[ 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 .

The human female Margaret Waller across from him sat quietly, puzzling over what had just been revealed to her. 
 
 `` A war? Today is our first real confirmation that we're not alone in the universe, and the first thing we have to do is fight a war...'' Her voice trailed off and her eyes became unfocused. `` I suppose that's about right. The way life works.'' 
 
 The words had no ulterior motive behind them, yet Qard was simultaneously reassured and chilled by them. Reassured that this culture was so steeped in warfare that they believed it was the universal order of life, and chilled by the same fact. There was no doubt that humans could win this war, but there was also no doubt that they'd win many, many more after their first introduction to Fluan technology. 
 
 The human's eyes snapped back to him. 
 
 `` I'm sorry about your plight, but we have no way to fight on the fronts you've specified. We've barely colonized our own solar system; we do n't have the resources to wage an extra galactic war.'' 
 
 `` Of course not,'' Qard said, a note of exasperation creeping into his voice. `` We do n't expect you to do so yourself. The Fluans have prepared a number of vessels capable of faster than light travel. A... fleet.'' He hesitated not because he did n't know the word, but because'fleet' should never have been used to describe Fluan spacecraft. The assorted ships were used chiefly for exploration, business travel, or pleasure. The thought of a Fluan diplomacy yacht spitting death nearly made Qard himself violent. 
 
 `` They have few weapons. Our engineers will work with you to outfit them with whatever you need or desire. Once the war is finished, whether we win or lose, the vessels will be yours to keep and study.'' Not the full truth. Humans could study them right up until The Council of Flua remotely detonated them. Humanity was n't quite ready to join FTL civilizations yet. 
 
 `` And how about our numbers?'' She asked. `` Including our colonies, we number 28 billion. A fraction of that would fight for you. Is that enough?'' 
 
 `` Your numbers are sufficient.'' He did n't mention that humans reproduced at an unusually high rate compared to the rest of known life forms. Their numbers were n't completely ideal, but they'd easily make up the difference. 
 
 `` Excellent. Last question, then. I am the Primary Elected Leader of the Terra System. I can guarantee majority support by both the High Military and High Civilian Representatives. The question is, why should I? Why should we choose a war to introduce ourselves to the universe, and why yours?'' 
 
 A question Qard had not been expecting. He and the Fluan Council had assumed that the novelty of a new form of fighting, and the vast resources offered by the galaxy at large, would be motivation enough. 
 
 `` We have the respect of a great many civilizations. If you were to help us, the trade opportunities-'' 
 
 `` Then why are n't they fighting for you?'' she cut in. 
 
 Qards felt his antennae stiffen, the equivalent of a human narrowing their eyes. `` They fear our enemy more than they respect us. Defeat the Cramoul and you'll have respect as our allies, and fear as Cramoul's vanquishers. Humans have a great capacity for violence, which is why we come to you now. We face near extinction. You will prove your place among the greater civilizations by staving off genocide. It is a guarantee that no other planet will offer as much. And we have not communicated the location of your planet. If you lose, you can vanish to your home system without a trace. Even we Fluans found you by accident.'' 
 
 Her eyes became unfocused once more. 
 
 `` Yes. Yes, I think that will do.'' 
 
 * * * 
 
 Fifteen years later, the Cramoul were pushed back to their homeworld. With victory accomplished and celebrations competed, humanity returned to Terra, and Flua betrayed them by detonating the FTL drives, as planned. 
 
 Four years after that, the Fluan Council surrendered to Primary Commander Margaret Waller, of Terra.
