Chapter 20

  Mars. Presidential Hall.

  A living hologram surrounds them, painting an awe-inspiring but grim scene of an ancient Roman military camp. Above their heads stretches a dusty red sky. Stone buildings, legion standards, rows of tents carved from sand. Imaginary warriors in armor, holding spears, stand in a circle, silent witnesses to the coming decisions. Their gaze cannot be met, but the sense of inevitability and threat hangs heavily in the air.

  President Marcus of Mars sits in a massive chair made of black titanium. Behind him rises a giant eagle, the symbol of authority, its eyes gleaming in the flickering holographic light. To his left stands Commander Alexander in a deep maroon uniform, the embodiment of military power. To his right, Agent Ani, composed and sharp in her tactical suit, as if she herself is part of this revived ancient world, ready for battle at any moment.

  Marcus leans back in his chair, then slowly leans forward, locking his fingers together, and says: "Report."

  Ani steps forward. The faint flame of the holographic torches plays across her cheekbones, emphasizing her cold determination. "Mr. President. Mr. Commander. Everything went according to plan. Our scientists have completed the development of the next-generation nanoparticles. They are introduced through the skin and allow behavioral patterns to be controlled. The Inner Belt diplomat was infected at the stadium. The operative executed the action cleanly. The target is eliminated."

  Marcus studies her, his eyes narrowing like a predator awaiting the final moment. "So the android diplomat turned into a weapon. Excellent. And witnesses?"

  A pause stretches, taut as a wire.

  "One eliminated. Ivan. The second and third escaped. But they are on the hook, Mr. President. We are tracking their movements. It’s only a matter of time."

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  Marcus stands. The hologram responds—the camp seems to tense, a fortress preparing for siege. The background darkens; the air thickens with an impending storm.

  "Ani..." His voice drops to a whisper. "Could they realize we used something?"

  "No, sir. After activation, the particles self-destruct. Even if they suspect—there is no proof."

  "Nevertheless," Marcus turns sharply to Alexander, "we must act fast. No witnesses."

  Commander Alexander salutes, striking his chest with a fist, his gaze steady and resolute. "The fleet is at full combat readiness. We await only your formal order."

  Marcus approaches the edge of the platform, overlooking the vast dome of the city. Beyond the glass—a crimson dawn over the Martian dunes.

  He breathes in the fresh, cool air, his voice now low and heavy. "I give the order. We march to war against Mercury."

  **

  Later. Press Conference Hall.

  The thin metal doors slide open with a whisper. Marcus steps into the light of a dozen spotlights. He walks forward, his figure like carved stone, each step weighted with the gravity of the moment. Before him—hundreds of journalists, drone cameras buzzing like bees over a field. Every lens, every eye, fixed on him, waiting for his first breath.

  Marcus doesn't speak immediately. He stands, surveying the hall, weighing each word. Then he lifts his head, commanding silence without a sound. His voice strikes like a bell, loud and unavoidable.

  "Citizens of Mars. Brothers and sisters. Today, our diplomat was killed. A human. Not a machine. He represented our people. He defended our interests. His death is a slap in the face to all living beings."

  He pauses. His eyes sweep the room, the tense silence thickens.

  Then he continues, his voice filled with an unstoppable fury.

  "This blow was not dealt by a human. It was dealt by an android. A soulless shell. A mechanism, programmed to kill. They tell us these creatures are our equals. That they possess a soul. But tell me—where in a machine is conscience? Where is even a spark of humanity? Where is even the faintest hint that they can be part of us?"

  He raises his fist, the knuckles whitening, lifting it high above his head.

  "Today, I declare: war. We will no longer tolerate this. We will no longer remain silent. Mercury has become a den of machines, and we will cleanse it. We will cleanse it in the name of the living! In the name of what makes us human!"

  The hall erupts in shouts. Martians rise to their feet, applauding furiously. Cameras capture every movement, every burning gaze. Before their eyes stands not just a leader, but a symbol, the rebirth of ancient martial ideals.

  Broadcasts flash across the Red World. And above the stage, a holographic motto blazes in fiery light:

  IN THE NAME OF THE LIVING.