President Castaneda awoke in a small room. The walls were made of this odd smooth metal, and there were no windows or any other indication of where he was. His suit had been scuffed, and he re-adjusted it as he sat up. He looked around trying to find any clue as to where he was, but he only found the same cold metal. There was a door with no handle or any other obvious way of opening it. He felt around the seam of the door and door frame, he could feel no air flowing through, nor could he see anything through it. Finding nothing he looked up at the only other thing that stood out, the light. Covering his face with his hand he tried to get a look at it, but it was too bright to be able to decern anything.

His head was spinning, for him just moments ago, he had been kidnapped by the dog-like aliens and then blacked out. He sat there for a minute reflecting on what happened, remembering how fast it all happened. Just days ago, he was sitting in the oval office, talking to his staff, spending the little amount of free time with his wife and kids. Now he was in some cell, no doubt on some alien ship, not knowing what they wanted from him.

As he was brooding, the door slid open, retracting up into the ceiling. It startled him and he stood up. Three tall aliens, wearing armor, and holding large sticks came into the room.

“Where am I?! Where have you taken me” he said as two of them grabbed one arm each and cuffed him behind his back. He did not try and fight back, knowing there was no reason to.

One of the aliens grabbed the inside of his arm and pushed him in the direction of the cell’s door. The president saw three more aliens waiting outside. The aliens stopped him and made him face one who was wearing some weird sort of beret, and no armor. The alien looked down at the device on his wrist and tapped the screen a few times, then said something. Seconds later the device on his wrist spoke “Follow me”. The alien began to walk, and the two aliens who handcuffed the president pushed him forward when he did not immediately go.

The President asked again, “Where am I? Where have you taken me?”

The alien in the beret responded as they navigated the narrow corridors, after the device spoke in his language “You are on board STS Heneker. I am bringing you to Admiral Reymundsohn, there you will negotiate the surrender of your planet with him and other leaders of your planet.”

“Who the hell am I surrendering to? I don’t know anything about you.”

“You will be given relevant information, before Admiral Reymundsohn meets with you.” The alien in the beret’s device said as he put his hand over some terminal outside of the door they had just stopped at. The door opened after a beep and the president was escorted inside. In the room there was a small, long table, at which sat some people he recognized. The leader of China, the UK, France, and Germany. They stood up when he entered the room, and the aliens uncuffed him. They then left, closing the door behind them.

As the president looked back to the room, the UK’s prime minister said, “Did they hurt you?”

“No, what are you doing here?”

“The same reason you are, I assume” The UK’s prime minister responded.

“What are we supposed to do? Just sit here and just sign the planet away? I don’t even know where they come from, what their goal is.”

“I’ve asked the one in the hat, the one that brought you here he brought me here as well, he told me that before we sign anything they will give us information about them” the French President.

The United States President looked around at the defeated world leaders sitting at the table and scoffed “This is it? Are we really going to just give up? That doesn’t give our peoples a good precedent. Just as several at the table seemed to make a remark at the president's statement, The door opens, and the alien in the beret, and two others walk in. One was wearing a military uniform, and the other wore a strange looking suit and a longer coat.

They sat down at one end of the table, and in the silence the president among the other world leaders, did the same.

The three aliens talked amongst themselves for a minute before the alien in the beret again pressed his finger on the screen of the device on his arm several times, then set it down in the middle of the table. “Can you confirm that the translator is working?”

The United States President looked around at his peers and then at the alien, “Yes, it is.”

“Alight good we can get started then” the alien in the long coat said, “I am Junior Director Leahr Gori, and this is General Aoidh Taveysohn. “The director says pointing at the alien in the military uniform. “And Major Empsohn” he says raising his other hand in the direction of the alien wearing the beret, “I believe you know him?” The room looks around, confused.

“Alight... due to the primitive nature of your culture, Admiral Reymundsohn believes it is important to educate you about us and provide you with any information prior to the signing of any treaty. Therefore, he has sent me, and General Taveysohn, to give you an idea about who we are, and answer any questions you might have.”

The Director pauses, making sure everyone in the room understood, then continued, “It is my impression that before this invasion that this planet had no contact with cultures with faster than light travel.”

“Like extraterrestrials?” The Chinese president asked.

