We Respond in Kind

Behold you now, the realms of man,
from Invar IX to Talostan,
be ye humble caravan,
or proud ship of the line;

if you would know our race’s core,
and whether to prepare for war,
remember this, and nothing more;
that we respond in kind.

Extend your hand in due concord,
admit our diplomats aboard,
offer the branch, and not the sword,
and we respond in kind.

We greet your fleets with open arms,
no single soul will meet you armed,
rest assured, we mean no harm,
for we respond in kind.

Send to us your brilliant sparks,
learned in the maths and arts,
teach us songs and stars and charts,
and we respond in kind.

And with our knowledge thus combined
hearts and thoughts and souls entwined,
what leaps we’ll make, what grand designs!
for we respond in kind.

Give to us in times of need,
regardless of our faith or creed,
heed our cries and hear our pleas,
and we respond in kind.

In turn, if you call for reprieve,
all we can give, you will receive,
when fate befalls, we too shall grieve,
for we respond in kind.

But should you carelessly aggress
seek to plunder and oppress,
expecting nothing in redress,
declare your cause divine,

bring fusillade and ship broadside,
bring murder, slaughter, genocide,
mistake our race for one untried,
and we respond in kind.

And when your gates are stoven in,
your armies dust upon the wind,
your death shall educate your kin
that we respond in kind.

War-song of Sol, engraved in meter-high letters on the bridge of the Terran flagship Mattis.