Engagement [Book 3: SEKTOR V Trilogy]

Chapter 13: Message Received

Chapter 13: Message Received

To say these were unprecedented times was a significant statement for beings with lifetimes that often stretched beyond a millennium. Once again, Chairman Raizor Qunintavius and his closest allies would be doing their best to thwart the galactic bully. Like most bullies, however, he knew it would require a clear, aggressive retaliatory response to stop them. The Chairman also realized that the Council's patience was wearing thin. Many members were growing tired of dealing with the never-ending drama associated with the Terran System. This time, he planned to do something that hadn't been done for many Earth centuries by including members of an Unenlightened species as part of the emergency session. Not since the invasion of Xiao 3 had there been a plea for Sektor V councilmembers to unite in rebuke of such a highly aggressive, unwarranted show of force. However, unlike the situation that unfolded on Xiao 3, the Chairman was planning to allow representatives from the Unenlightened Terran contingent to join the proceedings.

At this point, Quintavius was desperate and knew that his best chance for success was to shock key member species into action. He had Generals Coker and Holland on hand for that very reason. The detailed suffering they had documented should bring all but the hardest of hearts to action. At least that's what he hoped. Quintavius was also fed up with the spineless responses and general attitude of appeasement associated with Zeta's wholly unapologetic, war-driven aggressive agenda that had already infected too many parts of Sektor V. He desperately wanted to disrupt the poisonous dynamic of complacency that many Member Worlds had willfully accepted over the past several decades. And with both the Zeta and Alpha Draconian representatives not in attendance, this was the opportunity the Chairman had been waiting for.

"Mr. Chairman, is it ok that we are here today?" Maddy asked with genuine concern.

Quintavius decided to block his mental transmissions and only communicate verbally since he wanted to make sure that his intentions wouldn't be shared with other Sektor V Councilmembers within the surrounding complex. For added security, the room he had chosen to discuss plans before the emergency session was soundproofed.

The Chairman, who was seated at the head of a table that included both Generals, Maddy and Gus, answered her question.

"Yes my dear, it most certainly is. What they have done and continue to do to your species is nothing short of attempted genocide. They will not rest until every single Human is removed from the galaxy. We simply will not allow that. The Council's fear has caused them to go blind to the Zeta aggression all around them. Sadly, this path is one we have seen countless times before. Terra has witnessed this more than once as well. Unfortunately, it is a universal truth of life. The fear of aggression can only be stopped by the fearless. Your people have continued to bear witness to their aggression. Today we summon the fearless."

"You are a great being, Quintavius. There is no question about that," Gus said. "But you are also a hopeless romantic. What makes you think our presence will change the hearts and minds of those on the Council? Centuries have passed and many do not think we deserve to survive in any capacity, let alone be considered Galactic equals."

General Steven Holland interjected.

"We will give these beings every opportunity to see what has been done to us...in bloody detail. We will not let these neutral, Switzerland-esque parties hide behind their cowardice as it relates to ongoing Zeta aggression. They also need to understand in painfully simple terms that they will be next and that remaining quiet and accommodative to such evil makes them appear weak to the very species they fear. Doing nothing will not ensure their survival. In fact, it will merely hasten their inevitable demise. We need to show them this reality, plainly. The only viable path forward is to unite. If they are smart they will join us."