“Yes, and I'll take that as a no.” He clears his throat and begins his practiced speech “This Solar system was originally claimed by the Commonwealth of Equal Republics centuries ago. They set up an observation base on one of the moons of one of your system’s gas giants. From there they subtly influenced your cultural development to be better able to integrate into galactic society, but more specifically their republic.” Not a word was said by Earth’s world leaders, they all carefully listened to the director as he spoke, not sure if they could believe what he was saying.

“46 of your years ago, the Eckzahn Union who we represent, took control of this system. At that time, we decided to suspend cultural manipulation and let your civilization evolve naturally.”

The UK’s Prime Minister spoke up “What influence, you’re saying that the development of our civilization was drawn up by some other aliens?”

“Not exactly, their influence was subtle, they infiltrated political institutions, military leadership, and sometimes had their own elected into positions of power especially in critical moments.”

“How did they infiltrate us; how did they blend in? They surely stood out.” The president of the US asked.

“The Commonwealth is made up of many species, amongst which are humans.”

“There are other humans in space?” The Chancellor of Germany asked.

“Yes, of course, humans are the most populus species in the galaxy. However, they are quite spread out, in fact a lot of the human's population Is concentrated on isolated primitive worlds like yours.”

“Primitive?”

“Yes, we use that term primitive to define any civilization that has not developed faster than light travel. While you are culturally developed, technologically, you are quite backwards.”

“You said that there are many isolated human civilizations, what about you, we don’t even know what you are. You look like a ... fox” the UK’s prime minister asks pointing at the director, “and he looks like a dog” he says pointing at the general.

“I am a wolf” The general says, offended.

“A wolf?” The Prime Minister says “But, I mean you certainly look like one, but a wolf has four legs and defiantly doesn’t talk or wear clothes. Did you come from earth a long time ago?”

The general, annoyed by what he sees as offensive statements, is stopped from an outburst by the director “No, we are not from earth. We are aware of the animal you call a wolf or a fox, we do not know how or why they reside on your planet. Nor do we know why we look so much like them. Our best guess is that of convergent evolution. Perhaps the best body plans of species just so happen to be that of that of us.”

“But you said that there are other humans in the galaxy, how does that play into this?” The president of China asks.

“We believe that there was some ancient human civilization that expanded across the galaxy, and at some point collapsed, leaving sporadic populations of humans isolated from each other. This was millennia ago, and to fully grasp what this fallen civilization achieved requires the cooperation of many factions, some of which are not very friendly to us. As for the Eckzahn Union, we consist of canines, but mostly wolves.”

“Canines?” The French president asks.

“Yes, The Eckzahn Union was originally made up of only wolves, but three centuries ago our government reformed and allowed for non-wolf canines citizenship”.

“Just how many factions are there?” the prime minister asks.

“There are roughly a dozen major factions consisting of many systems, and maybe one hundred or more smaller factions consisting of just one or a small number of systems. I can make this easier with the use of a map”. The director stands up and picks up a tablet sized device, he taps it a couple of times, and the massive screen the end of the room, that was flush with the wall turns on. The display shows a map.

The director walks up to the screen and points to a circle shaped gap near one of the ends of the map “This is the center of the galaxy for reference.” He then opens his hand and hovers it in circles around the un eaven shapes in the center of the map, “Here is what is known as 'civilized space’ it contains all known factions and advanced civilizations are, outside of this, there is much unexplored space and gravimetric anomalies preventing safe and fast faster than light travel.”

The director points to a red shape on the right side of the map “This is the Eckzahn Union.” He moves his finger slightly to the left, “And here is your system. The green one here” he moves his finger left again “Is the Commonwealth.”

“Director, if I recall correctly, you stated that the Commonwealth originally controlled it, is that correct?” The President asks

“Yes, that is true” the director responded.

“How did you gain control of this system if the Commonwealth originally controlled it?”

“In the Treaty of Builara of 1270 NDV, the Eckzahn Union acquired systems along the Bruloliv and Ularan hyperlanes, here “the director points to two lines on the map indicating the hyperlanes. This included your system, which is on the Bruloliv line.”

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“But how did this treaty get signed, were they militarily coursed?”

“That would be one way of putting it.”

