Hundreds of massive intergalactic robots appear in all of the major world capitals with an ultimatum: Prove the value of human civilization or be destroyed.
Synopsis:
The world awakens to find hundreds of enormous mechanical robots towering above the capitals of the world. For several days the building-sized machines do nothing as the shocked planet tries to discover where they came from and how they appeared without warning.
When a squad of SWAT officers try to approach one of the robots, they are obliterated by an unseen force field. The US military sees this as proof of aggression and launches an attack against the machine. Conventional weapons launched against the robot explode harmlessly against the surface.
Josh Myron notices patterns in the symbols that seem to be etched on the artificial skin of the robots and is pressed reluctantly into service to attempt to communicate with the beings.
Josh transmits a message to the behemoth in Los Angeles: “Why are you here?” Suddenly, lights appear on the robot as it responds in the same incomprehensible language, which Josh translates: “Prove the value of human civilization or be destroyed.”
As Josh continues to try to communicate with the machine, the governments of the U.N. Security Council decide to answer this threat with an all-out nuclear strike against one of the robots. Missiles are launched at the automaton on Nauru, the least populated nation in the world. The island and all of its in 9,000 inhabits is destroyed, but the robot is unharmed.
It is the middle of the night when suddenly all of the hundreds of robots across the globe begin to activate simultaneously. An ear-shattering sound bellows from the machines as they each shoot what appear to be massive pulse beams into the Earth’s surface.
Across the planet, hurricane force winds topple buildings and monstrous earthquakes destroy entire countries. The world’s physicists realize that robots are actually slowing the rotation of the planet and explain that it stops moving completely everything on the surface will be literally wiped off the face of the Earth.
What appears to be a hatch opens on the Washington robot and a metallic pod is lowered on robotic tentacles to where Josh and dozens of other officials watch in awe.
The pod opens and a very human-looking, woman steps out and greets Josh in English: “Show me.”
The woman seems impressed by the noble intentions of humanity, but is not convinced that we are capable of living up to them. She uses the slaughter of the people on Nauru as just one example.
As Josh continues to introduce her to both the profound and mundane aspects Mankind, the military plots to kill her now that she is no longer safe inside her robot ship.
As they walk back toward the robot, an officer attacks them. Josh sees the threat and throws himself in the path of the bullet. He is killed and the Woman destroys the officer and all of the soldiers who attempt to stop her.
She carries Josh’s body to the robot. Power surges into Josh’s body and the crowd people who have gathered watch in amazement as Josh is resurrected.
She explains to him that although they still have their doubts about Mankind, his willingness to sacrifice himself has convinced them to give Earth another chance.
Around the world, all of the robots blast off into space.
