Priest Vito Cornelious had been part of the Presidential Religious Advisory Board for nearly a year.
During that time he had been eager to voice his opinions on matters of morality, but had found
that was not what they were looking for. He found that what they wanted was an informed apology, a
mender of spiritual wounds, an anonymous addresser of the public masses. In the last week alone he
had written letters of apology and blessing to thirty two families. The letters concerned
accidents that were blatantly preventible and obviously the government's fault. Priest Cornelious
had worked hard for this soulless position, all in the spirit of his mission, so he could be able
to address President Lindberg himself if need be when the time came. The time was here.
So he sat in the general operations room. It felt strange to be awaiting the chance to save the
universe from eternal darkness on a cold low bench. It helped that David was here with him,
though he was ten times more nervous than he was and showed it in every action. Poor David was
only seventeen and had been bestowed with such responsibility. He was a fine apprentice for the
line of guardian priests, just young.
Every twenty seconds or so the President's assistant would whisper the next issue in the agenda.
Cornelious saw the President's face twitch in a peculiar fashion to this whisper, and knew it
must be the topic he was there for.
"Put him through" the President said "General Staedert, I have to address the Supreme Council in
thirty seconds, just the facts."
"Mr. President,there are no results from the chemical and molecular analysis as of yet, all the
calibers are overshot..we're hoping a thermo nucleatic imaging.."
"The President grunted, and then replied "What you are saying is you don't know what this..thing..is. "
"Not yet Sir, only thing we know is it just keeps getting bigger!"
"Options?" The president was quick to ask.
"Wait or act" Staedert replied, with the emphases on act.
"Reconmendations?"
"My philosophy is shoot now and ask questions later. I don't like uninvited guests" Staedert sounded
proud of that.
The President nodded and looked around the room "Gentlemen?" to look for advisement. The head
scientist spoke up, looking over his shoulder at the president from his console "I think it would be
foolish to shoot at an organism that seems alive, without first taking the time to study it more!
Besides, it has shown no signs of hostility."
Cornelious gritted his teeth together, not shooting was right, the scientist was wrong about taking
time.
"No, it's just getting bigger" the President sounded worried now.
"So do people" the Scientist added "but that's no reason to shoot them."
The President shook his head "The Security of the Federated Territories is and remains number one
priority" he turned to the military reprisentatives "I suppose General Staedert's "philosophy" is
acceptable to you?"
As expected the little group of generals and admirals nodded yes.
"All right, with no further objections, Staedert?-"
Cornelious had already been swelling inside with objections and now raised his hand in a knee jerk
reaction. A man's voice introduced him as Priest Vito Cornelious of the Presidential Religious Advisory
board, expert of astronomical anomaly. The President seemed half surprised and half annoyed at this particular objection, motioning him to explain "Yes?." Cornelious managed to work up enough saliva to speak as he stood.
"I have a different theory to offer you, Mr. President."
"I'm listening" he replied.
Cornelious continued "Imagine for a moment that this, thing is not anything that can be identified because, it's prefers not to be, because it is evil..Total evil."
"One more reason to shoot first" there was an unmistakable hint of sarcasm in the President's voice. The military advisors nodded in agreement again enthusiastically.
David was continually praying in the back of the room, quietly, to keep from fainting. This was no time to pull attention to an unconscious teenager.
In spite of the President's disbelief Vito Cornelious stood a little taller, continuing onward.
"Evil begets evil, Mr. President. Shooting will only make it stronger."
Staedert interrupted "Mr. President, we're at a crisis point."
The President almost looked puzzled "Your theory is interesting Father but I don't think we have time to go into it right now!"
Cornelious took a confident step forward "Time is of no importance, Mr. President. Only life is important."
Now the President was exasperated "That's exactly what we are going to try and do: Protect the lives of some 200 billion of our fellow citizens! General? You may fire when ready."
Staedert's voice was cold in reply "Up front loading of a 120 ZZR missel. Marker lights on the objective."
Suddenly one of the scientists almost jumped speaking up "It's structure has just solidified on the surface, as if anticipating the attack. If that's the case, we are undoubtedly dealing with an intelligence."
"The most terrible intelligence imaginable, Mr. President" Cornelious added.
Finally the President was hesitant "Staedert? Give me a minute, I have a doubt."
Staedert sounded even colder than the last time "I don't, Mr. President."
The first series of missiles were launched, and as the Priest expected the dark planet only grew larger.
The Scientists in the room buzzed with conversation at the results.
The President was worried now "Staedert? What's going on? Did you destroy it?"
"I'm about to, Mr. President" Staedert still sounded confident.
Cornelious said a silent prayer as the war ship fired more missiles into the dark mass.
Another scientist spoke up "The planet's diameter has greatly increased and it's moving toward the ship."
The President was now frantic "Staedert? Get out of there immediately! I don't want an incident, do you hear me? Staedert?' there was no reply "Staedert, get out of there! That's an order!"
The dark mass had grown until it swallowed the ship in flames. After the ship had been confirmed destroyed, the room was silent for several very long moments. Finally the President turned to the Priest "We need to have a talk."
