YES, DIRECTOR

(United Nations Security Council, New York, December 2133)

A bustling discussion erupted in the halls of the meeting room as the 18 members of the UNSC argued, the loud chattering erupting throughout the room as representatives hurled diplomatic rhetoric at each other.

Among the busy diplomats spewing their saliva, 2 men sitting at a corner of the table without a country flag, instead a red and blue variation of the UN flag, for they are actively ignoring the commotion around them and is busy playing Genshin Impact on their tablets. One surely would not expect that they are here to fight for their UN organ's budget. Their UN organ is the United Nations Strategic Security Department (UNSSD), the army of the UN.

"Order, order!" yelled the UN representative of the United States, who is the revolving president. The hall immediately returned to silence and the 2 men stowed their tablets away.

"This attack on the main UNSSD Mecha production facility in Hokkaido is an indication that people have lost interest in further developing Earth's defences in a time of peace, especially when it is so costly. The amount UNSSD has blown this year alone is enough to rebuild Germany after WW3."

"We propose, postponement of the projects," he finished.

His motion lit up the entire room as soon as his words are simultaneously translated into the mother tongues of the representatives, for they mostly seconded the proposal.

UNSSD Chief Secretary Li Hao Nan turned to UNSSD Director Nikola Kovac, who gave him a nod.

"This proposal isn't good," smiled Secretary Li. "The night before the Sun rises is always the toughest to endure."

"We advise, hold on tight in front of all pressures and push forward. Complete them as soon as possible. Do not forget, the window of development is always narrow. The big powers of the galaxy will not wait for us. We are caught between this Cold War in the galaxy."

"Do you think, that perhaps, we made the wrong choice in joining GOMCA?" asked the representative of the DRK.

Director Kovac laughed. "I'm afraid if we weren't bailed out by GOMCA during WW3, mankind and the Sellardraxians will still have to call the Veo our overlords…well the portion of Sellardraxians that stayed on Earth that is. That war made us aware of the huge differences in technology Earth has compared to the rest of the galaxy. From that moment on our planet will never be the same again."

"If we were to develop independently, we could never bridge the gap. Earth was isolated from the rest of the galaxy until the day the Veo blew our doors open with help of traitors. Heck, we didn't even know that there was an Empire that ruled over the whole of the Milky Way and some other systems until they went extinct after the Liberation Wars that led to the formation of GOMCA and the Veo. Now, GOMCA offered us development, it's only logical that we joined them, for technology and protection."

Director Kovac turned on his holo-projector, showing a photograph.

"This is?" asked the US representative.

"A picture taken by Voyager as it left our solar system centuries ago, among the last images it sent back to us before it was accidentally destroyed by a Bethorian space mine," replied Director Kovac.

The representatives of the UNSC nations all directed their attention at the photograph, trying to make sense of the image of the rays of sunlight.

"Here," said Director Kovac, pointing to a single, bright blue pixel. "This is our planet, which is everything to us. A mere pale blue dot in the vastness of this universe."

"Right now, the Veo and GOMCA are still peaceful but who knows how things will go. One is a militant empire that has invaded us before, the other is a socialist entity that has dedicated itself to remove the chains of oppression for all sentient life. One campaigns for an imperialistic order to bring stability in a Universe of entropy, while the other campaigns for the Great Unity of all sentient life. These are 2 contrasting ideologies that are bound to clash, if it happens, Earth will be caught at the frontlines. We simply cannot bear the risk; this is why we must develop."

The US representative nodded, understanding his implications.

"But our people can't stand this anymore, you all have seen the news! It was not just in Hokkaido," retorted the representative of Germany.

"And we only need to maintain technological growth, based on your point. We don't need to deploy 4 sector armies in Earth's space territories," she took a report and projected it on the holographic projector.

"Based on this report commissioned by China, it said clearly that to maintain the current and future procurement of equipment only 2 sector armies will do! We can afford to cut down on manpower, and we have nothing to fear, be it deterring hostile entities or warding off the occasional Deep Dweller attacks."

