- The ruler of Moelis, Lesvold the Third, has made a sensational announcement about a possible withdrawal from the Commonwealth.
According to Space News One, Laesvold the Third is unhappy with what he says is the Commonwealth's indifference to their planet's problems. He claims that the Commonwealth is an alliance of three technologically advanced planets with large resources to support force fields, while the rest of its members cannot afford such a luxury. The inhabitants of the planet Moelis are divided into two camps, some supporting the ruler's position, while others fear they may be left without support in the event of a skroge attack.
- "I support Lesvold. While Moelis and Bonasis make ends meet, trying their best to maintain a costly force field, the rest of the members think they can stall as they please."
- "I would like to address the king: Lesvold, don't ruin our people! Moelis cannot exist outside the Commonwealth!"
- "Laesvold is taking a great risk in making such a statement. It could provoke a rift in society and lead to civil war."
- "One of the skroge ships will soon be entering our star system. Many fear that the ruler is hiding something from the people. Well, for one, many suspect that our force field is far more vulnerable than those available to the rest of the Commonwealth."
The head of the Commonwealth declined to comment on the statement. The Minister of Interplanetary Affairs spoke out in the strongest possible terms, saying that Lesvold was making such high-profile statements purely to boost his own ratings.
- "It is quite clear that Ruler Lesvold the Third has some sort of popularity problem on his planet, and is trying to solve this problem any way he can. Once again, please be advised that the members of the Galactic Commonwealth are equal before each other, and at this time there is no way to defend ourselves other than maintaining a force field around the planets. Maintaining the force field is the first priority of every leader of their planet"
***
I turned off the color vision, going for another check of the observation rooms. The first one I went to was Aurtror's.
- Good morning, - I said.
He was sitting on the bed, staring at the floor, silent.
- What are you like this morning? - I said, checking my equipment.
- I've had twelve women die in the last two days alone. - He answered in a quiet voice, with a seriousness that was unprecedented for him.
I turned around, fixing my gaze on him.
- Twelve? In two days? - was all I could utter.
I'd heard from the guards before that there were more deaths. But that many? When do they have time to die? What is even being done on this sinister floor?
- I no longer believe in the success of this project.
I answered him nothing. What was there to say to that? I don't believe it either. I haven't believed in this for a long time: everything has been tried. Creating from scratch using our DNA, modifying the human body, implanting a fetus - all unsuccessful. I don't know if it's true or not, but they say there was a single successful case on another ship. Allegedly, they managed to create a female skroge from scratch. But she died within weeks, almost immediately after fertilization. This was withheld from the planet's top brass to avoid punishment for the death of such a valuable specimen. But would she have been of much use?
After checking all the cameras, I realized that the mood among the guards is not good. Aurtror is not the only one who doubts the policy. Yenel, Ord and Casil have come to the same conclusion. Some of the brutes have even asked me to speak to my superiors. But what can I do? No one will listen to me. It's up to the Leader.
I decided to go up to the scientists' floor to find out something about the research and the project in general. I was met by Zed.
- If you came to talk to one of the scientists, you can go back up. This place is a madhouse, - he slapped his face with his palm, - I'm tired of dumping these corpses. You should hear the stinking odor in here sometimes! I've applied for a transfer to another sector. There's a limit to everything, damn it! - his speech echoed throughout the corridor.
- I'm still gonna try.
- Well, try, - he shrugged, returning to his post.
I walked down the hall, but no one answered the knock on the door. I'd have to wait for someone to spare a minute. Suddenly, I heard a conversation outside the door.
- I can't do this anymore. I'm tired, Jand. Why can't anyone hear us? It's been known for six months.
- I'm tired too. I wrote a report, and more than one. I'm not even sure the leadership read it.
- The scientists on the other ships agree with me. This project is a failure, there's no point in continuing.
- Look what they sent me an hour ago.
- It can't be.
- They're suggesting we shut down the project and use the women from the planet Moelis for experiments.
- But they're the same people there as on Earth.
- Not exactly. There's a suggestion that their bodies are stronger than Earth women's. They live longer, age later, get sick less often.
- How do they get through the force field?
- I have no idea.
The desire to talk to the scientist was gone: I had heard enough. Using women from the planet Moelis? They will never rest. This desire to spill as much blood as possible supersedes all common sense. Back on my floor, I met the security officer. He slowly crawled toward me.
- Kserd, there you are. I've been looking all over for you.
I got a little tense when I saw him.
- I'm listening.
- I'm just letting you know we have a group of hackers arriving on the ship. They'll need to be briefed tomorrow.
- Of course, Officer. I'll get right on it. May I ask why they're here?
- We've received a message from our planet. There is reason to believe that the force field of the planet Moelis has certain vulnerabilities. We have a chance to breach their defenses.
- Understood. I'll brief you tomorrow, - I saluted, and continued walking.
