THE IMPERIUM AT LAST

Commander Beingraul stood abruptly.  He began pacing up and down, shaking his head in disbelief.

“No,” he spoke, seeming to address no one in particular.  “This cannot be those who defeated us so many millennia ago!”

“They would seem quite underdeveloped to have been capable of that feat,” Bastrach agreed.

“Could it be as Professor Fernier theorized,” I asked, “that they have went through an upheaval, and are only now reaching for the stars, again?”

The Commander nodded his head.  “Kell and I have been discussing that possibility during the voyage here.”

First Officer Kell cleared his throat.  “It has been thirty-two millennia since the humans left the Carmona Star System- “

“After they destroyed all five planets!” Gerron, the Senior Medical Officer, interrupted.

“Yes, Master Gerron,” Kell acknowledged.  “After raping our planets for every natural resource they had, after enslaving our people for twelve millennia, they wanted to leave nothing behind as they left for more… fruitful systems.”

“In truth,” I pointed out, “it was good strategy, not to leave potential enemies behind.”

“Well, they failed on that part, didn’t they!” Gerron nearly shouted.  “It may have taken us more than sixty millennia, but we’re here, to exact our just revenge!”

“But these humans are incapable of long range space travel,” I pointed out.  “As our Science Officer has just informed us, “ I gave the lovely Sheryllock a nod of my head, “There is absolutely no references in Earth’s historical records to the Human Ordained Imperial Dynasty.  It is apparent that no one on this planet knows of its own history.

“Their recorded history only goes back about six thousand years, besides symbols on caves, which they believe happened about forty thousand years ago.  Odd they think they didn’t mature for another twenty-thousand plus years.”  I should point out for future readers of this transcript, an earth year is only about 5% less than our own, and their day is only about 15% shorter.

“They believe that,” Sheryllock cut in. “because they are right.”  All at the conference table expressed surprise.  The Science Officer continued to explain, “Whatever happened to the humans, I believe it happened shortly after they abandoned our system.  It was so devastating, that it nearly wiped out their entire race.  I suspect a virus.  That would explain why no humans have been seen – by anyone – in so long!

“You recall the dispute at the Ryland Symposium, concerning the time line of the disappearance of humans?  In all probability, the virus probably spread later to the Ryland System, is all.

“The Rylanders also have records of human versus human conflict near the end.  That figures in with the psyche of humans.  Fearing the end, they began to blame one another.  Old allegiances wee resurrected, and warring broke out among them.

“There are signs that nuclear weapons have been used on earth within this very millennium.  The old Imperials also had nukes.  I suggest that they wiped each other out.  Destroyed every city.  Few humans would have survived, and they would have been reduced to mere animals.

“Or perhaps their DNA was so damaged that they reverted to earlier stages, like Neanderthals, who could more readily survive the harshest of conditions and challenges.  Tens of thousands of years have buried the secrets of the past. 

“There are even hints of cover-ups within this current civilization, when any such evidence has been found.”

“So, their ignorance is an excuse?” 

Gerron was incensed.  “There will be no punishment for them?”  He pounded his fist on the metal table, leaving a dent.  “The Draca only survived by hiding in the caves and hiding in the crevices of the outer asteroid ring!  We were forced to live in caves!  A handful of survivors, remnants of the great Dracan race!”

“Gerron,” the Commander spoke in a soothing voice, “nothing has been decided yet.”

“Did I say anything about forgiving the humans?” Sheryllock sounded a bit incensed herself.  “Did you not just here me say they have used nuclear weapons within the past millennium?  In truth, it was only a century ago, they used the first one in war!”

She turned to the Commander before continuing.  “Commander, it is my observation that this civilization of humans has no psychological difference from the one that nearly wiped our civilization, as well as others, from existence.  They war among themselves.  They use up natural resources as though they have a never-ending supply, then fight others over those resources.

“They are stretching their hands spaceward once more.  How long before the Imperium – under a new guise, perhaps – returns?”

“We came here to do a job, Commander,” Gerron spoke, “I only ask you to complete the mission.”

Commander Beingraul pulled on his whiskers.  I made a note to myself to get him some Whiska-Stiff.  If he couldn’t admit he was aging (and limp whiskers were an obvious sign), well, maybe the gift would help.

