It all happened so suddenly. Recent developments in space faring technology mean man was beginning to grope towards other planets. A new type of craft was due to launch before long, everyone was excited about the prospect of interplanetary travel and a grand change of scenery. Governments and media were describing a new future away from this broken, drained habitat. A new start. A chance to learn from our mistakes. An end to scarcity and its ensuing conflicts and a common goal,. New technology to bring new levels of comfort and safety to all. Fine sentiments, but hollow words to the cynical, and worthless rhetoric to all now. It transpires that we were being monitored by an alien eye cast in our direction to ensure that we did not get out of control. Nobody knows how long they were there, watching us. Our ideas of first contact were completely wrong. No invasion, abductions or demands. Expecting all forms of life to have our destructive, ego driven power lust was a projection of our own human behaviour. How could we think that they would behave as we would? Our behaviour was the whole issue. They were not after the planet’s resources, there was no need to tell us what was happening, intimidate us or debate the matter. The decision had already been made, vast quantities of time and space away. Nothing we did had any effect. No discourse. Our attacks appeared pathetic, contained and resisted with no drama, no retaliation or reaction.

What was reported was only a fraction of what happened. It had been decided that we could not be allowed to leave our planet. We were too destructive, too shortsighted and immature. Our neighbours would keep us contained. Stories were contradictory and fragmented but reading between the lines, we were told to stay here, repair the damage we have inflicted on the habitat and learn to stop fighting over commercial ends. Until we learned to get along, we were not allowed to leave and spread our ruinous dominion to other planets. How could the world’s leaders explain what they were told to the masses? The superpowers hastily met to discuss options and as if to prove a point, went with the military route. A force was despatched, and disappeared. Apparently not destroyed, but just vanished. Huge protests and political pressure failed to prevent nukes from being launched. Many agreed with our visitor’s assertions, but those in possession of the big sticks were not listening. Their self decreed intentions to look out for the interests of humanity, the leaders of the most tooled up nations decided to take a stand. Flags were waved and the drums of war pounded. The nukes disappeared also.

What next when your most destructive weapons merely vanish? What course of action is taken when your new enemies do not retaliate or even acknowledge your attacks? It takes two to have a war. This quarrel was on the visitor’s terms. We had a choice. They had no intention of invading or controlling, just the desire for us to be a good neighbour. Angry rhetoric flowed forth from our leaders. There was massive civil disobedience, rioting and the breakdown of societal systems. The workplace was abandoned and city streets empty, commerce instantly insignificant.

New situation, new rules. Military intervention in civil matters. We declared war on our visitors. Ridiculous. Not even a face, a name or an origin to label our antagonists. They had explained very clearly what was to happen, but it was wasted. Rumours of a new, untested and previously denied weapon. It fired, lighting up the sky. No immediate response. The military swarmed about on land and in the sky, patrolling, checking a rechecking, their troops and technology ill suited to dealing with an off planet adversary. The first cities to go were the capitals. No one was quite sure what happened but it looked like some kind of nukes and wrought absolute destruction. For the few hours it took to wipe out all major population clusters people ran in every direction, roadblocks and stampedes occurring as crowds incoherently fled. Nobody knew what was happening or what to do. News anchors were lost for words before their transmissions turned to static. Religious leaders drew their flocks close and sought solace in vague prophecies. Many just went outside, silent and accepting of what was to come.

All fighters were scrambled, nobody quite sure where they were going or what they were going to do when they got there. Few machines remained capable of leaving the atmosphere after the first wave of attacks. Radio chatter reported city after city destroyed and military targets were swept away. It took half a day at most. There was nowhere to hide. Zero took a numb tour of what were once the major cities in the area. Endless tracts of crumbling, scorched rubble in every direction. The remains of numerous fires scattered across mangled metal and blasted concrete. The remains of the mornings once impressive towers smashed, twisted and punctured. Busy, important hubs instantly downgraded to devastated graveyards. Precise and absolute. Vehicles fled countryside roads, not realising that their destinations no longer existed. How long would they survive? All major infrastructure was destroyed, all leaders gone. Even the deepest of military bunkers were decimated by incomprehensible technology. Nobody can prepare a defence against machinery beyond their imagination.

