[ WP ] A peaceful alien race is besieged by another race in the same galaxy . As their last planets fall and their home-world comes under threat they do the unthinkable . They ask for aid from the only known creatures more brutal than their foes in exchange for FTL technology . Humans accept the deal .

As I finished my report of another successful mission, the Admiral, nodded victoriously. “ Excellent work Lieutenant. Get your troupes some food and rest while you await further orders. ” Thank you Admiral, ” I replied as I stood to await my dismissal. No. I have to talk to him. The Admiral knew something was on my mind right away. He always did. “ Something else, Lieutenant? ” he asked knowing the answer. 
 
 “ Um, yes sir. If I may, I ’ d like to discuss the current objective with you. ” He looked up at me awaiting to here what I had to say. “ Alone. ” 
 
 He looked up at me and seemed to finally fully grasp the heaviness I was carrying. As he put his cigar out in his ashtray, painted as an atlas to remind him of home, he dismissed the company. He stood up and poured two whiskeys. 
 
 “ What ‘ s on your mind, son? ” he asked handing me the second whiskey. 
 
 “ Father, What are we doing, here? ” 
 
 “ Winning the war, ” he promptly replied. I knew I ’ d have to spell this out. 
 
 “ I know that, but why? It ’ s not our war. ” 
 
 “ Of course it is, ” he said without missing a beat. “ We ’ re taking our place among the stars. “ 
 
 “ As mercenaries? ” 
 
 “ As defense, ” ’ he replied sternly, “ The Rhondonians have been plaguing the Centaurians for years. The Centaurians were defenseless. Until now. It ’ s a noble cause Bill. ” 
 
 He took a big sip as I stared at him in disbelief. Finally I spoke. 
 
 “ You can ’ t believe that father. Noble? I ’ m sorry but there are noble causes, and this is not one of them. We are not fighting for the preservation of our race. We ’ re not fighting for some altruistic ideal of protecting those weaker than us. We ’ re fighting for an FTL drive. Our war? This ship? It ’ s run on bloody money. ” 
 I stared at him waiting for his reply. He stared back, searching me. 
 
 “ What happened to you down there ” I didn ’ t reply. As he knew I wouldn ’ t. I believe he was asking himself. He pressed on, “ There ’ s an entire universe out here son. We may have been the most evolved on our planet but look at what they ’ ve built here. Intelligence is not our advantage anymore. Our will to fight is what we have-what they lack. We ’ re carving our race into the history the intergalactic world. This is what we have to offer. We will not stand on the sidelines. ” 
 
 
 I stared at the man who raised me, in horror. No. Not horror. Disappointment. This is how deep his ideals went. Finally, I set my whiskey down and spoke. “ So its true. ” 
 
 “ What? ” 
 
 “ You don ’ t mean to stop. This wasn ’ t just about the FTL drive. This whole war is an advertisement for the human enterprise: “ Earth: Mercenaries for Hire ” 
 
 He seemed to lose the ability to look me in the eye, walking to a window overlooking the Centaurian home planet. “ I will not stand on the sidelines. ” 
 
 “ And I will not fight someone else ’ s war. Not for money. Not for glory. I ’ m sorry father. “ I set my side-arm on his desk, and heard his reply. 
 
 “ Me too son, ” he replied, and that was the last thing I ever heard him say. 
 

