Edward Sackett stood and took up the podium.  “Ernst has shown you what we saw and how we saw it.”  He began, “but, what we deduced from it is the sobering part.  Deduction one.  This craft was launched at least five thousand years ago.  Deduction two.  It has been busy adding to itself both mass and energy all along the way.  Deduction three.  This craft is hostile, and on a destructive mission to our system.  Evidence to support the third deduction; the complete destruction of the science cruiser Argus, and the direction of flight of the object since said destruction.  If this craft destroyed Argus in self defense only, why would it move closer to the system Argus came from, and if it were coming into our system in peace why destroy the cruiser at all, and lastly, no attempts to communicate with our vessels were made.  Self defense would not serve to put off other vessels, unless they allowed the Argus to escape and warn other ships.  Deduction four.  They do have a weakness or something to hide and it’s at the center of that sphere.  Evidence to support this deduction.  No attack was initiated against the Terra Twin although she orbited the object for two months, and drilled core samples, and fired seismic charges.  Her activities did no injury to the center.  The sphere’s attack on Argus was instantaneous with the beginning of a cutting operation on the centers surface.”


    “Dr. Hopewell and I have three hypothesis and here (with their probabilities of accuracy, based on the sphere’s behavior overall) they are.  Hypothesis one.  The sphere ship is some sort of bomb to soften us up for an invasion, sixteen percent.  Hypothesis two.  The sphere ship is a war machine, a soldier and spy to analyze us prior to invasion, thirty two percent.  Hypothesis three.  The sphere ship in an invasion vessel itself with alien troops aboard, fifty two percent.  That’s all we have, Mr. Chairman.”  Sackett concluded. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    “Gentleman and ladies” said the Science Council Chairman, “I yield the floor to the chair of the Security Council.”


    Linette Hughes approached the podium.  “From what our records and projections can tell us” she began, “If this vessel is able to reach Mars and destroy our transport and storage facilities, there we stand to lose all our people on Mars and all other colonies as well.  This thing is aimed at our jugular and I believe it is no coincidence.  My question and my order for all of us at this point is what can we do to stop it and the faster we get it done the better.  Our people have lived for nearly fifteen centuries without war or civil conflict, putting our spirit into art, literature, science, and tolerance.  Our warlike past is far behind us and we have not missed it.  If this vessel is the vanguard of an invading race, and we fight them directly, I fear there can only be one outcome.  Our race, softened by centuries of peace, genetically culled of all violent tendencies will probably go like lambs to the slaughter.  We have no arms for the populace, no hardened shelters of militia.  The only weapons we can makeshift in time will be woefully inadequate.  Unless someone can devise a weapon strong enough to destroy this vessel, in time, to intercept, Mars and our colonies are doomed.”