Expansion: The Other Tales

Gregorian year 3009, 10:06 Earth time.

Mirkun year -2.

The fleet was impressive, the captain thought, so many ships, all born from the minerals of the solar meteor belt, each capable to bomb one megapolis of Earth without risk to them. And despite this, he never did quite like that they were not allowed to forgo the standard UPN.

All other equipment could be camouflaged, thank god, it would not do to lose troops because the bloody beasts saw them coming.

"Sir, the briefing will start soon, I've already set the holographic cameras," The AI spoke, the monotone expected from a 'dumb' military issue AI.

"Good, tell me when it starts," The captain turned to the cameras in front of his door. His image would be transmitted to all the rafts where the troops were about ready to drop to Kepler, their officers would be introducing him about now.

"Now sir."

A pause, images from nine rafts appeared over his doorway, nine from a hundred that would be dropping from his ship.

"Soldiers, today is a historical day, one that will be talked about in history for millennium to come as the day that mankind not only defended but defeated a race that rejected our hand in friendship and attacked those that wanted nothing but to help them progress.

"Our objective is this." The captain pointed at his window, where a display of the Kepler globe enlarged and showed a small village, probably fifty huts, each with primitive weapons in racks on the backyards.

"Fleet intelligence believes that these few huts are one of the major military outposts in this region of the continent. Once the village is under UPN control Theta will transmit each of your COs their order for the next phase of Operation Valhalla.

"You are to kill every single chimp that tries violence, but leave the children alone, we'll need some to help us communicate our reasons when we eliminate the resistance of the apes.

"Some of you may have been surprised by the heavy assault joining the static divisions, you have been assigned to those units because of your multilingualism, you are to learn their language and make them learn one of ours that is easier for them to learn, this are your standing orders, I expect us all but the occupation forces to be back in the ship by the end of the UPN week.

"You depart in ten minutes, and remember, keep your communicators open, and destroy any and all weapons that may be used against us if you are overrun. Dismissed."

The transmition cut off, leaving the captain isolated in his quarters.

"I'll be in the bridge Theta, don't let anyone in."

"I will try my best sir."