Bay 12 Games Forum

Granted, you emerge as a tiny bacteria, capable of devouring microscopic worlds but unable to grow larger or clone itself. You are still vulnerable to old age (you have about an hour of life) but you are impervious to damage during that time.

I wish for all music to become a weapon.

I read a sci-fi story online once. Humans were in a war against relatively humanoid aliens and losing. Human society decreed everyone was equal - completely equal. Society and thus advancement has stagnated.
The protagonist betrays humanity and goes over to the alien's side. With his help the aliens win even more. Under his advice, they conquer a human world and execute everyone in it - hanging them from lamposts or something like that.

This results in kicking humanity into gear and the war goes against the aliens. The traitor's fleet is defeated, and he reveals to his alien friend this was his plan all along - by showing one human is supposedly much more evil than the rest, then people are not completely equal in all ways after all. The change in human society that results allows them to advance again and so they outtech the aliens.

Finally, he fakes his escape and incinerates himself, so his body would never be found, so he'd always act as a boogeyman to keep humanity on its toes.

The story ends with the other humans resolving that while one can be better than others at some things, no man is better than others at all things.

I can't remember the name, however, so does this ring any bells for anyone?

It was quite an old story - a short story put on the internet rather than written for the internet, if that makes sense.

E: Never mind, found it.