemy ships simply disappear. Even the smaller
species had weapons that seemed like magic compared to human technology.
Are ground for his number approximately fifty million active pers
Nelsayer continued. They aircult with predictable weapons, armored vehicles, and
conventional explosives. While Marshall Creeks had stood up from his seat,
his massive form casting a shadow over several rows of delegates.
This is ridiculous, he bellowed. Why are we wasting time
listening to this? Their entire military could not defeat a
single one of a patrol ships. Murmurs of agreement came
from around the hall. The Hegemony delegates were making gestures
that meant they thought this was all very silly. The
Stellar Federation representatives, who looked like metallic spiders, were clicking
their legs together in patterns that their translators set meant
waste of time. Speakervelta raised one of his four hands
for quiet, but his expression showed that he agreed with Krizik.
Please continue, Admiral Chan, I'm sure the Council is interested
in hearing about your defensive capabilities. The way he said
interest had made it clear that nobody was actually interested
at all. Sarah could see beings in the audience checking
their personal devices, having quite conversations, were simply staring off
into space. Shared the final set of images from her
data pad. These were pictures of Earth's base monitoring systems
and early warning networks. They looked like simple metal dishes
and basic computer systems. Our defensive strategy relies on early
detection and coordinated response. Sarah explained, we maintain monitoring stations
throughout our system and have established communication networks with neighboring systems.
This brought another wave of laughter. Admiral Sective flapped as wings.
Then what was definitely mockery among his people. Early Warning
Systems Sector squawked, what do you do when you detect
an enemy? Send them a strongly worded message asking them
to go away? The etherory and delegation poles with prye colors.
That meant they found this hilarious. One of them, Ambassador
Luk Sorer, floated higher than the others as she spoke.
Perhaps they planted to feed their enemies with politeness, Looksari said,
in a voice like singing crystals. For maybe they will
bore them to death with talks about peace and cooperation.
Even some of the usually serious delegates started laughing at this.
The quantum collective beings made of pure energy, contained and
mechanical bodies, actually made sounds that their translators called electronic gigling.
Sarah finished her presentation and w back toward the speaking
platform's edged. As she did, she could hear more comments
from the audience. Fifty million soldiers with metal weapons. Some
unhispered loudly. My Olmo's police force could handle that. I
heard these dolphive wars in the surface of planets. Came
another vose. Instead of just destroying the planets from space
like civilized people, primitive doesn't even begin to describe it,
added a third speaker, while Marshall crookxx stood up again
as time to address the entire assembly, I moved that
week excuse of the humans from future military presentations. He announced, clearly,
they have nothing to contribute to our collective defense. Perhaps
they could focus on growing food or making simple tools
for the more advanced species. The suggestion brought the Laddice laughter,
yet several delegates applauded the idea. At the crilliant sections
started at chanting something that the translator said meant back
to the caves. Speakervelterer looked at Sarah with an expression
that might have been petty, Admiral Chun, does earth of
anything else to her to this presentation, Any dot dot
dot hidden capabilities we should know about? Sarah so quietly
for a moment, looking out at the sea of alia vaces.
Some were still laughing, others had already gone back to
their personal conversations or devices. A few were looking at
her with something that might have been sympathy, but most
just seam bored or amused. No. Honored speaker Theras said, finally,
this complete Sart's military capability report. Very well, Falter reply,
the Council thanks for its thorough presentation. Next we will
hear from the Stellar Federation about their new quantum torpedo technology.
As Sir walked back to the human section, the hell
felled with excited chatter about the Stellar Federation's presentation. Nobody
was talking about Deroth anymore. They had already moved on
to more interesting topics. Of the human delegates at and
uncomfortable silence as the Stellar Federation representative, a mechanical spider
the size of a small car, demonstrated holographic images of
weapons that could destroy entire means. The technology was so
advanced that even the other species seemed depressed. Remarkable Predembacador
Sorror from the Etherean delegation, the precision is extraordinary. Indeed,
Greed Admiral sect such weapons would be invaluable in our
ongoing border dispute with the Vodzukus. Sir took her seat
among the other humans and quietly put away her data.
Pat around her, the odd human delegates looked embarrassed and frustrated.
Colonel Martinez, sitting to left, leaned over and whispered annually,
they are treating us like children with test soldiers. He
so quietly let them so reply, her voice so low
that only Martinez could hear. Sometimes it's better when people
underestimate at the presentation continued with more demonstrations of advanced
alien technology, planet cracking bombs, ships that could travel through dimensions,
that could stop time itself in small areas. Teaching the
capability brought guests of admiration from the audience. When the
Stellar Federation finished, wore Marsha Crixux stood up again. Now
this is what real military power looks like, he declared,
not like the primitive toys we saw. Alo more laughter
felled the ull. Sarah noticed that some of the smaller
species were joining in now, probably hoping to gain favor
of the more powerful members of the council. Perhaps we
should establish a special category for developing walls suggested Senator
th Alex, somewhere they can play with their simple weapons
without embarrassing themselves in front of the grow nuts. The
suggestion was met with a disastic approval from most of
the delegates. Sarah watched a species after species nodded their agreement.
Even some of the humans looked like they wanted to
sink through the floor and share and speak of valtaicult
for order again, we will consider all suggestions for improving
future presentations, he announced. For now, let us move on
to the next item on our agenda. As the meeting continued,
Sarah so quietly and listened to more discussions about military
technology and defensive strategists. Nobody asked for human but nobody
seemed to remember that Earth was even part of the Council.
But Sarah remembered something that none of these laughing superior
beans new. She remembered the real reason why Earth had
joined the galact To Council five years ago, and she
remembered what was hidden in the dark spaces between stars,
waiting patiently for the day when it might be needed.
For now, though she was content to let them laugh.
Three months had passed since the humiliating presentation at the
Grand Assembly Hall live continued as normal throughout the galaxy.
Trade ships moved between stars systems, diplomatic meetings were held
on schedule, and the various species went about their daily
business without much worried. Admiral Sarah Chamber was in her
office on the Human Embassy station orbitting the Council Homeold
when the first alarm sounded. It was a soft beeping
sun that meant someone was calling her on the emergency
communication line. She pressed a button on her desk and
the face of Commander Wales appeared on her screen. Admiral,
we're getting reports from the air to monitoring stations, well said,
his voice, tight with concern. Long range senses are picking
up something bit moving toward the galaxy's cour systems. Sairy
sat up straighter in her chair to how big and
known man. The readings are ark unusual. Whatever it is
is massive and it's moving fast. To the Voak were
the first to detect it. They're calling an emergency counceled session.
Sarah nodigrumly Albeda in and ire the Grand Assembly holl loud.
Very different during an emergency session, instead of the casual
atmosphere of a regular meeting. There was tension in the
yet delegates hurry to their seats, speaking in urgent whispers.
