Earth Stayed Out Of The Galactic War

0:00Tyler Reddick here from 2311 Racing, the rush of racing, nothing beats it, but Chumba Casino comes close. Chumba's got fast spins, fun games, daily bonuses, and all the action you can handle. Now that's a ride. Ready to hit the throttle? Get in the driver's seat and head to Chumba Casino.com. Let's Chumba. Sponsored by Chumba Casino, no purchase necessary. VGW Group Voidware prohibited by law, 21 plots, turns and conditions apply. Hello, I'm Wilkins, stories all the time. The Ladewer here. Let's get into it. They alarm rang through the deep space station at exactly 347 Ios. Lieutenant David Park jumped from his sleep pod and ran to the control room. His bare feet slapped against a cold metal floor as he moved through the narrow hallways of listening. Host Alpha 7, what do we have? He asked as he slid into his chair The screens around him showed dozens of blinking lights and scrolling data

1:02streams. Another system just went dark, said Sergeant Maria Santos from the communications desk. She pointed at the red dot on the storm app. That's the Vorfak home system. Three billion warriors. Thundin six iris, David stared at the screen. Six months ago that red dot had been green. A voth aqua known across the galaxy is the fiercest fighters anyone had ever seen. The warriors trained from birth to die in battle. They had weapons that could crack planets and ships that move faster. Then light itself. Now they were gone. Same pattern as always, Maria continued. She pulled up the tactical reports on their screen. The scorn jumping with overwhelming force. The demands are under. When the locals refuse, they start killing everything that moves. When the locals tried to surrender, they killed everything anyway. David rubbed his tired eyes. He had been watching this war for three years now. Three years of seeing entire civilizations wiped out like someone racing mocks on a board. The scorn hadgemony moved through space like a plague. They took what? They

2:02wanted and destroyed what they could not use. How many does that make now? He asked. 47 star systems. Maria said quietly. Maybe 400 billion people. All dead. The listening post was one of 12 hidden stations that Earth had built along the outer rim of the galaxy. There was small and hard to detect. Their job was simple. Watch and listen. Earth wanted to know what was happening in the galaxy but Earth did not want to be noticed. David worked to the main viewing screen. It showed a map of the entire galaxy. Green dot showed systems that were still free. Red dot showed systems that the scorn had conquered. Yellow dot showed systems that were under attack. There were a lot more red dots than green ones. Look. At this Maria said, she pointed to a cluster of yellow dots know the galactic core. The ethereal confederacy is making their last stand. 20 systems. They're throwing everything they have at the scorn. The ethereal's were old. Really all? They've been traveling between stars when humans were still living in caves. They had

3:05technology that seemed like magic. The ship could appear and disappeared well. Their weapons could reach across solar systems to strike targets. David watched. The tactical display update in real-time. The yellow dots were turning red one by one. How long do you think they'll last? He asked. Two weeks, maybe three, Maria said. The scorn don't care about technology. They just wrote ships at the problem until it goes away. They've got more ships than the ethereal's of bullets. David nodded. It was always the same story. The scorn would show up with a thousand ships. The enemy would destroy 900. Of them, then the scorn would show up with two thousand ships. Numbers always won in the end. As communicator beeped. Admiral Sarah Chun's face appeared on the small screen. She looked tired. She always looked tired these days. Lieutenant Park, I need a full briefing ready in two hours, she said. The council is meeting again. Yes, ma'am, David replied. Should I include the ethereal situation? Include everything Chun said. They want to know

4:09if we should start helping the survivors. The screen went dark. David looked at Maria. They both knew what that meant. Some people on Earth wanted to join the war. They thought humanity should help fight the scorn. They thought it was the right thing to do. David was not sure it was the smart thing to do. He spent the next two hours putting together his report. The numbers were not good. The scorn had started with maybe 50,000 ships. Now they had over 200,000. Every time they conquered a system, they took the shicks and factories. They turned the conquered people into workers and soldiers. The free systems of the galaxy had started with millions of ships. Now they had maybe 50,000 left. Most of those were running away or hiding. The scorn or winning, David said. To the empty room, they're not just winning. They're winning easy. He looked at the part of the map that showed human's face. Earth and her coloners were far out in a room of the galaxy. 47 systems with about 30 billion people. They had good technology and strong fleets, but they were small compared to a great power's dot or the great

5:10powers that used to exist. Thought the strange thing was that the scorn had never bothered with human space. Their fleets had passed near human. Systems many times. They could have attacked anytime they wanted. That they always were somewhere else. Thought David pulled up the intelligence files on scorn behavior. They seemed to target the richest and most powerful systems first. They wanted the biggest prizes. Places with the most people, the most resources, the most advanced technology. Maybe they thought human space was not worth the trouble. David finished his report and sent it to Admiral Chan. Then he went to get some coffee from the small kitchen. The listening post only had 12 people on it. They worked in shifts, watching the galaxy burn. When he came back, Marie was stirring at her screen with a strange look on her face. What is it? He asked intelligence from the inner systems. She said it's about how the scorn picked her targets. She put the report on the main screen. It was from a group of refugees who had escaped from a conquered system. They had been prisoners on a scorn ship for months before they managed to get away. Look at this part, Maria said. She highlighted

6:11a section of text. They said that the scorn have a list, a target list, it ranks every system in the galaxy by value. David read the report carefully. According to the refugees, the scorn used a complex formula to decide which systems to attack. They looked at population, resources, technology, and military strength. They started with the highest value targets and worked their way down. Where do you think human systems rank on that list? Maria asked. David fought about it. Earth had. Decent technology, but nothing special compared to the ethereals or the Vorthak. They had good resources, but many systems had better ones. They had about 30 billion people, which was a lot, but some systems had ten times that many. Pretty low, he said finally. We're probably not even in the top hundred. That's what I was thinking to, Maria said. We're too small to bother with, at least for now. But David knew that would not last forever. The scorn were working their way through the list. Eventually they would get to the bottom. Eventually they would come for Earth. He was still