I looked at the room where Lya was being held again on automatic. Even though the guard was not there, the door to it was open, forcing me to go in again. But another subject was already sitting there, mumbling something to herself. Hiding behind the door, I overheard her monologue:
- I wish we'd put them creatures here instead of us. They don't even treat animals like this on Earth, - she sobbed, - They think we're some kind of plants with no souls. They think they can destroy every living thing in the galaxy. This race is the most disgusting thing man has created. My husband was killed hunting. My children are left alone. And I will die here very soon. I'll see you soon, John... - she sobbed.
When I heard that, something inside me twitched. I moved my feet slowly, unable to collect my thoughts. I went into the cabin and lay on the bed, trying to sleep. I felt the same as I had a week ago, tossing and turning with insomnia and a rush of heavy, loud thoughts keeping me awake. With difficulty turning off that mental monologue, I fell into slumber. In my dream, I saw the same observation room again, and in it, Lya. She was kneeling in front of me, wrapping her arms around my legs and sobbing.
- Kserd, please stop this! Help them!
- Lya! You're alive! - I lifted her off my lap and wrapped her in my arms, - You have no idea how much I missed you. They told me you were dead, - I sobbed, - I don't believe it, I don't believe it...
- It's true, Kserd, - she said quietly.
I looked at her: she was covered in bruises and wounds.
- No, no, no it can't be! - I shook my head, sobbing.
Her body was beginning to decompose, covered in dark stains.
- I don't have much time. You haven't helped me. But you can help them - her strength was slowly leaving her.
- No, Lya, no... don't die, please! Don't die again!
- It's over with me. You'll live without me. In another, better world. With another... - her voice faded, she died in my arms.
I tried to leave the room, but the doors wouldn't open, leaving me alone with her corpse.
I woke up in a cold sweat, my heart ready to jump out of my chest.
- Damn it... - I muttered, breathing heavily.
I paced around my gloomy quarters for a while, trying to calm myself down.
- When will these nightmares end? They haunt me every night.
I left the cabin to take a walk around the ship, hoping that I could get this horrible dream out of my head.
Walking around the ship at night, when it was quiet and everyone was asleep, often calmed me on sleepless nights. But one thing remained the same: a terrible, crushing feeling in my chest. I came across a poster pasted on the wall. It showed a skroge holding a weapon against the backdrop of a thriving metropolis. Written at the bottom was a code of honor I knew by heart:
1. Always follow your Leader.
2. Show no pity for your enemies.
3. Never start a fight, and stop it if you see someone else starting it.
4. Follow your Leader's orders without question.
5. Do not kill your own kind.
6. Be true to the ideals of your race.
Angry, I tore the poster off the wall and tore it to pieces.
- I have no other choice, - I said quietly, and headed for my office.
Once inside, I locked the door behind me with the key card. On the desk was a device for transmitting signals into space: it looked like a small, tablet-sized netbook. It was usually used to communicate with our planet, Yaraat, just before a ship landed on it. But a signal sent from it could be received and decoded by any other planet that was as technologically advanced as ours and close enough in distance. I switched on the device, and started typing. I could only hope that it would be received by the military of the planet Moelis - according to my calculations, they should be the only planet that would receive the signal; it would not reach the others.
Caption:
I'm ready to give up.
Content:
My name is Kserd, and I am the chief of security on MKK-14, "The Berserk". All my life I have believed in the idea of our race dominating the galaxy. I truly believed that love, sympathy, compassion and pity were just empty words. How could I have thought otherwise? We have been indoctrinated since our creation that we are the perfect race, created to dominate others. I have brutally murdered everyone in sight, no matter if it was a woman, an old man or a child. I followed the brutal orders of my commanders, believing them to be the only correct ones. I truly believed there was no other way. But it's different now. They took something precious from me. They have done to me what I did to my victims, killing their family and friends. I've lost my love. I can't take it anymore: no one listens to us. Our leader is unwilling to change the direction of his policy, kidnapping and brutally experimenting on Earth women to breed our race. He won't stop giving orders to take over other worlds. There are more deaths every day, but there has been nothing yet to bring them even slightly closer to their goal. Why this endless violence? I am tired. I see another way: I believe that we can live in peace and harmony, despite how different we are. I believe that we will help each other. I must warn you: you are in grave danger. I will help you. I'm prepared to jump ship and give you a weapon that can disarm any skroge. It has no equal on any other planet. In a few days, our ship will enter your star system, heading directly for your planet. The skroge intend to hack into your force field, taking advantage of its relative weakness compared to others in the Galactic Commonwealth. They want to do to you what they've done to other planets. In particular, they want your women, they're going to do to them what they do to Earth women. And I seriously fear they may succeed. I don't know how to address rulers, how to begin and end such letters. By God, I don't know. Forgive me. Do not answer this letter. If you agree to my proposal, send your most mobile ship after me-the captain can't fail to spot it, and I can escape via escape pod as soon as I hear from you. They will fire. Take care of yourselves.
With tears in my eyes, I sent this letter. I realized that there might not be a reply, but the stone was lifted from my soul. For the first time in my life, I felt that I had done the right thing.