Fellow members of the council, his voice, translated into the neural implants of 200 different species echoed through the hall. Instead they arrived in basic metal ships, armed with what seemed to the council primitive kinetic weapons, and yet they somehow managed to defeat three piracy fleets using only accelerated chunks of metal and weapons they called tactical nuclear devices. Their entire reply, he said, his voice steady, despite his concern, consisted of a single word in their language. Forteck shook his head, nothing, no explanation, no justification, no acknowledgement of consequences, just one simple word, no. Interrupted admiral Fex, the council's military coordinator, his species had conquered 40 star systems before peacefully joining the council.