7:12thinking about that one is communicated to beaped again. This time it was a priority message from Earth to fence command. Admiral Jean's face appeared, but she was not alone. Behind her, David could see other officers and civilians. It looked like they were in the main briefing room. All listening posts. This is Admiral Jean, she said. We have a situation. Long-range sensors have detected a large scorn fleet moving toward the outer rim. We're not sure of their destination, but they're headed in our general direction. David felt his stomach drop. How large is large? He asked. 300 chips, John replied, including some of their biggest red knots. This is not a raiding party. This is a conquest fleet. Maria was already pulling up the sensor data on her screen. The scorn fleet was still two weeks away from the nearest human system, but they were definitely heading towards human space. What are your orders, ma'am? David asked. Keep watching, John said. I want to know everything about that fleet. Were they going? What they're planning? How they're organized? Everything? And if they're

8:14coming for us? David asked. Admiral Jean was quiet for a moment. The behind her to other officers looked grim. Then we'll be ready, she said, finally. Earth has not survived this long by giving up when things get difficult. The communication ended. David and Maria looked at each other. They both knew what this meant. The war that had been raging across the galaxy for three years was finally coming to Earth. David went back to his station and started tracking his scorn fleet. The ships were moving fast, faster than most species could manage. They would be at the edge of human space in two weeks. Two weeks to get ready for a war that had already killed 400 billion people. As he worked, David thought about all the reports he had filed over the past three years, all the battles he had watched, all the civilizations he had seen die. The scorn always won because they had more ships, more weapons, more soldiers. But David had also noticed something else in his reports, something that might be important. The scorn always fought the same way. They jumped in with overwhelming force. They demanded surrender. They destroyed anyone who assisted.

9:16It was simple and effective, but it was also predictable. They would pull up the tactical files from the last 50 scorn victories. He started. The patterns, their formations, their strategies. They did the same thing every time because it always worked. Maybe that was their weakness. He started a new file on his computer. At the top he wrote, scorn tactical analysis, potential vulnerabilities. Two weeks was not much time, but David had spent three years watching the scorn fight. He knew. How they thought, he knew how they moved. And maybe, just maybe, he knew how to beat them. Outside the listening post, the stars continued to shine. Somewhere among them, the scorn fleet was moving toward Earth. They thought they were coming to. Conquer another week's species. They had no idea what they were walking into. Tyler Reddick here from 2311 Racing. Another checkered flag for the books. Time to celebrate with Jamba. Jump in at JambaCasino.com. Let's Jamba. No purchase necessary. BTW Group. Boy, we're prohibited by law. CCNC is 21 plus sponsored by JambaCasino.

10:17Captain Marcus Rodriguez was drinking his morning coffee when the alarm started screaming. He dropped the cup and ran to the bridge of the U.S. Defiant. Coffee splashed across the floor as his boots pounded in the metal deck. Report, he shouted, as he jumped into his captain's chair. Sir, we have multiple contacts dropping out of hyperspace at the edge of the system, said Lieutenant Commander Jessica Walsh from the census station. Her voice was steady, but Marcus could hear the fear. Underneath, their biggest sir, really big. Marcus looked at the main screen. Three massive shapes were appearing as the census painted their outlines. Each one was the size of a small moon. Around them, smaller ships were emerging from hyperspace like Angry insects. How many ships total? Marcus asked. Still counting. Sir, Walsh replied, at least 200, maybe more. Marcus felt his mouth go dry. The Defiant was a good ship, one of Earth's newest destroyers. But it was a loan out here on patrol duty. The rest of the fleet was scattered across 47 star systems. Are this gone? He asked though he already knew the answer. Yes, sir.

11:21The ship profiles match our intelligence fars perfectly. Marcus stared at the screen. For three years, the scorn had ignored human space. They had been too busy conquering the great powers of the galaxy to battle with a small colony. But now they were here. Communications. Get me a channel to Earth Defense Command, Marcus ordered. Priority Alpha. Working on it, sir, said Ensign Tommy Park from the communications station. But, sir, the scorn are jamming most frequencies. It might take a while. Keep trying, Marcus said. He toned his weapons officer. Lieutenant Torres, what's our tactical situation? Not good, sir. Torres replied. We've got 24 plasma torpedoes, full ammunition for our rail guns and our defensive systems at 100%. But, sir, those dreadnots. Haven't a fire per tecraca planet, Marcus knotted. He had read the intelligence reports. Scorn dreadnots carried weapons that could destroy entire cities with a single shot. The smaller ships were armed with plasma cannons that could melt through

12:21the strongest armor. Thought the defiant had good shields and decent weapons, but it was like bringing a knife to a gunfight. Surror, income and transmission ensigned parking out. It's from the lead scorn ship. Footed on screen, Marcus said. Thought the view screen flickered and then showed the bridge of the alien ship. The creatures sitting in the command chair was huge, at least eight feet tall. His skin was dark gray and covered with scales. His eyes were yellow and seemed to glow in a dim light of its bridge when it spoke. The translation system toned its growls and hises into words that Marcus could understand. Primitive mammals, the alien said. His voice was deep and rough. I am Warmaster Theccon of the Scorned Hegemony. Your species will serve us now. You will surrender your military ships for destruction. Your people will be moved to work camps. If you obey, some of you will live. Marcus looked around his bridge. His crew was stirring at the screen with a mixture of fear and anger. These aliens had just told them that humanity was now property of the Scorn Empire. Marcus stood up slowly. He straightened his uniform and looked

13:23directly into the aliens' yellow eyes. This is Captain Marcus Rodriguez of the Terran Defense Coalition. He said in a clear, steady voice. You have entered sovereign human space without permission. You have threatened the lives of human citizens. Under the laws of the Terran Defense Coalition, this is an act of war. The aliens' mouth open, showing rows of sharp teeth. Marcus could hear what sounded like laugh to coming from the other creatures in the bridge. You think your tiny ship can fight us? Decalon said. We have conquered species with fleets a thousand times larger than yours. We have destroyed civilizations that ruled the galaxy for millions of years. What makes you think primitive mammals from a remote can? Stand against us? Marcus smiled. It was not a happy smile. Because we're humans, he said simply. And humans don't give up. He turned to his communications officer. Enzyme Park, are you recording this? Yes sir, Parker Blyde. Good. Broadcast this on all frequencies. Make sure every human ship and every human colony hears it.

