It was about one Earth day after I've made my proposal of the defense system to The Council. In our solitude room, Mei and I were sitting around, looking at maps and reading encyclopedias - not because we had to, but because there was nothing much to do. We were under observation by guards just outside the door, and were not allowed to interact with public in any way. Boredom would kill us if weaponized machines did not.
The door opened at a random time, and someone brought us a bunch of papers. He silently made the delivery and left as quickly as he could.
Mei and I raised our heads from whatever we were reading to take a look at the papers. There was a folder named "Detailed Breakdown of Resources and Facilities Allocated for the Establishment of a Defensive Sensor Constellation".
"I guess this means that they liked our plan." I said.
"Or they didn't really like it, but had nothing better at their hands." Mei said.
"Oh, come on, we did good." I said.
"Anyway, let's see what we have to work with..."
We opened the folder and saw a list of ores, alloys, refineries, production and assembly facilities, ships and amount of people divided in various specialities required to run these. We were also given a deadline which was set for two weeks later from today. We silently read all the details, in dismay.
"What?" I said the first word. "Do they expect us to handle everything from processing the ores to building satellites!? Then what does this council ever do?"
"I would be happy if that was the only problem." Mei commented. "This is nowhere near enough to accomplish what we are trying to do."
"Ugh." I said. "We will have to make it happen one way or another."
Just when we were discussing, the door opened. Council members got inside one by one, just like they did the first time. They gathered around the large table, forming a circle around us.
"Very well." a random member started speaking. "We are allocating the resources for you to create your sensor constellation."
"We can't even build a microwave oven with what you are giving us." Mei said, with a passive aggressive tone. All council members ignored her. I did not like their attitude towards her, but I decided not to spark a heated discussion like Mei otherwise would have.
"Sir, what you have given us is not enough to build the sort of constellation we need."
"About that..." they said, without paying the smallest attention to Mei herself. "We have a second mission for you, with which you will secure the rest of the necessary mineral resources."
"A mining expedition?"
"No. It is a reclamation mission."
"Reclamation?" Mei asked. Only this time, they answered her.
"We will be reclaiming the resources which are stolen by a mining fleet of Imperium Mundi Exterioris."
"Imperium what?"
"It doesn't matter." The Council said. "This mining fleet is still within our claimed territory, and they are still stealing our resources."
"Wait a minute." I said. "What is this... Imperium? How many self-declared states are out there in the Trans-Neptunian region, and why do we not know anything?"
My question was ignored.
"We want you to launch a fleet and take our resources back - by force, if necessary."
"WHAT!?" I was completely enraged. "Humanity is at the verge of extinction and you want start a civil war!? What is wrong with you!?"
"To be fair, we did ask them nicely to leave our asteroid fields." a council member said.
"I refuse!" I yelled. "I refuse to fight against human beings."
"You may want to, I understand." The Council said. "The Imperium, however, does not share your views, nor does anyone else. Inter-state warfare is still a thing. Smaller empires are still often conquered by larger ones."
"When millions gave their lives on Earth and Mars to save humanity, they were not hoping for an age of feudal warlords, I can tell you. The Imperium, the Order, or any other authority - I don't care. We are not going to fight, we need to work together!"
"This attitude of yours... I think you can understand why we wanted to imprison you, brother. But in the chaos of the evacuations, those who had more power and riches gathered people around themselves, creating those new empires. That remains to be the universal language here." they replied. All council members turned around and left the room - except one, the man in the middle: Professor Kukulkan.
"You need to understand, Kagan, you are not in power here. You will do the job, or someone else will. For your future, it would be better if it is you who did it." he whispered to me before following the rest of the group to exit the room. "I see your motivations, but I might not always be able to help you, and mankind needs someone like you... not in a prison."
"Alright, stop!" I shouted before the door was closed. Council members turned around to face me. "I will do it. Just provide me with what you can, and I will reclaim your resources."
It was painful for me to preach those words, very painful. I was basically saying that I was agreeing to assault a mining fleet full of innocent people.
The Council entered the room again. Mei was staring at me in disgust and anger.
"Accepting and returning from mistakes show some wisdom." they said. "You will be in command of the fleet during the mission. Choose your ships carefully and form a good fleet, brother."
"I need more information to continue, though." I said. "About this... Imperium, and whatever other states are out there."
"We disagree." The Council said. "You know everything you need."
"Sir, if a battle breaks out, I need to calculate whatever reinforcements or counterattacks they can attempt. If they have allies or other enemies, I need to know about them as well. If a battle breaks out, I can assure you, it will never be an isolated incident."
Council members discussed among themselves for a few minutes.
"I can't believe you." Mei said as I read her lips.
"Mei, losing whatever amount of freedom we have will not help our cause." I said. "And don't worry, I will come up with something good. I don't want things to escalate either."
"It has been decided." The Council spoke. "We will give you detailed information on all known self-declared states in the Trans-Neptunian region."
"I am grateful." I said. "I will have one more request."
"Please explain."
"I want to have Professor Yamamari with me." I said. It actually had nothing to do with any of my plans, but I just wanted to ensure his safety.
"That is not permissible." they replied.
"But-"
"The Council is righteous."
All council members left the room, and the door was locked again.