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Boon Of Humanity
Chapter I - The Ascended

Chapter I - The Ascended

2140

The Ascended Council Installation orbiting C'oibu Erumi

Lis Obearie System

Hel'lius Quadrant

Milky Way Galaxy

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A lone Gal'hian stood tall on the Ascended podium overlooking the spherical form of the council, along with many others who may call themselves, Gala'ads, shared the same room, encircling the Gal'hian speaker in the middle.

Tall and slender he was, resembling most Gal'hians with a sleek face and tall, bushy ears with a forward-facing snout resembling a canine. The Gal'hian was of petite physique and clad in ceremonial clothing that rivals the famed old royalty of the Serenity. A crackle of mutters and debates rattled the council on both ends of the structure until the Gal'hian ambassador spoke with utter devotion and emotion.

"What would you have me do!?" Gala'ad Kal'jud exclaims shot throughout the council, tirades were silenced, and all eyes focused on the Gala'ad of Gal'hia as his aura and age denied the sense of askew wit, imposing his will on the galactic council.

"We'll drown in the blood of our brethren if I just stand here and do nothing!" his words continued to silence all the other Gala'ads in the council.

"The conscription of the hundred species we've chosen has been established, I would not let your judgments stand in the way of the galaxy's survival!" He lowered his tone and sat on the comforting seat beneath his rear.

"But Kal'jud, this is an outrage, these uplifting commissions contradict the policies we've made," the frail Gala'ad Namir of Nertheia said as she stood up from her seat, her old age naught nullified her valued wisdom, as loud murmurs of agreement rang throughout the council.

"Yes we'd be hypocrites in the face of the public Namir, but is that really important now?" Kal'jud rebutted, "Doom marches on our core worlds and if we don't recognize these propositions as a valuable asset for the war, we're finished," he continued.

"We squabble amongst ourselves like children while the enemy plays their hand, I'd suggest we act on such propositions now while the time is at their earnest," said Gala'ad Makdu of Jourlia, the far-flung representatives of the Jourdak Gala'ad in the corner of the chamber rumbled with support, looming over the Gala'ads sitting in front of them.

"Would you reconsider these proposals?" said the Yerningan, "How do we know if such species you will uplift will not go against the interests of the Ascended?" said Gala'ad Le'quls of Yerning.

"Hear!" Gala'ads from the inner core nations roared in unison at the Yerningan's statement.

"Do you think us as shallow, naive, imbeciles?" rebutted Kal'jud.

"No, Gala'ad Le'quls, we didn't act on this expensive scheme just so a hundred species will turn cloaks at the given opportunity!" exclaimed Gala'ad Kal'jud. "This enormous scale of a project is not made by inept analysts, I personally made sure of that," he continued.

"On whose authority is this despicable project founded on?" A boisterous voice bellowed from the inner-core Gala'ads, "Is it yours Gala'ad Kal'jud?The same Kal'jud who fought against the totalitarian regime of Habnui?" said Gala'ad Oirug of Tarunar.

"This explicit event is different than the Habnui Rebellion, the Yrethyn Swarm holds no moral values, they are driven by a sentient being whose lengths of evil holds no boundary, they consume and move on!" shouted Gala'ad Kal'jud.

"We are fighting monsters, abominations, we are fighting death," Gala'ad Kal'jud solemnly said, "How do you propose to stop such force without becoming what you feared?" he continued.

"My people fought them on the far front of the war, what Gala'ad Kal'jud says is the truth, every single word of it," Gala'ad Makdu said, "We need every being capable of holding a weapon to fight."

"We are recruiting savages for our cause!" said Gala'ad Iuryh of Quaxir. "We are condemning our federation's policies that we've made and served under for centuries!" her voice still ever ferocious.

"The Federation's combined might numbers in the trillions, and our technological prowess remains unmatched for generations, why would we need this!?" bellowed the Quaxir, gaining approval from inner-core Gala'ads as she continued her rants.

"This "uplifting" program will strain our economy and potentially foster more discontent in our nations!" she continued.

"Then how come half the engagements that have been reported since the incursion of the Swarm is but catastrophe?" Gala'ad Kal'jud said, "They outnumber us by a fair margin, you need to understand that we are losing these battles."