The usual jokes and laughter were nowhere to be heard,
speak of. Vetter called the session to order, with all
four of his hands raised high. Cancil members, we face
a situation that requires media attention. Admir Or Sector that
the vote. The will present the findings. The silver feathered
bird like being flew to the center of the hull,
his wing spread wide with worried As he landed in
the speaking platform, holographic displays filled the air above him.
Three days ago, our deep space monitoring stations detected a
massive fleet approaching from the void between galaxies. Sectorth announced initials.
Scan suggests over fifty thousand vessels of unown design. Gasps
and shot murmurs filled the hall. Even the usually Cometherians
began pulsing with colors that meant alarm and fear. The
holographic display shows star shots with a red arrow pointing
toward the galaxies center. The arrow was enormous, suggesting something
much larger than any fleet anyone had ever seen. We
have identified the threat. Sector continued, his voice becoming even
more serious. The hour of virus. The name had the
assembly like a physical bloat. Several delegates stood up in
shark Others began talking frantically to their neighbors. The Divirus
were spoken of in whispers throughout the galaxy. They were
a legend, the nightmare story told to friday Nen beings
or Marshal crooksp from the Zephyran delegation stood up, his
massive form, trembling with what might have been fair? Are
you certain the Divirus are just stores all tailors meant
to scare children? I'm afraid, not sected or replied. We
have confirmed their identity through analysis of their ship designs
and movement patterns. The match historical records from the seventeen
star systems. They have already consumed. The hell rapted teen
Panet voices to the mechanical beings of the Stellar Federation
were collecking their legs serrapolates andded like machine gun fire.
The Hedgeminy delegates were making high pitched sounds that their
translators called extreme distress speak of veutther. How to use
an amplified voice to restore order of silence. We must
remain calm and work together to address this threat. Ambassador
sorrow from the ethery and delegation floated higher than usual,
light form pulsing with rapid color changes. What do we
know about their capabilities? Of how long do we have?
Admiral sect manipulated a holographic display to show more detailed
information based on the current speed and trajectory, they will
reach the outer Council worlds in approximately six weeks. Just
for the capabilities, he posed, his feathers rustling with anxiety.
They are unlike anything we have phased before. The display
changed to show images recovered from the last systems to
encounter the devirus. What the Council members saw made many
of them with They hadn't looked at the Vayuo's shirts
were dark, annual things that seemed to absorblied rather than reflected.
They moved in perfect formation, like parts of a single
massive organism. But most terrifying of all were the planets
they left behind, where once they have been driving wells
full of life. Now though we're only empty hask strained
of everything useful. They don't just conquer Secteth explained, they
consume every bit of metal, every drop of water, every
living thing. They strip. Planets stand about, rock and then
they move on to the next system. Senator Thoalits from
the curllant empos the first to speak after the horrifying
images disappeared. His skills had turned a deep purple color
that men series fear among his people. What is our
combined military strength compared to their, as Thylux asked, are
a total fee strength across all counds of members is
approximately twelve thousand versels? Secteth replied, they have fifty thousand,
But numbers alone don't tell the whole story. The technology
appears to be dot dot dot adapt of What does
that mean to manded commanders ephy from the hedge many worlds?
That means they'll learn from every attack, Sectoth explained. Historical
records showed that weapons which work against them initially becoming useless.
After a few battles, they adapt their defenses in real time.
The implications of this sank, and slowly the assembled delegates
began to understand that they weren't just at numbered, They
or facing an enemy that could evolve faster than they
could change tactics. While Marshall Kruksok stirred up again, this
time without any of his usual arrogance. We must mobilize imediately,
every ship, every weapon, every soldier. This is a fight
for the survival of our civilization. The greed said, umbased,
dilic sorrow. The Ethery and Collective will commit our entire
fleet to the defense. F One by one, the major
military powers of the galaxy pledge to forces. The Vote
Act would provide their advanced reconnoissance ships and tactical expertise.
The Crillions would bring their quantum diswraptors and heavily solve vessels.
The Stello Federation offered their planet cracking to repeat us
and shield technology. Even the smallest pieces promised to contribute
what they could. The Quantum Collective would provide their energy weapons.
The Hedgemany Worlds would supplied the massive carrier ships filled
with fider craft dot as each pieces made their commitment.
As we gradually turned to the human section, Sir Chan
had been sitting quietly, listening to the discussions without saying word. Finally,
Speaker Velter addressed her directly. Admiral Chan, while can Earth
contribute to the defense effort? Sarah stirred up slowly. Around her,
she could feel the mixture of hope and doubt from
the other delegates. They needed every ship they could get,
but nobody expected much from the human's Earth will commit
our entire fleet, so set simply two hundred and thirty
seven vessels orted in our last military assessment. There was
a moment of awkward silence. Everyone remembered the primitive weapons
and simple technology that atha show in just three months ago.
Two hundred ships with kinetic weapons wouldn't make much difference
against fifty auzend advanced deel in vessels. Dot War Marshall
Crooks had tried to be diplomatic. Every contribution is valuable,
Admiral Chan, your ships can support the main battle lines,
will take the reguard positions, added senateor thalics his skills
showing the color pattern for polite dismissal. Keep the humans
safe while the real military forces engaged enemy. Sarah nodded
without any sign of offense, as you wish, that's forces
will take whatever position the Council deems appropriate. The emergency
session continued for several more ayos as military leaders worked
out logistics in battle plans. The strategy was simple, meet
the di virus at the edge of Council space with
overwhelming force and tried to stop them before they reached
any populated systems. The greatest military minds in the galaxy
work together on the plan. Admiral Setov would coordinate reconnaissance
and early warning, while Marshal Kriksacker would lead the main
assault forces to the Etherians would provide long range energy bombardment,
while the Stellar Federation ships used the quantum weapons to
punch through enemy lines. Human forces were assigned to protect
supply lines and evacuate civilians if the main battle went badly.
Nobody said it at loud, but everyone understood that the
humans were being kept out of the real fighting for
their own safety. Two weeks later, the Combined Council Fleet
assembled and the Helix Nebula just outside the galaxy's main
spiral arm. It was the largest gathering of military forces
in galactic history, twelve thousand ships from forty seven different species,
all working together against the common threat. Admiral Sarah chanstood
on the bridge of their flagship, simple vessel called the
Terran Nurba, through the main view that she could see
the vast Ariovlia worships spread out across based. Massive Crillian
dreatnots bristled with quantum weapons Elicandteraian ships glowed with contained energy.
The mechanical precision of Stellar Federation vessels was obvious even
from a distance. Compared to these marvels of technology, the
human ships look like ancient relics. The simple metal hulls
and basic weapon systems seemed almost primitive in comparison. Admiral
cold woultenant power from a communication station were receiving the
final battle planned from Cancel Command. Human forces are to
remain in sect to seven in a seven, approximately fifty
thousand kilometers behind the main battle line. Sarah nodded a
canowledge signal all Earth vessels to take position as ordered.