“When we were assigned this mission,” the Commander began, “It was to destroy the Imperium’s home world. We had, we believed, developed our war technologies to the point we could effectively engage the enemy.  This ship is the epitome of Dracan technology, with a new weapon that assures us of success.

“But the Imperium no longer exists.  Below us is a planet no more advanced than we were forty millennia ago.  It is within my power, and my discretion, to scrub the mission.”  He held up his paw to quell the indignant replies.  “BUT… But, I will neither continue with the destruction of Planet Earth, nor scrub the mission, without your support.

“Further, I demand that support be unanimous.  We will take a vote right away, to see where we stand.”  He stood, absent-mindedly smoothing his fur as he did.  “So… may I see a show of paws for those who believe we should complete the mission as we were originally assigned?”

Master Gerron’s hand was up in a flash.  I guess the Senior Medical Officer’s hatred could be traced to his career training.

Not far behind was Science Officer Sheryllock’s, raising her arm with more dignity.

Senior Engineer Torrin, who was almost always silent at these meetings, shook his head, sighed, and raised his paw.

First Officer Kell and Chief of Security Bastrach put their paws in the air. 

All eyes then fell on me.

“Chief Prell?” the Commander asked when I hesitated, with my arm half the way up.  “Which way is it for you?  Don’t let the others pressure you.”

I breathed in a lungful of air, then let it out slowly, in a long stream through pursed lips.  “I was against this mission from the beginning.”  I ignored the exasperated sig from the Doctor and continued, “I have believed from the start that Professor Fernier’s postulation was correct.  It was the only thing that explained the long absence of humans.”

“Prell!” Gerron protested, “Your degree is in Historical Research!  Certainly- “

I raised a hand to quell his further objection.  As my rank was the equivalent of the ship’s Commander, he wisely silenced himself.  My assignment was to record this moment for Historical Prosperity.  But since no one is assigned to a ship headed for war without being assigned a pertinent duty, I was also assigned as Third Officer, otherwise called the Personnel Officer.

“Upon leaving Hanadron [my home planet and where I had been briefed on the mission] I was convinced this was an unjust mission, and that we were about to punish about seven billion people for crimes they were unaware of.

"Now I have sat through Officer Sheryllock’s report, and recalling the history the humans themselves told us of.  And I cannot help but see the parallels. 

“This incarnation of the human race is following the same pattern of the previous.  Sooner or later, they will reach the stars.  After the discovery of light speed will come the realization that a new mode of travel – not greater speed – will allow them to traverse the galaxy as easily as they once did.

“Sooner or later, the harbingers of the Imperium will return to our quadrant of space.  And with them, will come the attitudes of superiority and supposed privilege they carry with them.

My arm slowly went up, and I stretched out the fingers of my paw upward.

Three hours later. All equations were satisfied, and the spot and power needed had been divined.

Before firing, the Commander gave a speech, extolling the need and reasons to act, and exonerating the crew for his decision.

 On command, Officer Bastrach pushed his padded finger against the FIRE button.

Three turrets on the front side of the ship fired in unison.  Three brightly lit rays of energy shot forth, connecting at a point not far from and directly ahead of the ship.  A half-second later, as I watched the view screen, it seemed that space opened, at the convergence point of the three rays.  From this, a rotating vortex of energy shot forward toward the Planet Earth.

I wouldn’t call it ‘hitting’ the planet; more like, it went through it!  After it had done so, the planet began to collapse.  Literally.  Great masses of land fell inward.  Mountains fell.  Instead of the expected tsunamis, the oceans seemed to drain, as though someone had taken out a giant stopper.

I realized, as I watched the horror, hat I was crying.  I looked about to see if anyone had seen – but everyone else, even the Commander, was crying as well.  

After the planet had succumbed, and was nothing more than rubble floating in space, I asked to be dismissed.  The Commander gave me one hour to compose myself, then to make myself available to anyone among the crew who needed me.

I spent that hour composing my Letter of Resignation and set it to send as soon as the local connection was detected.

I will help the crew members as I can, and perform my duties as well as I can.  But in the moment of Earth’s destruction, I realized the military was not for me.  I’m going home to start work on a new litter with my wife. 

May God save our souls.