"These engagements against the swarm that you claim catastrophic, have you not dwelled deep enough into such reports Gala'ad Kal'jud?" questioned the frail Nerthian.

"The divisions and reinstated army corps partaking in such engagements are hastily-made scrapped battalions and equipment from the Unification Wars, these divisions are not the fully mobilized forces of the Ascended!" Gala'ad Namir rebutted, "The swarm has yet to see the full might of Jourlia on the battlefields, nor the Silverin Fleets of the Yerningans, it is too soon to decide that we are losing."

"And you propose to unleash barbarians to fight them off? Give them our technology and hope for the best? We are better than this, Gala'ad Kal'jud!" Gala'ad Namir said.

"We are not uplifting barbarians! We are uplifting civilized species still in their infancy, but advanced enough to know the basic fundamentals of a civilization," retorted Gala'ad Kal'jud. Visibly irritated from the bickering and rebuttals from the Gala'ads, Kal'jud snapped. "Can't you understand that this situation has gone out of control and we are losing!?" he continued.

"We need to forego traditions that hold us back from defeating this enemy, because if we don't," pleaded Gala'ad Kal'jud, "We're doomed," he continued solemnly.

"We might have the technological advantage against the enemy," said Gala'ad Makdu. "But we do not have the firepower and the numbers to match with the Swarm's ferocity, with this project, we might just have a chance," continued Gala'ad Makdu.

"We will have the firepower and the numbers if we invest in such a tremendous project. Such an idea will be the one to set judgment upon ourselves should we fight the inevitable," said Gala'ad Oirug. "I, however, would also know the extent of such a project from a financial point of view. This project will set back the war effort by a large margin. Do you understand this and its implications, Gala'ad Kal'jud?

"For the past five years, the nation of Gal'hia has already begun to uplift a potential candidate in the Orianus Arm in the northern hemisphere of the Val'juq Quadrant," Gala'ad Kal'jud remarked. "And yes, I know the expenses will hinder our capabilities to muster more provisions to fight the swarm, Gala'ad Oirug. That is why my fellow Gal'hians in the upper echelons of our nation have promised to fully shoulder the costs of such an undertaking," Gala'ad Kal'jud finished.

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"Blasphemy!" Gala'ad Le'quls roared, slamming her sleek fists on the desk. "You have acted upon yourselves and yourselves only!? Don't you find this situation to be universally understood as threatening for you to concede information from the council!?" she continued.

"Outrageous! How could you!?" Gala'ad I'uryh shouted. Bellowing speeches of anger swept the already stirred atmosphere of the room as each provisionary guard unholstered their weapons when tensions rose.

"Retreating back to the focused topic, what would you have done? Tell me fellow Gala'ads, enlighten me! What would you have done!?" Gala'ad Kal'jud rebutted. The Ascended Council was silenced. Gala'ad Kal'jud's gaze pierced those who opposed his necessary methods.

"You all would have done nothing! You would have scurried away at the sight of the war, bickering, arguing with one and the other," continued Gala'ad Kal'jud, sighing and consoling himself. He then followed with a mellow tone. "We have found a boon, in the far sector of the eastern part of Orianus Arm,"

"For the love of the Goddess, please, my fellow Gala'ads, hear me," beckoned Gala'ad Kal'jud. "Hear me for the swarm inches in closer to the inner rim. With each second passes, a sentient being is currently being killed, and mutilated by the beasts of the swarm, help me," Gala'ad Kal'jud pleaded. "Help me save our people."

"We have found a civilized species in the northern part of the Orianus Arm. A species even in their infancy, have mastered the art of war, their capacity for warfare is astoundingly perfect for the swarm," said Gala'ad Kal'jud.

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A projection of a system composed of a single yellow dwarf with eight planets in its vicinity appeared in the middle of the council stage. A rational impression has been given for such a star system that is common throughout the galactic sectors. Yawns and shrugs buffered the idle sound of the projection until a new image flashed to the left of the system.

