By this point, Roth’Orsa’s unending stare towards President DeWinter had gone on long enough that even other Rothians started to notice it. Vreta found her to be…odd, but there was no malice behind her gaze. No anger or irritation. She just seemed to behave strangely, for reasons he could not guess. In any case, she did not delay in the slightest once the Humans were finished speaking. “We gave you the options we calculated to avoid war for your people. If your choice is to keep the Cradle in place, then you choose war.”

Finally, Roth’Orsa broke eye contact for a few moments as she looked around towards the other Human representatives present. “We know our people do make our position on warfare known to the other species of the galaxy. The destruction of life is abhorrent to us. We seek preservation, and pursue peaceful resolution wherever possible. Despite our recommendations, other species do engage in warfare, among themselves and one another. Our position is not to interfere, except by diplomacy, with the wars of other nations. However, our calculations, in this case, lead us to…uncomfortable conclusions. In the most probable futures we have seen…we too choose war. There are few kinds of wars we will fight, but among them is a war of preservation, against extinction. This intelligence we have discovered, though artificial, is life. If it is honest, if it is peaceful with us, then it is our duty to preserve it from extinction. If the enemy known as the Hegemon will not bow to reason, and if they can be defeated, then our choice is war.”