HFPE:
UNKNOWN LOCATION, UNKNOWN TIME
The Republic of Tanicia has sent a partial fleet of warships into orbit over Singapore, and an entire naval fleet just outside its territorial waters. Shall we investigate further, Commander?
The message transfers instantly from one mind to another, not bothering to pass through the intervening space. The response is equally immediate, even though it is substantially more verbose.
No doubt they are there for conquest, that much is obvious. Against an under-developed nation like Singapore, sending half a space fleet and an entire naval one?Intimidation tactics, trying to force them to join the Republic without actually having to fight for it. Delve through Singapore's computer and communication systems - I want to know exactly what the message President Ng no doubt received calling for his surrender said, who and where he received it from, and everything you can get me on Singapore's military capabilities.
The last is said with an ironic twist - Singapore's cyberdefences could no more keep out a brand-new SADIST-class AI than the nation itself could survive a single Cataclysm detonation, let alone one with centuries of experience like the first speaker. "Everything you can" translates to every piece of data ever exchanged in Singapore by its sovereign systems.
Almost no time passes, and then the conversation resumes again, the first speaker having finished their task.
“This is Admiral Anderson of the Republic of Tanicia I am here to conduct negotiations for Singapore’s annexation by Tanicia. As you can see you are outnumbered in every way. Do not resist or the same will happen to you as happened to California many years ago.” That's the speech, Commander, and it was sent from the aforementioned Admiral Anderson's ship.
06-Jan-2014 08:02:54