Andre returned home from the eco-pod late that night, his head swimming with thoughts and questions. He took the sleep aids his doctor had prescribed and crawled into bed. After less than four hours of fitful, off-and-on sleep, he jumped out of bed, picked up the glass eco-sphere, and carried it to his executive office in the Tower of Stars.
Following the old man's advice, Andre delicately arranged the glass orb and its stand atop his office desk. Then he placed a globe-shaped lamp just above the orb, adjusting it to "day-night mode" to simulate the natural day-night shifts in ambient light. That desk had been a silent witness to monumental events. Constantine sat at that desk when he penned the first draft of the Constantine Construction Group-Antonios Ion Center merger agreement, which created Antonios. Marshal Bali sat at that desk when he planned his strategy of "independent militarization". Most importantly, the former CEO of the Antonios Consortium sat at that desk when he issued the order to relocate the entire consortium to the Garden Star System.
Andre's desk had always been a cold, efficient instrument. Its steel-gray surface resembled the emotionless, meticulous essence of the City of Antontas. On that particular day, however, Andre's desk, steeped in a rigid history, seemed to possess a hint of vitality. Nevertheless, Andre still felt weighed down. He needed to make a crucial decision in the board meeting later that day.
By that time, the City of Antontas had fully transitioned out of the shadows. However, the Roland District was still in the city's umbra. "Sunrise" was expected in about an hour, creating a sense of "impending dawn". Feeling a bit weary, Andre reclined his chair and tried to take a power nap before the board meeting, which was scheduled to start in an hour. Andre fell asleep as soon as he shut his eyes. He dreamt of a formidable fleet, composed of thousands of steel battleships, which appeared suddenly and menacingly from the Garden Stargate and the Solar System Stargate. A voice in his dream revealed to him that this was the fabled lost fleet of the Empire, a force that had been hiding its lethal intent in the dark recesses of space. Just when the traitors believed they had nothing to fear, this fleet, armed with the Empire's most advanced weapons, surged from a hidden star system to annihilate both the Terran Sphere and Antonios.
Neither Earth nor the Garden Planet escaped unscathed. An extraordinary, massive battleship, unlike any ever seen, came forth from the Empire's Fleet, brandishing weapons hitherto unknown to humanity. It obliterated both planets in the blink of an eye. Oceans boiled, magma spewed, and the ground shook to its core. Flames swallowed everything whole. Verdant forests and prairies turned into ashes amidst the soaring fire. Birds descended like falling leaves, painting a doomsday landscape.
"Mr. President? Mr. President?" Someone was calling Andre. He opened his eyes and saw a youthful face peering down at him. It took him a while to snap back to reality from that gloomy dream. He then recognized the person as James, the liaison coordinator of the executive office.
"What time is it?" Andre sat upright. His head was splitting in pain, the dismal feeling from his dream hadn't faded, his heart was pounding, and his forehead was covered in a layer of cold sweat.
"It's eight o'clock in the morning," James said softly. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Andre stood up. "It's time for the board meeting, right? I need to get going."
James looked concerned. "Mr. President, we've just received a message from the Terran Sphere Government. It's been decoded by the Moore Transport Decoding Center. Maybe you should take a look."
Andre's heart sank. A message from the Terran Sphere Government was not a good sign, at least not at a time like this.
He waved his hand, and a pale-blue, semi-transparent holographic screen appeared on his desk. The screen displayed a recently-decoded letter.
It was a formal missive from the Terran Sphere Government, short, but to the point. Andre quickly read through the letter.
"That's all there is," James said, carefully gauging Andre's reaction. "Mr. President, as anticipated, both of the Terran Sphere Government's Stargate Hubs received this very same message. You might have to reconsider your course of action."
"Someone is not going to be happy about this," Andre commented coldly. Yet, a sense of relief washed over him. After contemplating for a moment, he said, "I need Clyde in my office, now."
"He's already here, waiting outside," James replied.
"Alright, bring him in." Shortly thereafter, Clyde Andrews, the President and Senior Executive Director of Antonios Financial Group, strode quickly into Andre's office.
The moment Clyde came in, he saw Andre's grim visage. "Andre, I thought you'd be happy about this."
"Oh? Why?"
"Because my intuitions were correct." Clyde sat down on the guest sofa. "The people in that mysterious star system have no idea what's happening outside of their world. In other words, that message was for everyone. So, the issue we are facing...is no longer an issue."