As the human fleet moved to their assigned position, Sarah
watched the airline forces prepare for battle. She had to
admit they were in press. If the coordination between different
species was remarkable, the sheer fireport they could bring to
bear with staggering us. Sarah also remembered something at else,
Shiakov's files that contained the real history of humanity's expansion
into space. Files had told a very different story about
human military capabilities. For now that those files would remain secret,
Earth would play the role assigned to them by the Council.
They would be the primitive species with simple weapons, staying
safely in the rear while they advanced civilizations fought the
real war. The first contact with Devirus scouts came three
days later. Lawn range sensors detected small groups of enemy
ships probing the edges of the Council formation. Admiral sectors
dispatch for the g Recunnissance vessels to investigate. The reports
that came back were troubling. The Deviraus ships moved in
ways that seemed to ignore the normal laws of physics.
They could accelerate and tend faster than should have been possible.
The house absorbed sense of scans, making it difficult to
get accurate readings on their capabilities. They are testing us,
reported Admural set off during the daily command briefing, probing affirmations,
studying our tactics, their learning about us before the main
battle begins. Or Marshal Krikseck was confident, despite the troubling reports,
let them study us when our four fleeting ages them.
Thus see what real military power looks like. The confidence
was shared throughout the Council fleet. They had the best
technology in a galaxy. Their tactical expertise built up over
thousands of years of warfare. They had the advantage of
fighting together on familiar ground. What they didn't have was
experienced fighting an enemy that could adapt to any weapon
or tactic with then iyos of encountering it. The main
deviral fleet arrived exactly when the calculations predicted. Fifty thousand
DOC ships emerged from the vood like a spreading stain
across the stars. They moved in perfect coordination, forming attack
patterns that no organic mine could have devised. The council
fleet moved to intercept them, twelve thousand ships against fifty thousand.
The odds were terrible, but the alien commanders were still
confident they had quality on their side, even if they
lacked quantity. The first engagement began with long range energy
bombardment from the Etherea ship's beams of pure light lance
cross bays, striking the leading edge of the diviral formation.
Several enemy ships were destroyed immediately, their hulls unable to
withstand the concentrated energy. Chars were up throughout the council fleet.
The enemy could be hurt, they could be defeated, but
within minutes the situation began to change. The next wave
of ethereum attack seemed to have less effect. The Divira
ships were already adapting their defenses, learning to absorb or
deflect the energy weapons. The Stella faderusion launched the quant
and torpedoes necks. The first salva was devastatingly effective, causing
entire sections of the enemy fleet to simply vanish from existence,
but by the third salvo, the torpedoes were being intercepted
or neutralized before they could reach the targets. Their adapting
faster than we anticipated. Admiral Sector reported his voice tight
with worry. Weapons that worked minutes ago are now useless.
One Marshal Crooks cordered the zephyrin assault shipped forward. Their
plasma canons opened fire at close range, melting through enemy
hells with superheated matter. For a brief moment, it looked
like the close range as all might work. Then the
Devis began returning fire. Their weapons were unlike anything the
Council Forces had seen before. Dark energy beams that seemed
to drain the life from whatever they touched, projectors that
phased through shields as if they went there, and most
terrifying of all, some kind of virus weapon that turned
councilships against their own allies. The battle that was supposed
to be a decisive victory quickly turned into a desperate retreat.
Council ships fled in all directions as the adaptive Devira
A fleet overwhelmed their defenses and turned their own tactics
against them. In the space of six iOS, the greatest
military force in galactic history had been chattered. Thousands of
ships were destroyed or captured. The survivors limped back toward
Council space, carrying the terrible news of their defeat. The
diviers meanwhile continued their advance toward the Corps worlds, the
Dark Fleet now swollen with captured Council technology and the
knowledge of how to defeat everything the galaxy could throw
at them. From her position in the Regard, Admiral Sir
Chuen watched the disaster unfold with growing concern. Around her,
the other human ships maintained their assigned positions, waiting for
orders that might never come. Admiral called Lieutenant Park. We
were receiving scattered communications from the retreating Council forces. It
sounds like there in full retreat. Sarah nodded, grimly signal
Earth Command, tell them we may need to implement prof
Call seven after all. Maw Park looked confused. I'm not
familiar with that protocol. Sarah looked out at the approaching
De vayra Or fleet, now enhanced with stolen Council technology
and adaptive capabilities that made them newly unstoppable. No reason
you should be, Lieutenant, she replied quietly. It's been classified
for over two hundred years, but I think it's time
to dust off some very old files. The emergency session
in the Grand Assembly Hall was very different from the
last one. Three weeks had passed since the disaster at
Helix Nebula, and the mood was one of complete despair.
Many seats were empty because their owners had died in
the battle. Others were absent because their species were too
busy evacuating their home whilst to attend meetings. Speakervelter looked
older and more tired than Sorrow had ever seen him.
His blue skin had taken on a great hint, and
his forearms moved slowly as he called the session to
Orator Council members. Felter began his voice heavy with the
fee we gado to day to de scuss our remaining
options in the face of the Divir advance. Admiral Secteth
will provide the current tactical assessment. The Vodic Admiral flew
to the center platform, but his usual graze was gone.
One of his wings had been damaged in the battle,
and he moved with all of his pain. His silver
feathers were dulled and many were missing entirely. The situation
is grave. Secteth reported, our combined fleet has been reduced
to fewer than three thousand operational vessels. The Diviers have
absorbed our technology and adapted to all of our weapons.
They now possessed quantum disruptors, energy weapons, and plasma canons
in addition their original capabilities. Holographic displays showed the current
positions of both fleets. The Devier Amada, now grown to
over sixty thousand ships recaptured Council vessels, was moving steadily
toward the core wells. The remaining Council forces were scattered
and retreating. How long until they reached the core systems,
asked Ambassador Luxarar. The Etherians light had dimmed considerably and
her usual bright colors were musured with grief. At their
current speed, approximately two weeks, sect It replied. We have
evacuation ship moving civilians from the outer colonies, but there
simply isn't enough time to save everyone. War Marshall Crixack
stood up from his seat, but the mass of Zafarin
looked broken. His proud bearing was gone, replaced by the
slouch of defeat. Nearly half of his species fleet had
been lost in the battle. What about the defensive insulations
around the coreps worlds Krieks are casked, surely they can
sloaed the advance. The deviers have studded our defensive strategies,
Secteth answered, they know how to neutralize our fixed installations.
