Quoted By:
<span class="mu-b">”General, as I am sure you are aware, you stand no chance against the Hegemony in an open military conflict...”</span>
“Ahh- that proves you're scared! Our spears can blow you out of the sky.”
<span class="mu-b">”Two hundred and twenty five.”</span>
“Hmm?”
<span class="mu-b">”That's how many water purification plants are within a five minute strike distance of our current craft. Eighty communications towers; crippling your submarine's ability to communicate with the rest of your society. Oh, and the silos-”</span>
“You think you scare me, you damn dirty monkey!?”
<span class="mu-b">”Your species controls forty five hundred and six nuclear warheads. Judging by the radiation reading- about four hundred are plutonium based, the rest uranium based. Low orbital strike missile platforms could strike anywhere on the planet's surface. Experimental high orbit or space flight rockets are being considered, but less then three could actually be deployed.”</span>
“...”
<span class="mu-b">”This information can be easily made public. As with the Hegemony's message. Don't ignore your <span class="mu-i">voting bloc</span>, General. Perhaps it is best if you arrange a meeting with your public leadership...”</span>
Convincing through the threat of force is much gentler then actually having to employ that force. Of course, you don't mention the fact that this exploration vessel is alone and about two years away from reinforcements- having to wait that long would give the Swall a great head start at their own space program.
You ensure that the Swall general population has a version of your message to the Swall leadership- broadcast on their archaic television and radio networks- they themselves will understand exactly what is at stake here. If this arrogant general or any leader of the Swall wants to launch a cheeky nuclear bomb- they would be held accountable by their own people... at least before you can get to them.