"Well, if the Terran Sphere was able to get this message, there's no reason to think that other Stargates that are capable of receiving it would miss it," said Andre. "So, in reality, the issue hasn't gone away. It's gotten worse."
"Pardon?"
Andre pointed at the decoded missive. "Having read this, you should know what I mean!"
"Those boneheads still insist on entering this unknown star system?"
Andre knew exactly who Clyde was referring to.
"Clyde, my friend..." Andre exhaled deeply. Even though Clyde's family originated from the Antonios Ion Center, they had always maintained a good relationship with Andre's Family (who were from the Constantine Construction Group). When Andre first ran for election, Clyde's Family had staunchly supported him. In turn, after Andre took office, he handed Clyde the reins to the Antonios Financial Group. "Clyde, Let me be frank, you're a fine economist and a successful entrepreneur, but you are not cut out for politics."
Clyde furrowed his brow. "Andy, I don't get it. If other factions are also aware of this hidden star system, then why are we risking a skirmish with the Terran Sphere Government to explore it?"
Andre got up and moved around his desk, taking a few laps around the room. On the wall, close to the ceiling, were portraits of all the men and women who had significantly impacted the history of the Antonios consortium. These valuable oil paintings, crafted in the ancient art styles of Earth, seemed to bring the dignitaries to life. The eyes of these monumental figures seemed to pierce through the veil of history, staring intently at whoever sat in the executive chair. Andre had found this unsettling from his first day in that office. Even when he was alone, he sat in an upright position, almost as if he felt the constant watch of those eminent figures.
Andre stepped over to one of the portraits and gazed upwards. This particular portrait depicted Marshal Bali Crux in his sleek and perfectly tailored military garb. Behind him, stars glinted, and the Marshal Crux Carrier was departing. An enormous fleet was preparing to launch, the radiance of their engines accentuating the marshal's distinct profile. The painting portrayed the Antonios Legion's first expedition, the first time the beast had shown its claws. Marshal Bali's eyes looked resolute and contemplative, and his eyebrows were subtly furrowed, as though he was deep in thought.
Clyde walked over, and they stood side by side, looking up at the portrait of Marshal Bali. "How does it feel, working under Marshal Bali's stern gaze day in and day out?"
"There's a problem with this painting." Andre pointed at the painting.
"Huh? What's wrong?"
"That carrier, it's a recent model. The consortium only developed those after gaining a solid foothold in the Garden Star System." Andre pointed at the colossal ship departing the port behind Marshal Bali in the painting. "I guess no one cares about the details, right?"
"I can't follow what you're saying. Please elaborate."
"Do you at least recognize the scene in the painting?"
"Of course, it's the first expedition of the Antonios Consortium," said Clyde. There was a hint of awe in Clyde's voice. "It was also Marshal Bali's first large-scale military operation, which targeted the Freedom Volunteer Army of the Bessel Star System in Star Zone 9."
"That's right. That was the Antonios Legion's debut on the galactic stage. That was the first time they displayed the full extent of their capabilities. Before that, the common understanding was that the Antonios Consortium specialized in ship R&D and financial services and did not have any armed forces. That operation stunned everyone. These days, many credit Marshal Bali's leadership in that operation for cementing the Antonios Consortium's standing. However, little do they know that he was initially opposed to the operation."
"No way!" Clyde was shocked.
"Truth be told, the Sacrum Chu Imperium, while appearing unassailable, had many undercurrents of instability, especially in the remote regions where the idea of separatism was growing. Numerous factions were eager to break free from the Empire's grip. The so-called ‘Freedom Volunteer Army’ was a typical example. They destroyed the Triton Clan's ships, took over the Bessel Star System, ousted the Empire's officials, seized ownership of the Stargate, and declared their independence. That kind of behavior was something the Empire simply could not tolerate. Viktor Chu, the newly-crowned Emperor back then, was incensed by the situation, and he immediately deployed the legion to put down the revolt in the Bessel Star System."
"Thus, we had Marshal Bali personally leading this expedition," said Clyde, "The Bessel Freedom Volunteer Army was simply no match for the Antonios Legion's state-of-the-art Marshal Crux Carrier..."