14:23Marcus turned back to the screen. Warmaster Decalon, you have exactly one iron to withdraw your forces from human space. If you refuse, we will consider your presence in act of war and respond accordingly. The laughter from the alien bridge got louder. Decalon leaned forward in his chair. One human ship against two hundred scound vessels, he said. You are either very brave or very stupid. Maybe both, Marcus replied, but he's still up 59 minutes to leave. He cut the transmission. The bridge was quite for a moment. Sir, Lieutenant Taurus said carefully, what exactly is upland here? Marcus looked at his tactical display. The scound fleet was spreading out surrounding the defiant. Soon they would be in weapons range. Our plan is to buy time, Marcus said. Beth needs to know what's happening here. The fleet needs time to respond. And the scound need to learn that humans are not as easy to conquer as they think. Sir incoming message from Earth Defense Command. Enzyme Park announced. Admiral Sir trans face appeared on small screen. She looked tired and worried. Marcus, we received your transmission

15:28she said. Fleet Command is scrambling every available ship, but it will be at least six hires before we can get reinforcements to your position. Understood, Admiral, Marcus replied. We'll hold them as long as we can. Marcus, John, said quietly, you don't have to do this. You could withdraw, life to fight another day. Marcus looked around his bridge again. His crew was watching him waiting for his decision. They all knew the odds. They all knew they probably would not survive the next few hires. With respect, Admiral, yes we do, Marcus said. If we run out of the scound, we'll think all humans are. Cowards, they'll think we're easy targets. Someone has to show them they're wrong, John nodded slowly. Good luck, Captain. The transmission ended. Marcus turned to his crew. All right, people, you heard the Admiral. We need to hold this position for six hires. I know the odds aren't good. Anyone who wants to leave can take a shuttle to the nearest colony. No questions asked. Nobody moved. Lieutenant Commander Woolspoke for all of

16:29them. Sir, we're not going anywhere. Marcus fell to surge of pride. This was why he loved serving with humans. When things got impossible, they got stubborn. Very well, he said. Let's show these aliens what humans can do. All stations battle all out. Charge all weapons and prepare. For combat, the bridge lights dimmed red as the ship systems switched to combat mode. Marcus could feel the vibration of the engines as they powered up to full capacity. Sir with the scarner moving, Walsh reported. Twelve ships breaking off from the main fleet. Looks like they're coming to catch us. Marcus studded the tactical. Display, the scarner were being careful. It were not sending a whole fleet against one small ship. They were probably planning to disable the defiant and take prisoners for questioning. That was their first mistake. Weapons range in 30 seconds, Taurus announced. Wait for it, Marcus said. Let them get closer. The sconged ships were huge compared to the defiant. Each one could probably destroy the human ship with a few shots. But they

17:31were also slow. And Columbia. The defiant was fast and maneuverable. Twenty seconds to weapons range Taurus said. Thought Marcus watched the enemy ships approaching. They were flying in a standard attack formation just like the intelligence reports had predicted. Da. Scorn always used the same tactics because they always worked. Ten seconds. Alright people here we go, Marcus said. Remember we're not trying to win this fight. We're trying to survive at Taurus target their engines. Walsh be ready to jump the hyperspace if things get too hot. Weapons range Taurus announced. Fire. Marcus ordered. The defiance rail. Guns opened up, sending streams of metal projectiles at the lead scorn ship. At the same time Taurus launched two plasma torpedoes. Scorn had expected the plasma torpedoes. Their shields absorbed the energy weapons easily, but they had not expected the rail guns. The metal projectiles punched through their shields like they were not even there. Direct hits on the lead ship Taurus reported with excitement. There.

18:31Engines are damaged. Evasive maneuvers, Marcus ordered. Don't let them lock onto us. The defiant twisted and turned us a scorn shipped fire back. Pleasant bolts flew past the small human ship missing by meters. Walsh was flying like a life depended on it, which it did. Their weapons can track. US, Walsh said. We're too fast for their targeting systems. Marcus smiled. That was the second mistake the scorn had made. They were used to fighting other large slow ships. They had never faced something as small and quick as a human destroyer. Keep moving and keep firing. Marcus ordered. Hit and run tactics. Don't give them a chance to get a lock on us. For the next 20 minutes the defiant danced around the scorn shipped like a mosquito buzzing around sleeping tunts. The human. Shipped rail guns kept finding weak spots in the alien shields. Two of the scorn shipped were badly damaged and falling behind, but Marcus knew it could not last. The scorn were learning. They were changing their tactics trying to box the defiant in. Sir, more ships coming, Walsh reported. Looks like they're sending a whole fleet

19:36after us now. Marcus looked at the tactical display. Over 200 enemy ships were closing in on his position. Even with the defiant speed, there was no way to avoid them all. Sir, in commendron's mission from the scorn flagship and sign parking outs. Put it through, Marcus said. Warmaster galleon appeared on the screen again. This time he did not. Look him used. He looked angry. Enough games. Human. He snouled. Surrender now or we will destroy you. Marcus looked at his conometer. They had held the scorn for almost an hour. Every minute they fought was another minute for earth to prepare. Sorry, but humans don't surrender. Marcus said especially not to bullies. He cut the transmission and turned to his crew. All right people, they are bringing everything they have. Time for Plan B. What's Plan B, sir? Tor's s dot Marcus grinned. We're going to ram them. The bridge was quiet for a moment. Then Lieutenant commender Walsh laughed. Sir, that's completely insane, she said. Yes, it is Marcus agreed. But it's also the last thing

20:38they'll expect. Tor was overloaded the reactor. Walsh plot a course for the flagship full speed. The defiant turned toward the massive scorn dreadnought. The ship's reactor began building to dangerous levels as Marcus prepared for suicide run, but then something unexpected happened. Contacts appeared on the sensors. Ship's dropping out of hyperspace behind the scorn fleet. Human ships. Sur is the cavalry at Walsh said with excitement. The entire third fleet just arrived. Marcus looked at the display. Forty human warships had just jumped into the system. They were outnumbered five to one, but they were no longer alone. Admiral Chun's voice came over the communications system, broadcasting to both fleets. This is Admiral Sair Chun of the Terror and Defense Coalition. Skyron vessels, you are in violation of human space. We draw immediately or face the consequences. War must have echo in this response was broadcast on all frequencies. Europe pathetic fleet. Cannot stop us human. We have conquered species far more advanced than yours, maybe Chun replied calmly. But those species never had to fight humans before. You're about to

