The Mercy of Gods

Ekur states that the Carryx live by the universal logic of: “that which is, is” (71). They conquer because they can, just as a person who cuts down a tree does so because the tree has “no power to stop” it (72).

The Carryx colony ships approach Anjiin. The emotionless half-mind of the ship analyzes the planet thoroughly to understand the biology of the resident species. They’re surprised that the species detects their approach but prepare for the conquest by sending a network of billions of nodes to circle the planet in a net.

The half-mind translates the human language but ignores messages of peace and threats of self-defense. One continent launches missiles, which the nodes easily destroy before also destroying the cities that launched them. The Carryx count every single human on the planet (more than three billion), divide the population into eighths, and send an order to the nodes. The Carryx then speak in a mechanical voice translated for the population, saying, “[Y]ou are, individually and collectively, under the authority of the Carryx. You have been measured, and your place with the moieties will now be determined” (80).