SUPER EARTH

[Dusk]

incoming transmission detected...
signal source identified: rubicon 3
establishing secure connection...
playback initiated

---

from: V.II Snail
to: Sirius Sector
subject: A choice

---

To the inhabitants of the so-called "Sirius Sector". To all the "Houses", "corporations", pirates and other pathetic riffraff that I won't waste my time mentioning.

My name is V.II Snail. I am part of the Vespers, an elite division of the Arquebus Corporation. On behalf of the Board of Directors and our entire incomparable conglomerate, I address you.

Your primitive squabbles over resources in this sandbox you call home are over. Your insignificant "intrigues", your "wars", your "revolutions" are nothing but child's play for which we have no time. The Arquebus Corporation declares sovereignty over all Sirius systems, planets, space stations, resources and technologies. Including your... amusing "alien technology".

You are presented with a choice. Simple one, even for you.

Option One: Complete and unconditional surrender.
You will disarm your fleets, hand over control of your jump gates and space stations to us, and grant us full access to all databases and technologies. Your governments will be dissolved and replaced by our corporate management. Your "armed forces" will be recalibrated and incorporated into our auxiliaries under our direct control. In this case, you will be granted… an opportunity. An opportunity to serve and prove yourself to be a valuable mercenary labor force. This is an act of mercy that we are prepared to grant.

Option Two: Total annihilation.
If your undeveloped consciousness rebels against the inevitable, if the foolish notion of “pride” speaks within you… well. We will not waste our energy on ground operations. Our fleet will begin the systematic destruction of your infrastructure. Your "military" will be reduced to dust. Your planets will be subjected to orbital bombardment until their surfaces become glass. We do not wage war. We eliminate inefficiency. And you, with your guerrilla fleet and outdated technology, are a glaring inefficiency. You will become just another line in our annual report.

Oh, and don't place any hopes on your "Nomads". Our analyzers have already studied the scraps of data on this biohazard. We were unimpressed.

You have until our arrival to transmit your consent to surrender to our frequencies. Any subsequent hostile activity will be considered a choice in favor of the second option.

Consider it a privilege that I condescend to send you this message.

---

connection terminated