“We may be beaten, but that doesn't mean that we have to grovel before them.”

***Outer Rim***

***Jannas, Prime Minister, Prip Homeworld***

“I- ahem- am sure that we can solve this conflict peacefully!” I reply to the image of the strange alien who presented us with an ultimatum in a rather rude manner. They blew up all of our communication sattellites and threatened to bombard our cities if we don't comply.

I wouldn't have thought it possible that our own people would provide the greatest help to alien invaders. Even now our military is fully occupied with keeping the citizens in check.

“Whatever this G.S. is, we Prip don't desire hostilities between our people.” Though, it will be hard to keep the public opinion under control because you idiots just showed up shooting. Once things cool down, everyone will cry for blood.

The alien who is communicating with me stretches and leans back in its pilot chair. The thing on my office's screen is a really ugly bugger. It's remotely humanoid, but looks stout and fat with wrinkles all over its body. There are no beautiful claws, or teeth, or fur. It looks like someone threw together all the ugliness in the universe to create this creature.

I quickly glance at my military advisor and the large starmap on the wall. How did I deserve this? First, two fighting species right on our doorstep and now a third conquering force. It was a wonder that we managed to keep the information from leaking out and causing a panic before we were ready to deal with it. Though, the arrival of the third group came too unexpected.

When survey expedition '2340' returned from their visit to a previously unmapped system, my people almost didn't believe the news they brought. I mean, who would believe that two highly advanced species are fighting an interstellar war just a few star systems away from us?

If it hadn't it been for the sensor data, we would have declared the whole survey crew as insane.

Just that they weren't. They even had proof of what was thought to be impossible. Not only were our scientists proven wrong about the existence of other intelligent lifeforms, our philosophers' theories about their peacefulness went straight out of the window.

Not that I am surprised about that. I am just a politician who never expected to be in this situation, but a little bit of brains is enough to tell that a species who isn't competitive will never reach the stars. Our own people thrived, carried on the wave of conflict with ourselves and our environment until we managed to reach for the planets of our solar system and – in time – for other stars.

The great diaspora of peace followed. The ability to relocate troublesome individuals and groups with different opinions to other planets abruptly ended the wars on our homeworld and since then we experienced a hundred years of peace.

The scientists also call it a hundred years of stagnation, since only very few inventions were made during that time. To someone like me, who has access to the statistical data, that's no real surprise.

Since there is no actual threat to our people, military research funds were drastically reduced, and that was what was behind our progress.

Our lack of a spaceworthy military got us beaten in the end. It was clear from the sensor data of that one contact with the unknown that we don't have nearly enough to stop the aliens from conquering either of our systems. From what we managed to observe, their ships are so far ahead of ours that two of those leviathan starships would be enough to conquer the colonies.

In our fear of getting involved, we ordered all of our vessels to retreat to the established colonies. We hoped that we could hunker down in our little corner of space and put the lid on us.

The universe clearly had other ideas.

We weren't surprised when finally a fleet of several dozen ships swept through one of our outer colonies, crushing their meager defences. It wasn't even a fight, as they simply wiped our assets out of space like children throwing over a tower of building blocks.

What was surprising though, was that they apparently represent a third party. If that's true, then I find it surprising that we were left alone for so long in our little corner of the galaxy.

Be that as it may, our plight didn't interest these newcomers. They quickly dispatched of any communication satellites we had, cutting off our contact with the colonies. Then they more or less went straight for our homeworld. On their way, they quickly wiped out the practically non-existent resistance our military had to offer.

It's not like a few improvised weapons and nukes could have stopped an enemy of such power anyway. The battle for our homeworld lasted less than an hour, exactly as much time as the alien invaders gave themselves to fly into our system and park their ships above the motherworld.

Only after demonstrating their superiority, did they finally decide to talk to us.

The bipedal alien on the screen shifts after several moments of silence during which it must have listened to a translation of my words. How they learned our language so quickly is a mystery to me, but I guess they had plenty of opportunities to study our communication.

“We represent the Galactic Societies! Your species has the unfortunate fate of living in a quarantine zone and therefore, we have to disable your access to space-travel.”

It seems like the alien would've kept talking, but this was simply too important to let it pass. “Quarantine Zone?”

Somehow, the alien manages to look genuinely displeased, even to my untrained eyes. “Yes, and if you would stop asking questions, we would get this done much quicker.”

Their mastery of our language is indeed surprising and I flex my claws in surprise.

The ugly fellow continues with an explanation of what the G.S. is and how they tend to deal with newly discovered species. Finally, it gets to the point regarding their restrictions on the usage of artificial intelligence, and how they are currently in pursuit of the members of a machine species who clearly broke all the regulations.

Just listening to the strange alien is enough for me to tell that some of our newest computer systems are already very close to their idea of 'forbidden' technology. Having realized this, I quickly glance at my military advisor and give him a meaningful look. The man is smart enough to get my meaning and nods, leaving the room.

If everything goes well, any hint at our newest government project will be hidden away by the time the G.S. decides to set foot on our planet. They might have the high ground with their ships, but even a fleet of thirty of their largest vessels can't carry enough troops to conquer a whole planet. Hopefully, it will take them time to amass enough ships until they decide it's safe to 'inspect' our civilisation.

The monster's rant continues, giving me time to think. And as my awareness of the situation becomes clearer, an idea slowly forms in my head. A way to point the G.S.'s attention away from my people.

I slowly raise a hand to stop this messenger's explanation and to gain his attention.

Behaving like a demure, little child isn't in my nature, but they are the ones with enough firepower above my head to sterilise this whole planet.

The alien finally stops his explanations after several seconds. Either he was reading from a script and too bored to pay attention to me, or I was listening to a recording. “Yes?”

“We might know something about your... A.I.s,” I say, allowing my words to sink in. “From your description, it sounds like it's very urgent that you find them quickly. Every month may count.”

The ugly bastard flicks out his tongue and sizzles something before their translation software manages to kick in. “Out with it. If you had paid attention, you would already know that withholding information regarding forbidden technology could end up in the termination of the party in question.”

What a friendly way to say that they will kill us if we don't cooperate. Oh, how I would love to meet this guy in a dark alley, while my security guards make sure that nobody interrupts us. Just tooth and claw, like in the old times.

“Of course. We will give you all the information we have, and I promise you that it will quickly become apparent why I have reason to think that the two cases are connected. There is just this one little problem.”

The alien tilts its head. “Which problem?”

I shrug. “The problem that you came into our system shooting, taking down any communication with our colonies and destroying or capturing any ships in your path. As of now, I really don't know if you are genocidal maniacs who are even now bombarding our civilians, or just an imperialistic government which likes to use force against unsuspecting victims.

“I really would like to have some proof of your words before we give you anything. For all I know, those A.I.s could be our saviours and you are the evil guys. Let me talk to your leaders and allow our ships to travel between the colonies to make sure that they are still there. Once I am certain that you aren't what I believe you are, I can give you all the information.”

“We could just wipe out one city at a time until you give us the information.”

I shrug. “Most of our citizens are overaged, and for all I know, you would do that anyway. I gain nothing by simply giving away the information. So, do your worst.”

The ugly bastard swells like a balloon in reaction to my words, probably a sign of outrage. When the signal simply cuts off, I have no idea whether my gamble succeeded or failed.