The moment I heard the word symbiosis, my mind turned white.
First, I felt startled. The upper echelons of Spacystro had chosen to coexist with the planetary inhabitants on Earth. While this wasn’t an unimaginable scenario, it was difficult to fathom given Spacystro’s previous actions.
Second, I felt anger. Many had been engaged in confrontations over the past 20 years without knowing that such a decision had been made at the top. If I hadn’t known today, I would still be clueless and endlessly embroiled in conflict.
Third, I came to understand. There must have been a clear reason for the prolonged invasion. Spacystro had long-term systems in place to live on Earth and had built various infrastructures. If everything was part of the symbiosis process, it was understandable.
“Did you say symbiosis?”
“Yes.”
“What do you mean by ‘we can neither invade nor return to space’?”
It didn’t make sense. I knew well that Spacystro had adhered to peaceful invasion methods. My actions were under the directive of peaceful measures from above.
However, it’s not impossible to invade. In theory, if Spacystro removed its own constraints and used just a bit of force, Earth could be invaded within months.
Not being able to return to space was even more incomprehensible. Even if Earth invasion was impossible and Spacystro faced defeat, it had warp drive technology capable of long-distance travel.
While using warp drive requires enormous energy, making it impractical to say “just use the warp drive,” Spacystro did possess this escape method.
“The first thing to explain is why we can’t return. You know that the warp drive requires a massive amount of antimatter energy, right?”
“Yes, I know very well.”
“Our six fleets no longer have the power to activate the warp drive.”
!”
A massive amount of energy was required. Though easy to say, the energy needed for the warp drive is unimaginably large.
Even if all the energy from the sun that illuminates Earth were combined, it wouldn’t be enough to activate the warp drive for three ships.
“The six fleets have always had issues with energy consumption. The energy we currently have is enough to sustain life on Earth for thousands of years, but it’s impossible to use the warp drive.”
“Weren’t the six fleets supposed to have enough energy for at least two warp drives?”
“That’s correct. But unexpected warp drives have depleted our remaining energy.”
Unexpected warp drives. Even non-experts can understand what this means.
Decades ago, Spacystro’s sixth fleet encountered a group of Predators, their mortal enemies, and used the warp drive to escape.
After a long journey through space, we arrived at Earth.
“So you decided on symbiosis with Earth?”
“Yes. As you know, we invade but don’t steal or destroy. In this vast universe, there are countless civilizations, but they are insignificant compared to the whole. Preserving existing civilizations is also the duty of intelligent life forms.”
I understood why Spacystro didn’t plunder during invasion. We had experienced loss ourselves, so we didn’t want others to go through the same.
Starting the invasion while feeling the loss of our homeland, we chose not to take anything.
“Earth is no different. Even if we can’t leave, we cannot steal from those living on Earth.”
“If you had announced coexistence from the beginning…”
“Do you think it would have worked?”
I asked myself a rhetorical question, realizing how foolish I sounded.
An overwhelming alien species declaring, “We aim to coexist with you,” would be hard to believe.
They would merely submit under the guise of coexistence.
“No.”
There was no need to ponder. Proposing peaceful coexistence out of the blue was an idealistic and unachievable idea.
With this perspective, it made sense why the upper echelons of Spacystro pursued confrontation despite aiming for coexistence. It was to create a sense of accomplishment for Earthlings maintaining their own positions, despite lingering resistance.
“We can’t ask for support from headquarters?”
“Even if we send a message now, it’s uncertain when it will arrive.”
“But when I returned to Seoul headquarters, I used the warp drive.”
“Moving one person a short distance is possible anytime. It’s possible to warp everyone on board to Seoul. However, headquarters is billions of light-years away from Earth.”
Returning to headquarters was already determined decades ago, possibly even earlier.
Even if we returned to headquarters, it wouldn’t change much. Spacystro is a collective under one name, but each fleet has its own system and culture. Each fleet is like a nation.
Ultimately, these individual groups are under one name and require many conditions to receive immediate energy support. The sixth fleet lacks the capability to meet these conditions.
“Is receiving support completely impossible?”
“It’s natural not to extend a hand to useless groups. We’ve always done this.”
There’s always a powerful force that makes us forget. The universe is a place where natural laws cannot be defied, and the weak are prey to predators.
The resources of the sixth fleet are far weaker than other fleets. Several fleets have already disappeared. Although we are part of Spacystro, until we find a common motherhood where each fleet can live separately, we cannot be called the same group.
“I understand. Then, is coexisting with Earth possible with such limited energy?”
“Of course. Just because our environment is slightly lacking doesn’t mean Earth’s power can overcome us.”
Spacystro still has superior technology and overwhelming strength compared to Earth. Even if we are weakened, Earthlings haven’t become stronger.
“Then you said you wanted to convince me with this talk. What does that mean?”
“HunterKiller Team, your girlfriends are key.”
In the coexistence between Earth and Spacystro, the most crucial information is about hyper-humans. While Earth cannot match Spacystro technologically, hyper-humans have formidable physical abilities.
