State Leader Sten and Headman Dgzh looked at the empty display and then Dgzh said, I told you that the Humans would surprise us. What do we do now?
We do nothing. Im sure the ten members of the ruling planets will have something to say about what we just heard. I no longer need convincing; Im going to suggest that we leave these Humans alone. If we sent every remaining warship in the Alliance, Im not certain we would win. Perhaps we might go visit the Glod Union and ask them about these Humans. Would you make that trip? I have to stay and wait for the tens response and it might be better if youre not near when that happens.
Dgzh looked at Sten and knew he expected the worse for himself. Ill contact them and leave immediately. I will ask the creator to watch over you State Leader.
Sten looked at him and said, I think its even too late for him to help me.
The Subleader was sitting in his command chair waiting for the remainder of his ships to be escorted to the moon when his display showed the Human Leader. Kosiev said, Commander, we have changed our mind about parking your ships.
The Subleader and all his crew suddenly felt the cold chill of fear. But you gave your promise.
I know, however, after considering what would happen if this many ships were removed from some of your member races, we determined that the civil war we fear would happen quickly. We are releasing your ships and crews with no conditions other than after we escort you to the jump limit that you leave our system and return home to your home planets.
What! The Subleader was astonished. This was unheard of, How can you do that after we invaded you? What am I saying, Im just amazed that you would even consider doing that.
Kosiev looked at the Alliance fleet leader for a moment and said, I personally would not do it but I am a military man. Fortunately for you, minds greater than mine can see the big picture where I am primarily concerned with tactics and victories. Commander, we cannot have the death of billions of innocent people on our conscience. If you do it to yourselves, then thats not on us but if we cause that loss of life, it will put a huge burden on our society that will eventually erode our belief structure. We really believe that every individual is precious and has an opportunity to make the universe a better place. If we allow that many to die, we violate every tenant of our values.
The Subleader was from a violent race and had advanced because of his violent nature. This was an entirely new way of looking at the universe. He didnt want to believe what he was hearing, but deep down he felt the message and felt shame. This Human warrior was stronger than him and he knew that strength allowed him to follow his values. This was something that he would think about. How do you suggest we make this happen?
You still have about half your fleet with you, Kosiev said. Send all the ships from each race one by one out to the moons orbit and we will escort them to the jump point. From there they can go home. The crews of the ships that are parked on the moon that are leaving in shuttles will be turned around and brought back to their ships and well also escort them out race by race until they are all gone. None of your shuttles have reached the jump point yet so we should be able to get all your ships out of our system within four rotations. If you would wait until the last group to ensure that our instructions are followed then it should be done with no loss of life.
The crew on the command ship could not believe what they were hearing but after the first twenty races were escorted out and jumped to safety they knew the Humans were not deceiving them. After four days the last group of Alliance warships headed out to the jump point and the Subleader sat in his command chair and felt small. Of the 8,420 ships trapped by the humans more than 6,000 of the commanding officers vowed to themselves that they would not participate in any future attack on this race. Kosievs conversation with the Warleader had been broadcast to all the Alliance ships and they knew that they owed the Humans for sparing their lives. Information is what changes ones view. All of these crews had something to tell about this Human race that would impact the members of the Alliance in ways that they would never imagine. There exists a race that wants them to live peacefully, be happy, and value each other. It was a message that the races of the Alliance had never heard and upon hearing it, many asked the question, Why not.
Atlas, thank you for helping me with the broadcast, Tag thought.
Glad to do it. How hard was it to convince the leaders of your government to go along with your plan?
Danielle chimed in with, Not as hard as you might think. Sorry, I was listening in to you two.
Hello, my love, Tag said. Youre welcome any time. You still havent told me why you think the civil war would have started if we kept those ships.
It wasnt me that saw that, it was Sung Lea; Danielle said, she saw how some of the races that sent ships to the Alliance fleet would be attacked if their fleet didnt return. All the possible futures had that war starting now. She said after the first forty worlds were destroyed that hundreds would jump into the fray. Now that the ships have been released, she tells me that only one of the possible futures has that war happening immediately. The threat of that war is still with us but it has been delayed.
Why would you care if they destroyed themselves, Danielle? Atlas asked. It would remove a threat to your existence.
Atlas, all life is precious, just as you are to us. If we could stand by or even worse cause that loss of life then it would scar us. It would harden us to accept that and it would lead to us eventually hardening our hearts to each other.