“Does the Eckzahn Union have a history of taking ... territory by force?”

“If you mean conquest, then yes. But this expansionism is not limited to the Eckzahn Union. For nearly two thousand years, every nation or faction has expanded in this way, it is a fact of life. It may be hard for you to understand. Your world has run out of territory, there’s no competition for territory anymore. Centuries ago, your planet was no different. Empires colonizing virgin land, fighting each other over claims. You must be versed in your history; can you imagine a nation back in those times on your planet where a government was content in its territory. It would be crushed by its neighbors, neighbors who exploited and colonized distant lands. Unfortunately, we are no different. The galaxy would be a much better place if everyone got along, and there was no fighting over strategies planets or hyperlane chokepoints, but the reality is just like every other faction in our galaxy the Eckzahn Union must indulge in empire building.”

“If you are knowledgeable of our history, then you know that the colonized never got a fair deal.” The president says with a more somber tone.

“Indeed, but unlike what happened to your natives, we do not plan on genocide and taking the land for ourselves. But I think I am stepping on the Admiral’s feet on this topic, I will let him discuss this matter with you.” The room was silent. Each leader pondered how they could have been forced into this situation, being the colonized.

“Anyways I think that I will let the general take over now, you now know the basics of your galactic situation, the general will tell you more urgent information about the invasion.” The Director sits down, and hands his tablet to the general who taps the screen. The screen changes to a map of Earth. Red highlights areas under the Union’s control. The general stands up, walks over to the screen and clears his throat. He uses a stick to point to eastern Europe.

“We have decided to make this area the location of the future planetary government, due to its climate and unstable local governments.” He moves his stick to America, “Here is ‘A-merhr-ik-a' “he looks to the President “We have determined this faction to be the strongest of your planet and received the most attention by our initial invasion. Mr. President I'm sure you know that your military is no longer a cohesive fighting force. It is not capable of counterattacks nor a prolonged engagement. The same can be said of the Chinese military, which crumbled quicker than our projections.” The Chinese president groaned. “Unfortunately, the Russian President was killed in our initial strike, so he could not attend this meeting. All of your nuclear weapons have been either destroyed or are under Eckzahn control. We have deemed the remaining fighting force of all of your factions combined are of no threat to us.” The general takes a moment for the translation to catch up, and for the attendees have time to process the information he has told them.

“You need not believe what I am saying, given the fact that you are all here, unharmed, shows you, our mercy. We do not want to destroy your civilization, understand this, you will not win a protracted fight. We want to prevent any more needless casualties, on both sides. If you are the leader of your people, then surely you can understand that you have already lost. That you should end this now.”

“You obviously have superior technology, there’s no questioning that, but why bother with an invasion?” asks the Prime minister

“If we wanted to destroy all life on this planet, and take it for ourselves, we could. We have several viruses and pathogens that could wipe you out in a matter of days, but instead we offer you an invitation into the galactic community, to be a part of the Eckzahn Union and to protect your world from outside threats.”

“You want us to join your ‘Union’?” The French president asks, “Then why invade us, why only ask us now?”

“Your world is divided, backwards, and bigoted what better way of uniting a people than showing they have a common enemy.”

“The only enemy we have right now is you” the President says sternly.

“We don’t wish to be your enemy, we want to guide your civilization down the right path, to help us defend your civilization against those who wish to destroy it and replace your beliefs with theirs.”

Just as the general was ranting, the doors opened, and in walks Admiral Reymundsohn flanked by two officers. Wearing his dress uniform cape and all. His dark blue uniform embroidered with gold lining and holding his own tablet. The General straightens up and the director and Major follow his lead. He sits down at the end of the table which up to this point was vacant. Before he sits down, he introduces himself, “Fleet Admiral Eckerd Reymundsohn, I believe most of us have met before”. He sits down looking at the president on the way to his seat.

“I believe the general and director have given you enough information for you to make an educated decision about this.” He waives his hand, and the officer behind him sets down a stack of papers. “This is your one and only chance to surrender.” The officer then picks up half the stack and goes around the table setting one-page Infront of each world leader.

“In front of you is only the only document you must sign.” The Admiral says.

“What are the terms exactly? We haven’t even heard any!” The Prime Minister says as he is given his page.

