The Last Great Time War: part III

Aggressive Negotiations

The 42nd Cyber-Controller returned to the bridge of his flagship after evacuating from what was thought to be a false alarm. It wasn't.

"Glad you could join us," said the Renegade, sitting at a table by the Cyber-Controller's chair. Several other species were there with him. "We have some very important matters to discuss."

"Intruders will be de-le-ted," said the Cyber-Controller.

"Oh, I don't think so," said the Renegade. "We've just disabled all of your weapon systems. You can't signal for help, either. Your entire legion is cut off from the rest of the fleet. We are hidden inside a spatial loop, courtesy of my good friends the Warpsmiths. The other Cybermen won't find us here."

The Cyber-Controller checked this via neural interface with his fleet. It was true, they were trapped.
"What is your purpose with us?"

"We need you to join our Alliance to defeat the Daleks, Time Lords, and various other belligerents. There's quite a lot at stake, and your technology will be useful. Your combat skills and synchronization are excellent, and your sensors are some of the only ones in this universe that can detect Dalek stealth ships."

"Involvement in the Great Temporal War is designated too great a risk," said the Cyber-Controller. "Your plan results in our destruction. This is unacceptable."

"Failure of my plan results in the extinction of all life at best," said the Renegade. "At worst, in said life suffering unbearable torment forever."

"The Cyberiad will survive. We are strong, we cannot feel torment. Your plan is suicidal."

"It's risky, yes, but safer than refusing," said the Renegade. "If you accept, your ships will be equipped with vortex drives and you will have a fighting chance. If not, the you will still not be safe from the War. Already you have felt its effect. The controversy on whether the current year is 197,800 or 198,700 is a result of the War tearing the timeline and mixing chronology. This is only a small ripple of the War. Closer to the epicenter, entire interstellar civilizations blink in and out of existence, each time returning in a different, more distorted form. In such places time runs in every direction. There's no telling what effect this would have on you and your emotional inhibitors, but it wouldn't be pleasant. Even you would not be immune to the suffering of the War. Space and time are on fire, and the fire must be extinguished before all structure is consumed.

If you are still reluctant to help us, here's one more convincing piece of evidence." The Renegade gestured to the other species assembled at the table.

"We have taken the liberty of planting nanites within the engines, power systems, hulls, weapons, and life-support systems of your ships," said the delegate of the Monan Host, a short, green, cat-like biped.

"Should you refuse to obey us," said the representative of the Nekkistani, a slug-like creature with orange spikes, "there will be no more 42nd Cyber Legion."

The Cyber-Leader knew he was trapped. He and his Legion were either going to perish right here and now, or else fight on the front lines of an eternal War and maybe have a small chance of escaping destruction. There was still another question.

"Will our survival be secured in the event of victory?"

"We hope to find a place for you where you can exist without being a threat," said the Renegade, "but I can't promise anything. It's still better than any alternatives. This fleet was originally destined to be destroyed in battle with the Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire."

"We accept your offer," said the Cyber-Controller. "We must integrate our strategies and communication systems."

"We must start immediately, but we can only finish the basics," said the leader of the Warpsmiths. "We don't have much time. Morbius's fleet is on its way here right now."