The platforms arounds and hiy Prime lasted less than four
ires against their adapted weapons. Senator Thylix from the Crillian
Empire was the next to speak. His scales had remained
a deep papal of fear ever since the battle. Are
we seriously considering surrender negotiating with these creatures? We've tried, it,
replied Commander Zephya. They don't respond to any communications. They
don't seem interested in anything except consumption. As far as
we can tell, they view all organic life as nothing
more than fuel. For their expansion. Then Paul fell into
depressed silence. These beings had ruled the galaxy for thousands
of years. They had built fast civilizations, created incredible technologies,
and conquered countless challenges. Now they faced extinction at the
hands of an enemy they couldn't understand or defeat. Perhaps,
said one of the Quantum collective representatives, we should focus
on preserving what we can seat ships to other galaxies,
ensure that our cultures survive even if our worlds do not.
This suggestion sparked a brief discussion about evacuation plans and
survival strategies, but every one knew the truth. They didn't
have enough ships to evacuate more than a tiny fraction
of the galaxy's population. Lillians would die when there devirus arrived.
Admiral sir Chan had been sitting quietly through the entire session,
listening to the despair and defeat in every voice. Finally,
she stood up from her seat in the human section.
Honored Speaker Sorrows said, clearly, I request permission to address
the countsil The whole turn to look at her. Some
faces show surprise that the Eman representative wanted to speak.
Are the sure polite resignation, as if they were willing
to listen to any one who might have an idea,
no matter how unlikely the fall recognize its Admiral chan
felt as said wearily. Sarah walked to the center platform,
just as she had three months earlier for her military presentation,
that this time there were no mocking laws or dismissive comments.
The assembled delegate watched her with desperate hope, willing to
listen to any possible solution. Council members, Sir began, I
need to share some information that Earth has kept classified
until now, information about our true military capabilities. This got
everyone's attention immediately. While Marshall Crooks are cleaned forward in
his seat, Ambassador luxories light flickered with renewed interest. Even
the broken admiral sectors turned to focus on Syah's words.
The presentation I gave three months ago. If Sarah continued,
showed only a small portion of her sexual military strength.
We have learned through centuries of our undevastating wars that
it is wise to never reveal your for capabilities until
absolutely necessary. What are you saying? Demand and Senator th alex,
his scale shifting from purple to orange with excitement. Are
you telling us that humans have been hiding advanced weapons?
Eron nodded. I'm saying that humanity has spent the last
five hundred years preparing for exactly this kind of threat.
We have been watching the galaxy, learning from every conflict
and developing technologies specifically designed to fight enemies that conventional
weapons cannot defeat. She pulled out her ditapad and activated it,
but instead of the simple holographic displays from her previous presentation,
the arab of the platform filled with images that made
the assembled delegates gaspin shock. The first image showed a
human ship, but it was nothing like the simple vessels
from the Earlow presentation. The ship was sleek and dark,
its hall seeming to bend light around it. It was
larger than the biggest Crillian dreadnought, and its design was
unlike anything anyone in the hull had ever seen. This
is the Urchip Prometheus, Sarah explained. It is one of
fifty vessels in our Strategic Defense Fleet. Each ship is
equipped with quantum and tangled weapon systems, matter antomatic cascade bombs,
and adapt to AI tactical networks. The next image showed
an entire fleet of these mysterious ships. They moved informations
that seemed to flow like water, changing shape and position
in ways that suggested incredible cord and nation. How is
this possible, whispered Ambassador look sorrow. We've monitored your communications,
your industrial capacity. There's no way you could have built
such vessels without us knowing. Sarah smiled, for the first
time since the crisis began. Our actual industrial capacity is
not located in this galaxy. Humanity began expanding into neighboring
galaxies over three hundred years ago. What you see here
represents the combined resources of seventeen different star systems across
four galaxies. Valhole erupted in shot voices. The implications were staggering.
Humanity wasn't the primitive, struggling species they had appeared to be.
They were already in into galactic civilization with resources that
dwarfed anything the Council could imagine. But why hide this,
demanded war Marshal Krikseek. Why pretend to be weak and primitive?
Because Sarah replied, we learn lam a Gir that being
underestimated is often the greatest advantage you can have. While
you were building larger weapons and stronger ships. We were
studying your mistakes and preparing for the enemies you couldn't defeat.
The holographic display changed again, showing weapon tests that made
the assembled delegate step back in their seats, beams of
energy that could stabilize stars, gravitational weapons that could compress
matter into black holes, and most incredible of all, technology
that seem to manipulate the basic laws of physics themselves.
These weapons are designed specifically to fight adaptive enemies. Sarah explained,
each system use of principles that cannot be easily copied
or countered. Where conventional weapons rely on energy or matter,
iris manipulate fundamental forces that exist at the quantum level.
Anneral Sector fanned his voice. First, are you saying you
have weapons that the diviers cannot adapt to? I am
saying we have weapons that work on principles the diviers
have never encountered. Sarah replied, Our quantum entangled systems exist
in multiple dimensions simultaneously. Our gravitational manipulator is effect based
in itself. An ear I nevers operate on quantum consciousness
principles that make them impossible to hack or infratrate. The
excitement in the whole was building rapidly. For the first
time in weeks, the assembled delegates were hearing something other
than you of defeat and retreat. How many ships do
you have, ask commanders after a strategic defense fleet consists
of fifty capital ships, each more powerful than anything currently
in this galaxy, Sir answered, But more importantly, we have
tactical systems that can coordinate the actions of every human
vessel as if they were parts of a single organism.
She manipulated her data pad again, and the holographic display
showed about a simulation. Human ships moved in perfect coordination,
their weapons firing in patterns that seemed almost like a dance.
Enemy vessels representing the Diviers try to adapt, but the
human tact exchanged faster than the enemy could evolve. This
is theoretical, of course, Sair said, We've never actually fought
the Diviers, but our simulations suggest that our adatave I
cannot think they are adaptive technology more Marshall critxic stood up,
his earlier depression, replaced by something that might have been hope.
When can thee ships arrive? How quickly can they get here?
They are already here, Sarah replied calmly. The silence that
followed was absolute. Every being in the hall stared at
Sarah as if she had just announced that the suns
were about to explode. What do you mean they are
already here? Us speak of velter, Sarah touch who it
had one more time. The main viewing screen of this
embly hall, which usually showed peaceful stuff fields, suddenly filled
with an image that made everyone forget how to breathe.
Fifty ships hung in space to outside the station, but
calling them ships was like calling a mountain a rock.
These vessels were enormous, sleek, and beautiful in a way
that seemed almost alive. They moved slowly through space, their
hulls shifting and changing as if they were made of
liquid metal. The Earth's Strategic Defense Fleet has been monitoring
the situation since the first to buy Or scouts were detected,
Sarah explained, We've been studying their capabilities and preparing our response.
With the Council's permission, we are ready to engage the enemy.
