NOVEL WEB Chapter 205: Depart
As the UN meetings ended, Richard flew to his hometown with Lina. Back at Marawi City, he arrived in simply a CRVT—'Richie'—for the first time not cloaked, but hovering 100 meters above ground. Richard gazed down below at the people of Marawi City, his countrymen, Filipinos. News networks celebrated his homecoming as the hero who basically saved the world. Richard smiled and revealed himself to the public at the door of the craft, which he waved. National live commentators cheered and thanked him with humor and sarcasm.
Richard smiled, a genuine, unburdened expression that rarely graced his features in public. He opened the door of the CRVT, stepped out onto the hovering platform, and waved to the roaring crowd, a simple gesture that sent another wave of cheers through the city.
But then, his gaze drifted towards a familiar mansion, and his smile faltered. Standing on the porch, hands on her hips, was his mother, Anita. Her eyes, usually warm and loving, were narrowed into furious slits, fixed on him with an intensity that could melt steel. The subtle hint in her posture, the rigid set of her shoulders, screamed that his public, unannounced arrival was a very, very bad idea. He had done otherwise.
The world watched, live, as Anita with a formidable presence, marched directly towards the hovering CRVT. Before Richard could even fully descend, she reached up, grabbed him by the ear—a move that defied physics given his height and aura—and delivered a sharp, resounding punch to his face. The sound, picked up by nearby microphones, was a wet thwack.
"You! You left! You went to Brazil without a word! And then you replaced me with a fucking robot?!" Anita's voice, though distorted by the mic, was a furious, high-pitched shriek. She continued to pummel him, dragging his godlike ass inside the house, her words a torrent of maternal fury. "And now I see you on TV, famous, saving the world, while I'm talking to a machine all this time?!"
The sight was surreal: a man who had just repelled an alien armada, a being of immense power, getting thoroughly beaten up by his own mother, live on national and international television. It was a moment of profound, hilarious humanity.
Jack, who had been watching from a safe distance, leaned against the wall, a wide, knowing smirk on his face. He pulled out his phone, snapped a quick selfie with the distant, ongoing spectacle of Richard's domestic humiliation, and chuckled.
@MomOfAllGods: "This is the most relatable thing I've ever seen. Doesn't matter if you're a god, your mom will still whoop your ass. 😂 #AsianMoms #NeverChange"
@RichardStanAccount: "OMG! He's literally a god getting grounded! I love this man even more now. #RichardIsHuman #Relatable"
@GlobalNewsLive: "Unprecedented scenes from Marawi! World Savior Richard Santamo involved in a domestic dispute live on air! More at 11!"
@MemeMaster: "New meme template: Richard's face after the punch. Caption: 'When you save the world but forget to call your mom.'"
@JackFanClub: "JACK'S FACE! The ultimate wingman/best friend. And that selfie! ICONIC."
@PsychologistOnline: "Fascinating display of human attachment and the enduring power of the maternal bond, even in the face of god-like power. Also, therapy for Richard, stat."
Three years later,
The world now was a vastly different place. The dust of the Krill invasion had settled, replaced by the hum of reconstruction and the vibrant energy of a species looking to the stars. The United Earth Defense Coordination Command (UEDCC) had successfully formed, a testament to humanity's ability to unite under existential threat.
It was a joint militarization of multiple nations and the Terran Retribution Command, a truly global council of governments working in concert. Mars, transformed into a bustling hub of activity, now served as the UEDC's primary headquarters. Beneath its rust-colored surface, sprawling underground bases had been constructed with the help of TRC's advanced automation and fabrication technologies.
Deep in the Pacific Ocean, TRC had discovered the "gift" that the Krill Empire had departed: a fully intact wormhole technology drive. With diligent research and reverse-engineering, each new TRC and UEDC navy ship was now equipped with its own, albeit smaller, wormhole drive, allowing for rapid interstellar travel.
Colonization efforts had just culminated. Three colossal colonization arc ships, each miles long, now hung in high orbit, shimmering silver against the deep black of space. They were transporting the first waves of colonizer volunteers from Earth's surface, a steady stream of shuttles ferrying humanity's future to their new homes. Each arc ship was destined for a different habitable star system, carefully scouted and prepared. From Mars, a massive TRC armada fleet, augmented by newly constructed UEDC vessels, appeared, escorting each arc ship.