"Are you sure about that? Never underestimate any opponent on the battlefield," Andre smiled, "Clyde, my old friend. You should be aware that the roots of the Bessel Freedom Volunteer Army trace back to the venerable Neptune Industries. They were the first faction to arrive in the Bessel Star System, breaking away from Neptune Industries during the third massive migration wave. Upon the founding of the Sacrum Chu Imperium, the Triton Clan, who were loyal to the Empire, were granted the Bessel Star System as their fiefdom. They quashed the local colonial factions and claimed the Bessel Star System with the help of the Empire's army, sparking the Freedom Volunteer Army's rebellion. And they won. They waged war for decades and successfully ousted the Triton Clan from the Bessel Star System. Left with no choice, the Tritons were forced to turn to the Empire for aid, prompting the deployment of the Antonios Consortium. Yet, to Marshal Bali, the Freedom Volunteer Army were the original discoverers and rightful owners of the Bessel Star System. The Sacrum Chu Imperium and Triton Clan were the true intruders. He considered it a dishonorable war. The Freedom Volunteer Army proved its might on the battlefield. They ousted the Triton Clan from the Bessel Star System and then defeated multiple waves of reinforcements from the Barnard Star System. Their resistance continued unabated, even after the Tritons retreated to the Bessel Star System. They were able to hold out all the way until the very last day of the Empire when they were defeated by the Eagle Guard. Then the surviving members of the Freedom Volunteer Army joined with the Palenque Freedom Force to form the Star Libertadores. Now based in the Barnard System, they still menace the consortium to this day.
Also, don't forget that the Imperial Trujillo Family had already become wary of the Antonios Consortium. They were highly displeased with the merger of the Constantine Construction Group and the Antonios Ion Center. Naturally, the Empire didn't want to see the rise of another faction that could potentially challenge its authority. Therefore, sending out the consortium to settle the unrest was a smart strategic move. If the consortium won, the Triton Clan would reclaim the Bessel Star System. If the consortium lost, they'd be weakened and pose less of a threat to the Empire."
Clyde shook his head slowly. "That seems...underhanded."
"Exactly, the Empire would be the winner, regardless of the battle's outcome," Andre affirmed. "The dilemma the Antonios Consortium faced back then was every bit as serious as the one it faces today. If the consortium proceeded to crush the rebellion, they'd unveil their true military power. If they lost, Antonios' rise would be suddenly halted; it would instantly become subservient to the Empire forever. Even if Antonios managed to prevail, the cost would be insanely high. It would still lose its independence. If the consortium refused to fight at all, the Empire would have just cause to wipe it out. Back then, Marshal Bali was the one who faced this tricky decision. Most people argued that his best course of action was to send a smaller force to Bessel, minimizing losses, even if things went south. However, Marshal Bali knew that Victor was a man prone to suspicion. Sending a smaller force would definitely raise a red flag, so not only did Marshal Bali insist on marching out, but he also showcased the full military strength of the consortium. Furthermore, Marshal Bali had two trump cards up his sleeve, which he decided to play. First, he bribed a member of the Freedom Volunteer Army to gain secret access to the Stargate. Second, he commenced numerous infiltration ops to the Garden Star System, preparing for the consortium's eventual departure from the Empire. Marshal Bali knew the consortium's separation from the Empire was inevitable the second the Empire tasked them to deal with the rebellion. Showcasing the full extent of the consortium's military power was a sort of passive-aggressive strike against the Empire. The Antonios Consortium carried out a successful surprise attack by making an unexpected leap through the Stargate. With little to no casualties, they crushed the Freedom Volunteer Army and won the war. The war shocked the higher-ups in the Empire. Many officials told Emperor Victor that this was the time to get rid of the consortium, but the Emperor resisted. He suspected that the consortium had even more power than they had not yet unleashed. The Marshal had planned for, and counted on, this reaction from the Emperor. Hence, Marshal Bali's plan, his gutsy bluff, bought precious time for the consortium. We all know what happened after that: when the time came, the consortium silently cut ties with the Empire and migrated to the Garden Star System."
After a brief silence, Andre turned his attention away from Marshal Bali's portrait and looked at Clyde. "Clyde, what do you think Marshal Bali would do if he was here today?"
"I recall Marshal Bali always saying that war is merely an extension of politics, that is, if you can get what you want at the negotiating table, then war is unnecessary." With a sigh, Clyde continued. "Now that I think of it, every single war led by Marshal Bali came after his hand was forced."
"True," Andre agreed with a nod, "The age-old Earth wisdom about warfare remains pertinent, even now. Marshal Bali's greatness didn't lie in his undefeated record but in his discernment of when to engage and when to abstain."