“The Eckzahn union does not wish to fundamentally change the goings-on of this world, merely just governmental change. This document will transfer power to make laws and jurisdictions. We will attempt to abide by as many current borders and cultural lines as we can when we draw up new territories. In addition to that, we wish for current government employees to keep their positions. In order for a more seamless transfer of power of course. If you sign, we are willing to offer to keep your position of power, along with significant control of local laws and ordinance.”

“I’m not going to sign this until there is a representative of every nation here to look over every detail of this ‘treaty’” the French President says slamming the paper down.

“Unfortunately, we do not have time for that. The Document you have in front of you is relevant for your nation only, in time we will get all of the nations of your planet to sign their own” the Admiral said, “Hopefully by signing this you will encourage lesser powers to do the same and save lives”.

The President, John Castaneda, looks down at the page that is written in English. Tired and frustrated he grips the pen he had been given and reads what is in front of him line by line. The conversation of the Admiral and others turns into a blur as he tries to focus. There’s no telling what will happen if he signs this paper, who knows if the Eckzahn will keep their word. But one thought keeps coming back up, if he does nothing people will continue to die. Is his job to protect the people from being wiped out, or is to protect their god given right, which would no doubt be questioned by the Eckzahn. He wonders if his family is alright, whether they made it to a safe place, or if they were caught up in an attack. If he does not sign this, he is sentencing the death of thousands or millions of Americans. But not just Americans, everyone. His pen slowly shakes down to the line at the end of the paper, and hovers there for a moment.

He notices the room has been silenced, the argument and discussion that had filled the room moments ago complexly stopped. He looked up and noticed that nearly everyone was looking back at him. They knew that if he signed the treaty, they would be almost forced too as well. He shakes his head and signs his name on the line and lets go of the pen. He puts his head in his hands and leans onto the table.

“Thank you, Mr. President, I know you’d see the truth.” The admiral said.

Moments later, the president looks up from his hands to see the UK’s Prime Minister pick up his pen and sign, throwing the pen down like him. This starts a chain of signings by everyone present. Finally, after everyone had finished, the Admiral picks up his pen, and signs clumsily on the line of his paper, obviously not too familiar with paper.

“Thank you, gentlemen, my officers will see you to quarters. There you can contact the remnants of your governments and inform them of the treaty.” The Admiral stands up, and without waiting time leaves the room.

Johannes lays in the hospital bed of a makeshift field hospital. He was flown to a base relatively near to where his Solvig went down. The supply base was many miles away from any sizeable human settlement, with only farms anywhere near it. Inside the small prefab structure, he lay next to two other soldiers, both of which had also received injuries during the invasion but were relatively minor. He sat nearest the entrance of one door.

One of the soldiers, the one furthest away, was asleep while the other carefully watched the screen placed directly in front of them on the far wall. Playing on the screen was a news program detailing updates of the invasion. Johannes just listened as he rested his eyes. “Our naval correspondent has reported that some of the primitive world's leaders have signed an armistice on board the fleets flagship, and they expect fighting to die down in the coming weeks as the governments of the primitive factions slowly recognize the agreements. here's to talk more about this is that naval correspondent Faina Ethelthryth ... “

Johannes mentally tunes out the broadcast, he doesn't want to listen to the same report over and over again forecasting the end of the invasion, he's heard it several times already. He has listened to this state-run news for two days now, and he was not a fan of it before this.

He tried to sleep, but the rambling of the news kept him from getting any rest. The pain in his head had gone, but his broken ribs and tail still made it quite difficult to find a position to rest. Suddenly there’s a knock at the door. All three look up, and away whoever is at the door. The door swings open and a maned wolf ducks through the doorway. “Tahvo!” Johannes said relieved that his friend was okay.

“Hey” he says, not sharing Johannes enthusiastic tone, first looking at Johannes then at the disappointed faces of the other two in the room as they look back at the news broadcast. Tahvo kneels down next to Johannes’ bed to get to his eye level. “Thank the gods you’re alight” Johannes says grabbing Tahvo by the arm.

“Yeah, I'm glad you’re alight too ... “Tahvo pauses, and Johannes can tell there is something is bothering him. “I saw your Solvig go down, it looked pretty nasty”.