The projection slowly panned towards the third nearest planet in the system. A heap of spherical crystal blue that, without a focused glance, you would assume that the planet's surface is covered in the vast seas and oceans. Seven landmasses occupied the empty oceans of the celestial body. The Gala'ads sat aloof, frustrated with impatience, for a rational individual would question the worth of such a planet displayed in the projection.

The planet was named "Earth" by the native intelligent species. An insignificant bipedal-like species. If one could glimpse such a pathetic physique, one would instantly think that such a species would be undeserving of the title Gala'ad Kal'jud gave such creatures. Humans, they called themselves.

A new set of images containing different colours, shapes, and sizes of these unadorned creatures. They came in swaths of differences. Some are as white as a snowflake in the harshest winter winds. Others are as dark as the puddle of mud sitting in mellow swamps. But undoubtedly human in origin, bickering as they are, for something as shallow as the "pigmentation" in their skins.

"They call themselves, humans," said Gala'ad Kal'jud. "Mediocre physique at first glance, nothing worthy of the title I gave them. I doubt they would match the strength of a Jourlian male in primordial combat. Nor would they outmatch the grace of a Yerningan's hand. I even doubt they would be clever enough to contend with the average citizen of the nation of Nertheia."

"But they have what we would not truly have in the face of death. The blatant silence and unsettling feeling of death, they have the willpower to see it through." continued Gala'ad Kal'jud. "Let me tell you of a story that once occurred in their ancient history. The way the humans hunted for food is nothing significant to be an anomaly in the sea of what we consider traditional hunting for carnivorous species. Others comply with brute force or simply by outrunning the prey or outsmarting said prey."

"But humans? They ran, and ran, and ran, and ran until their prey collapses to the ground due to exhaustion. They outlasted their prey's will to live." said Gala'ad Kal'jud.

"This seems all a ploy to further your agenda!" exclaimed Gala'ad Iuryh, "Gala'ad Kal'jud, surely you jest as such creatures will not last a minute even with the drone-caste of the swarm, this is a pathetic reason to go against the uplifting policies that you stood for centuries!"

"How many of us here would have the will to outlast one's willpower to live? To live?" The Gal'hian rebutted, "Tell me, Gala'ad Iuryh, for the hundreds of species my personal analysts chose would be a boon to the war effort. Human ingenuity would disapprove of any sort of rebuttable otherwise," Gala'ad Kal'jud continued.

"Humans have warred with themselves for the entirety of their living history, Gala'ad Kal'jud," said Gala'ad Namir, "My personal analysts decoded their entire recorded history within the timeframe of this summit, please do justify why you chose to uplift such a race who, in recent time, have committed crimes of life against themselves." continued the wise Gala'ad.

"In the last three hundred years, they have maimed, tortured, shot, stabbed, decapitated, any other word to describe mutilating a living being, they had had three major world wars in their recent history, and they have used nuclear weapons against each other." followed the Nerthian. "I am sorry, Gala'ad Kal'jud. Do forgive me for judging your decisions based on the information I have, I found no sense of justification to separate these "humans" from the regimes the Ascended has toppled in its galactic history."

"We are not so different in history, I am part of that history." murmured Gala'ad Kal'jud, "If it is the history we are talking about, then you must forget the brutal solutions we've done to topple the abominations of this galaxy."

"Tens of us here have been part of a society that warred with itself for quite an amount of time, so do not dismiss this race because of such qualities, you have yet to meet them." finished Gala'ad Kal'jud. "Do not let your egos as the dominant races of this galaxy overshadow the fact that we are in dire need of help."

"Let me establish this one unsolicited truth, my fellow Gala'ads. We are going to lose the war of attrition. There will be a time when the massed military of the Ascended brings forth the might of Jourlian soldiers, and the Silverin Fleet of the Yerningans might turn the tide of a few battles," said Gala'ad Kal'jud as he walked around elegantly in the spherical stage of the Ascended Council. "But we will undoubtedly still lose," he continued.

"The Yrethyn Swarm holds no moral values. The belief of worshipping a deity does not exist in their consciousness. We do not even know if the swarm itself is capable of experiencing the level of consciousness of sentient beings," said Gala'ad Kal'jud. Every studying gaze in the council room gave his wandering silhouette their absolute attention, never breaking contact.

