Project Gaia : The arrival of humanity

Chapter 33 : Decree

"No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory."

- Franklin D. Roosevelt

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Earth, New York City, United Nations Headquarters. July 9th 2038. 1500 hours.

The afternoon sun cast long shadows over the United Nations headquarters, its imposing glass facade reflecting a city that seemed uncharacteristically quiet. The usual hum of life in New York had dulled as news of the failed first-contact mission and the subsequent occupation of an Equines village dominated global headlines. Protesters gathered outside the building, their banners waving in the faint breeze. 'No War on Gaia!' and 'Save Humanity!' were among the many desperate pleas painted in bold letters.

Inside the grand chamber of the Security Council, tension hung thick in the air. The massive circular table was surrounded by world representatives, their faces etched with exhaustion, frustration, and fear. The faint hum of whispered conversations was cut short as the Russian representative, Menshikov Andrei, stood up abruptly, his chair screeching against the marble floor.

"Mr. Bauer," he began, his voice sharp with accusation, "let us not dance around the truth here. It was your Bundeswehr detachment that led the initial contact. It was your men who escalated a peaceful negotiation into bloodshed. Tell me, did Germany intend to start this war from the beginning? Are you so eager to revive Germany's past glory?"

A collective gasp rippled across the room. The German representative, Johann Bauer, slammed his palm on the table and rose from his seat. His sharp suit creased under the weight of his tense shoulders.

"How dare you!" Bauer barked, his voice trembling with restrained fury. "The Bundeswehr followed every single first-contact protocol established by this council. We approached them slowly, we signaled our peaceful intent, and yet they attacked us! Do you expect my men to stand idle while they are slaughtered like animals? This was not Germany's fault!"

His face reddened as he continued, "And do not lecture me about our past, Menshikov. That era is long gone, and you know it. If anything, your history with unchecked aggression should warrant far more scrutiny than ours!"

The chamber erupted in murmurs and side conversations. The tension was suffocating.

Leonardo Flori of Italy cleared his throat and spoke, his voice calm but firm. "We have reviewed the footage from the Bundeswehr cameras. It is clear-the Equines fired first. Not only that, but our inspections post-battle revealed something troubling."

Kei Tanaka of Japan nodded in agreement, adding, "Dozens of barracks, weapon caches, and fortified positions had been set up in that village. They were preparing for conflict before we even arrived. This was not a misunderstanding; this was premeditated hostility."

The Indian representative, Ruldu Dheer, shifted uncomfortably in his seat before asking the question that everyone had been avoiding. "Then... what do we do now? If the aliens are unwilling to talk, unwilling to negotiate... do we have any path forward?"

A heavy silence fell over the room. For a brief moment, no one spoke. The weight of billions of lives rested on their shoulders, and the path forward seemed uncertain.

Rémi Marais of France finally broke the silence. His voice was weak, defeated. "Perhaps... perhaps we should consider retreating. Evacuate our colonies, cut our losses, and begin the search for another planet. One that's... uninhabited."