It is impossible to describe the confusion that swept the world that day. It is impossible to describe all the wildness and madness of people in the face of a threat that has scared them the most with its absolute unpredictability. Panic brought down the markets, and the crazy people threw themselves under the flames of "the wrath of heaven" and "the hellfire"...
But fortunately, the mind did not finally leave mankind. Many had retained their sobriety of mind, and it was clear to them that the phenomenon of strangers was not yet the end of the world.
They were the same living beings, made of flesh and blood, their ships used the same thermonuclear engines, their terrible weapons were ordinary metal blanks, dispersed to relativistic speeds - and, according to spectrometers, the blanks are simply cast iron - and in general, much of their technology people could imagine and even show.
Only FTL engines and gravitational control did not fit even the hypotheses of earth scientists, let alone theories. But if the fact does not fit into the theory - it only means that it is time to supplement the theory. And turn it into technology.
Aliens, all strangers, were neither gods nor demons. And this meant that they could be defeated.
If they do not conquer the earthlings before. Or they won't.
But they didn't want to.
The disturbing bombardment of the Earth from orbit continued with breaks of almost a day. And even though the number of deaths was measured in tens of thousands, but it was not difficult to understand that if they wanted to clear the Earth - they would have burned down at least all the capitals during this time only with these cast iron dummies.
And in less than a day after the fall of the first shell of aliens, their ambassadors arrived to the Earth. Not as brutal as the first "green men" who look like bony lizards, but cute aliens who look like the dream of a sexually mature man...
Neria Wei sighed. She preferred to study the records of those negotiations when she wanted to exclaim, "Why these torments? For what?! Again and again, the boiling hatred for strangers gave clear and understandable answers.
And there was nothing offensive there... Nothing but the essence, hidden in the words of the agreement.
But people could not even check what was written in the contract. How couldn't any Negroes from Africa check what the colonizers wrote in their papers... Only what they said.
"Of course, the commander of the 74th patrol squadron of the Turian Hierarchy, who allowed such a situation, will be appropriately punished.
"Of course, we will help you become worthy members of the Galactic Community.
"Of course, we are ready to provide you with our best goods in the galaxy. For the appropriate but symbolic fee.
"It is with sadness that we have to inform you that some technologies are banned from development and dissemination in the name of peace in the Galaxy.
"Your space only extends to the Catapult into the Horsehead Nebula. And the laws of the Galaxy prohibit the activation of sleeping catapults. However, this will not affect the Catapults you have already activated. And, of course, your space will be as open to business relations with the Citadel as the Citadel space will be to you..."
The only moment when an alien woman from the blue skin looked at its essence, Neria usually looked at it at the very end of the memory session:
"You don't want to make a contract? So, the security action is well-founded? - The humanoid, losing all its luster and appeal, is almost stitched up ...
There was almost no chance to get out of it. But the government of the Earth Federation, straining all forces, managed to find a semidiversion that would not allow outsiders to become masters of the Earth at once and forever. However, it seemed that they were pushed on this variant and literally dragged to it... But still, it was the only acceptable variant.
The citadel - whatever the meaning of the word - opened a representative office on Earth, which disseminated and collected information, settled business disputes if any, and in general, was engaged in peaceful meditation. No military problems. No shelling. Just information.
All the assets seized and survived during the "establishment of security" - ships, stations, bases - were returned to the Earthlings. The earthlings even kept their assets outside the solar system - petrol stations and so on.
Even the colony on Terra-Nova is true, with a permit for colonization by citadels! The planet at Exodus 14, unfortunately, was already colonized by strangers - but the colonization transport was allowed to fly and land, the planet was simply not considered the possession of the Earth anymore.
The Planet of Benning in the Arcturus River seems to have not yet been found by outsiders, as it was not mentioned in the treaty - and a colonized ship flying to it, too. Free access to the Citadel space was forbidden only with intermediaries and only on their terms.