Their combined resources and forces now effectively covered the entire Sol System with planetary defense cannons – colossal warp cannons, capable of tearing holes in space itself. Mars's underground military base had become the spearhead of this immense construction effort, churning out ships, military equipment, and housing vast training facilities for both UEDC and TRC Spartans. All under the stern, unwavering leadership of Marshall Feliciano Dela Cruz, the grizzled, legendary commander of the entire Spartan army.
After the volunteers for colonization had been successfully transported, the UEDC and Richard gave a joint speech of departure for the colonizers.
"To the brave souls embarking on this journey," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon began, his voice filled with pride, echoing across the launchpads.
"You carry the hopes of humanity, the dreams of generations who gazed at the stars and yearned to touch them. Look back at the world you are leaving, not with sorrow, but with the profound understanding of how far we have come. From the ashes of conflict, from the brink of extinction, we rise. You are the embodiment of our resilience, the living proof that even in our darkest hour, the human spirit yearns for light, for discovery, for new horizons. You will forge new paths, not just across the void, but in the very fabric of society. You will build new societies, shaped by your highest ideals, free from the shadows of old Earth's conflicts and divisions. And in doing so, you will extend the reach of our species, planting the seeds of humanity across the vast, unexplored cosmos. Remember the sacrifices made, the lessons learned, and carry forward the indomitable spirit that brought us to this moment. Go forth, pioneers of a new era, and make us proud! May your journey be safe, and your new homes be abundant!"
Richard then stepped forward, his presence radiating power, but his voice was warm, almost paternal, a stark contrast to the thunderous pronouncements he often made.
"My fellow humans, you stand at the precipice of a new dawn. The stars, once distant pinpricks of light, are now within your grasp, not as a gift, but as a right earned through blood and perseverance. You will be automatically granted independence the moment your ships cross the threshold of your new star systems, should you choose it. You are free to shape your own destinies, to build societies that reflect your deepest values, to experiment with new forms of governance, new ways of living. This is your chance to create utopias, to avoid the mistakes of the past, to truly define what humanity can become when unburdened by ancient grievances."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the arc ships, then back to the faces of the colonizers. "But even as you venture forth, remember that you are part of something larger. We hope, truly hope, that you will choose to join us in efforts as one united humanity, a federation of worlds, bound not by decree, but by shared purpose and mutual respect. We are one species, now scattered, but forever connected by the common thread of our shared history, our shared struggles, and our shared dreams. Let your new worlds be beacons of what humanity can achieve when it balances compassion with strength, when it embraces diversity as its greatest asset. Go, and let your light shine across the galaxy!"
With that speech ended, the arc ships' massive wormhole drives hummed to life, their colossal forms enveloped by swirling distortions of space. One by one, they departed, vanishing into the cosmic void, carrying humanity's dreams to distant stars.
The internet, once again, erupted.
Twitter:
@SpaceBound: "They're GONE! Humanity is officially an interstellar species! I'm crying actual tears of joy. #GoHumanityGo #NewBeginning"
@FutureIsNow: "Just saw the arc ships jump. It's not sci-fi anymore. It's real. We did it. WE DID IT."
@MarsBaseNews: "Mars HQ looking mighty fine! Those warp cannons tho. Krill ain't coming back anytime soon. #FortressMars #UEDC"
@FelicianoFan: "Marshall Dela Cruz is a legend. The Spartans are unstoppable. Feeling safe knowing they're watching over us."
@HistoryInMaking: "This is the greatest moment in human history. Period. The Golden Age has begun."
Facebook:
Global News Network (Official Page): "HUMANITY GOES INTERSTELLAR! First colony ships depart for distant star systems. UEDC and TRC confirm successful launch and ongoing planetary defense upgrades across Sol. #GoldenAge #SpaceExploration"
Community Group: Earth United: "So proud of our species. We faced extinction and chose to thrive. May our colonies prosper! 🙏"
Personal Post (Jack's profile): "Watching my best friend send humanity to the stars. What a time to be alive. Next up: your mind in a computer. Stay tuned. 😉 #Bytebull #FutureTech"