[ WP ] A multitude of Alien ships warp within range of Earth . Over all electronic devices the message is heard , `` Earth , we come in peace . In all the universe only one other Species has mastered Death and Destruction as you have . We need your help . ''

Ambassador Pardok wondered for the millionth time what he had done to deserve being posted on Earth. It was a shattered shell of what it once had been. Once humans had been a promising species for entrance into the Confederacy. Their largest flaw had been their violent tendencies, but they had, for a time, appeared to be getting them under control. But that was all in the past. Just a year after being granted provisional status in the Confederacy, a massive war broke out among humanity. They turned out to have far more weaponry than they had told the Confederacy. After the war, their population had been reduced by over two thirds. In the aftermath of that debacle, the Confederacy had renewed its efforts to rid itself of violence. And they had been quite successful. 
 
 Pardok was getting ready to retire for the night, but before he headed to bed, he noticed a message from the foreign affairs division of the Confederacy. It told him to inform the government of Earth that a Confederacy fleet would be entering the system in two days to open negotiations on the purchase of weaponry from humanity. 
 
 `` What the hell! Why would the Confederacy need weapons?'' thought Pardok. 
 
 As he set off to Earth government, Pardok wondered how the humans would receive the message. The government was still weak from the war and the population was still divided. Pardok worried that this could spark renewed fighting. 
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 Minister Tang paced on the bridge of flagship of the Confederacy's fleet. He asked a crewman when they would be arriving, and was informed it would be 14 minutes before they arrived in the Sol system. 
 
 `` Only three minutes have passed since I last asked'' thought Tang. It had felt like much longer than that. 
 
 He reviewed what had happened in the last few days. The Xerach had invaded Confederacy territory in a blatant and unprovoked war of aggression. The Confederacy had been defenseless. President Darius had dispatched him with the fastest ships the Confederacy had. The fleet carried thousands of high tech goodies to entice the Humans to fork over weapons technology and perhaps some military minds. 
 
 Tang asked the crewman again for the time until arrival. He was informed there 13 minutes left. Those would be a long 13 minutes.
