Chapter Seventeen: Choosing Goodness and Following It

The Quartapa authorities had made it clear that their military campaign to destroy Earth would not include attacks on the Taal star system itself. The King of Taal, in turn, abandoned any preemptive strike strategies, and thus, for the time being, the home planets of both civilizations would remain untouched by war. Upon receiving the Quartapa statement himself and learning that three massive interstellar carriers of the Quartapa fleet were already en route to the Solar System, Taal’s military commander, Mr. M, immediately established an ambush near Centaurus, striving to intercept the Quartapa fleet as far from the Solar System as possible, thereby forming a tactical buffer zone.

Quartapa’s declaration asserted their unwavering resolve—should Taal interfere, Quartapa would not hesitate to employ force to resolve the crisis. The ruling group led by the King of Taal stood equally firm, proclaiming that all actions of the Taal authorities arose from their civilization’s religious faith and concern for their living environment.

The Quartapa civilization was determined to annihilate Earth; the Taal civilization was resolved to protect it. The inevitable clash between these two galactic powers was about to ignite a grand interstellar war.

Commander M took to the front lines, anchoring his command ship on Proxima Centauri c. The Taal Army’s engineering division, wielding advanced mechanical technology, constructed a military pyramid beneath the surface of Proxima b. This pyramid maintained flawless quantum communication with intelligence agencies back on Taal, could disrupt enemy communications, and possessed stealth capabilities. Any enemy weapon impacted by the pyramid’s physical effects frequently lost its core functions. Through the pyramid’s unique physical link, Intelligence Chief G on Taal could provide Commander M at the front with real-time military intelligence.

On the dark, frigid far side of Proxima b, Taal soldiers stood ready. A major received Commander M’s order to engage the enemy immediately. Intelligence indicated that Quartapa’s three colossal interstellar carriers were nearing Centaurus. Each carrier was formidable, hosting a hundred smaller craft for various missions, with the speed of these smaller vessels surpassing even that of their motherships.

The Taal major led a squad of special forces, each piloting a small, pyramid-shaped craft, ascending at superluminal speed to intercept the Quartapa carrier fleet. Despite both sides traveling at extraordinary speeds, the distance was vast, and they would need time before they could strike one another.

The Taal special forces were well-prepared. While Quartapa had gathered intelligence on Taal’s garrison at Proxima b during their assault on Earth’s magnetic field, they had not anticipated the Taal forces would proactively advance to confront them far from Proxima b.

As the Taal major’s small craft drew closer to the Quartapa fleet and further from the three stars of Centaurus, optical telescopes ceased to be useful. He activated microwave radiators, scanning for the enemy via microwave technology. Concurrently, their squad was detected by Quartapa’s specialized radar.

A Quartapa carrier soldier reported the anomaly to a captain, who, after careful analysis, dispatched a team of interstellar scouts in small craft to reconnoiter the suspicious region.

The scouts’ ships, launched from the Quartapa carrier, were remarkably swift, soon entering mutual attack range with the Taal major’s squad. Their advanced instruments quickly revealed each other's identities. The energetic, adventurous Taal major wasted no time, ordering his comrades to open fire before any negotiation. Close combat ensued; Quartapa’s scouts retaliated instantly. Each time Taal’s light wave weapons struck a Quartapa ship, Quartapa’s microwave weapons hit Taal’s craft as well. Yet, a miracle unfolded: despite both sides striking their opponents, not a single ship was damaged. It became clear that each side’s vessels neutralized the other’s massless wave-type weapons, meaning only mass-1 particle weapons could inflict harm in close quarters.

Realizing their light wave weapons were ineffective, the Taal major decisively ordered his squad to increase speed and close in further, forbidding any unauthorized fire without his command. As the Taal special forces encircled Quartapa’s scouts, rotating around their ships, Quartapa’s scouts recognized their microwave weapons were futile and resorted to their only mass-1 positron beam weapons.

The nimble Taal ships, equipped with responsive anti-inertia systems, deftly evaded each positron stream. The major’s tactic—having his squad orbit the enemy ships without firing—was meant to exhaust their opponents’ munitions.

When the Quartapa scouts depleted their limited positron weapons, their leader, sensing danger, ordered a retreat. The Taal major commanded a pursuit. During the chase, he unleashed plasma flame sprayers, burning several Quartapa ships to vapor, erasing them from the boundless cosmos. When attacking other Quartapa vessels, their superior speed rendered the plasma flames ineffective, and pursuit proved futile.

In this skirmish, Quartapa’s complacency and underestimation resulted in a scouting team perishing in the cold void. Even their bodies were vaporized, with no hope of regeneration—a fate that meant true death, likely to severely shake Quartapa’s morale.

On the far side of Proxima b, Taal soldiers gathered on a flat expanse, awaiting the triumphant return of their heroes. The special forces, piloting their single-seat craft, hovered above Proxima b, flashing colored signal lights to communicate with the ground. Though Taal’s bodies were accustomed to gravitational bonds, their mastery of mechanics freed them from material gravity, allowing their craft to land vertically on Proxima b’s surface.

Commander M personally piloted his flagship from Proxima c to greet the special forces, recording every battlefield detail for instructional videos for other soldiers.

As the special forces disembarked, the first to welcome them was Commander M himself, followed by comrades who shook hands and embraced them. After a moment of exuberant celebration, the troops quickly assembled into formation, demonstrating the discipline of the Taal army.

Commander M addressed them: “Dear compatriots, comrades, greetings. Our exceptional special forces have set a flawless example for the Taal army. Though this action was not enough to defeat Quartapa, it proves our soldiers are the bravest and finest. On the battlefield, victory belongs to the courageous. This operation not only eliminated an enemy scouting unit but also forced all three Quartapa carriers to retreat, gifting us precious time to prepare. You all know our pyramid is under construction; if the enemy had reached Proxima b’s skies, the consequences would have been dire. But let me remind you: do not misjudge the situation. Quartapa’s withdrawal stems not from cowardice, but caution. Their elite forces, once regrouped, will devise more effective tactics, meaning we must face smarter strategies soon.”

Finally, Commander M told his soldiers, “With the dense population of the Taal planet, our interstellar transport bureau has no plans to relocate all Taalians to Earth in the short term. Instead, scientists, priests, teachers, and soldiers of exceptional merit will be given priority for immigration. Now, I announce that the special forces who participated in this action will be entered into the legal protocol for Taal’s Earth immigration project. Once we have fully defeated Quartapa and secured Earth, you will soon move to live there.” As he finished, the soldiers eagerly discussed Earth, especially admiring these heroes who had destroyed Quartapa’s reconnaissance ships. Most hoped their own battlefield achievements would grant them priority for immigration.

As Commander M reminded everyone not to underestimate the enemy or assume they would not soon return, the ranks listened intently, faith in God their strongest spiritual anchor. Seeing their comrades’ names soon entered into Taal’s legal migration program, all soldiers brimmed with confidence and determination. They swore to prove themselves on the battlefield to realize their grand dream: to live on Earth.