The emergency tribunal materialized around Jack like a fever dream of bureaucratic authority. The GTN Arbitrator was older than most solar systems, a cosmic entity that had been facilitating intergalactic commerce since before Earth had developed multicellular life. Its presence pressed against Jack's consciousness like gravity made sentient.
"Steel Syndicate," the Arbitrator's voice resonated through dimensions Jack couldn't fully perceive, "your bid threatens the stability of forty-seven galactic economies. This requires explanation."
Jack's response carried new harmonics, frequencies that existed in quantum states: "I'm not threatening anything. I'm offering to pay full market value for what I want."
But the three established bidders weren't interested in economic theory. Bio-Harvester Syndicate, Mind Flayer Consortium, and Star Devourer Collective had formed a temporary alliance—the first cooperation between these species in recorded history.
Their joint message appeared in letters that burned across Jack's visual field: "Steel Syndicate must be eliminated before market completion."
The threat assessment data that flooded the tribunal was staggering. All three species were mobilizing invasion fleets, their estimated arrival times creating a countdown that would determine Earth's fate:
Mind Flayer Consortium: 23 hours (247 ships specialized for neural harvesting)
Bio-Harvester Syndicate: 31 hours (891 ships with industrial-scale processing facilities)
Star Devourer Collective: 45 hours (12 ships, each capable of eating a moon)
"Fascinating," the Arbitrator observed as it processed the unprecedented situation. "In fifty thousand years of galactic commerce, no single entity has ever triggered a three-way alliance against them."
Jack's humanity counter hit effectively zero as he made his play. "I have information that changes everything," he announced, his voice now carrying frequencies that made reality vibrate. "I'm not buying Earth."
The tribunal waited.
"I AM Earth."
The revelation that followed rewrote the GTN's understanding of planetary evolution. Native species could claim sovereign ownership of their homeworld, but only if they met three specific criteria that had been designed to be impossible:
Unified planetary government ✓ (Jack controlled every major nation through nanomachine infiltration) Galactic-class technology ✓ (His nanomachines qualified as post-scarcity tech) Ability to defend territorial claims ✓ (His quantum arsenal spoke for itself)
The Arbitrator's decision resonated through cosmic law: "Earth is hereby removed from auction pending sovereignty verification."
New planetary status: CONTESTED TERRITORY
"However," the ancient entity continued, "the three established claimants have legal standing to challenge this sovereignty declaration. Galactic law provides for trial by combat in such circumstances."
The timer that appeared in Jack's consciousness was beautiful in its simplicity:
PLANETARY DOMINION CHALLENGE: 72 HOURS TO PREPARE
Three invasion fleets against one post-human entity. Winner takes all.
Jack's response echoed across forty-seven star systems: "I accept."