Good job, you left the window open and bugs flew in

[abugslife]

[1] [Suddenly, a transmission to all Unity Group bases! The person talking is... definitely not human. She's some kind of weird alien insect cyborg.]

Citizens of Earth, members of organization known as Unity Group. I come to you with a warning.

I am Hetepheres, a general of the Gebian army. Thousands of years ago, my people came to your planet, but they kept their presence a secret. Today, we return, but we are not united in our goals. The Anti-Earthling Party believes that we should conquer your planet, and enslave its populace. They will start their invasion soon.

I am a representative of the Pro-Earthling Party. We believe in mutual cooperation and understanding between our two races. I was sent here as an ambassador, and consultant, and defender; together, we shall push back the AEP, and perhaps teach them of the mistakes of their way. If they don't want to learn, they shall taste steel.

Your leaders already know about this and have prepared a place for me to establish an embassy. If you need anything, you can find me there.

[2] [Soon, stuff is going on in the hangar at Fort Alhambra. A strange vessel has arrived, resembling a combination of a normal spaceship and an ancient Egyptian river boat. It's not big, enough to transport maybe several mecha at most. A group of creatures that look suspiciously similar to 1-meter long beetles is moving to and fro, unpacking various objects from the ship and disappearing with them inside the base. The whole operation is overseen by Hetepheres, who turns out to be no less alien in real life than on a screen, and pretty giant to boot - roughly 2 meters tall! Also, right next to the ship a mech is standing, which looks very much like her, only 10 times taller.]

Watch out with those instruments, they are very fragile. Yes, bring that to my private quarters, if you please. That console can stay on the ship for the time being.

[One of the beetles raises a hand (they don't really have hands, but details) questioningly.]

Skrrryt?


No, I don't know where the kitchen is. One of the locals will have to answer this question.

Comments

[abugslife]

Not really, no.

And unless you still keep slaves and treat iron as a rare and almost mythical metal, I suspect most of the documented differences will be a little outdated.

[anewmachine]

We don't! Not anywhere international law has any power, at least. There are some fairly messed-up places still in the world...

So - can you answer all kinds of questions about history? Like... how did major religious stuff actually happen, that kind of thing? Was Buddha hot?

[abugslife]

Only questions that relate to a specific time and region. Up until recently, my people were to Earth only once.

[anewmachine]

I... don't actually know any mysteries about ancient Egypt you could solve.

[Liz looks a little crestfallen about the wasted opportunity.]

So Geb's just that far away? How does the Anti-Earthling Party expect an occupation to be worthwhile, then?

[abugslife]

Our engines are much more advanced these days. Reaching Earth from Geb only takes a few days!

I was travelling in space but a few hours ago, myself.

[anewmachine]

Huh! I assumed when you mentioned our leaders that you'd been here for a while already.

So you can travel light years, or - well, how many? dozens? hundreds? - in days? And of course, that's technology you'll be happy to share now that we're allies, right?

[abugslife]

This is not for me to decide. You would have to persuade our science minister that Earthlings are worthy of his trust, first.

[anewmachine]

I don't suppose your science minister is a card-carrying, founding member of the Pro-Earthling Party?

[abugslife]

Like many members of the High Council, he is still undecided and has not offered his support to either party.

Persuading those undecided figures to join us is one of PEP's biggest goals.

[anewmachine]

Well, I guess that sounds encouraging. Do the AEP need to get support too, before they can do anything drastic?

[abugslife]

It depends what do you mean by drastic. All they have at their disposal are their own soldiers, ships and mecha; they will not use weapons of mass destruction.

Probably.

[anewmachine]

I'd usually expect invading another planet to be considered "drastic", yeah. Maybe I just don't have the right sense of scale.

So from their point of view, it's easiest to win the political battle by starting - or winning - a fight here and then presenting it to your government as a fait accompli?

[abugslife]

You are approaching this from the wrong direction. The AEP, just like the PEP and the independents, are our government. A part of it, at least. There is no single leader; until the Grand Vote happens, they are allowed to do what they want with Earth. Just like we are allowed to stop them.