The hull exploded into excited chatter. Delegates were standing up,
pointing at the viewing screen, talking rapidly to their neighbors
for the first time since the disaster Helix Nebula. There
was hope in their voices, but Admiral sec to freeze
the wing for attention, Admiral Chhan, these ships are in press,
but the Devir is still out number you sixty thousand
to fifty. How can you hope to defeat such overwhelming numbers,
Sarah SmaI became wider and more confident. Admiral sectif you
are thinking about this in terms of conventional warfare, ship
against ship, weapon against weapon by our approach is very different.
The holographic display changed to show tactical predictions that were
unlike anything the Council had ever seen. Instead of traditional
battle lined and weapon exchanges, the human strategy looked more
like a complex puzzle being solved than real time. We
don't plan to fight sixty thousand ships, Sarah explained. We
plan to turn their greatest strength into their greatest weakness.
Their adaptive technology requires central coordination. Disrupt the coordination and
sixty thousand ships become sixty thousand individual targets with no
way to share information. How do you disrupt something we
don't even understand, ask Ambassador looks Horeror by understanding it
better than they do. Sarah reply, humanity is bestudying adaptive
AI for over four hundred years. We know how it
works because we build our own versions and then learned
how to defeat them. Our biggest advantage is that no
one has ever successfully fought their adaptation systems, but we have.
She paused and looked around the hole at the face
of staring back at her. These beings had spent months
in despair, convinced that their civilizations were doomed. Now they
were hearing that salvation might be possible. There's something else
you need to understand, Sarah continued. F didn't join the
Galactic Council five years ago because we needed you protection
or technology. We joined because we had been monitoring your
progress and we knew this day would come. We've up
been preparing for this specific threat for over two centuries.
The implications hit the assembled delegates like a physical blow.
Humanity hadn't stumbled into galactic politics as primitive newcomers. They
had arrived as advanced guardians, watching and waiting for the
moment when their protection would be needed. You've been protecting
us all along with but Senator Thyalux's scale showing colours
that mental and gratitude. It's what we do, Sarah replied, simply.
Humanity learned long ago that the strongest civilizations others that
protect the weak, not thos that exploit them. We've been
quietly watching over this galaxy because we believe the cultures
here are worth preserving. While Marshall Kriuksack was stirvring at
the mass of human ships and the viewing screen, why
reveal this now? Why not continue to hide your capabilities? Because,
Sarah said, the time for hiding is over. The diviers
represent a threat that requires our full capabilities to defeat.
And because this Council, this alliance of species working together
despite their differences, where it presents something worth fighting for. Openly,
she walked to the edge of the platform and looked
out at the phases of beings from dozens of different worlds.
We're not asking to take over your defense. We're asking
for permission to fight alongside you, to use our hidden
strength to protect something that took thousands of years to
build speak of. Velt was the first to respond. Admiral
chan On, behalf of the Galactic Council, a formerly request
her as assistant in defending our civilization against the divier
of for it request granted, Sarah replied, dead, Strategic Defense
Fleet will engage the enemy in seventy two hours. We
suggest that all remaining Council forces be positioned to support
our operations and assist with rescue in evacuation efforts. As
the emer Urgency session broke up into planning committees and
tactical discussions, the mood in the whole had completely transformed.
Where there had been despair, now there was hope. Where
there had been defeat, now there was determination. The beings
who had laughed at human primitive weapons three months ago
now watched in o as the most advanced military force
they had never seen, prepared to save their civilization. But
in the back of her mind, Sarah hoped that the
weapons and strategist humanity had spent centuries develop and would
be enough to defeat an enemy that had already proven
it could adapt to anything the galaxy could throw at it.
The real test was still to come. The Human fleet
moved through space like shadows made solid from the obplivation
dick of the Council Command Station, Admiral Sektov watched the
fiftieth ships take their positions with the mixture of awe nervousness.
Each vessel was larger than anything in the Council fleet,
yet they moved with the grace of living creatures. I
still can't believe were seeing this, wore Marshall. Crixix said quietly.
The massive zephyrn stood beside Sectov, his earlier arrogance completely bun.
Three months ago, we were laughing at their primitive weapons.
Three months ago they wanted a to laugh. Secteth replied,
I'm beginning to understand that humans are far more complex
than any of us realized. On the main viewing screen,
long rain censors showed the approaching to Viral fleet. Sixty
thousand dark ships moved in perfect formation toward the coal worlds.
Their hulls absorb light and censor beams, making them look
like holes in space itself. They would arrive at the
battle zone in less than six hours. Admiral sarah unstood
on the bridge of the Prometheus, watching the tactical displays
with calm focus. Around her, the human crew worked with
quiet efficiency. There was no panic, no shouting of orders,
no dramatic speeches. They moved like parts of a well
designed machine. Admiral Cold, Command of Torres from the Tactical station.
All ships report ready status. The quantum entanglement network is
active and synchronized. Sarah nodded signaled the Council Fleet to
take position at safe distance menimum fifty thousand kilometers from
the engagement zone. Ma'am, said Lieutenant Park. The Council Commander's
a request sting permission to assist with the attack negative,
Sarah replied firmly. Their weapons or uses against adaptive enemies,
and their presence would only give the Divirus more technology
to steal. This battle must be fought with systems the
enemy has never encountered. As the human fleet spread out
into attack formation, something strange began to happen. The ships
started to change. Their hulls shifted and flowed like liquid metal.
What had looked like traditional vessels now appeared to be
something alive and organic. From the Council Devation Station, Ambassador
Looks Sorrow watched in fascination other ships transforming themselves. It
appears so, answered one of the Stillar Federation representatives. The
hull configurations are shifting into patterns I have never seen before.
The human ship continued to change until They no longer
looked like anny vessel any one had ever built. They
resembled sea creatures from an alien ucean, flowing and undulating
to space. Their surfaces rippled with energy patterns that seemed
to pulse with their own. Harby the Vira of fleet detected,
announced the sensor operator aboard the Prometheus, ranged to a million
kilometer is enclosing. Estimated time to contact four hours and
seventeen minutes. Sarah walked to the center of the bridge
and activated the ship's communication system all units. This is
Admiral Charn initiate Phade one of Operation Silent Thunder began
quantum displacement. What happened next made the watching Council Delegate
to question everything they thought they knew about physics. The
human ships simply vanished. One moment they were visible on
every censor, and the next moment they were gone completely.
Where did they go? Demanded wore A Marshal krisac Unknown,
replied Admiral sectorf, his voice filled with confusion. They're not
showing up on any of our censors. It's as if
they never existed. On the bridge of the Prometheus, Sarah
could see everything perfectly. The quantum displacement system had shifted
the human fleet into a parallel dimensional space. They could
observe and interact with normal space, but nothing in normal
space could detect them. Fascinating technology, said Commander Torres. We're
essentially fighting from a dimension that the enemy doesn't know exists.