21:41learn why that matters. The space battle the fall of would be remembered for centuries. The humans were outnumbered, but they fought with a desperate creativity that the scorn had never encountered. Ships ran each other at light speed. Fighter scorns. Every human vessel seemed to have weapons. That the aliens had never seen before. Marcus watched from the bridge of the defiant as the battle raged around him. The scorn were learning that humans were not like the other species they had conquered. Humans did not fight fair. They did not follow the rules of galactic warfare. They fought to win. No matter what it cost. The battle lasted for six hours. When it was over, half the scorn fleet was destroyed or disabled. The survivors retreated to the edge of the system, licking the wounds, but Marcus knew this was just the beginning. The scorn had learned that humans would fight. Now they would. Come back with everything they had, the real war was about to begin.

22:42They were also playing Chamba Casino. Everybody's loving having fun with it. Chamba Casino's home to hundreds of Casino-style games that you can play for free anytime anywhere. So sign up now at chambacasino.com to claim your free welcome bonus. It's chambacasino.com and live the chamba life. Sponsored by Chamba Casino. No purchase necessary VGW group void were prohibited by law on 21-plus terms and conditions apply. Warmaster fecal and stared at the tactical display on his command ship. Brad Marcos showed where 23 of his vessels had been destroyed. Yellow Marcos showed another 15 ships that were too damaged to fight. In six hours, the humans had cost him almost a fifth of his fleet. This was not supposed to happen. The humans had only 40 ships. His fleet had over 200. The mathematics should have been simple. Superior numbers always won. It was the first law of galactic warfare, but somehow the humans had made the mathematics lie. Warmaster, his tactical officer said carefully. The humans are regrouping near their home planet. Should we pursue them? Veccolon considered his options. His fleet was still larger than the human force. He could

23:45probably win a direct assault, but the cost would be high. The humans fought like nothing he had ever seen before. No, he said finally. We will study them first, learn their weaknesses, then we will crush them properly. He had conquered 47 species in his career. Each one had fought differently, but they all followed the same basic patterns. They had honor codes. They had rules of war. They fought informations and used standard tactics. The humans seemed to have no rules at all during the battle. He had watched a human destroy around one of his cruisers at near a lead speed. The human ship was destroyed instantly, but it took the cruiser with it. No species, he knew would sacrifice a valuable warship like that that he had seen human fighters lugged themselves with nuclear weapons and fly directly into his dreadnoughts. The pilots had to know they would die, but they did it anyway. The explosions had damaged three of his best ships, most disturbing of all. The humans had weapons that should not have existed. Kinetic projectiles that punched through energy shields. Gravity bombs that collapsed space around his ships. Electronic warfare systems that

24:46turned his own computers against him. Prepare the landing forces to Kalan ordered. We will take their planet the traditional way. Once we control their homeworld, the rest will surrender. His aid looked uncertain. Sir, the humans seem very dot dot dot aggressive. Perhaps we should wait for reinforcements. Veccon's eyes flashed with anger. Are you questioning my judgment? No. Sir, at the aid said quickly. I just thought you were not paid to think Veccon's nod. You are paid to obey. Prepare the landing forces. We attack at dawn. Three eyes later, the first wave of scontrip transport began their descent. Toward earth, Veccon had chosen to land near the human capital cities. Once he controlled their governments, the rest of the planet would fall in line. It was a strategy that had worked on dozens of worlds. The first sign that something was wrong came when the lead transport exploded. What happened? Veccon demanded. From his command ship in orbit, unknown, Sir, his communications officer replied. The transport just dot dot dot

25:47exploded. No warning. No enemy fire detected. Technical malfunction, the Kalan decided. Continue the landing. The second transport made it closer to the ground before it died. This time the sensors detected the cause. A missile had come from somewhere in the city below, but the missile was tiny, too small for the sensors to truck properly. Sir, the humans are using some kind of stealth weapons, the tactical officer reported. Our shields are not stopping them. Impossible, the Kalan said. Our shields can stop plasma cannons. They can deflect particle beams. What kind of primitive? Weapon could penetrate them. It appears to be kinetic, Sir, the officer said nervously. Just a piece of metal moving very fast, but it's moving so fast that it goes right through our shields like they're not there at the Kalan frowned. Energy shields were designed to stop energy weapons. They were not very good at stopping solid objects, but no civilized species used kinetic weapons anymore. They were primitive and inefficient, unless apparently you wanted to kill something that had energy shields. Deployed the fighters he ordered. Clear the airspace around

26:51the landing zones. The scound fighters were fast and deadly. They could destroy any aircraft the humans might send against them. But when they reached the cities, they found no human. Aircraft waiting for them to stop them. They found humans with shoulder mounted weapons. The missiles that rose from the city streets were small and primitive looking, but they moved faster than the scound fighters could dodge. And they had heard enough to bring down ships that could survive space combat. Sir, we're losing fighters. The air commander reported. The humans have anti-aircraft weapons positioned all over their cities. How many fighters have we lost? Veccolon asked 60% of the first wave, Sir. Veccolon stared at the tactical display. His fighters were being shot down by ground troops with portable weapons. It should have been impossible. Fighter aircraft was supposed to dominate ground forces, but the humans had turned that rule upside down too. Send in the ground troops, he ordered. Heavy armor, full shields. Crush any resistance. The scound army that landed on Earth was impressive. 10,000 soldiers empowered armor. Tanks that could level buildings.