"So..." Clyde spoke slowly, "If Marshal Bali were here right now, he would avoid the war."
"Things have changed," Andre smiled bitterly, "Clyde, many people always associate me with the Constantine Construction Group, and they are not wrong. During the first Gold Rush Era, my forbears ventured into the ocean of stars alongside the Trujillo Family. The founder of the Constantine Construction Group, Sir Constantine, was a descendant of the Trujillo Family. The moment I first sat down at this desk, I became responsible for the entire consortium. According to my source, the Constantine Construction Group has been working closely with the Ares Corps."
Clyde was taken aback. "What?! How dare they?"
Andre glanced at Clyde with a wry smile. "You seem...surprised? If I'm not mistaken, didn't Antonios Ion division also have some sort of friendly agreement with the Germanicus Corps?"
Clyde's face turned crimson. "I..."
Andre laughed, "If nothing undermines the core interest of the consortium, groups are free to strike any deals within the framework with other factions. However," the smile on Andre's face faded, "this time is different. If I opt out of assaulting the mysterious star system, it could very well lead to a split within the consortium."
Clyde's face became stern, "Is it that serious?"
"Yes, it is. If we were the only ones who knew about the star system, the only risks we'd face would come from our uncertainties about the star system itself. We could take our time and observe. There would be no need to rush in without knowing all the pertinent info. However, I'm certain that someone has already divulged this discovery to the Ares Corps. If the consortium commits to the assault, the Ares Corps will be ready with significant military support. They've even agreed to be the vanguard that leads the first wave of the attack. Therefore, I originally planned to declare a halt to all exploration operations today, putting a complete blockade on the mysterious star system until we decided otherwise. Though it might have strained our relations with the Terran Sphere Government, it wouldn't have led to a total rupture," Andre laughed bitterly as he looked at the holographic screen on the desk and carried on, "But now that the Terran Sphere Government has joined the game, we have to keep exploring the star system."
"I don't get it," Clyde shook his head, "If the Terran Sphere Government is also aware of the mysterious star system, shouldn't we—"
"Stop all operations?" Andre shook his head. "No, it's the other way around. We might have had some options before, but they're gone now. We are left with only one option—start the exploration ASAP."
"Why?"
"Because the Terran Sphere is far from united. Inside their sphere of influence, they've got giants like Jupiter Industries, Pangaea Corporation, Thunderbolt Group, as well as countless small and medium factions. Don't even get me started on the external factions—NOMA Shipping Group, Ares Corps, Germanicus Corps, the Star Libertadores, and the remnants of the Sacrum Chu Imperium... Chances are, all these factions already know about the mysterious star system. They will be drawn to it like bees to honey," Andre stated, his tone growing heavier. "War has never truly ceased, and these factions will seize this golden opportunity. If Antonios Consortium falls behind in its exploration, we might face a split within our ranks."
"If that's the case," Clyde started to realize the dire saturation they were facing, "then why would the Terran Sphere Government send a missive to us? They shouldn't have known we picked up that signal."
"Let me ask you; when did we first receive that signal?" asked Andre.
"About a month ago..." Clyde instantly understood what Andre was saying. "Hold on, are you saying they also received the signal a long time ago?"
"Obviously," Andre nodded, "but they waited until now to reach out to us."
The two of them fell silent, thinking. Finally, Clyde said, "I see how it is now. There's been no consensus within the Terran Sphere Government either."
"Yes, the same thing happened within the Terran Sphere as well. So, this message indicates two possibilities: first, the Terran Sphere has come to a consensus and decided to explore the mysterious star system with all the other factions, including the Antonios Consortium—though this seems implausible. The more likely possibility is that the Terran Sphere has splintered, i.e. some internal factions have opted to bypass the Terran Sphere Government and explore the mysterious star system alone. What would you do if you were the Terran Sphere Government?"
Clyde finally understood. "So, the Terran Sphere Government is left with only one option: avoid antagonizing us and the other factions."
"Yes." Andre turned around and walked to the desk, "If I'm not mistaken, our fleets must set off now. This is why I want you here, Clyde. I need your full support at the board meeting. Otherwise, the Antonios Consortium could very well fall apart."
"I got it," Clyde responded with a nod. All traces of his earlier levity were gone. "I know what to do." With a sigh, he added, "Andy, you understand what this means, don't you?"