That's the theory, Sarah replied, Let's see if it works
in practice. Tantafer's contact two ires fifteen minutes, reported the
sensor operator. The Devira fleet continued its approach, completely unaware
the fifty of the most advanced worships ever built were
moving alongside them in dimensional space. The dark shapes maintained
their perfect formation, their adaptive senses scanning for threats that
they couldn't detect. Admiral Cold, Lieutenant Park, we're receiving a
transmission from the lead to Vira vessel. Sara raise an eyebrow.
They're trying to communicate. That's new. Put it through the
main screen, filled with an image that made several bridge
crew members step back in shock. The being that appeared
was clearly artificial, but it had once been organic. Pieces
of different species had been combined with mechanical pots to
create something that was neither alive nor dead. Resistance is unnecessary,
the creature said, in a voice that sounded like grinding metal.
Your biological and technological distinctiveness will be added to our collective.
Surrender now, and your assimilation will be efficient. Sarah looked
at the horrifying combination of flesh A machine noun has green.
I am Admiral Sir Chon of the Earth Strategic Defense Flee.
You have entered Council space without permission and have destroyed
seventeen star systems. You will see, Sir, advance and withdraw immediately.
The creature and the screen made a sound that might
have been laughter. F We have analyzed two species from
the battle, a Helix nebula, primitive kinetic weapons and chemical propulsion.
He posed no threat to her collective. You might be surprised,
Sarah replied, calmly. Surprise is not possible. The creature responded,
We have adapted to every weapon system in this galaxy.
Your Council's plasmic cannons, quantum disruptors, and energy weapons are
now part of our capabilities. What can your primitive species
offer that we have not already assimilated? Sarah smiled coldly.
Something you've never seen before shun out. The transmission ended
and Sarah turned to her tactical officer commendator, as how
long until we're an optimal firing position? Thirty minutes, Admiral,
the enemy fleet would be concentrated in the Meridian System's
asteroid field, perfect location for our gravity weapons, excellent signal
ships to prepare for fast I full spectrum quantum attack.
Thirty minutes later, the Deviu fleet into the asteroid field,
exactly as predicted. The dark ships moved through the space
rocks would not concern their sensors, detecting no frets anywhere
in the system. That was when the human fleet attacked.
The assolve a gam of weapons that the diviers could
not understand because they worked on principles that didn't exist
in normal space. Quantum and tangle beams reached cross the
mansional barriers, destroyed targets that had no idea they were
being attacked. The first wave of Devire ships simply ceased
to exist. One moment they were flying through the asteroid field,
and the next moment they were gone. No explosion, no debris,
no energy signature. They were there, and then they were not.
What happened to them? The lead to Viyre, a creature
broadcast on all frequencies. Where did our ships go? The
human fleet remained invisible as they continued their attack. Gravitational
weapons reached out to grab clusters of enemy vessels and
compressed them into points of infinite density. Hundreds of ships
were crushed into black hole so small they evaporated almost instantly.
On the council observation station, the watching delegates could only
see the effects of the battle. The viral ships were
disappearing or being destroyed by weapons that produced no visible
beams or explosions. It looked like the enemy fleet was
being attacked by ghosts. Incredible, whispered Senator Thalics. The humans
are winning and we can't even see how they are
doing it. The divirus tried to adapt to the attack,
but they couldn't adapt to weapons they couldn't detect. Their
sensors showed no enemy ships, no energy signatures, no incoming projectiles.
The fleet was being destroyed by forces that seemed to
come from empty space. All units came Sarah's voice over
the human fleet's communication system initiate Phase three reality anchored deployment.
What happened next was beyond anything to council delegates could imagined.
The human ships began to manipulate space and time itself.
They created pockets of altars physics, where the laws of
nature work differently. Inside these reality anchors, the Divier's adaptive
technology simply stopped functioning. Ships that had been vulnerable to
every weapon in the galaxy suddenly found themselves vulnerable to
basic kinetic force. Their advanced hulls became as fragile as paper,
their powerful shields became useless. Decorations impossible. The lead viral
creature broadcasts its voice now, showing something that might have
been fear. Our adaptive mate re sias are failing. We
cannot analyze the attack vectors. That's because there are no
attack vectors, Sir replied half leads still invisible to enemy sensors.
We're not attacking you with weapons, We're changing the fundamental
nature of reality around you. The Divira fleet tried to retreat,
but the human ships had surrounded them completely in dimensional space.
Every escape route was blocked by vessels that couldn't be
detected or targeted. How are you doing this, the Devira
creature demanded, what technology are you using? Technology you can't steal?
Because it doesn't exist in your universe. Sarah answered, we're
fighting you from dimension you can't enter, and using principles
your collective consciousness can't comprehend. The battle continued for three
more hours, but the outcome was never in doubt. The
Divirus had built their entire strategy around adapting to conventional
weapons and tactics. They had no defense against enemas who
could rewrite the laws of physics were attacked from parallel dimensions.
One by one, the Dark ships were destroyed or captured.
Some were compressed into gravitational singularities, others were dissolved at
the molecular level by quantum disintegration beans a few were
simply transported to empty regions of space, where they would
drift homelessly fraternity. But the most remarkable part of the
battle came near the end, when the human fleet began
to do something unprecedented. Instead of simply destroying the remaining
Devirus ships, they began to reverse the damage the enemy
had caused. These four initiated Sirenance, molecular reconstruction, and left
restoration protocols are now active. The human ships began to
rebuild everything that the Virus had destroyed. Broken Council vessels
were reconstructed from the scattered atoms. Dead crew members were
resort to life using genetic temperates stored in quantum memory banks.
Even entire planets that had been stripped bare were reformed
and were populated. From the Council observation station, the Watch
and delegates saw their destroyed fleet slowly materialize in perfect condition.
Ships that had been vaporized in the battle at Helix
Nebula appeared in space as if they had never been damaged.
This is impossible, Admiral Sector whispered, They are bringing back
the dead. They are reversing destruction itself, not reversing corrected.
Ambassador look sorrow, are light pulsing with amazement. A building
they were building everything from nothing. On the bridge of
the Prometheust, Sarah watched the reconstruction process with satisfaction. How
many Council vessels have been restored, commanded horrors, all of
them Admiral nine thousand, four hundred thirty seven ships, exactly
as they were before the first battle. All crew members
have been restored to life, with their memories intact up
to the moment of their destruction, and the dvir or
fleet completely neutralized. Fifty eight thousand, seven hundred twelve vessels
destroyed or captured, no survivors, but we've extracted their entire
database of consumed civilizations. The reconstruction protocols can restore every
species save assimilated over the past thousand years. Sarah nodded
with grim satisfaction signal the Council fleet tell them they
can return to normal space. The threat has been eliminated.