27:57Weapons that could melt through any material known to galactic science. The landed in Central Park in the middle of New York City. The plan was simple. Secure the landing. So, then advance on the government buildings. Take the human leaders prisoner and force them to surrender. The humans had other ideas. The first wave of scound troop to advance down Fifth Avenue in perfect formation. Their armor was proof against any weapon the humans were supposed to have. Their shields could stop plasma fire and particle beams. They could not stop a human sniper with an old-fashioned rifle. The bullet that killed the first. Scound soldier was made of depleted uranium. It was five from a building half a mile away by a woman who had learned to shoot hunting deer in a mountain of Colorado. The bullet punched through the alien shields an arm or like they were made of paper. The scound formation stopped confused. This sensors had detected the shot but they could not understand how such a primitive weapon had penetrated their defenses. The second shot came from a different building. Then a third from another direction. Then dozens of shots from all around. Then we're under attack. The ground commander reported to the command ship. But sir,

29:00we can't locate the enemy positions. They're firing from everywhere. Use the sensors, Declan ordered. Track the weapon signatures. Sir, the weapons don't have signatures. They're just chemical explosions. Our sensors are designed to detect energy weapons. Declan fell the chill. Run down the spine. The humans were using gunpowder weapons. Actual gunpowder technology that was thousands of years old. Technology that was so primitive that modern sensors barely noticed it. Technology that worked. Returned fire, he ordered. Level of buildings they're hiding in. The scound soldiers began firing their plasma weapons at the surrounding buildings. The last mounted and steel being glued red hot. But the human snipers had already moved to new. Physicians. As the scound have bounced deeper into the city, the attack got worse. Explosions erupted from men holes in the street. Buildings collapsed as hidden charges detonated. Vehicles exploded as human fighters emerged from sewers and subway tunnels. The humans were not fighting like a proper army. They had no formations, no command structure that a scound could detect. They seemed to be

30:04operating in small groups, each one independent and unpredictable. Sir, we need reinforcements. The ground commander reported. His voice was strained. The enemy is everywhere. We can't advance. How many troops have you lost? Declan asked. 2,000 dead, sir. Another thousand wounded. And sir, the humans are taking our weapons. What? When our soldiers fall, the humans take their weapons and armor. They're using our own technology against us. Beckon closed his eyes. This was getting worse by the minute. Not only were the humans fighting with primitive weapons that his technology could not counter, they were also adapting his advanced weapons for their own use. He had never seen anything like it. Pulled back to the landing zone, he ordered. The fence of. Physicians were called down orbital bombardment. But even that did not work the way it was supposed to. When the scound troops tried to retreat, they found that the humans had blocked their escape routes. Streets were filled with debris. Bridges have been destroyed. The paths they had used to advance into the city were now death traps. The humans had planned for

31:09this. They had prepared the city to become amazed that would trap any invading force. As night fell, the situation got even worse. The scound had excellent night vision technology, but the humans seemed to know exactly where they were at all times. Human fighters appeared out of nowhere, struck hard, and vanished before the scound could respond. Sir, the humans are using our own communication frequencies. The signals officer reported. They're listening to everything we say. How is that possible? Beckon demanded unknown, sir. But they seem to have cracked our encryption codes. They know where we are and what we're planning before we do it. Beckon felt panic starting to build in his chest. Nothing was working the way it should. The humans were not following any of the rows of warfare that had served him well for decades. Worst, they seemed to be enjoying themselves. His sketch reported the human civilians were helping the soldiers. Old men were building bombs in their basements. Children were running messages between fighter groups. Women were treating wounded soldiers and sending them back into battle. The entire population was at war. Sir messes from General Harrison.

32:12Park of the human defense forces, the communications officer announced. Pretend through the cologne said, an elderly human appeared on the screen. He was sitting in what looked like a simple office. There were no weapons, visible, no signs of military power. Just an old man in a plain uniform, or muster Thiccolon. The humans said calmly and call into discussed terms. Terms. Beckon laughed bitterly. You are surrounded. Your city is under attack. Your planet is mine. What terms could you possibly offer? Actually, the humans said with a slight smile, I was going to offer you terms for your surrender. The audacity was breathtaking. The human general was sitting on a planet under invasion with enemy troops in his capital city, and he was offering terms to the invaders. You're insane, Declan said. Maybe General Clark replied, but I'm also winning. Would you like to know why? Despite himself, Declan was curious. Tell me, because you've never fought humans before, Clark said simply. You fought civilized species.

33:12Species that follow rules. Species that fight wars the way you expect them to. The general lean forward in his chair, but humans are uncivilized. War master, not the way you understand civilization. We've been fighting wars for our entire history. We fought each other, our environment, and extinction itself. We've had to learn to survive when everything was against us. What's your point? Declan asked. My point is that while you were conquering the galaxy by being the most efficient killers, we were learning to be the most stubborn survivors. And there's a big difference between those two things. General Clark stood up and warped through a window. Behind him, the Catlin could see explosions lighting up the night sky. Your troops are trapped in our city, Clark continued. There are numbered 50 to 1 by people who know every street, every building, every hiding place. Your ships and orbit can't help them without destroying the city and killing their own soldiers. I can accept that cost, Declan said. Can you? Clark asked. Because if you destroy our cities, you get nothing. No workers, no resources.

34:14No technology, just ruins. And we have 46 other worlds. Each one ready to fight you the same way. Declan felt the trap closing around him. If he destroyed Arith, he would gain nothing but revenge. If he tried to conquer it intact, he would lose most of his army in the process. Here's what's going to happen. General Clark said quietly. You're going to withdraw your troops from our planet. You're going to leave our system, and you're going to think very carefully about whether you want to come back. And if I refuse, Declan asked. Clark smiled, but it was not a pleasant expression. Then you'll learn why human are the only species at Huntsford Sport. Dr. Eileen Avasquez set in the emergency council chamber deep beneath the Swiss mountains around the table with the leaders of verse 47 colonists, their faces grim as they watched the battle reports coming in from around the galaxy. The news was spreading fast humanity, not just for the scar, and they had beaten them, where the failed invasion was reaching every surviving civilization, and the galaxy the response has been immediate. Admiral Chen reported from her position. At the tactical display, we're receiving messages from refugee fleets, resistance groups, even some governments that went

