“Kind of like volleyball, but with hoverboards,” Vargev filled in.
They continued walking along another of the giant archways, “do you show lots of plays on Solaria?” Michael asked.
“Oh yes; it is one of our primary forms of entertainment. We once had television like you do, however it fell out of favour on our world. Now we go to the theatre instead. There are still some small T.V. networks that do exist, but as a rule most Solarians don’t watch them,” Kerulithar checked a small pocket watch that he pulled out of a pocket in his robes. “It’s getting close to the time we must be getting back to the council building now.”
As they began to make their way back to the council building, Vargev pointed out the large black birds flitting from tower to tower.
“What kind of birds are those?” he asked watching them.
Kerulithar looked up and said, “they are the Logethi birds; they represent freedom and peace amongst my people, it is an offence on my planet to kill one.”
“They look really nice,” Vargev said.
After a short walk they made it to the entrance of the Solarian council building once again; walking up the marble steps for a second time. A large crowd had gathered for this momentous day.
“Obviously our story had generated some interest,” Michael whispered to the others.
Hundreds of Solarians had gathered on either side of the steps leading up to the building. They were being held back by barriers and the local Solarian planetary police, the crowd looked eager to catch a glimpse of the first two terrans to set foot on Solaria.
The mass of people cheered when they caught sight of Michael and Vargev, which made them both proud and uncomfortable in equal measure.
This time the same official stood and greeted them formally, “the council is expecting you, and is arrayed to review your case, you may go straight through.”
“Thank you,” Kerulithar said.
They walked through the ornate council doors and into the huge oval council chambers once again. This time the entire council was arrayed; fully 125 delegates from planets across Solarian space.
There was a hand picked public adjudication panel made up of some of the most noted theologians, scientists, philosophers, and lesser dignitaries on Solaria.
Kerulithar also noted that Saltovos; the head of Solarian military forces was also present. This is huge, he thought, the biggest case of my ambassadorial career.
The three of them once again stood on the raised stand in the centre of the room; lights gradually dimmed, and the handrail circling the room lit up once more. The lights in the ceiling suddenly turned on and once again bathed the ambassador in a bright white light.
The powerful and deep council voice boomed over the speakers once again. “Ambassador Kerulithar of Kendris III, do you still represent the Terrans presented before this council.”
“I do.”
“Thank you ambassador, you may now step down,” the voice boomed again. “This council is now in session.”
Kerulithar bowed respectfully and stepped down, taking his place behind the two humans.
“Terrans!” the voice spoke again, “please explain to this council how you got here; one more time.”
Vargev and Michael took to the stand and told their stories once again. The council sat quiet listening to the details intently.
After a short pause to take in these details, a delegate finally arose, “Ambassador Kerulithar.” The aged delegate said, “do you seriously think that this council would go to war with another alien race on the request of two low ranking Terran officers; without a single shred of evidence?”
Kerulithar took to the stand again. “There is significant evidence; I have it in my possession. And I would wish the council to look upon it.”
“Present your evidence,” the voice replied.
Kerulithar reached into his pocket and retrieved a small disc, passed it to the nearest administrator who took it and inserted the disc into a small reader; automatically a holographic screen shimmered into life above the centre of the council, casting the dark oval room in an emerald glow.
“It contains Commander Ralavas of the Omicron repair facilities’ testimony; the damage sustained by our captured Krenaran vessel. As well as sensor data from every action the ship has taken part in since its construction. It has also been translated for our benefit,” Kerulithar announced.
The delegates watched the footage aghast; a wave of whispers floated around the room, some of the delegates were clearly outraged by what they were seeing.
“How did you get that disc?” Michael whispered to the ambassador.
“I had Ralavas prepare it for me before we left Omicron. It arrived this morning while you were sleeping,” Kerulithar answered.
“I think I owe him a drink,” Michael said.
The disc was played in chronological order. It showed the vessel going on reconnaissance sorties deep into E.O.C. A territory long before the war actually started.
Data was displayed containing the relative strengths and weaknesses of E.D. F ships and facilities; it showed footage of the first attacks upon the civilian mining vessels. The disc was then paused.
“Terrans, can you identify for the benefit of this council the vessels that are under attack in this picture?” The council voice asked.
Michael spoke up, “yes; they are civilian mining vessels.”
There were some serious hushed whispers around the chamber at hearing this news, civilian targets were being attacked.
“Please continue,” the voice spoke aloud once again.
The disc continued playing; showing more attacks upon the mining vessels, and then the attack upon the Montfort; the disc was paused for a second time as the attack began.
“Terrans, can you identify the large vessel shown in the picture?” The voice asked again.
“It is an E.D. F Naval carrier, called the E.D.F. S Montfort, it was sent to investigate the attacks,” Michael answered.
The disc was played again; depicting the fiery destruction of the Montfort. Then the attacks upon the Agemman colony itself, plumes of thick black smoke rose high into the night sky, as torpedoes blasted apart building upon building.
Tracer fire from hastily erected artillery and anti-aircraft pieces from the 22 ^ nd E.D. F artillery company, the black panthers, could be seen lighting up the night sky as they desperately searched the sky for the attacking Krenaran vessels. Flames and explosions lit up the colony in bright flashes as torpedoes found their targets. Smoke filled the night sky; everywhere buildings were burning and bloodied bodies lay strewn across cratered streets.
Kerulithar said, “please pause the disc.”
The administrator did so.
“Notice how the Krenaran ships are leaving all the water sources untouched, we will come back to that later, please resume.”
The disc was played once again; the council studied Vargev as the disc showed more scenes of the wholesale slaughter at the Agemman colony.
At length one of the delegates stood and said, “you look like you recognise this atrocity.”
“I am one of the survivors from the attack on that colony; I was there the night it happened.” Vargev said, even his trained emotions seemed heavy with grief as he remembered the utter desolation of that small outlying colony.
Everywhere voices erupted across the chambers; here was an actual survivor; an eye witness to the events.
The disc continued playing. Now it portrayed the Krenaran ship in orbit, veering toward the E.D. F fleet, as the Krenaran ships silently massed for the attack on the battle group led by the Ulysses. Suddenly and almost simultaneously the Krenaran ships opened fire; huge explosions lit up the space immediately surrounding the battle. Rail-cannons thundered in response, and the lethal bright green particle beams of the Krenaran attackers tore open the hulls of the E.D. F ships, opening great rents of fire and twisted blackened metal.
