NOVEL WEB Chapter 203: Formation
He gestured towards the main holographic display. The screen, previously showing grim casualty reports and maps of devastation, shimmered and transformed. What appeared next silenced the entire chamber. It was a dazzling array of advanced technologies, rendered in stunning detail.
"For too long," Richard announced, his voice resonating with a newfound gravitas, "humanity has been confined to a single world, a single system. This is our greatest vulnerability. It is time to spread. It is time to colonize other systems. It is time to claim our place among the stars. These technologies you see before you are not gifts from some benevolent alien power, nor are they the result of some secret, hidden agenda. They are the fruit of human ingenuity, born from the very necessity imposed upon us by the Krill's long control over our planet and our potential."
His voice rose, filling the chamber with a passionate conviction. "For millennia, they suppressed our advancements, stifled our potential, confined us to this single world. But even under their shadow, humanity innovated, dreamed, and built. These technologies – Warp Drive, Anti-Gravity, Fusion Cores, Artificial General Intelligence – they are ours. They are humanity's right to own, to wield, to master! These technologies will free humanity from the confines of one star system, from the vulnerability of a single home!"
Richard's gaze swept across the delegates, his eyes burning with a fierce, hopeful fire. "Yes, colonizing is dangerous. The stars are vast, and the unknown still holds perils. But we are humanity! We have endured the unendurable. We have adapted to the impossible. We have not lost our passion to explore the stars, to reach for the infinite! I say unto you all, whoever steps first on a new planet, whoever braves the void to plant humanity's flag, must have the sacred right to name it, to claim it as a new home for our species!"
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle, then his voice deepened, taking on a tone of unwavering commitment. "And to further protect our explorers and colonization efforts, we, the Terran Retribution Command, will contribute our full might to humanity's defense. We will provide the shield and the sword for those who venture forth. It is time to become an interstellar species! It is time to claim our destiny!"
The chamber erupted. A thunderous cheer, a unified roar of approval, swept through the delegates. Even those who had previously voiced skepticism or opposition found themselves caught in the wave of raw, unbridled hope and ambition. They rose to their feet, applauding, their faces alight with a vision of a future they had barely dared to dream.
The internet, witnessing this moment live, exploded in a chaotic, joyous frenzy.
Twitter:
#HumanityAscends: "Richard just dropped the mic on the galaxy. We're going to space, people! Not just surviving, but THRIVING! #WarpDrive #SpaceColonization"
@StarGazer_2015: "My entire life's dream just became a reality. I'm crying. We're going to the stars! 😭🚀 #NewEra #BeyondEarth"
@TechEnthusiast: "Fusion power for everyone?! Anti-gravity?! This isn't just tech, this is a new civilization! The Krill just accidentally made us gods!"
@PoliticalJunkie: "The UN just cheered for a xenophobic tech billionaire. Wildest timeline ever. But... space! #Compromise #FutureIsNow"
@MemeLordSupreme: "Krill: 'We'll harvest them.' Richard: 'Hold my beer, I'm about to give humanity warp drive.' #CheckmateAliens #GalaxyBrain"
Facebook:
Groups like "Future Colonists of [Proposed Planet Name]" and "Starbound Families" instantly formed, buzzing with excitement. People shared images of theoretical colony ships and distant nebulae.
Sarah Chen (shared Richard's speech clip): "This is it. This is why we fought. For a future beyond Earth. My kids will grow up under alien suns! So proud to be human! ❤️"
Global News Network (Official Page): "BREAKING: Humanity to become an interstellar species! Richard Santamo announces open sharing of advanced technologies including Warp Drive, Anti-Gravity, and AGI. Colony efforts to begin immediately. #SpaceRace #NewHorizons"
Local Community Group: "Who's ready to pack their bags?! My family is signing up for the first colony ship to Kepler-186f! Any mechanics out there want to join our crew?"
Reddit (r/space and r/Futurology):
The subreddits were in meltdown. Threads discussing the physics of warp drives and the ethics of AGI in colonization dominated.
u/CosmicDreamer: "The 'Dark Forest' just got a lot less dark. We're not hiding anymore. We're expanding. This is the greatest day in human history."
u/AGI_Analyst: "Aegis being open-sourced for colonization is massive. This isn't just an AI; it's a co-creator for new societies. The implications for human development are staggering."
u/Historian_in_Making: "Remember this day. This is where humanity truly began its journey. From a single planet, scarred but defiant, to the boundless cosmos."
Vine (short video clips):
Trending Loop: "Richard's Mic Drop" - A 6-second loop of Richard's final declaration, often with a triumphant sound effect.
Comment: "When you tell your boss you're quitting to colonize a new galaxy."