35:16into hiding when the scar encunkered the worlds. Eileen looked at the data streaming across her tablet. At humanity's leading expert on alien psychology, she had been studying the galactic war for three years. But the information coming in now was unlike anything she had seen before. They want to know how we did it, she said quietly. Every message is asking the same question. How did humans defeat the scar and when no one else could? Tyler Reddick here from 2311 Racing. Victory Lane? Yeah, it's even better with Chamba by my side. Race to ChambaCasino.com. Let's Chamba. No purchase necessary, VTW Group. Void work prohibited by law. CTNCs. 21 plus. Sponsored by ChambaCasino. President Martin is leaned forward in his chair. Can we tell them? Vellina considered a question carefully. The truth was complicated. Humanity had not won because they were stronger or had better technology. They had won because they were different. The problem is that most species wouldn't understand the answer, she said finally. To explain how we beat the scar and I have to explain what humans really are and that might scare our new allies more than

36:17it encouraged them. Explain, Martina said. Dota Linus stood up and walked to the main display. With a few touches, she brought up a star map showing the evolutionary history of the major galactic species. Every other species in the galaxy evolved from apex predators she began. The etherels came from creatures that hunted in the deep oceans of their world. The vortex evolved from pack hunters that dominated their planet's largest continent. The Zephyrians were aerial predators that ruled their skies. She highlighted each species as she spoke. Showing their evolutionary paths. Apex predators are efficient killers. They're strong, fast and smart. They dominate through superior force. When they develop space travel and met other species, they naturally organized into a hierarchy space on strength. That makes sense, Admiral Chan said. The strongest species rule the weaker one's serve or get conquer. Exactly, the Lena replied. It's a system that worked for millions of years. The scum would just the latest in a long line of apex predator species to dominate the galaxy. They were better

37:17killers than anyone else so they won. She paused and brought up a new image on the screen. It showed the evolutionary tree of humanity. The humans are different. We didn't evolve as apex predators. We evolved as persisted predators. The room was quiet as Lena explained. Our ancestors were not the strongest or fastest creatures on earth. They were not the best killers. But they had one ability that no other species possessed. They could at last anything. She showed images of early humans hunting across the African plains. A human could chase an antelope friars. The antelope was faster, but humans never stopped. Running, eventually the antelope would collapse from exhaustion. Then the humans would catch it. Persistent hunting, present martina sits slowly. I've read about this. It shaped everything about us, Lena continued. Our bodies, our minds, our culture. We became the species that never gives up. When other predators would retreat or find easier prey, humans would keep going until they got what they wanted. Admiral Chan was studying the data on her tablet. So when this gun invaded earth,

38:19they encountered something they had never seen before. Lena finished. A species that specializes in surviving in possible situations. A species that gets more dangerous when it's losing. She brought up the battle reports from earth's defense. Look at the tactics we used. Kinetic weapons against energy shields. Urban warfare in prepared positions. Civilian population supporting. Military operations. None of this follows the normal rules of galactic warfare. Because we don't know the rules, Admiral Chan said with understanding, or we don't care about them. This guard have conquered dozens of species by following the same pattern, Lena explained. Overwhelming force, demands surrender or destroy resistance. It works because most species recognize when they're beaten, they submit to avoid extinction. She pulled up footage from the fighting in New York City, where humans don't recognize defeat. When a human gets cornered, they don't surrender. They get creative. They start looking for ways to hurt the enemy, even if it means dying in the process. The council members watched as human fighters used improvised weapons and suicide tactics against

39:22the scorn ground forces. The scorn expected us to fight like civilized beings, Alina said. But humans aren't civilized the way other species understand civilization. We survivors. We do whatever it takes to win. Is that why the other species are afraid of us? President Martinez asked. Alina nodded. The messages we're receiving are congratulatory, but there's fear underneath. They're grateful that someone finally stopped the scorn, but they are worried about what humans might do next. She brought up excerpts from the alien communications. The ethereal, remnant government says we fight like controlled madness. The Vothac survivors call our tactics on a list but effective. These effrayons are asking if humans plan to conquer the galaxy ourselves. Do we? Admiral Chan asked quietly. The question hung in the air. Alina had been thinking about it since the battle ended. Humans had proven they could defeat the most powerful military force in the galaxy. What would they do with that knowledge? That's the scary part she said finally. Other species conquer because they want to rule. They want resources, territory slaves,

40:23but humans might conquer just because someone told them they couldn't. She pulled up historical data about human conflicts on Earth. Look at our history. We fought wars over religion, resources, politics, and pride, but we've also fought wars just to prove we could win them. Humans will fight impossible battles for no reason except that someone said they were impossible. President Martinez robbed his temples. To the galaxies afraid that we might attack them next. Some of them, Alina confirmed. But others are asking us to help them fight the remaining scorn forces. They want to use our unconventional tactics against their presos. Admiral Chan looked up from her tablet. We're getting reports from across the galaxy. Resistance movements are copying our methods, kinetic weapons, guerrilla warfare, civilian malicious. It's spreading. Alina felt a mix of pride and concern. Humanity had given the galaxy hope by proving the scorn could be beaten. But they had also unleashed something that might be harder to control. There's something else she said. Our intelligence networks have been intercepting scorn communications. They're calling emergency meetings pulling back from

41:27active conquests. They're scared. Good President Martinez said firmly, maybe, Alina replied. But scared scorn empire might be more dangerous than a confident one. If they decide that humans are too dangerous to exist, they might try to destroy us completely rather than conquer us. She brought up the latest intelligence reports. They're pulling ships from across the galaxy, building the largest fleet in, recorded history. If they come at us with everything they have, we might not be able to stop them. The room fell silent as the implications sank in. Humanity had won the first battle by being unexpected. But the scorn were learning. The next fight might be very different. How long do we have? Admiral Chan asked. Maybe six months Alina. Reply, they need time to reorganize their forces and develop new tactics. But when they come back, they'll be ready for us. President Martinez stood up slowly. Then we need to be ready for them too. But first we need to decide what kind of species we want to be. He looked around the table at the other leaders. Alina is right. We could probably conquer the galaxy if we wanted to. Our tactics

42:31work against everyone, not just the scorn. But do we want to become the new oppressors? Do we want to rule for fear? Admiral Chan spoke up. Maybe there's a third option. We could help other species learn to defend themselves. Teach them our tactics. Give them the tools to fight back against any future conquests. Alina considered this. It's risky. If we teach everyone to fight like humans, the galaxy could become a very violent place. It's already violent. Martinez pointed out. The difference is that now the victims might have a chance to fight back. The debate continued for Ayers. Some argue for immediate expansion to prevent future threats. Others wanted to return to oscillation and let the galaxy solve its own problems. A few suggested that humans should become the galaxy's protectors, using their unique abilities to maintain peace. Finally, Alina stood up again. There's one more thing we need to consider. The psychological impact of what we've done goes beyond military tactics. She brought up a new set of data. For millions of years, the galaxy