Zero had heard nothing over the radio for an hour. City after city scrolled past, now patches of cratered, smoking wasteland. Civilians waved desperately as he flew low, there was nothing he could do for them, no miracle rescue this time. The fighters sensor screen was conspicuously sparse.

Since the incident, Zero had been questioning everything. Months of paid leave and talking to people with strings of letters after their names he returned to his cockpit. Something had changed. Things were clear before: take the enemy out before they get you, a good reason. Recently the reasons did not seem as valid. Nothing ever changed. There was always a new enemy. What were the people in control going to do with all the power and money when they had it all? He had been taking chances, trying less and toying with his targets. Nothing bad happened - it was all too easy. There was no great tragedy in his life. No murdered parents/offspring/lovers. No tale of revenge. It just didn’t matter any more, maybe it never did. It used to make him guilty that he had nothing to actually be miserable about, compared to others. Zero had quickly learned not to talk to people about it. How could he explain to others that he was tired of living in linear time? It just sounded wrong when he said the words.

He figured that we probably deserved it. The visitors were right. What would we do when we colonised the next planet? Exactly the same as we did to this one, no doubt. The seemingly benevolent and elected chiefs would drain it (and us) for their own ends. Progress and profit lay in opposite directions. People were too ignorant to look after themselves and needed authority. It was a bit of a shock that we are not the pinnacles of existence, but it makes good sense in retrospect. Why would we be? It also makes sense that any visitors from other places clearly have better technology than us, so it would probably be unwise to pick a fight with them. The leaders could not allow that situation however. If the leaders did as the visitors suggested, they would lose control and authority over the population. Humanity, as one group instead of conflicting nations would only need one authority, that would mean peace, and there is no profit in peace. This single fighter alone cost billions to purchase and maintain. Somebody somewhere made a huge profit out of selling this machine designed to murder as many as possible. That was it. Murder for profit. He understood our orbital guests now. Maybe he could switch, be on their side, go join them whoever they were. No, that was a stupid idea.

The greater good had been honoured. Zero felt at peace, for possibly the first time. He was supposed to be a loyal part of the larger group and fight for its agenda, whether it was his unit, country, race or species. How could he put his heart into it when he knew it was pointless? He agreed with whatever interplanetary committee had made this decision, brutal as it was. The locality would be better off without us. He wanted peace, but at the same time expertly flew a legalised murder weapon. Zero was a hired killer. No matter how much of humanity wanted peace, those in charge did not, and they had all the guns. Supposedly elected by the people to look after the people’s interests, but you couldn’t vote for , “no war”, “no government” or “communism” at your local elections. Once they were in power, they made all the rules. They know better, apparently, and have information that we do not.

What would people say? This fine military man would vote for the destruction of humanity if asked. He meant well, but still could not be trusted and knew that nobody else could either. Not yet. We might have socially evolved to a responsible level given time, but it was too late now. Unfortunately, our technological abilities outstripped our capacity to use them responsibly. A telltale light began blinking. Low fuel. Another destroyed power station lay shattered beneath his speeding fighter. Not much range left. He contemplated landing, but nowhere seemed inviting. The airbase had been obliterated hours ago, he had been daydreaming too long to make it back anyway. Zero switched sensors to long range. A huge trace flicked onto the screen, just outside atmosphere. Incredible, like a monstrous pebble. He set a course and looking out to his left saw another swathe of blackened rubble clustered around the splintered remains of a once impressive bridge. Flicking weapons and comms systems off, he pushed engine power to maximum.

Approaching the limits of his fighter’s altitude specification a new light caught the pilot’s attention. IR lock. Soon, there would soon be no more time to deal with. A nice clean end, better than returning to struggle with what was left. Incoming. Zero let go of the yoke and unclipped his parachute harness. Something glinted through his holographic HUD. He put his gloved hand to the inside of the canopy as the light got brighter. The light intensity was becoming unbearable, even with his visor down and eyes shut. Time slowed. With a strange smile on his face, he took a deep breath.