Trending Loop: "Warp Drive Reveal" - A quick cut of the holographic warp drive schematic, then a rocket launching.
Comment: "My commute is about to get interesting."
Tumblr (blogging platform for visual content, GIFs, and reblogs):
Post by @StarryEyedArtist: "New fanart: Humanity reaching for the stars! Inspired by Richard Santamo's speech. We are limitless! ✨🚀"
Reblog by @SciFiGeek: "This is literally my entire life's aesthetic now. Space, here we come!"
GIF Set: "Humanity's Future Moods" - A series of GIFs showing awe, determination, and joy.
Caption: "When you realize you're about to be an interstellar species."
The UN Council, and the representatives of various nations, now shifted their focus from fragmented national interests to the urgent need for a united coalition. Politicking, though never entirely absent, was now channeled towards forging a stronger, more cohesive defense and expansion strategy.
"Mr. Santamo," Ambassador Li Wei of China began, her voice respectful but firm, "China recognizes the immense value of the technologies you propose to share. We believe a unified industrialization and fabrication effort, leveraging these advancements, is paramount for rapid reconstruction and interstellar expansion. Will TRC contribute its expertise in these areas to the coalition?"
"Indeed, Ambassador," Richard replied, his gaze steady. "The Terran Retribution Command will contribute its industrialization, fabrication, and replication technology to the United Earth Defense Coordination Command. While these will be a more accessible, and thus, inferior version than what TRC utilizes internally, they will still propel humanity's manufacturing capabilities light-years beyond current levels. Our goal is to empower all nations to rebuild and expand efficiently."
Ambassador Vitaly Churkin of Russia, ever pragmatic, raised a new point. "The solar system is littered with Krill debris. A clear hazard, and a potential source of intelligence. What is TRC's stance on cleanup and research?"
"A critical point, Ambassador," Richard acknowledged. "TRC will push efforts on cleaning the trash and debris of Krill ships throughout the Sol System. All recovered debris, once secured and analyzed for immediate threats, will be contributed for humanity's collective research. This is a shared resource for our common future."
A wave of murmurs rippled through the delegates. The sheer scale of the proposed cleanup and the open sharing of recovered alien technology were unprecedented.
Ambassador Samantha Power of the US then stepped forward. "Given the recent invasion, and the clear need for a multi-system defense, the United States, in conjunction with several other nations, proposes projects for establishing robust military bases on the Moon, Mars, and Europa. These would serve as forward defensive outposts and staging grounds for deeper space exploration."
"An excellent and necessary initiative, Ambassador," Richard stated, a subtle nod of approval. "TRC will support with the construction of these bases. However, you must be wary. Our intelligence indicates the Krill have established headquarters on the Moon, deep underground and other stellar bodies, in the solar system. Chancellor Shuha'dar, whom we have in our custody, has confirmed this during interrogation. He states that the Krill have been using the Moon to build their base underground, and also that a lot more Krill harvest leaders have disappeared, likely to these hidden lunar facilities or other black sites."
A collective gasp went through the UN Council. The idea of hidden Krill bases, particularly on their own Moon, sent a fresh wave of anxiety through the delegates.
"Chancellor Shuha'dar is in TRC custody?" Ambassador Power asked, her voice sharp with surprise.
"That is correct, Ambassador," Richard confirmed calmly. "Chancellor Shuha'dar and a Krill Harvest Leader from the Russian region are currently being held and interrogated by TRC. Their intelligence has been invaluable."
The other representatives, however, were now worried about the Krill harvest leaders who had "disappeared," their whereabouts unknown. Richard, observing their concern, offered a faint, almost chilling smile. "As for the other missing harvest leaders...we have substantial information that they might be in Antarctica."
He then gestured to the main holographic screen. The display shifted, showing a global map. Red zones, previously indicating Krill remnants, now highlighted a series of deep, subterranean structures. "The Terran Retribution Command has, concurrently, been engaged in efforts to destroy Krill-connected black site bases all over the world." As he spoke, the red zones on the map, one by one, flickered to green, indicating TRC operations had successfully neutralized them. "The remaining active sites, as you can see, are primarily concentrated in Antarctica."
The delegates leaned forward, their faces a mixture of horror and fascination. The scale of this hidden alien presence, and Richard's silent, systematic dismantling of it, was staggering.
Then, the holographic map zoomed in on one of the neutralized black sites. The image shifted to raw, unvarnished footage from TRC drones. It showed vast, cavernous chambers, filled with chilling sights: millions of liters of human blood, stored in massive, pulsating vats. And beside them, hundreds of millions of corpses—men, women, and children—drained of their lifeblood, their bodies withered and lifeless.