43:32has operated on the principle. That might make right. The strongest species ruled because they could destroy anyone who opposed them. That system is breaking down. How so? Martinez asked. Because we've proven that strength isn't everything. A smaller, weakest species can defeat a larger, stronger one if they are willing to fight dirty enough. We've shown that the old rules don't work anymore. Alina highlighted several reports from across the galaxy. Slay species are rebelling against their masters. Week systems are forming alliances against strong ones. The entire galactic order is starting to collapse and it's because of what humans did to the scorn. The implications were staggering. Humanity had not just won a battle. They had accidentally started a revolution that was spreading across the entire galaxy. So what do we do? President Martinez asked. Alina looked at the data one more time. Before answering, we prepare for war. Because whether we wanted or not, we become the symbol of resistance for every oppressed species in the galaxy. The scorn won't just come for us next time. They'll come for everyone who dares to hope that

44:34the strong can be defeated. She pours and net the eyes of every person in the room. The question isn't whether we'll fight again. The question is whether we'll fight alone or whether we'll have help and that depends on what we do in the next six months. Outside the council chamber, Earth continued to prepare for the next battle, but now they knew they were fighting for more than just human survival. They were fighting for the idea that the weak could stand against the strong and win. It was the most human cause imaginable. Six months later, the largest fleet in Galactic history assembled at the edge of the Sal system. Over 3,000 scorned warships hung in space like a middle storm cloud, ready to rain destruction and the humans who were dared to resist them. Warmaster. Decaland stood on the bridge of his new flagship, a massive Trinot that was twice the size of his previous ship. Around him, his staff worked frantically to coordinate the attack. This time, there would be no mistakes. All Fleet Commanders report status he ordered. One by one, the responses came in. The scorn had pulled ships from every corner of the Empire. They had stripped garrisons from Concord Wells and recalled exploration fleets from the outer rim. Everything they had was here, ready to end the

45:38human threat once and for all. Sir, the humans have assembled their own fleet, who's tactical. Officer reported 120 ships. Beckon smiled grimly. The humans had managed to gather forces from all their colonies, but they were still at number 25 to 1. Even with their strange tactics, they could not overcome odds like that. And the other species, he asked. Several refugee fleets. I've joined them, sir. Maybe 30 sh- Hello, it is Ryan, and we could all use an extra bright spot in our day, couldn't we? Just to make up for things like sitting in traffic, doing the dishes, counting your steps, you know, all the mundane stuff. That is why I'm such a big fan of Chamba Casino. Chamba Casino has all your favorite social casino-style games that you can play for free anytime anywhere with daily bonuses. So sign up now at chamba-casino.com. That's chamba-casino.com. No purchase necessary VGW group void were prohibited by law on 21-plus terms and conditions apply. Gips total. The ethereal survivors, some vortalk lands, a few others, nothing significant.

46:39Beckon nodded. Some of the Concord species had sent a few remaining ships to help the humans. It was a futile gesture, but it would make their destruction more complete. When he finished here, there would be no one left to post-scarn rule. Begin the attack, he ordered that the scorn fleet move forward like a tide of metal and death. Their formation was perfect, they're timing precise. They had learned from their previous encounter with the humans. This time, they would not be caught off guard, but as they perched the human fleet, something unexpected happened. The humans did not form up to meet them in battle. Instead, they scattered in all directions, breaking into small groups that moved in seemingly random battles. Serr, the human fleet is dispersing. The tactical officer reported. They're not engaging us directly. Cowards. The Kalans nod. They know they cannot win, so they run, pursue them, destroy them one by one. The scorn fleet split up to chase the fleeing human ships. It was exactly what the Kalan had expected. The humans had fought bravely when they had no choice, but faced with overwhelming odds. They had chosen retreat over a certain death,

47:40but then the first group of scorn ships exploded. What happened? The Kalan demanded. And known, Serr is communications. Officer reply. The ships just dot, dot, dot detonated, all of them at once. Before the Kalan could respond, another group of his ships died in a flash of brilliant light. Then another and another. Serr, there are minds, the tactical officer said in a shaking voice. The humans have mined the entire system, but Serr, our sensors, can detect them. The Kalans stared at the tactical display in horror. Red markers were appearing all over the map as his ships died by the dozens. Whatever the humans were using as mines, they were invisible to scorn technology. How is that possible? He asked. The mines appear to be completely passive, Serr, the sensor operator reported. No energy signatures, no metal components that we can detect. They're just sitting there until we get close, then they explode. Deep in space, the human mines did their deadly work. They were not made of metal while powered by fusion reactors. They were carved from asteroids and filled with chemical explosives.

48:41Technology so primitive that the scorn sensors ignored them completely. Pulled back, letchaline ordered. Reformed the fleet. But pulling back was easier said than done. The mines were everywhere, scattered for other system in a pattern that forced the scorn ships into narrow corridors where the human fleet was waiting. Admiral, Serr, Chun watched the battle unfold from her command ship. The human fleet was tiny compared to the scorn armada, but they had advantages that numbers could overcome. These two, she ordered. Hidden bases throughout the system came online. Weapons platforms that had been built into asteroids opened. Fire. Missile batteries that had been camouflaged as space debris launched their payloads. The humans had spent six months turning their entire star system into a trap. Serr, we're taking fire from multiple sources. The scorn tactical officer reported. Platforms hidden throughout the system. They're using kinetic projectiles again. The colon watched and growing rage as my defleit was torn apart by weapons that should not have been able to harm them. The humans were fighting like pirates, using ambush tactics and hidden weapons instead of meeting them in honorable combat. We turned fire, he ordered, destroy those

49:46platforms. But destroying the platforms was almost impossible. They were built into asteroids empowered by generators deep underground. When the scorn tried to target them, they shut down and became invisible. When the aliens moved on, they came back online and resume firing, and while the scorn fleet was distracted by the hidden weapons, the human ships struck like wolves attacking a herd. Captain, Marcus Rodriguez, now commanding a small task force. Let his ships in a high speed attack run against a group of scorn cruisers. His destroyers were loaded with nuclear warheads and moving at maximum velocity. Remember, people he said over the communications channel, were not trying to win a fair fight. We're trying to make them hurt. The human ships ran into the scorn formation at their light speed. Most of them were destroyed instantly, but they took the enemy ships with them. In space combat, momentum was everything, and the humans were using it as a weapon across a battlefield, similar scenes played out. Human ships sacrificed themselves to take down largest scorn vessels. Fighter pilots loaded their craft with explosives and flew suicide missions into enemy dreadnoughts. Every human death cost the scorn multiple ships.

