HISTORY of the End of the World 18

Ancient codexes, jewellery. paintings, sculptures, but especially weapons were very sought-after on the Impirial antique-market. It was an important aspect of the harvesting of planet Earth. After a classic cosmic auction, Earth's heritage and wealth were sold to the highest bidder. The revenues went straight to the Emperor, as well as his first pick from the many museums the inhabitants of Earth maintained, but scarcely visited.

Commander Orlov studied the first reports of the specialists assigned to this operation.

Being a superior force, Orlov did not find it necessary to show of. Already to many of their activities had been sighted and even recorded. Orlov was glad, that in preparation of these vital moments, “earthlings” have been manipulated and brainwashed for many years now. They preferred to see nothing at all or were satisfied with explanations like human space-traffic, weather-balloons, swamp-gas or strange weatherphenomena. Ufology was just a niche, inhabited by fools, obsessive amateurs and weird scientists.

A new report materialized on his desk. The first major museum had been emptied completely. The Louvre in Paris had been stripped. The paintings and historical artifacts had just arrived on the ship. When the museum would open the next morning, the visitors would look at precise copies. They could not be destinguished from the original art, because they were exactly the same. The latest 4D-printing-techniques worked miracles.

Commander Orlov felt satisfied. He could fulfill one of the biggest wishes of the Emperor: to enjoy the “Mona Lisa” on the wall of his private quarters. The original.