Kal Shora would have smiled, if he had a mouth.
“I don’t imagine that I could. However, I did not have you bring it for eating.”
Kal turned to one of his tek’a’tara.
“Ra’z fo’shan.”
The cyborg nodded silently, shuffling away. Another slid in and took his place, needing no command to do so.
“You see, it is a matter of simple mathematics. Your government, while impressive when considered against the myriad corporations, territories, and Empires of this galaxy, is still isolated, and small, spanning only a fraction of the inhabitable planets of this galaxy. The Cree’Ar Dominion spans many galaxies… an Empire entrenched across millions of worlds. Our production capability is far beyond yours.
The structure of your government, as well, is somewhat non-applicable towards the end of terraforming and planetary reclamation. Put simply, and I do speak as one who is educated only so much as one can be from reading partisan history, analysis, and miscellaneous reports, your galaxies concepts of commerce and economy are highly irregular. It is a question to us as to why a people who proclaim to be interested in equality do not simply abolish concepts such as ownership, property…
Nevertheless, these are all factors as to why your government appears, at face, inferior to the Sovereign Domine of Borleas Quayver. I do admit that your government is done the disadvantage of time… and do submit that your moral convictions, though misguided, are strong. However, you and your people still have a long way to go, on the universal scale, and at the present time, it appears that your compassion and your ambition outweighs your means. It is admirable that you desire to save these people, and others, from factors beyond their control, but it would be best not to attempt to save them from factors beyond your control. You should not make promises that you cannot, all things considered, deliver.
It is a promise that we, however, can deliver.”
By now, the cyborg had returned, though he did not come empty handed. His cold fingers were wrapped around a metallic tower, standing, held as it was, many feet over the top of the tent. Many of the Coalition men recognized it… though Issk did not move, many of them either backed away or found themselves taking a defensive position. They indeed recognized it, and recognized it well.
The cybernetic nexus was, all considered, impressive. Standing over the height of even the considerably large Cree’Ar, the metallic tower would have glistened but for a black sheen. It was smooth, protruding occasionally a thin, metallic probe. It looked ominous inert, although Kal Shora did not show any fear. He rose… and opened his palms.
”You may recognize this. Some of your soldiers clearly do. This is a cybnernetic nexus… it is part of a network of like devices spread across our entire fleet. The entirety of their function is of no concern to you were I at liberty to discuss it, however, I will summarize now it’s functions that pertain to my bringing it here. The Nexus is beyond the scope of your scientific understanding, so I will merely tell you what it does and not how or why. The Nexus is capable of modifying and creating, or destroying, matter and energy. It can turn one to the other, back again, or turn both into nothingness almost instantaneously. It was the Nexus that facilitated the large armies you see before you, for they created the first soldiers who then created more.
The ability to create soldiers, however, is but a small part of what the Nexus is ultimately capable of. As mentioned, it can create matter from energy, or change the configuration of matter entirely. Observe…”
Kal Shora took the rations he had been provided, opening them and then pressing a button on the obelisk beside. A compartment on the nexus slid open, and Kal Shora placed the food inside. It was jabbed by one of the probes.
“The Nexus can sample anything… biological, technological, or chemical, energy of all wavelength… and recreate it at a later time to the exact specifications of the sampled material. The Nexus can create metal, it can create weapons, it can create clothing, medical supplies…”
The probe finished, Kal Shora removed the rations. He reached down, grabbing a handful of sand. He placed his palm inside, allowing the sand to drip into the compartment, then used his other talons to slide the compartment closed.
“The Nexus can also create food. Consider, the ability to double food reserves in a matter of hours. To create an entire new stockpile in but a matter of days. Beyond, consider…”
The compartment on the nexus slid open. Kal Shora, prepared, reached a taloned hand through the steam, pulling a complete and perfect replica of the ration pack out and placing it next to it’s counterpart on the plate provided for him. He slid them, without even looking or pausing his speech, to Issk.
”…consider creating an infrastructure here. Each Nexus has the power to turn the irradiated sand into energy, and with that energy, to create food. Each Nexus has the ability to purify the water, and once done, tek’a’tara can lay fields, and the people of this world can grow their own food. No longer will they need relief. No longer will need your services.
All I ask, Azguard, is time. Time to bring the equipment here and begin to make the people healthy enough that they can eventually take care of themselves. Until such a time…”
Kal Shora stopped. Another creature, similar in physiology to him, appeared near him. It was one of his Pe't'ara D'oo'l, though all observers could ascertain was that he was… likely… of Kal Shora’s race. Kal turned to him and began to speak to him, rather then to Issk.
“P’edr’o sh’a’n.”
“Tam pe’d’ra pe’d’ra g’a’al.”
“Fo’shwen? Pa’a’z ro’shan?”
“Ra’d ra’a’shan. Pe’z’ra’go’o’ran.”
The other creature bowed, taking his leave. Kal Shora turned back to Issk.
“I am afraid that I must take leave of you, now. Consider your options. I will return when I am able, and I hope that I will be accepting your surrender at that time.”