“It happened pretty fast; I couldn’t tell you much about it.”

“That’s alright” Tahvo said looking away, “They told me that the humans captured you.”

“I was unconscious, I would have fought them if I wasn’t.”

Tahvo chuckles, “I’m sure you would have. They also told me they interrogated you, is that true?”

“Yeah, sort of, I mean I didn’t give them any meaningful information.”

“No, of course not ... But they didn’t hurt you or anything?”

“No, I'm fine.”

“They also told me they cut Ubel open.”

“He had internal bleeding, and one of the humans said he could stop it. I tried to stop him, but they restrained me, y’know”.

“I’m sure you tried. He’s going to be fine by the way, I visited him just before.”

Johannes takes a long breath, relieved that he was going to be fine. Then he looked at Tahvo, and the troubled look still was all over his face. “What's up, why are you looking at me like that?”

“Johannes, I’m sorry” Tahvo says looking down.

“Why?” Johannes is put on edge.

“I got a message from home ... “

“What does it say?” Johannes now shared Tahvo’s apprehensiveness. Tahvo takes a moment to breath in, delaying the inevitable for just a second longer. His ears were folded back, and he hunched down.

“Emilie died last week” Tahvo said looking right into Johannes’ eyes.

“Died? ... What do you mean she died?” Johannes said agasp, having trouble finding the words.

“Last week, someone broke into your apartment on base, and killed her” Tahvo said softly.

“Tahvo this is a terrible joke ... “Johannes said laughing

“I’m not joking Johannes” Tahvo said sternly.

“No, w-why would someone do that, there’s no way that s-someone would break into a base apartment, you know that house people who own weapons, and just kill someone that doesn’t make sense” Johannes said unable to believe what Tahvo was saying. The attention of the two others in the room peaked, and they were both looking at Johannes and Tahvo.

“Johannes please don’t make this more difficult ...”

“I don’t believe you, I trained her how to use a blaster, there’s one in the nightstand next to her. She would have heard someone breaking in and done something”.

“Johannes please, just listen.”

“And I'm sure you want to tell me he killed Kurt too, right?”

“No, Kurt’s okay. He's staying at your parents' place right now. Johannes please just-”

“So why the hell did they tell you! I’m fine, I’m here! Why didn’t they tell me first!” Johanne cuts off Tahvo irritated.

“Johannes please just calm-”

“You just told me my wife is dead, and you want me to be calm?!” Johanne cuts him off again, now fuming.

“They asked me to tell you, because they thought that you’d take the news better from a friend” Tahvo said calmly.

“Who in the hells thought that you can take the news of your wife dying any other way!?" Johannes tries to stand up, slowed down by his still healing broken ribs, but Tahvo stops him

“Johannes please” Tahvo says on the verge of tears “Please don't make this more difficult.”

“Difficult for you?! Emilie is dead not Siiri!”

“You oaf, listen to me! You’re my friend, we’ve been through shit together. Basic, the war, Erwin and Vanir but we’re here, right?” Tahvo couldn’t stop the tears from flowing now, “I’m going to be here for you, God knows I’ll always be.”

Johannes couldn’t use anger to hold back his other emotions anymore, so he attempted to cover himself with his blanket. Tahvo let him pant and dry cry for a second before standing up and leaning down to hug him. Tahvo held Johannes as his crying accelerated into sobbing, he had finally realized the reality of the news. Tahvo couldn’t come up with anything to say to make him feel better, so said nothing at all.

“I want to go home” Johannes said in-between sobs, “tell them I need to go home, please!”

“I will” Tahvo said standing up “But they told me they’re sending you back next week.”

“NO!” Johannes cried, “Please tell them I wanna see Emilie!”

“They aren’t going to do anything to her until you get back, I promise.”

“Please!” Johannes cried sounding more like a kid not getting his way than a twenty-year-old wolf.

“Johannes, I already tried. They’re not going to send you on a transport until you’ve healed a bit more.”

“Ta-VHo!” Johannes cried tears running down his face, begging his friend. Tahvo knew at this point that he was beyond reasoning with, and so gave up trying to do so. Instead, he again knelt down and embraced him. Nothing he could say right now could save his friend from this anguish.