A wave of visceral revulsion swept through the chamber. Delegates gasped, some openly retching, others turning away, unable to bear the horrific images. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, usually unflappable, covered his mouth with a trembling hand. Ambassador Lourdes Yparraguirre's face was pale, her eyes wide with unshed tears. The sheer, unimaginable scale of the Krill's atrocities, laid bare before them, was a gut punch.
"My God..." Ambassador Samantha Power whispered, her voice barely audible. "Hundreds of millions... drained."
"Why... why are you telling us all of this now, Mr. Santamo?" Ambassador Harald Braun of Germany asked, his voice strained, his gaze fixed on the horrific images. "Why not before?"
Richard's expression remained grim, but his voice was unwavering. "Because I need the United Nations' presence. Had I revealed this information without your collective witness, without your official channels, other countries might exploit the fact that these black site bases existed. They might claim exclusive rights to the data, the technology, the very evidence of these atrocities. They might use it to gain leverage, to hoard power, to sow further division when unity is paramount."
He paused, letting the implication sink in. "I will also share the technologies and data we found within these black sites with humanity, through the UN. This includes Project Orion." The name, Project Orion, caused a few delegates to cough, a subtle ripple of recognition and discomfort passing through the room. It was a whispered rumor, a ghost of a black project from decades past.
Richard continued, seemingly oblivious to their discomfort, or perhaps deliberately ignoring it. "Project Orion, as you may recall, was a prototype for mass surveillance of the population, as well as a digital currency system. A system designed to track and monitor citizens. The Krill had been developing it, refining it, intending to implement it globally after their 'harvest.' All data pertaining to this, and other Krill-derived technologies, will be made available to the UN for collective study and ethical implementation."
The delegates exchanged uneasy glances. Richard was smart. By revealing this in the UN, he preempted any nation from pressuring him to give up the data he found, effectively putting it under a collective, international umbrella. It was a shrewd move, forcing transparency and cooperation, even if it meant exposing some uncomfortable truths about humanity's own past black projects.
The other agendas continued, now with a new, somber understanding of the enemy they faced and the immense, terrifying power Richard Santamo wielded. The path forward was clear: a united coalition, armed with unprecedented technology, facing a galactic threat, and grappling with the dark reflections of their own past.
Following Richard's revelations, the UN Council moved swiftly to solidify the coalition's immediate objectives: rebuilding Earth and preparing for interstellar expansion.
"Distinguished delegates," UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced, his voice firm, "The scale of the devastation demands an unprecedented global effort. We must establish a unified reconstruction fund and a coordinated resource allocation system. Ambassador Akbaruddin, India has vast experience in large-scale infrastructure projects. What are your nation's proposals for rapid urban renewal?"
Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin of India, a calm and methodical speaker, rose. "Secretary-General, India proposes a 'Global Reconstruction Initiative,' leveraging the industrialization and fabrication technologies Mr. Santamo has offered. We can deploy modular construction units, utilizing rapid-set composites and automated assembly. Our focus must be on sustainable, resilient infrastructure, designed to withstand future threats. Furthermore, a global food security program is paramount. We propose establishing high-yield hydroponic and aeroponic farms in protected, underground facilities, ensuring our population is fed regardless of surface conditions."
Ambassador Li Wei of China added, "China agrees. Our engineers are already developing blueprints for self-sufficient, vertical cities. We can share these designs, adapted with anti-gravity technology for rapid deployment and structural integrity against orbital bombardment. The sheer volume of Krill debris in orbit and on our planet must also be systematically recycled. It is a new resource, not merely waste. China offers its expertise in large-scale material processing and recycling to the coalition."
"Excellent proposals," Richard interjected, his voice resonating with quiet authority. "The TRC will provide the necessary schematics and initial fabrication units for these modular construction systems and advanced farming technologies. Our replication technology, while a simplified version of our internal systems, will allow for rapid production of materials from raw resources, accelerating reconstruction efforts exponentially. As for the Krill debris, our ANV fleets are already initiating cleanup protocols. All salvaged materials will be cataloged and made available for collective research and utilization."
Ambassador Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, representing the South American bloc, spoke next. "The humanitarian crisis is immense. Millions are displaced, injured, traumatized. We propose a 'Universal Medical Aid Protocol,' utilizing Krill-resistant vaccines and regenerative medicine. How quickly can these new medical technologies be disseminated and scaled globally, Mr. Santamo?"
"Immediately," Richard replied. "The data for Krill-resistant vaccines and regenerative medicine will be uploaded to the UEDC's central medical database within the hour. Our AGI, Aegis, can assist in optimizing production and distribution networks worldwide, identifying critical hotspots and ensuring equitable access. No human should suffer unnecessarily."