As the human feet emerged from dimensional space, they appeared
around the remnants of the Divyra Armada, like avenging angels
made of metal and light. The enemy ships that remain
were dead hulks drifting in space, their adapt of technology
permanently disabled. Admiral Chun came a transmission from the Council
command station. This is speaker Velter on behalf of the
entire Galactic Council. I we how do we even begin
to thank you? Sarah's voice came back, calm and steady,
No thanks necessary, speak of alter. We did what we
came here to do. The galaxy is safe, but the reconstruction,
the restoration of our lost ships and people. How such
a thing possible? When you can manipulate matter and energy
at the quantum level. Sarah replied, death becomes just another
engine a nearing problem to solve. The human fleet began
to form up for departure. At their mission complete, the
crisis that had threatened to destroy galactic civilization had been
ended in a single battle that most observers couldn't even see.
Admiral called commandators all systems report mission successful. Ready to
return to dimensional space for the journey home. Sarah looked
out at the restored Council Fleet and the debris of
the devir Ormada. Not yet, Commander, there is still one
more thing we need to do. She activated the communication
system one more time. This is Admiral Chunt to all
Council vessels. He might want to gather your representatives for
one final meeting. There are some things about galactic security
that we need to discuss. The battle was over, but
Sarah neither. The real conversation was just beginning. The galaxy
had seen where humanity could you and fully committed to
a fight. Now it was time to talk about what
came next. One week after the Silent War, the Grand
Assembly Hall looked different than it ever before. The same
crystal Durham stretched overhead and the same cove seating arrangements
held representatives from all forty seven member species. The atmosphere
was completely changed, hought. Where once there had been casual
chatter and easily aughter, ne there was respectful silence. Where
delegates had once launched in the seats with comfortable arrogance,
now this astraight with careful attention. Every eye in the
hole was focused on the human section, where Admiral sorrow
Chan sat quietly among her small delegations, speak of vertical
the session to order with more formality than any one
had ever seen from him. His forearms moved would preciss
so many as he addressed the assembly Council members VLTA began.
We gathered to day to discuss the new realities of
galactic security following the defeat of the Davao, where Flour
recognized as Admiral Sarah Chenovev. Sarah stood and walked to
the center platform, just as she had done twice before
in this same hall, But this time her footsteps echoed
in complete silence. No one whispered, no one laughed, no
one even seemed to breathe. As she took her position,
honor delegates, Sarah began I want to start by addressing
the questions that I know were on everyone's minds. How
long has humanity possessed these capabilities? Why did we hide them?
And what does this mean for the future of the
Galactic Council. She paused and looked around the hall of
faces that showed mixture of awe, failure, of gratitude, and uncertainty.
To answer the first question, Sarah continued, humanity has been
developing these technologies for over four hundred years. We began
serious research into dimensional warfare and quantum in acalation shortly
after we achieved faster than light travel. Admiral set a
phrase to Wind to speak, Admiral chan, our records show
that humanity achieved after L travel only sixty years ago.
How is it possible that you've been researching these technologies
for four centuries? Sarah nodded, having expected this question, because
humanity achieved after L travel over five hundred years ago,
not sixty. What you detected sixty years ago was our
first contact mission to this galaxy. We have been exploring
other galaxies for centuries before we ever made contact with
the Council. The implications of the statement hit the assembly
like a physical well. Several delegates stood up in shock.
Others began talking rapidly to their neighbors. The Stellar Federation
representatives clicked their legs so quickly as sounded like rattling metal.
You've been watching us for centuries, as Ambassador look sorry,
her light flickering with confusion and concern, not watching, Sarah corrected, protecting,
there's a difference. We've been monitoring this galaxy for signs
of threats that the local civilizations couldn't handle alone. The
Divirers were exactly the kind of enemy we were prepared
to face, while Marshal Krikxuck stood up as massive form,
trembling with emotion. You let us struggle with our wars
or conflicts, our turtorial disputes, while you are the power
to stop all of its. Sorrow's expression became more serious.
Marsha Krikseck, what you call struggles and conflicts, we call
growth in learning. Every civilization must find its own pact
to maturity. We intervene only when faced with thrust to
existence itself. She activated her data pad, and holographic displays
filled the air above the platform, But these images were
different from anything she had shown before. They showed a
vast network of galaxies connected by streams of light. This
is the reality of human civilization, Sarah explained. We are
present in over three hundred galaxies, We monitor thousands of
developing civilizations, and we have faced and defeated dozens of
extinction level threats over the past millennium. The scale of
what she was describing was beyond hening the Council had imagined.
They had thought of themselves as one of the great
civilizations of the universe. Now they were learning that they
were essentially children being watched over by adults they had
never known existed. The second question, Sarah continued, is why
we hit our capabilities. The answer is simple, because we
learned long ago that revealing overwhelming power too early prevents
civilizations from developing their own strength. Senator Thalks from the
Krillian empouse poke up has scaled, showing deep blue colors.
That meant serious thought. You were saying that if he
had revealed your true capabilities from the beginning, we would
have become dependent on you. It's debt of growing on
our own exactly, Sarah confirmed. Look at what this council
has accomplished. You've created in the lines between dozens of
species with completely different biologies, cultures, and beliefs. You be
sadest trade networks, diplomatic protocols, and mutual defense agreements. You
did all of this yourselves, for your own efforts and wisdom.
She gestured toward the assembled delegates. If we had arrived
five years ago with our full capabilities revealed, would you
have worked so hard to build these relationships? Would you
have developed your own technologies and strategies. What would you
have simply asked the powerful humans to solve all your
problems for you? The question hung in the air like
a challenge. Around the whole delegates began to understand what
Sarah was really saying. Humanity had hidden their strength, not
out of deception, but out of respect for the potential
of others. But surely, said Commander's Epha, there were times
when revealing your power could have prevented suffering. Wars could
have been sopped, lives could have been saved. Sarah's expression
became sad and distant. Commander. That is the most difficult
part of being a guardian civilization. We have watched conflicts
that we could have ended in minutes. We have seen
suffering that we could have prevented with a single ship.
But we have also learned the civilizations which never faced challenges,
never developed the wisdom to handle power responsibly. The holographic
display changed to show historical images from various Council species, wars,
natural disasters, political upheavals, and technological breakthroughs, moments of struggle
and moments of triumph. Every species in this whole is
phase moments that seemed hopeless. Sarah continued, the fourth and
Civil war that lasted three centuries, the Crillian plague that
killed half your population, the Etherian schism that splad your
people into opposing factions. He survived all of these challenges
and became stronger because of them. At Mozart nodded slowly,
a silver feathers rustling with understanding. And if you had intervened,
we would never have learned to overcome our own problems. Precisely,
Sarah replied, the strength of a civilization is not measured
by its weapons or technology. It is measured by its
ability to face adversity and emerge stronger. The Council has
proven its strength many times over. Speak of Elt raised
a hand for attention. Admiral Chrand. This brings us to
the third question, What does this mean for the future
of the Council? Will humanity now take over our defense?