"Everyone knows, Clyde." Andre waved his hand to turn off the screen on his desk, "It means the war will carry on."
"Is there any other way around this?"
"No." Andre walked over to the porthole and looked out of the window. "Unless someone makes the first move."
"First move? What first move?"
"The first move of backing down. But no one will take that risk, not the Terran Sphere, not us."
After Clyde left the office, Andre sat down and leaned into the large chair, lost in thought. For some reason, he couldn't take his eyes off that tiny glass eco-sphere. He had been watching the pair of small fish dart between tufts of aquatic plants. Sometimes, they ran into the glass surface before gracefully flicking their tails and swimming away. Yet within moments, they would circle back, touch the glass wall again, and repeat the same action anew.
An odd idea popped into Andre's mind—can these little beings recognize there's a glass wall in front of them? Do they know that they are confined within their small world?
Seeing the fish hitting the glass barrier, again and again, a sense of unease settled in Andre's chest. He stood up and walked away from the desk and toward the porthole.
By then, the Garden Planet had moved to the other side of Antonios, and the glowing Milky Way appeared before him like a colossal archway.
Gazing at the sparkling Milky Way, a multitude of emotions surged through Andre's heart. Even during the Earth age, humans had seen themselves as the paragons of living beings. Now, in the age of interstellar travel, are humans truly any more liberated than those little fish? No, not at all. Andre felt as though every action he took was constrained by invisible boundaries. Nobody is truly free. These thoughts made him somewhat envious of the old gardener working in the eco-pod; his world might be small, but it's teeming with life and liberty. Andre, the powerful and influential CEO of the Antonios Consortium, felt more like a prisoner in shackles.
Andre found himself thinking of Anton, who was free, at the very least.
A sense of warmth emanated from a hidden part of Andre's heart as he thought of his son. Anton was quite different from other boys obsessed with war games of all sorts; Andre had never seen him participate in any. When other kids were lost in holographic simulations of battleships, Anton was more likely to be found reading a book quietly in a corner.
Andre didn't think twice about it. He assumed that Anton simply had no interest in the subject of warfare. He eventually realized how wrong he was. One day, Andre was astonished to find Anton engrossed in an ancient Earth book titled "On War." The book was written by someone named Clausewitz, a writer from a bygone Earth era. This book was also required reading at the St. Triumph Military Academy. Either way, it was far too complex for a ten-year-old.
"Do you get what this book is about?" Andre had to ask.
Anton nodded but then shook his head. "There are parts I can't understand."
"Like which parts?" Andre was intrigued.
Anton turned off the reading device. "This is a remarkable book, Dad. I understand everything written in the book, but what eludes me is the reasons for war, which aren’t in the book."
"You mean, why there are even wars in the first place?"
"Yes," said Anton, "Dad, if we all came from Earth, then why do we keep fighting each other?"
Andre was somewhat surprised. Though the question appeared simple, it was probably the hardest one to answer in the entire galaxy. For eons, countless people, many of whom were extremely wise, have searched for the answer to this question. Andre never thought that his ten-year-old son would ask such a thing. It was at that moment that Andre realized that he didn't understand his son as well as he thought he did.
"What about you, Anton? What do you think?" Andre asked gently.
"I'm not sure," Anton shook his head, "I've been reading some history books, and research indicates that people on the ancient Earth fought over territory. As time went by, they also clashed over ideological differences. When humanity stepped into the age of technology, they stopped waging wars for territory; instead, most wars were fought over energy."
"Oil," Andre added, "They battled for oil. Until the revolution in regulated nuclear fusion technology, oil was a vital source of energy for humans."
"This is the part I don't get," Anton expressed, bewildered, "Once regulated nuclear fusion technology came about, humanity had an unlimited source of energy. So why are we still having wars now?"
Anton's question was the same one that countless historians had diligently sought to answer. He was also correct; while humanity was still on earth, they fought ceaselessly over things like territory, resources, or some other nonsense, and they waged wars with little concern for consequences. As fossil fuels neared exhaustion and renewables like solar and wind power couldn't meet the energy demands, the emergence of regulated nuclear fusion technology radically changed everything. The energy problem that had been a scourge on humanity for ages was suddenly gone, ushering in unprecedented societal changes.