Soldiers trained rigorously for a long time can hardly compare to these individuals, who can easily overpower typical Spacystro soldiers.
Especially the HunterKiller Team. Your girlfriends are exceptionally strong compared to other hyper-humans.
“If they agree to be surveyed.”
If Spacystro formally surveys hyper-humans, both sides can gain much. Your girlfriends can learn about their bodies and find their identity as hyper-humans.
Spacystro can analyze and utilize hyper-human abilities and counter them.
The problem is whether your girlfriends will agree to this.
Your girlfriends agreed to join Spacystro because of me.
Knowing how treated prisoners are, I welcomed your girlfriends joining Spacystro.
But if after joining, they are surveyed and experimented on to examine their bodies, would they really agree?
It’s hard to believe. Although the commander promised to actively consider the girlfriends’ opinions, it’s unknown what repercussions might arise if they refuse.
Long-term persuasion might stress them.
I hope your girlfriends agree to the survey. Regardless, the investigation has started, and we’ve realized there’s a limit to hyper-humans’ abilities, whether as combat power or lifespan.
If hyper-humans’ extraordinary abilities have a limit, it isn’t immediately problematic. Only their extraordinary combat capabilities would fade. But the impact on their bodies is unknown.
Your girlfriends don’t know how their bodies changed before and after becoming hyper-humans. For the future, I hope they agree to the survey, though this is just my opinion.
Having trauma from experiments, and hearing “survey,” they were extremely stressed just days ago. To not feel stressed at the mere mention is a relief.
“I understand. First, I should talk to my girlfriends. Deciding without them here won’t lead to any conclusion.”
“…Do you often hear that you’re audacious?”
“Sometimes.”
“You’re an interesting friend. Alright, since you’re on the HunterKiller Team, head to the courtroom conference room.”
After I went to the court, it seemed your girlfriends came by car too. Nodding and about to leave, I remembered something I needed to say.
The commander, who was about to leave the bench, stopped when I suddenly halted.
“If my girlfriends agree to the survey, I’ll ask them as politely as possible.”
The commander smiled and chuckled.
“Alright, don’t worry.”
“Thank you.”
As I opened the courtroom door, national security agents greeted me. After a slight bow, I followed their guidance to the conference room. Upon entering, I met the eyes of my girlfriends sitting at the table.
Since coming to Spacystro’s military court, your girlfriends wore provided Spacystro uniforms.
“They look good, don’t they?”
Smiling playfully, I sat at the end of the row where your girlfriends were seated. Yura, looking worried, stared at me intently.
“Older Brother, are you okay? Did nothing happen?”
“I only stood in court. Nothing happened. I’m fine.”
“Standing in court means you got a lot of trouble, right? Will they tell us not to stay together anymore?”
“What? They wouldn’t go that far, would they?”
Yubin raised her voice in response to Yura’s concern. I could feel that my girlfriends were also worried outside, just as tense as I was inside.
I couldn’t feel proud about their concern. If they were anxious or misunderstanding, I needed to resolve it quickly.
“No, I wasn’t disciplined. Instead, I was praised for this incident.”
“Really? That’s a relief.”
Yubin sighed in relief at the news that nothing serious happened. Seeing the heavy expression on SuA’s face disappear, I realized she was also quite worried.
“Dear, but why did you call us here? We came when you said to come, but…”
“You’ll understand soon.”
Though I received the briefing, I held back from speaking prematurely due to the high-ranking official’s involvement.
“Don’t worry.”
As I tried to calm the girlfriends, the conference room door opened, and five shadows rushed in quickly.
Seeing the shadows approach with weapons in hand, I prepared to shout.
Bang! The conference table shattered with a heavy sound.
The five rushing shadows were suddenly subdued by the girlfriends and fell to the floor.
“Older Brother, didn’t you say not to worry?”
Yubin, holding the jaw of a shadow in black uniform, clenched her fist tightly.
The shadow kicked in the neck and pinned against the wall by SuA was kicking his feet in mid-air.
Yura, hitting the chair down on the fallen shadow, aimed a broken wooden piece at his neck.
Hayang, jumping up immediately, grabbed the back of the rushing shadow’s neck and hung him from the ceiling.
Holding me down, Eunha pushed the rushing shadow out of range and slammed his leg to the ground, then twisted his arm to subdue him.
Despite the quick action, I clearly saw how the girlfriends moved. The next thought was, “What is happening?”
“Amazing! I checked the data, but I didn’t expect this.”
The commander, arriving late at the conference room, marveled at the sight of his subordinates being subdued by the girlfriends.
The commanders standing behind also looked amazed, wide-eyed.
Is this how negotiations are conducted with someone?
Isn’t safety ensured as much as possible? And so on. I had many things to say, but what came out of my mouth was entirely different from what I thought.
“Commander, are you perhaps a fool?”
It was an incredibly impertinent question, but since the commander had acted equally impertinently, I didn’t hesitate. The commander showed no reaction, as if he fully understood his actions, and answered simply.
“Often.”
