Chapter 6

“The unprovoked attack on Earth was the responsibility of a single alien, who claims to have done so on his own authority as a Scout Ranger for the Trade Federation, the preeminent organization in the local galactic cluster.”

“Somebody tell that man to take a breath,” Hera commented, as we watched the announcement continue. I chuckled, but we were all riveted.

“He claims he was saving the 95% of the life on Earth that will go extinct because of the continued usage of fossil fuels. His efforts, even though immensely destructive, were stopped by a being who named itself Guardian. Guardian placed the perpetrator in the custody of myself as head of the United Nations.

“Guardian also stated that he would confront the Trade Federation over the attack, on our behalf. I am releasing recordings of the interviews held with the being known as Scout Ranger 412 to the members of the UN at this time. The security council has provided additional research staff to help us formulate questions for the being.

“The conversations about climate change, and the resultant destruction of the earth’s biosphere are shocking. The being claimed it was better to kill as many as 5 billion humans from cold and starvation due to loss of transportation, than to let the runaway use of fossil fuels continue. I call on the leaders of the world to review the contents of the recordings, and pledge to a new climate accord. The testimony shows that the Paris Agreement was woefulky insufficient in its scope, and authority.

“If we do not succeed in our own, we may soon wish that Scout Ranger 412 had succeeded in the premeditated murder of five billion humans, as at least 3 billion of us would have survived.”

“Jesus Christ,” cursed Tammuz.

I flicked off the TV, “Well the bastard had a motive,” I said.

“This is going to affect the demand for our products,” Hera added.

“I just watched the video, it’s been posted to the net,” Thor said, “According to scout all atmospheric carbon emissions have to stop entirely in the next three years, at the most. He says he was afraid that even doing what he did was too little too late.”

“In another video he is claiming that the Trade Federation will destroy the Guardian for his unprovoked attack, as well as any of Guardian’s allies. He’s insistent that he be allowed to return to the moon and restart the equipment. He claims he can focus the energy that eliminates combustion on only the part of the world that is not in winter,” Ishtar added.

“He just outed you, he said that Guardian was raised as a human, but claims you are from a destructive species called the Kempu, feared by all,” Thor added.

“Alright, so my plan hasn’t changed. We conjure into Poolnar Hub, transmit the video of the destruction, and the conversation. Then we demand an explanation for the violation of Poseidon Dominion territory, and use of weapons of mass destruction. We will play the videos where Scout claims to have been protecting Earth and his claim of only attempting the murder of 5 billion.”

“Is the ship ready?” Odin asked.

“Ready enough, I’ll be wrapping a layer of myself around it again, and controlling it directly. Weapons were taking too much time, but it’s solid metal all the way thru, it’s massive enough to have it’s own gravitational effect on Poolnar Hub when we arrive.”

“Boss, if you have the mass, conjure ten of them at once. You know how to fire energy blasts directly anyway, you don’t need actual guns,” suggested Mithra.

“Can we see pictures of it?” asked Apollo.

I called out to the AI, “Probulon, display photos of the new ship in orbit of Rigil Kentaurus, add marks for scale.”

The TV turned back on, and the sleek arrowhead shape appeared on the screen. It was completely smooth, 25km in length, and 5km wide at the largest point. It was also completely solid, except in the very center where a copy of the SE5 sat, surrounded by a nickel iron alloy. The exterior skin was a duplicate of myself, allowing me to use my natural resistance to scanning to hide the contents of the ship.

There was a soft whistle, “Probulator, show Poolnar Hub next to it for scale.”

Poolnar Hub extend 45km along its length, but it was a mad mass of construction, filled with empty space between modules, and long dangling arms jutting off in all directions.

“I’m ready to go ask some questions, are you ready to go with me?” I asked the table.

There were shouts of assent, a couple ‘here here’ from Mithra, and a big, “lock and load boss,” from a very excited Tyr.

I conjured a copy of the table and it’s occupants into the ship, “Welcome to the Execution class starship Revenge. Give me a moment to store the ship.” I paused, and stored it, then conjured it back.

“I’m conjuring probes around Poolnar Hub so we have video feeds. I’ve got a Me in probe control, and Probulon is providing visual feeds identifying every ship in the region out to 30 light minutes.

“I will be conjuring us here,” I said pointing at a map, “Duplicate ships named: Restitution, Ruthless, Rage, Revolution, and Rampage will join us in these locations. I’ll let you know which ship you are on before we arrive, as I’m conjuring them now, in preparation to store and conjure then together into position at once.”

“How about Righteous, boss?” Tyr asked.

“Sure, if we need a seventh. Tyr, Valkyrie, be prepared to act as ground troops if needed. A few squads of Tiggers and Poohs will make them think twice, I think. I intend to be heavy handed here, I don’t know what kind of weapons they have, but I’m pretty sure my cloak shield can handle it.

“Once everyone is strapped in, we will begin.”

“Ready boss!” Tyr called out for everyone.

I conjured six brilliant orange ships. Immediately ships started moving away in all directions. I broadcast the message from all my ships, in all directions.

“Poolnar Hub, you are here by ordered to surrender to the Poseidon Dominion. Do not resist, do not open fire. All acts of aggression will be met with deadly force. You are being seized in retribution for the deployment of a weapon of mass destruction and attempted murder of five billion sentients on Earth by Federation Scout 412.”

I broadcast the video confession of the scout, then broadcast a new message, “No Federation citizen may leave Poolnar Hub, all vehicles, ships, and belongings are to be confiscated. If you do not resist your lives will be spared.”

My energy beams lanced out cutting the needle spar on every ship that had not escaped. Only nine had made it far enough to jump. The rest continued to coast on their initial velocity, away from the station.

“Do not resist, resistance is futile,” I said, and turned off the broadcast.

“Boss, what power was that broadcast at?”

“2.5 megawatts, I copied a radio transmitter in Russia.”