After unlocking the secrets of regulated nuclear fusion technology, humanity was like the beggar who had suddenly stumbled upon the key to Ali Baba's cave, overwhelmed by the vast treasure that appeared before them. It was the tail end of the 21st century, a time when the energy crisis had stymied society for years and halted many ambitious projects. Even though humans made it to the moon by the middle of the 20th century, further advancement soon stagnated. The long-expected manned bases on the moon and Mars never came to pass. While various factors were cited by scholars at the time as roadblocks to the space era, the crux of the problem was undoubtedly energy.
The commercialization of regulated nuclear fusion technology drastically transformed human society. In the most evident way, almost all forms of conflict and discord disappeared overnight with the introduction of this technology. This was the first genuine golden age in the annals of human history. Throughout this era, mankind rekindled its aspirations for space travel, embarking on both the exploration and exploitation of the inner solar system, thereby setting the stage for future space endeavors.
Historically, numerous luminaries have espoused the idea that revolutionary technologies could eradicate war. For instance, Alfred Nobel, best known for inventing dynamite, once stated that his discovery would do more for world peace "than a thousand treaties." The man who invented the Maxim machine gun also believed that his creation would "preclude the possibility of war." Likewise, Guglielmo Marconi, the father of radio, asserted that "the arrival of the wireless era would make war impossible, as it would render war ludicrous." In a similar vein, Orville Wright was convinced that the invention of the airplane would "make war a thing of the past." Last but not least, the celebrated science fiction writer Jules Verne voiced that "submarines could result in the total cessation of war, as they would render naval fleets obsolete... making war unfeasible."
This exaggerated belief in technology's power to benefit human society never really died, despite being repeatedly discredited by bloodshed. Following the advent of regulated nuclear fusion technology, a fair number of historians jubilantly claimed that this scientific advance had not only catapulted humanity into a new era but had also permanently eliminated the scourge of war. Regulated human fusion technology did usher in sixty years of peace. Even by today's standards, that was quite an achievement. In over five thousand years of documented human history up to that point, there had been only 109 days of genuine peace.
Unfortunately, reality soon came crashing down. Just like other new technologies, regulated nuclear fusion technology did not fundamentally alter mankind's inclination towards conflict, nor did it put an end to warfare. War flared up again in the year 2147.
Humans, even after reaching the cosmos, did not cease their combative ways. The evidence was irrefutable—no innovation could prevent humanity from engaging in war.
Pondering for a bit, Andre finally said, "Anton, there are billions of species living on Earth, and the vast majority of them constantly compete with and kill each other over food and territory. Only two species on the planet, however, engage in organized, mass slaughter of their own kind. Do you know which two?"
Anton shook his head.
"Chimpanzees and humans," he said, matter-of-factly. "Chimps are humans' close relatives. A scientist who studied them once saw a territorial war between two chimp communities that lasted for years, ending only when one community was entirely eradicated."
Anton was visibly shocked. After a moment, he finally said, "Dad, do you mean to say that war is just part of human nature?"
It was a brutal concept, especially for a ten-year-old.
"Yes," Andre nodded. "We humans are fundamentally a warring species. The genes for war are deeply imprinted in our bloodlines. Although we've left Earth behind, warfare has never ceased to exist. If you were to delve into Earth's historical record, you'd discern that it is essentially a litany of wars. From the dawn of recorded history up until now, wars of every magnitude have been incessant. Given that humans and chimpanzees diverged on the path of evolution about four million years ago, it suggests that the history of human warfare might well have been millions of years in the making."
Anton's expression turned somber. He was struggling to come to terms with this unsettling conclusion.
"Really, Dad?"
"I'm afraid so," Andre confirmed, "If you read more Earth history books, you'll find that this is the grim reality. Many people think that we have evolved as a species since leaving Earth...but are we any different from our Earthly ancestors? Ancient humans fought with spears and swords; now we wage war with spaceships. Essentially, nothing has changed. If there is a discernible difference, it is that the brutality of modern warfare has escalated due to technological prowess."
"Is there any way to stop all the fighting?" asked Anton.
"It could happen," Andre said, gently touching his son's head, "Perhaps one day, humans will realize that there are things more important than war."
When Andre was younger, he had been a staunch believer in this notion. The Milky Way seemed almost limitless. Some day, the causes of war - energy, resources, territory - would no longer exist. Humans would eventually eliminate war from their lives, or so he had thought. It just didn't make any sense. "Is war just part of human nature, a curse that will follow humanity forever?"
Andre felt a heavy weight on his shoulders. He felt like his legs were encased in cement.
