“In total 3,290 Naval personnel died in that battle,” Michael replied trying to keep composed and to keep some form of professional detachment. The sheer scale of the slaughter made him waver though. Voices around the chambers also began to denounce the level of bloodshed.
The disc shown that once the battle was over; the ship landed on the planet.
Human slave trains could be seen shambling towards it. Beaten, bruised, and dressed barely in rags, every single one of them looked totally crushed; like their morale and spirit had been cruelly stripped away. The sheer amount of damage the devastated colony had taken was evident to all. It resembled a dusty, windswept, smoking ruin, almost devoid of life.
“They are using slaves; it’s a blatant violation of galactic laws!” One delegate shouted.
“We cannot get involved, it’s not our war!” Another exclaimed aloud.
Then suddenly like a tinderbox, the whole chamber was engulfed in furious debate, both for and against aiding the Terrans. The arguments were fierce; should the Solarians actually aid these Terrans? Or should they stay out of their war, it simply did not involve them?
After numerous shouts for order, the arguing gradually died down.
“We have definitely started something now,” Kerulithar said as he smiled at Vargev and Michael.
“This council will come to order!” The voice boomed even louder over the speakers.
There was a barely contained hush, one delegate stood up and asked, “is the disk genuine?”
Kerulithar passed the disc to an administrator who took it and handed it to a scientist on the adjudication panel who passed a small scanning device over the disc, scrutinising it carefully for several minutes.
“In my opinion, the disc is indeed genuine. I can find no evidence of tampering.”
Once again fierce debate erupted in the council chambers.
“This council will come to order!” The voice boomed again.
At length another delegate arose from across the room and said, “I know very well the history of the Terrans, you are an aggressive warmongering people, you have had two massive world wars, and very nearly a third. You kill your own people as easily as anyone else, and now you wish to bring your warmongering ways to the stars. I say we should not help these Terrans, they have brought this upon themselves, and they should deal with the consequences of it.”
Angry debate once again arose throughout the chambers, the voice boomed repeatedly calling for order, finally the delegates quietened down.
“And now I come to my final point,” Kerulithar said.
His hands were clasped together giving a sense of calm contemplation, he waited a few seconds; Michael suspected it was partly a diplomatic trick to get everyone’s attention on him, and partly to gauge the reaction of the council, which fell suddenly silent. He put a finger into the air as if pointing out something.
“Why do you think the Krenarans have left all the water sources undamaged?”
He gave another little pause as if to emphasize the point. “We all know that Terra has abundant amounts of water in its oceans, lakes and rivers, as does the other Terran colonies, Sicarius IV, Gamma Aurigulon, and Brianus.”
Again Kerulithar gave a little pause to let the council take this in. “They are leaving the water sources undamaged because there are untold billions of credits worth to trade. The Krenarans will undoubtedly use some of it for themselves; the vast majority however will be sold on to the highest bidder. With the massive influx of revenue gained from the water, their military will go into overdrive.”
He looked over the council members, noting several of them nodding in agreement.
“Advanced technology will be developed at a far faster rate than previously thought; as they will now have the capital to fund it, and new, even more powerful ships will be built much more quickly. For water remains one of the most expensive natural resources anywhere in the known galaxy. We all know that the Krenaran race is an aggressive, hostile, and expansionistic race.”
Once again he paused for emphasis.
“Do you really think they will stop with the Terrans when they have access to that kind of power? The Krenarans could pose a threat to every major race in the known galaxy.”
He paused to let the seriousness of the situation sink in. “Can we really afford not to get involved?” He said finally.
The chambers were deathly silent, as the realisation of the seriousness of the situation had finally hit home.
The Krenarans were not invading to eradicate the human race, far from it, but to enslave them, and to strip them of a resource that until now was regarded as plentiful and rather inexpensive by human standards.
Michael and Vargev also realised this and were stunned by the news. The reason why so many people were dying was water, just plain old H2O.
Every delegate in the council mulled over the prospect that in the years to come the so called mighty Solarian Confederacy, could indeed feel the impact of this war themselves; and very possibly be defeated by it. In the years to come it could be Solarians in those slave chains.
Finally after a long pause; Karalis, the Solarian President stood and addressed the council.
“All those in favour of aiding the Terrans in their war with the Krenarans, please vote on your terminals; all against the motion please also register your vote.”
Each delegate pressed a button on a keypad mounted on their desks. Very quickly a set of numbers flashed up on a computer screen at the administrators’ position.
“All votes are in,” she said.
“What say you?” Karalis replied.
“122 votes for; and 3 against,” the administrator replied.
“Confirmed the count is accurate,” spoke another.
“We have done it!” Kerulithar punched the air in jubilation.
“Adjudication panel, what say you?” Karalis addressed the panel.
“In light of all the evidence presented here, we unanimously vote to aid the Terrans in their war with the Krenaran Empire.”
“Let the Solarian warhost be gathered; I want all ships prepared and battle worthy. When is the minimum amount of time this can be achieved, Primar Saltovos.”
“Six weeks to gather the warhost, Mr President.”
“Six weeks it is then; I want a full battle plan formed and presented to me before then.”
“It will be done,” Saltovos replied.
Karalis turned his attention to the two Terrans, “what would you want us to do with the ship which you arrived in; the captured Krenaran vessel.”
“The Liberty,” Michael corrected. “I would like to keep her under our command if I may Mr. President.”
“As you wish; however we would advise some Solarian upgrades to the vessel. It is currently docked at the Omicron shipyard; which is one of the best equipped for this type of work in Solarian space,” Karalis pointed out.
“Excellent; I have seen how powerful your ships are first hand, you would get no argument from me Mr President,” Michael replied.
“Call me Karalis,” The president smiled and nodded respectfully at the two Terrans.
“We are in agreement then; the Liberty will be ready in six weeks time before the warhost sets off into Terran space. This is the first agreement between our two peoples, and I hope the first of many. The small Terran empire may yet rule the fates of all; for what its worth you have made a friend in the Solarian people today Michael Alexander.”
“As have you in the Earth and Outer Colonies Alliance, Mr…erm…Karalis, sir,” Michael stammered.
Karalis laughed, “in six weeks.”
They exited the council jubilant, and to a cheering crowd who had just heard the news. This was a historic day and news of this would spread right across Solarian space.
Both Michael and Vargev were greatly heartened by what they had just accomplished, it was by no means easy but now they had a chance to fight back; finally someone was on their side. But they were also worried at the same time.