Darkworld: Earth

2.53.

“The death toll in western europe continues to climb as officials work without the use of the technology that they have come to rely upon to determine the devastation. While the buildings and people appear to be unaffected by the weapon fired by one of the Rosantean’s cruisers, thousands of people are dead and injured …”

Olivia turned the radio off. She didn’t usually do that. John liked the radio. She had grown used to having it blaring in the background. Even when the news wasn’t so grand, having it on had always seemed to calm him.

But he was shaking after hearing the report of the orbital strike on Earth.

“It’s okay, John,” she told him. “The enemy fled the system. We’re safe now.”

“Traitors to mankind,” he said. Then he screamed “They’re traitors!”

“Yes they are,” she agreed.

“They are the enemy! They deserve to be destroyed!” The boy abruptly began screaming in Yonohoan, and she no longer recognized him.

Then, after several moments, he went still.

Her blood chilled as she saw the coldness in his eyes.

“I didn’t know that humans could be the enemy,” he said calmly. “I’m sorry for my outburst.”

“John,” she began. But she didn’t know what to say. She hugged him. He stiffened in her arms, then relaxed a moment later.

“Let’s go back upstairs,” she said. She had brought him down to the basement when the Emergency Broadcast had announced the incoming enemy fleet.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” he said.

“Okay. We’ll talk about something else,” she promised. “But no radio and no television for a while, okay?”

“That’s unnecessary,” he said. “I want to--”

“I know it’s not fair, but this is my house and my rules. Understand?”

He was quiet. “I will obey,” he said eventually.

She hugged him again. “I’m sorry.”

“I understand,” he said. They went upstairs and he helped her cook dinner. They ate in silence, and Olivia pretended not to notice that her charge was shaking with anger the entire time.

~~~~~~

“We formally request emergency aid from the Yonohoah for Western Europe,” Turnball said, his voice heavy with regret and emotion.

“I have already requested humanitarian efforts from my people,” Eolai informed him, placing a hand on his shoulder. The battle was a victory, but a pyrrhic one like the first battle against the Rosanteans. “The first wave will be here within hours. They will require permission to land on the surface, but--”

“We’re having trouble getting in contact with the governments of the area. As their representatives during times of war, I authorize the humanitarian efforts of the Yonohoah on their behalf,” Turnball stated.

“I shall relay that the explicit permission of their military leader has been given to provide the civilians with humanitarian aid,” Eolai promised.

“How does this change things?” Turnball asked. “I know how this affects us. It’s not as bad as it could be, since it was only EMP. Devastating but not as bad as something that would crack the planet in two. But what does it mean for us on an intersteller level?”

“It means that the Rosanteans ‘dun fucked up,’” Eolai said calmly. “Because whether it was an accident or not, the use of an orbital weapon on a Darkworld is Casus Belli. As of twenty minutes ago, The Yonohoan people have declared war on the Rosanteans.”

He paused, gathering his thoughts. Turnball saw that he had more to say and waited.

“It will not be swift. They will cry foul and protest their innocence. They will continue to break the rules while we will not. It will not matter. We will depose the Rosantean emperor and their entire government for what they have done here today. So many people will die because of what has happened on Earth, and I fear that it is only the beginning of a storm which will sweep through the universe.”

“That bad, is it?” Turnball asked.

“The only way it could become worse is if someone woke up a swarm.”