During that time he had been eager to voice his opinions on matters of morality, but had found
that was not what they were looking for. He found that what they wanted was an informed apology, a
mender of spiritual wounds, an anonymous addresser of the public masses. In the last week alone he
had written letters of apology and blessing to thirty two families. The letters concerned
accidents that were blatantly preventible and obviously the government's fault. Priest Cornelious
had worked hard for this soulless position, all in the spirit of his mission, so he could be able
to address President Lindberg himself if need be when the time came. The time was here.
So he sat in the general operations room. It felt strange to be awaiting the chance to save the
universe from eternal darkness on a cold low bench. It helped that David was here with him,
though he was ten times more nervous than he was and showed it in every action. Poor David was
only seventeen and had been bestowed with such responsibility. He was a fine apprentice for the
line of guardian priests, just young.
Every twenty seconds or so the President's assistant would whisper the next issue in the agenda.
Cornelious saw the President's face twitch in a peculiar fashion to this whisper, and knew it
must be the topic he was there for.
"Put him through" the President said "General Staedert, I have to address the Supreme Council in
thirty seconds, just the facts."
"Mr. President,there are no results from the chemical and molecular analysis as of yet, all the
calibers are overshot..we're hoping a thermo nucleatic imaging.."
"The President grunted, and then replied "What you are saying is you don't know what this..thing..is. "
"Not yet Sir, only thing we know is it just keeps getting bigger!"
"Options?" The president was quick to ask.
"Wait or act" Staedert replied, with the emphases on act.
"Reconmendations?"
"My philosophy is shoot now and ask questions later. I don't like uninvited guests" Staedert sounded
proud of that.
The President nodded and looked around the room "Gentlemen?" to look for advisement. The head
scientist spoke up, looking over his shoulder at the president from his console "I think it would be
foolish to shoot at an organism that seems alive, without first taking the time to study it more!
Besides, it has shown no signs of hostility."
Cornelious gritted his teeth together, not shooting was right, the scientist was wrong about taking
time.
"No, it's just getting bigger" the President sounded worried now.
"So do people" the Scientist added "but that's no reason to shoot them."
The President shook his head "The Security of the Federated Territories is and remains number one
priority" he turned to the military reprisentatives "I suppose General Staedert's "philosophy" is
acceptable to you?"
As expected the little group of generals and admirals nodded yes.
"All right, with no further objections, Staedert?-"
Cornelious had already been swelling inside with objections and now raised his hand in a knee jerk
reaction. A man's voice introduced him as Priest Vito Cornelious of the Presidential Religious Advisory
board, expert of astronomical anomaly. The President seemed half surprised and half annoyed at this particular objection, motioning him to explain "Yes?." Cornelious managed to work up enough saliva to speak as he stood.
"I have a different theory to offer you, Mr. President."
"I'm listening" he replied.
Cornelious continued "Imagine for a moment that this, thing is not anything that can be identified because, it's prefers not to be, because it is evil..Total evil."
"One more reason to shoot first" there was an unmistakable hint of sarcasm in the President's voice. The military advisors nodded in agreement again enthusiastically.
David was continually praying in the back of the room, quietly, to keep from fainting. This was no time to pull attention to an unconscious teenager.
In spite of the President's disbelief Vito Cornelious stood a little taller, continuing onward.
"Evil begets evil, Mr. President. Shooting will only make it stronger."
Staedert interrupted "Mr. President, we're at a crisis point."
The President almost looked puzzled "Your theory is interesting Father but I don't think we have time to go into it right now!"
Cornelious took a confident step forward "Time is of no importance, Mr. President. Only life is important."
Now the President was exasperated "That's exactly what we are going to try and do: Protect the lives of some 200 billion of our fellow citizens! General? You may fire when ready."
Staedert's voice was cold in reply "Up front loading of a 120 ZZR missel. Marker lights on the objective."
Suddenly one of the scientists almost jumped speaking up "It's structure has just solidified on the surface, as if anticipating the attack. If that's the case, we are undoubtedly dealing with an intelligence."
"The most terrible intelligence imaginable, Mr. President" Cornelious added.
Finally the President was hesitant "Staedert? Give me a minute, I have a doubt."
Staedert sounded even colder than the last time "I don't, Mr. President."
The first series of missiles were launched, and as the Priest expected the dark planet only grew larger.
The Scientists in the room buzzed with conversation at the results.
The President was worried now "Staedert? What's going on? Did you destroy it?"
"I'm about to, Mr. President" Staedert still sounded confident.
Cornelious said a silent prayer as the war ship fired more missiles into the dark mass.
Another scientist spoke up "The planet's diameter has greatly increased and it's moving toward the ship."
The President was now frantic "Staedert? Get out of there immediately! I don't want an incident, do you hear me? Staedert?' there was no reply "Staedert, get out of there! That's an order!"
The dark mass had grown until it swallowed the ship in flames. After the ship had been confirmed destroyed, the room was silent for several very long moments. Finally the President turned to the Priest "We need to have a talk."