[ WP ] Aliens come to Earth in hoping to wipe us out and take over the planet , but are honorable and gives us a fighting chance . They announce they will return in 100 years so as to give Earth a chance to prepare and defend itself . Neither side expected what the other would bring to war

`` So you're saying you flew in firing range.'' 
 
 `` Yes.'' 
 
 `` But you did n't fire.'' 
 
 `` Correct.'' 
 
 `` You just sent them a message?'' 
 
 `` Said we'd all be back in 100 orbits, with a bigger army.'' 
 
 `` 100 orbits of what?'' 
 
 `` I did n't specify. Who cares?'' 
 
 The war general flew into a rage. He was well known for his narrow range of expressions, even for one of his profession. `` What do you mean who cares? I care! You were supposed to destroy them, not give them a hint!'' 
 
 `` But fighting is difficult. I did n't want to go over budget. And besides, they wo n't expect us to *not* fight.'' 
 
 He raised his voice further. `` Fighting is your *job*!'' 
 
 `` With all due respect, your greatness, my job is to follow orders as efficiently and as inexpensively as possible. I have spent much time observing them and would like permission to justify my decisions.'' 
 
 The grizzled old thing calmed down as fast as his anger had flared up. `` Proceed,'' he said calmly. 
 
 `` We both know they have a penchant for conflict.'' 
 
 `` That is precisely why I want them gone.'' 
 
 `` They are still driven strongly by primitive, underdeveloped instincts.'' 
 
 `` Sure, I'll believe that.'' 
 
 `` They seek pleasure and social recognition, but their survival instinct is weak.'' 
 
 `` And you're exploiting that deficiency?'' 
 
 `` Exactly.'' 
 
 The general let a slightest sign of curiosity slip through his otherwise coldly logical demeanor. `` So what's the connection?'' 
 
 `` They're all offense, no defense. Each player believes themselves to be invincible, so they have a habit of infighting and corruption.'' 
 
 `` Sounds like you gave them a good reason to stop doing that.'' 
 
 `` And a better reason to create the biggest, most explosive weapons ever seen!'' 
 
 With that, the general brought up a projection of the home planet of the aliens in question. It had already made a few orbits around its star for the duration of this conversation, but he watched it for a few more, as if expecting trouble. He began to say, `` To your credit, there's no sign of-'' before the projection displayed a series of massive energy dispersion from the planet. When the light died down, nothing remained in its place. 
 
 After a pause, `` Well, that went faster than expected.'' 
 
 `` There's no planet.'' Of course, this must have startled him. No known technology could have done the same job so efficiently. 
 
 `` No problem.'' 
 
 The general was exasperated again, as though a child had outsmarted him in a game he was trying to win. Or perhaps that pun was the last he could take. `` You... are dismissed.'' 
 
 `` Thank you, your greatness.''
