Free Talosian Chronicles 3: Talosian Alliance by Ben Winston Page B

used their nuclear arsenals yet, but we thought you would like to be advised of the now open hostilities,” Ian replied. Ian turned to Star. "Major, could you display the live images from the Borderlands?”
    Star stood, and without standing at the podium, she was heard by each delegate in their own language. “This image is taken from one of our long-range interdiction ships called a Centurion. This ship is currently in geo-synchronous orbit over the conflict area.”
    An image taken from extreme altitude took shape in the air over the center of the circular tables. The image of the ground was at a level just below the edge of the tables, so everyone could see the same things. “The image is computer enhanced but only for clarity and has not been modified in any way. I will place a line denoting the current, border between the two countries. Disputed borders are broken lines.” The image zoomed in rapidly toward the southernmost area of fighting, which was currently near the village of Fazilka in the Punjab district of India. Star inserted what geographic labels she could so there was a frame of reference for the delegates.
    The images showed armored vehicles, tanks and fighters engaged in violent and ferocious fighting. Several buildings that had been part of the town were nothing but smoking rubble. The view zoomed in far enough to see, if only barely, the small forms of dead civilians and soldiers. A woman in a brightly colored sarong caught the camera’s focus and it zoomed in as she hurriedly tried to herd a group of children away from the fighting. Smoke obscured the view momentarily, and a second later a huge explosion could be seen. When the smoke cleared the area had been destroyed, bits of brightly colored scorched cloth could be seen, as well as the mangled bodies that had once been children.
    The image pulled back and focused on an exchange between two groups of tanks with infantry soldiers between them. In an effort to kill each other, the tanks killed more of the soldiers than they did of each other, however, in an act of defiance, one small group of soldiers fired a rocket that destroyed a Pakistani tank.
    The view pulled back and moved north to another area of fighting. Where much the same was seen before the view again moved north.
    “By order of Colonel Jennifer Williams, we are currently undertaking two ground missions within the city of New Dehli. Orbital sensors have detected two multi-kiloton nuclear devices within the city. Our Marines are to remove the threat of those two devices and withdraw. Only non-lethal force has been authorized, and they are allowed to detain suspects for questioning. Once they have neutralized the explosives, they will return to our ship,” Star explained.
    “We must stop this!” the Ambassador from France said. She had tears in her eyes, from looking at the horror on the faces of the men women and children, soldier and civilian alike as they died.
    “Madam Ambassador, this is the reality of war that most politicians never have the opportunity to see. This is why Commander Williams does the things he does, and why we have the rules we have. If we released our advanced technology to you, this would seem like a school yard scrap. I agree, this must be stopped, but force and violence will usually only beget more force and violence. Not that armed force does not have its place, but this situation, as I understand it, is not that place.” Star bowed her head. “My apologies, it is not my place to offer an opinion, here.”
    “That’s quite alright Major, I hope it’s an opinion that many of us share. As informative as it is, could you please stop the video feed. We must decide how to act, and do so quickly. In light of current developments, I make the motion to approve the petition for a Terran delegation to be allowed to join us here, in an advisory capacity,” the Secretary General asked the Ambassadors. “It will cost us nothing, and will provide all of us with