"Captain, what's that alien ship doing?" asked the general.

"Threatening us, sir."

"With what?"

"Either we share our colony's resources, or they'll use a 'disintegrator' to wipe us out. They've demonstrated it by pulverizing a large asteroid."

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"Are you armed with nanites?"

"Yes, sir."

"Release them on that ship."

"But sir, what if they destroy us?"

"Only fear itself …"

"General?"

"From an ancient speech—the risk we take for liberty or death. If we give in to fear, it'll green light anyone with a 'disintegrator' to oppress or exploit us. And to me, that's not a life worth living."