"Correction," said the Chinese representative. "We have explicitly mentioned that it is the bare minimum, and if such a policy is indeed carried out the work stress on our combat units in UNSSD will be unfathomable, if an emergency arises, we will face a shortage of manpower to respond."

"Well, don't we still have the militaries of each country?" asked the German representative. "UNSSD has mobilisation plans after all in event of a situation based on Earth Defence Law Article 2."

Secretary Li laughed. "My dear lady, space combat and fighting on other worlds is a very different form of warfare as compared to fighting on Earth, both tactically and logistically. If it had been so straightforward there wouldn't be the need for UNSSD in the first place, as each country can simply build their own space forces. UNSSD was done to conserve resources and standardize equipment to prevent double spending. After all, UNSSD was first a space force then a peacekeeping QRF."

"Of course," said Secretary Li. "there is also another perspective I can bring forth. 80% of all UNSSD personnel are state contributions, mostly coming from the militaries of Asia, Africa and South America. Now, consider that we were to indeed cut manpower as requested, we are releasing lots of unemployed people that's trained to kill into society. The national militaries and contractors like Spades International can only absorb so much manpower."

"Consequently, you have the following: Increased class tensions and increased species tensions, since UNSSD, as I will confidently say, is the most equal when it comes to treatment of humans and Sellardraxians. I suppose I don't need to further elaborate what will be the consequences?" finished Secretary Li.

The entire meeting room turned to silence as all the representatives understood the possible risks.

After a long silence, the Indonesian representative opened his microphone.

"Are we at war, Director?" he asked, concerned.

Director Kovac looked down for a while, apprehensive.

"Not a literal hot war at the moment," he smiled. "But a war of development."

"We shall begin voting in an hour's time," announced the AI acting as the moderator for the conference.

"Support."

Representatives of UK, Germany, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Korea, Australia, Brazil, Colombia and Turkey pressed their tablets.

"Against."

Representatives of China, Socialist Union of Russia and Belarus, People's Republic of Yugoslavia, France, Indonesia, South Africa, Rwanda and Saudi Arabia pressed their tablets.

"USA and Algeria abstain. 8 against 8, due to the use of veto by 3 of the permanent members, the motion will not pass."

Director Kovac and Secretary Li heaved a sigh of relief.

The German representative confronted the 2 of them. "You 2 happy now that you are bringing Earth on the path of militarism?"

"Well, we did not expand and annex other civilizations," remarked Director Kovac.

"Yes, Director," she hissed, throwing an angry glare at them and left. The 2 then headed out of the building and onto a motorcade, which immediately sped off in direction of the airport.

"I'd say that we cut the line a bit too close now," remarked Director Kovac. "Support for the cause is waning. I can foresee that we may have to rely on P5 veto to keep us afloat."

"Time to head back to Sulawesi. Oh, and make sure you eat on the plane."

"Frankly, having instant Sarma and Dim Sum isn't exactly something I am looking forward to…" complained Secretary Li. "Who thought it was a good idea to turn them into one giant block and pour hot water over them? You call it a way of cooking?"

Director Kovac laughed bitterly. "Too bad that we are on a tight schedule comrade, a lot of work awaits us, we can't afford to waste a second."

Secretary Li sighed, yawning. "I must ask, how long do you intend to keep that beyond top secret?" Secretary Li asked.

Director Kovac shook his head. "We can't afford the risk. That is too much of a bombshell if we expose it, humanity and Sellardraxians may go to war again. Besides, not even the Bethorians has heard of them. I just hope that with more archaeology excavation of the Empire we can finally understand their true nature, however difficult it may be. It appears that archaeological studies of the Empire are being deliberately obstructed by some mysterious force, be it in GOMCA or the Veo. The galaxy knows nothing of the Empire following the Liberation Wars. We can only prepare ourselves discreetly, well, as far the environment allows it…"

"Yes, Director," replied Secretary Li, with a worried frown.