"They will kill, they will maim, they will slaughter, and they will feast. The wretched beasts of the swarm will inflict every pain imaginable on our very being. Our families will be on the far front of this war. It is not a war of conquest nor for resources, but a war for our very survival," continued Gala'ad Kal'jud.

"But it is too soon to decide Gala'ad Kal'jud, it is too soon to know for certain that we are going to lose this war, such a project would require extreme proportions of economic and public support to even be approved," retorted Gala'ad Oirug.

"The Tarunarian makes a solid point Gala'ad Kal'jud. Even then, such resources would be better off funding the war effort reinstating disassembled army corps and divisions back into service. As to counteract the numbers that we lost during the Unification Wars," Gala'ad Makdu added.

The Jourdak General stood up and gazed the Gala'ad in his eyes. "Do not get me wrong Gala'ad Kal'jud, I personally believe in this uplifting project of yours. But doubtless, you are treading on thin sheets of ice. Jourlia and her allies have not yet forgotten how the Habnui Uprising unfolded. I am certain some Gala'ads will share the same remarks as me," Gala'ad Makdu finished as he sat down.

"How would you know for certain that this project would spearhead the frontier of the war against the swarm? Gala'ad Kal'jud?" asked Gala'ad Namir. "I respect you as the Gala'ad who fought against the terrible Habnui Uprising. The same Gala'ad Kal'jud that reinstated policies that separated the Ascended Council from the regimes that permeated our galaxy from tyrants and warmongerers," Gala'ad Namir continued.

"I trusted you then and, I shall trust you now, even with the unspeakable deeds you have to do to accomplish such things. Do forgive me for being skeptical on this project as it was kept in secret away from the council's hand. Such a despicable attempt would foster wariness especially, in this time of crisis, it seemed to us that you had an agenda," said Gala'ad Namir.

"I understand your skepticism Gala'ad Namir. But the reason why I held such critical information to the council is that it would be viewed as blasphemous, and would be immediately shut down," said Gala'ad Kal'jud.

"Rightfully so, Gala'ad Kal'jud. You are the one who inaugurated the policy against uplifting. You are contradicting yourself by uplifting not one but hundreds of species to fight our enemy," Gala'ad Iuryh said. "We have practiced and swore our indefinite fidelity to the foundations that were laid down by Gala'ads throughout the council's history. It is the one thing that has kept this federation the way as it is!" shouted Gala'ad Iuryh.

"It is the only way that will separate us from the regimes that each member nation rose against, and defeated!" She continued, not denying the undeniable outrage that was unfolding in the once silent council room. "Now you are uplifting several species based on the fact that they might be able to "outwill" our enemies? This is madness!"

"I will not deny the number of contradictions that I have made upon the council and myself. I will not deny that Gala'ad Iuryh," Gala'ad Kal'jud said. "I see your eyes, I see how you strike me with pitiless animosity from your looks alone! Yes, I dropped anti-matter bombs on military installations with a civilian populace at hand, yes I did! Why? I did what I did is because it is necessary!" Bellowed Gala'ad Kal'jud, his booming voice struck the idled faces of the council. His arms rose in unison with his voice, the stoic demeanour no longer in sight.

"Our enemy is ruthless, they care not for the moralistic values that we have installed upon this federation! They care not for the ideals that we stand for and have stood for centuries!" continued Gala'ad Kal'jud. Scanning the room, he pointed his fingers toward the Jourdak General.

"You, Gala'ad Makdu, you and your people have commanded and led the battles against the swarm. Tell the council what you saw! How our fellow brethren fought, how they died," remarked Gala'ad Kal'jud, acquiring the approval and the melancholy nod of the general.

"You cannot deny the unbidden truth about the sheer brutality of these murderous beings! I will not do what I did if I have deemed it not necessary," continued Gala'ad Kal'jud.

"I do not need your coins, for I and my people will shoulder what it is needed to bear for us to see through this war!" The uproar in the chamber was now deafening in its intensity, provisionary guards of the respective nations tried to remedy the situation but to no avail.

"I beseech your aid, my dearest Gala'ads! Help me! Before our own hubris consumes us!"

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