50:49So we've lost over 800 vessels, a tactical officer reported to Decalon. The humans have lost maybe 30. Decalon could not believe what he was hearing. His fleet's still outnumbered. The humans, but the rate of loss was unsustainable. At this pace, the humans would destroy his entire armada before he could defeat them. Enough, he snouled. All ships started the human homeworld. If we cannot defeat their fleet, we will destroy their planet. The remaining scorn shipped turned toward Earth their massive weapons charging for a bombardment that would crack the planet's crust. But as they moved into position, they encountered the final part of the human defense plan. The orbital stations around Earth were not just defensive platforms. They were the largest kinetic weapons ever built. Using the planet's rotation and gravity wells, they could accelerate projectiles to incredible speeds. Sir, massive energies back from the human homeworld, the sensor operator reported. What kind of energy? Decalon asked. It's not energy, sir. It's kinetic. They're throwing rocks at us. The projectiles that rose from Earth's surface with the size of small

51:51buildings. They had been accelerated by electromagnetic catapults and gravity slings until they were moving at a significant fraction of light speed. When they hit the scorn dreadnoughts, they went through them like bullets through paper dot in 30 seconds. The human planet defense system destroyed more scorn. Ships then had been lost in a previous hour of fighting. Decalon stared at the tactical display as red marker as disappeared from his screen. Half his fleet was gone. The humans had not just defeated him. They had humiliated him. His communications officer spoke up never see. Sir incoming transmission from the human admiral. Put it through, Decalon said. Admiral Chin's face appeared on the screen. She looked tired, but determined. Warmaster Decalon, she said calmly. And calling to offer you terms for surrender. Surrender. Decalon. Laugh bitterly. I still have over 1000 ships. You have less than 100. Actually, China replied you have about 600 ships left and they are surrounded. Decalon looked at his tactical display again. Chum was right. While he had been focused on the

52:54battle around Earth, human ships had been moving into position. Around his fleet. They had used the confusion of the fight to surround the entire scorn amada. Though ships came from the other human colonies, China explained. We've been planning this for six months. Every move you made every formation you used, we were ready for it. She leaned forward in her chair. You see, Warmaster, you made the same mistake that every other species in the galaxy he makes. You assume that because we're yelling and small, we must be stupid. But humans have been fighting wars for our entire history. We know how to plan for battles that haven't happened yet. Decalon felt the trap closing around him. The humans had not just prepared to defend this system. They had prepared to destroy his entire fleet. What do you want? He asked finally. Complete withdrawal from human space, China replied. Release. Of all prisoners taken from compote worlds. I'm a promise that the scorn will never again attack a species that does not attack you first. Invossible, the Calon set. The hegemony does not negotiate with inferior species.

53:54Shun smiled. But it was not a pleasant expression. Warmaster let me explain something about humans that he still don't understand. We are not an inferior species. We are a survivor species. And survivors don't negotiate. They dictate terms. She gestured as something off-screen, and the tactical display showed new contacts appearing throughout the system. Those are ships. From 17 different species, Shun continued. They've been hiding in our outer system, waiting for this moment. Every species you've conquered, every world you've destroyed, they all sent someone to be here today. Decalon looked at the display and growing horror. Hundreds of ships from dozens of different species were revealing themselves. The humans had not just been preparing to fight the scorn. They had been building an alliance. You have two choices, Chun said quietly. Surround and know and live to rebuild your empire on more peaceful terms. Or fight to the end and watch every scorn. In this system, die for nothing. Decalon looked around his bridge. His officers were staring at him, waiting for orders.

54:55The choice was simple, surrender or extinction. I need guarantees, he said finally. You're not in a position to demand guarantees, Shun replied. But I'll give you one anyway. If you surrender now and agree to our terms, the scorn empire can continue to exist. Your people can rebuild, your culture can survive. All you have to give up is the idea that might makes right. She pours and met his eyes through the screen. But if you choose to fight, then humanity will hunt down every scorn shit, every scorn colony, every scorn leader and tell your species is nothing but a memory. I will do it with the help of every species you've ever wronged. The silence on the bridge stretched for long minutes. Finally, Veckelins spoke. The scorn had your menace horrendous. The words felt like poison in his mouth, but he knew they were. The only chance is people had to survive. Admiral Chun nodded. There we go. You'll be escorted to the edge of the system. The liberation of Concorde worlds will begin immediately. As the transmission ended, Veckelins lumped in his command chair. The greatest military force and galactic history had been defeated by a species that most of the galaxy had never heard of

55:59six months ago. But as his ships began their retreat, he finally understood what had happened. The humans had not won because they were stronger or smarter. They had won because they were more stubborn. They had refused to accept defeat even when it seemed certain. And that, to call in, realized made them the most dangerous species in the galaxy. The war was over. But for the first time in millions of years, the strong no longer ruled by default. The age of human influence had begun and the galaxy would never be the same. And that is the end. Thank you for listening, and I will see you in the next one. Bubble Wallace here from 2311 Racing. You know what's slower than a pace car? Waiting at the car wash. That's when I fire up Chamba Casino. It turns those slow minutes into fast fun. With new games every week, you'll never get bored. Next time you're stuck in the

57:02slow lane, speed up with Chamba. Play now at chambacasino.com. Let's Chamba. Sponsored by Chamba Casino, no purchase necessary, VGW GroupFord, where prohibited by law, 21 plus terms and conditions apply.