Will we become a protectorate of Earth? Sarah shook her
head firmly. Absolutely not. The Galactic Council will continue to
operate exactly as it has. You will defend yourselves, govern yourselves,
and make your our own decisions about your future, as
will not interfere in your internal affairs or impose our
will onnest civilizations. But what about threats like the Diviers,
ask war Marshall Crisik, How do we know when we're
facing something beyond our capabilities? You'll know, Sarah replied with
a slight smile, And when that time comes, we'll be here.
Think of humanity as a backup system, with the safety
net that catches you when you fall from heights you
couldn't have imagined climbing. The hall fell into thoughtful silence
as the delegate absorbed this information. They were learning that
their place in the universe was both smaller and larger
than they had thought. Swallowed because they were part of
a vast community of civilizations they had never known existed,
Larger because they had proven themselves worthy of protection and
respect from beings with godlike power. Ambassador look Sorrow floated
higher than usual as she spoke. Admiral chan may I
ask about the restored shipsend and the people who were
brought back to life. How was such a thing possible?
Sarah's expression became more technical. She explained, when you understand
matter and energy at the CONTI, death is simply a
change of state. Every atom in a person's body retains
quantum and prints of his previous configurations. With sufficient technology,
those imprints can be read and restored, but their memories,
their personalities started. Senator Thlex, consciousness exists in quantum patterns
that persist even after biological death, Sarah continued, Those patterns
can be recovered and reconstructed. The people we restored are
exactly who they were before, with all their memories and
experiences intact. The implications were staggering. If humanity could bring
back the dead, if they could rebuild entire civilizations from nothing,
what else could they do? What other powers were they
keeping hidden? As if reading their thoughts, Sarah addressed their
unspoken concerns. I know what you are thinking. If we
can do all of this, what else are we hiding?
What other capabilities do we possess. The answer is that
our technological abilities are limited on the by our imagination
and our sense of responsibility. She walked to the edge
of the platform and looked out at the assembled delegates.
We could re shape this galaxy according to our designs.
We could eliminate poverty, disease, in conflict with a few
simple commands. We could make every world of paradise and
every species a model. But we don't because we understand
something that took us thousands of years to learn. The
hall was completely silent as everyone waited for her to continue.
The most important power, Sarah said, quietly, is the power
to choose not to use your power. True strength is
not in the ability to control others, but in the
wisdom to let them control themselves or Marshall quis Ex
stowed up again, but this time his posture was one
of respect rather than challenge. Admiral Chan, I owe you
an apology. Three months ago I marked your people if
primitive and weak. I see now that you allowed us
to believe that because it served the greater purpose. No
apology needed, Marshal Sarah replied, your reaction was exactly what
we expected and hoped for. It proved that you were
thinking independently and making your own judgments. That's the sign
of a healthy civilization. Speak of Velter stood up and
addressed the Assembly. I believe I speak for the entire
Council when I say that we are grateful beyond words
for humanity's protection. But I must ask the question that
is on every one's mind. What happens now? How do
we move forward with this new understanding? Sarah smiled for
the first time since entering the Hall. You move forward
exactly as you have been. You continue to build your alliance,
to develop your technologies and solve your problems. The only
difference is that you now know you're not alone in
the universe. She activated her data had one final time.
The holographic display showed the human fleet, but now it
was dispersed throughout the galaxy, single ship stationed at the
edges of Council space, watching and waiting. Humanity will maintain
a small monitoring prisons in this galaxy, Sarah explained, not
to control or interfere, but to watch for threats that
might beyond your current capabilities. Think of us as your
galactic immune system. Most of the time you'll never know
where there. But when something truly dangerous appears, well you ready.
And if we need help of smaller problems as commanders
after border disputes, trade conflicts, resource shortages, those are your
problems to solve, Sarah replied, firmly but kindly. We'll provide
devisive asked, but only if asked. The strength you've built
over censuris comes from facing challenges yourselves. We won't take
that away from you by solving every minor difficulty it
most has raised away. What about the technologies you've shown us,
Will we ever have access to dimensional warfare and quantum manipulation?
Sarah considered this carefully before answering. Some technologies will be
shared when you're ready for them, others may never be
shared because they're too dangerous for any single civilization to possess,
and some you'll develop on your own, probably in ways
we never thought of. She paused and looked around the
hole again. But I will say this, A fact that
you're asking these questions instead of demanding these technologies tells
me that you're already in the right path to handling
them responsibly. The session continued for several more hours as
delegates as detailed questions about galactic security, human capabilities, and
future corporation, but the most important points had already been established.
Humanity would protect, but not control. They would watch but
not interfere. They would help but not replace the efforts
of others. The meeting drut are close speak of VELTI
made a formal announcement. The Galactic Council hereby recognizes the
Earth Strategic Defense Fleet as the primary peace keeping force
for Thrits. Beyond our current capabilities. We also establish Humanity
as our guardian civilization, with the understanding that this role
comes with great responsibility in greater restraint. Sarah nodded formally,
Earth accepts this responsibility. We pliged this galaxy and its civilizations,
while respecting their right to grow and develop according to
their own choices. As the delegates began to fill out
of the hall, the atmosphere was one of quite satisfaction
mixed with all. They had learned that they were part
of something much larger than they had ever imagined. But
they could also learned that they were valued and respective
members of a community that spanned multiple galaxies. While Marsha
Kruskipproch Sarah, she gathered materials. Admiral Chan have one final question.
When you first presented your military capabilities three months ago,
did you know then that the diviers were coming? Sarah
looked at the massive zephy end with an expression that
might have been amused. Marshall, We've been tracking the divirus
for over fifty years. We knew exactly when they would
arrive in exactly what it would take to defeat. The
only question was whether this galaxy civilizations were war or
its saving. In your conclusion, Sir smiled as she looked
around the nearly empty hall, the galactic cancel is one
of the most remarkable political achievements we've encountered in three
centuries of exploration. Species with completely different biologies and cultures
working together for the common good. It was definitely worth saving.
As the last delegates left the hall, Sarah stoed alone
in the platform where she had been mocked just months earlier.
The beings who have laughed at human primitive weapons now
understood that humanity's greatest weapon had never been the technology.
It had been their wisdom to use that technology responsibly.
The galaxy was safe not because humanity was strong, but
because they were wise enough to know when and how
to use their strength, and in the dark spaces between stars,
fifty ships continued a silent patrol, watching over civilizations that
were free to grow and develop because someone else was
strong enough to let them. And that is the end.
Thank you for listening, and I will see you in
the next one. S